New Hampshire Motorcycle Tour

Today you are heading for the coast and from Greenville take SR 6/15 until you reach Route 15 south, follow the signs to Bangor. Located at the head of tidewater and navigation on the Penobscot River, Bangor is the principal retail, cultural and commercial center for eastern and northern Maine – a nice stop for lunch en route. You continue your ride on US 1A towards Ellsworth and then pick up SR 3 to Bar Harbor, a place with a special mystique. Bar Harbor lies at the entrance to Acadia National Park on Mountain Desert Island and the beauty of sea, mountain, lake and forest have made this region well-known as a resort. This town began life as an exclusive resort, home to the Vanderbilts and Astors, the great fire of October 1947 that destroyed their opulent cottages ended all that. In its heyday, one of the town’s sights was the “Indian Village”, a summer encampment where Native American Indians came to sell goods to tourists. The best attractions here are outdoor activities, such as deep-sea fishing charters, windjammer cruises, island cruises, kajak rentals, or whale watching excursions. Overnight.

You leave Bar Harbor and get on Route 1 south, which follows the entire coast of Maine – you are riding one of the most striking coastlines in America. En route you should make a stop in Camden, a beautiful harbor town with a dramatic scenery – here, the Appalachian Mountains meet the Atlantic, and the confluence makes a dramatic setting. As you continue riding south you get to Rockland, which is the world’s largest distributor of lobsters. The first weekend in August the annual Maine Lobster Festival is being held here. Between Rockland and Brunswick, several peninsulas hang off the coast like icicles. We suggest riding south on Route 131 to Port Clyde, a part of Maine that’s relatively tourist-free. From here, you can actually catch the mail boat to Monhegan Island from May through October. Monhegan has been home to the Wyeth family for years, and artists from around the world come here to draw and paint.There are no vehicles allowed on this island, so you would have to set off on foot and hike down seldom-walked trails to visit galleries in the artist’s colony, and meet true lobstermen. This is a great place to get your creativity in gear and peace in your heart! After this nice little side trip you head back to Rockland and continue on Route 1. After a few miles you reach Boothbay Harbor, a picturesque seaport that retains the atmosphere of an Old New England. Today’s destination is Kennebunkport, a popular summer resort and a favorite among artists and writers who have found both its history and quaint setting conducive to creativity. Overnight.

Today you leave Kennebunkport and get back on Route 1 to continue riding down the coast until you reach Hampton. Hampton is one of New Hampshire’s earliest towns. Settled in 1638, the town first was called Winnacunnet, meaning “Beautiful place of pines”. While in town, you can check the Tuck Memorial Museum on Meeting House Green which depicts facets of Hampton’s history. The Green itself is historic; it was even established in 1638 and contains 42 stones representing the town’s earliest families. You leave Hampton by taking Exeter Rd/Route 27 towards the historic and charming town of Exeter. Exeter is a mixture of industry and academia; Phillips Exeter Academy, a distinguished preparatory school, was chartered in 1781 and has conducted classes since 1783. Another link to the town’s past is its architectural heritage, which is preserved with pride. From Exeter, you get onto Route 101 towards Manchester. Upon arrival, it will be time to return your bike at EagleRider Manchester office and transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.

Today your wonderful trip will end with your departure flight back home.