160547 Sat May 29 12:32:50 -0700 2004 4 13 New England 0 861175 Got a free airline ticket...looking to travel to a state that we never have been before, thinking about Maine, Midwest Airlines only flys to Boston in that area so we are thinking of driving from Boston to maybe Portland. We need to use ticket before end of June and only have 5 days 4 nights...Any recommendations for great seafood on the drive to Portland, and in and around the Portland area? Sat May 29 12:32:50 -0700 2004 0 JulieR 1 861197 Not a bad plan.Stop in Newbury Port in Mass. Then stop in Portsmuth,NH. Then I would pick up Rt1 for awhile, then hit Kittery for Shopping and maybe York, Kinnebunk,Ognquit, Then maybe get back on the Rt. 95 and get off at Portland go to Old Port area near the waterfront many shops and Resturants. Then work your way down east from there, Iam sure if you review the message board you will see many names to try. Tue Jun 01 09:35:19 -0700 2004 861175 0 Bernie 1 861222 Just a note of caution: Just driving to Portland will be boring. Pick out some stops on the way. (I'm assuming you just want to stop in Maine points, although there's some great stuff on the coast of Massachusetts and NH too.) For instance, maybe if it's hot you'll want to try out a wave or two at the beaches at York. Or maybe you'll want to take a little walk on the beach to a certain summer home at Kennebunkport/Walker Point where a couple presidents occasionally go. Or maybe you're in a carnival mood and want to stop at Old Orchard Beach. Or maybe you want to check out a lighthouse or 12. Maybe a little lobster lunch near Two Lights state park fits your fancy. Or tour the rather nice array of restaurants and port sites at Portland itself. Or... For what it's worth, our favorite restaurant in Portland is the Fore Street Inn (288 Fore Street, Portland), but reservations are heavily recommended (207-775-2717) although people are telling us to also try the heavily recommended Roma Café for a romantic dinner (not a seafood place though). Well, you can pick out your kind of spot - I have only toyed with the barest minimum of possibilities. But please, get off that boring Maine Turnpike!!! Wed Jun 02 14:04:36 -0700 2004 861175 0 bunnyr 2 861510 The Roma has been there for ever, and I'm not sure why. The food is average. Don't bother Fore Street, on the other hand, is always superb. Great atmosphere, fabulous fresh seafood and organic vegetable, and Chef/owner Sam Hayward is a great guy. Not a cheap eat, however. For a quick, cheap lunch, try Federal Spice on Federal Street. Delicious, inventive wraps, lots of vegetarian options, friendly staff, fast. Sat Jun 19 18:07:22 -0700 2004 861222 0 MangiaMuse 1 861243 My own recommendation would be to stop first in Portsmouth, NH, with lots of restaurants to choose from (my own favorites are Jumpin' Jays Fish Cafe and the Green Monkey. It's a beautiful small city with a good seacoast vibe. Drive north along the seacoast roads from there (somtimes it's route 1, but much of the time route 1 is a bit dumpy). Stop in at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, and Spend a few hours at Laudholm Farm nature preserve in Wells ( a former dairy farm on the ocean with walking paths). My favorite place is Cape Porpoise on the northern side of Kennebunkport. In Cape Porpoise, there is a good lobster shack on the end of the pier, as well as the wonderful Noonan's Lobster and Brandy Hayne's homestyle place, The Wayfarer. I'll leave Portland to others, except to recommend Fore Street, Street & Co. and the Port Hole. Good luck with your trip! Thu Jun 03 18:35:48 -0700 2004 861175 0 don@concept