*If you ever plan a fall vacation, come see us in New Hampshire, the foliage is breathtaking!

Laurie

The rich & shameless are rarely seen as they own private, ocean front property--the locals do not have the pleasure of living on ocean front property. The locals can hold their own with these guys, too. Love this story: Billy Joel & Christy Brinkley came off their yacht and into to town. They went into the local hardware store (run by the family of one of my schoolmates). Being summer it was very busy in the store. BJ grew impatient and said to the
owner something to the effect, "Don't you know who I am? I'm BJ and I'm in a hurry." The owner replied, "Well I'm Suzie Smith* and you'll have to wait your turn!"

I grew up with one of the "salty bunch." My step-father worked his whole life in a shipyard owned by the father of a well-known Maine humorist. He (the humorist) got much of his material from hanging around the guys at "the yard."
Being a farmer from Iowa I don't think you'll have any problems. It's the pushy, impolite attitude of the tourists (mostly from a certain Northeast state--the one with the big city where BJ hails from)that offend the natives. The towns where the tourists flock are relatively small towns, with small town attitudes that get swamped with thousands of folks from all of the country for 3 months every year. Imagine having that many houseguests for 3 months every year. Just treat the locals and their towns and their beloved state as you would like a houseguest in your home to act & you will find that Mainers are warm, good-hearted people.

Deep sea fishing: I'm not sure of all that they catch. I know they catch tuna and bass.
The locations I mentioned previously are definetly NOT quiet in the summer. They are the major tourist destinations. If you want to go in the summer and want quiet you could find a place to stay in one of the touristy towns and then take day trips to the pennisulas in between the ones I mentioned. They are beautiful as well and it's always fun to stop and explore. It's fun to climb around on the rocks. Shell hunting is not a Maine thing. There are lots of shells, but they are all clams, mussels & periwinkles. To get the pretty shells you have to go to more tropical climates. Still, the kids love to bring their pails and collect them. They always love to pick up some of the bazillion rocks on the shore and skim them across the water or just throw them and watch them plop! Grownups love this, too. Be sure and bring those water shoes for everyone. Sure wish they had those things when I was a kid (keds can awfully heavy when wet!).
Some folks, mainly those without kids in school, choose to visit Maine after Labor Day. Stuff is mostly still open and it is very quiet. If you came to NE in October it is do-able to explore the southern coast of Maine and the foliage in NH's White Mountains. You would probably need a couple of x-tra day to allow for some of the driving.
No more than 3, 4 hrs. The Maine coast has beautiful fall foliage as well. Folks flock to the mountains of NH & VT in October because the peaks and streams are breathtaking,
but the foliage in October is beautiful any where in NE in the fall. What kinds of activities do the rest of your family enjoy?
My husband grew up in RI and his family' still there, I grew up in Maine and my family's still there, we have lived in Southern NH for 20+ years, my husband works an hour's drive away in Massachusetts (has for 20 years), so we are true New Englanders.
What's Iowa like? I'm always interested in different landscapes and cultures.

Hope you can visit NE!
Laurie

Our town of choice is Cape Porpoise next to Kennebunk. It is very laid back, and it has a wonderful lobster restaurant. All we needed was right there, books, lobster and wine.

jerri

There are boat trips to Monhegan Island from Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, & Pemaquid. This is a very rustic island with a lot of walking and some incredible views...

About an hour or so north of Portland is Bailey Island. You're able to drive over an amazing bridge to reach it. It's very quiet and lovely with a beautiful fishing village nestled in a cove near the end of the island. The popular Cook's Restaurant is there, also.

A google search turned up some amazing photos by R. Todd King. Check them out. He takes you right up the coast to Bar Harbor with his collection of shots.

You will love Maine...

Mel