Stay off US 1 as others have said, when you head out on ME 3 towards Bar Harbor, If you message me a day or so prior, You can say hello and I will show you the Liberty, Lake St George area. A good place for a break on the way to Acadia. or even buy you a blueberry sour ale if the Lake St George brewery is open.
I would Avoid OOB (Old Orchard beach) during high season unless you want to take a picture of a blanket of Quebecois tourists and not sand as it is usually Hip to hip on the beach there. Also overpriced and difficult to even park there.
If you want cool geology and beach with lighthouse there is Pemaquid Point which has some great scenery but is abit out of the way. Camden Hills, MT. beatty has some cool scars on the rocks from retreating glaciers up near the observation point, but if geology isn't your thing, stick to Acadia and if you get the chance, Owl's head Lighthouse and state park has some great views and nice fairly uncrowded beaches.
Secluded beach by Thomas Needham - Photo 261190037 / 500px
and
Southern Exposure Owl's Head by Thomas Needham - Photo 261190239 / 500px
Lobsters you can buy from actual lobstermen and they are easy as long as you have lemon and butter! Wife just bought 2 culls (1 clawed) that weighed about 2 and 3/4 pounds with 2 pounds of steamer clams for 20.00. She gets lobster for two or three meals, the cat gets the green tomalley (green liver guts, Yuch) and is happy, I get home made clam chowder and I am happy
Don't rush to do anything other than use your eyes and take some pictures. Trying to follow a rigid schedule will just stress you out. PM me if you have more questions.
---------- Post added 08-04-18 at 08:10 PM ----------
Originally posted by DeadJohn I expect to eat a lot of lobster and fish-n-chips on this trip. I see Gritty McDuff's is also in Freeport as well as downtown Portland.
Will try to avoid pizza and Italian subs. I already get my fill of that in the NYC area.
There are much better brew pubs than this one, I have one in my little town with amazing food and good beer, (SWMBO and I each had one with dinner tonight,) just they are only open Thursday though Sunday.
Gritty's and Seadog Brew Pubs are pricey but to someone from NY it may seem reasonable! My other local brew Pub has brilliant beers but no kitchen, but a great local café steps away as well as the best Ice ream in the US another 15 yards past that. The Owner has been making Ice cream for 50+ years and it makes Ben and Jerry's taste like ice milk!