Fall Foliage In New England
Every autumn in New England nature puts on the most spectacular event in the region with a fall foliage show. This extravaganza does not have an exact schedule but usually begins by late September and finishes by late October to early November.
Generally the fall colors start earlier in the northern regions and gradually work down the whole of the New England region.
As you can see with my , the autumn colors were looking extraordinary by early October in midcoast Maine.
And I hope you have an extraordinary time visiting Maine!
Thanks To Our Belfast Expert Daniela
When I first arrived to Belfast, I chose to stay in a place near the city castle. I figured itd be close to the action, but itd still keep that suburban charm of peace and quiet. I was wrong. Belfast Castle is located in a delightful residential area, but besides the former royal home and the zoo, there arent many things to do around the neighbourhood. I was thinking about moving to a more central location when I got a job offer from a hostel in a town nearby, which required me to take guest groups around the capital, giving me a closer look at Belfasts city life and quarters. Ive since come to know the city quite well, and hope my advice has helped you choose where to stay in Belfast on your trip. Happy Travels!
Hotels And Airbnbs In Belfast Maine
There are some great Airbnbs and traditional Bed and Breakfast stays in Belfast Maine but you should book your reservation as early as possible as soon as you know your travel dates because everything books up fast in the summer and fall.
For hotels I usually find something on Booking.com and sometimes I dont even need to pay a deposit. Check the latest hotels prices for Belfast Maine and book your reservation now!
Now lets check out the list of Belfast Maine things to do, and enjoy the beauty of New England through art, food, and nature.
First, just for fun let me share 10 facts about Maine that you may not already know.
Squirrel standing on a rock posing for a photograph
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Where To Stay In Belfast: The Cathedral Quarter Is Artsy Belfast At Its Best
Great area for: Arts & Culture Architecture Food & Drink Sightseeing
If you are looking for more of an artsy vibe, the Cathedral Quarter is one of the best areas to stay in Belfast.
This quarter is home to the citys art scene, and many of Belfasts most famous street murals are found here. Throughout the year, youll find plenty of open-air gigs and food and music festivals in the Cathedral Quarter.
The series of narrow alleyways in this quarter are perfect for a wander. Commercial Court, one of the most famous entries of the city, has been home to all sorts of businesses over the years, including newspapers and a cock-fighting ring! If you get tired, stop in to The John Hewitt or the Duke of York, two historic pubs in the area.
And be sure to look up to enjoy the Cathedral Quarters breathtaking architecture. Beyond St. Annes Cathedral, from which the Quarter takes its name, Belfast Central Library and The Metropolitan Arts Centre are also worth a visit.
My recommendations for an afternoon in the Cathedral Quarter include a visit to one of its many cool cafés , a trip to the Cathedral Gardens to admire the Buoy sculptures, and plenty of time to get lost among the many entries and abandoned buildings with a camera in your hand!
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Best Seaside State Park Best Spots To Stay See Our Editors Picks For The Best Things To See And Do Along Maines Coastal Route 1
Yankee Magazine3.6025
Please note that businesses, attractions, and events throughout New England have been modified, closed, and/or canceled in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. Please travel responsibly, and check with state guidelines and individual businesses and organizations before making travel plans.
Heading to the Route 1 on the Maine coast this year? Along with classics like the in Ogunquit and a stop to admire the Nubble Light in York, weve got the perfect roundup of what to see, do, and eat while you travel Route 1, plus where to stay. Read on to see our picks for the best of Maines coastal Route 1, then let us know your picks!
Note: Selections originally appeared in recent editions of the annual Yankee Magazine Best of New England Editors Choice Awards.
One of 39 benches along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine.
Annie Graves
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Every Room Has A Spectacular View Of The Bay
Such a great location and the ease of access to everywhere I was traveling along the Maine coast was greatly appreciated. The rooms were exceptionally clean and comfortable.
They did a fantastic job of making us feel comfortable and safe and had a no nonsense attitude with regard to COVID safety. Highly recommend!
Top Tips For Finding Perfect Belfast Hotel Deals
- If youre looking for a cheap hotel in Belfast, you should consider visiting during the low season. You’ll find cheaper accommodations in Belfast in April and November.
- Hotel room prices vary depending on many factors but youll most likely find the best hotel deals in Belfast if you stay on a Wednesday. The opposite is true for, Sunday, which is usually the most expensive day.
- Book at least 90 days before your stay begins to get the best price for your Belfast accommodation.
- The cheapest 3-star hotel room in Belfast found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks was $86, while the most expensive was $197.
- How long should you stay? KAYAK users usually book their accommodation in Belfast for 2 days.
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Where To Stay In Belfast: Gaeltacht Quarter Is An Irish
Great area for: Irish Heritage and Culture Unique and Different
If youre looking for a truly Irish experience, Belfasts Gaeltacht Quarter is a must. While other parts of the city have some British influence, the Gaeltacht Quarter is all about Irish history and heritage, and is home to a large Irish-speaking community. As you can imagine, this area is home to a large Republican community, and political sensitivity is a must.
While its a relatively new quarter, its gaining popularity among visitors for its authentic Irish feel. Most of the murals youll find here depict the history of the area, and if you happen to be in Belfast around August, the Irish culture and heritage festival, Féile, has many events in the area.
If you want to catch a performance of Irish music, a poetry reading, or sample some traditional Irish food, head to the Culturlann MacAdam O Fiaich, an Irish language centre. And if you want to keep things a bit more low key, simply walk through the streets listening for the beautiful Gaeilge being spoken amongst the locals.
Where To Stay In Belfast: Titanic Quarter Is Modern And Urban
Great area for: Maritime Tourism Nightlife Family Activities
Belfasts seemingly odd obsession with the doomed ship seems to have been a focused strategy to boost tourism, and its a bet that appears to have paid off.
Titanic Belfast, the relatively new museum that honours the history of the ship, is the main reason to visit this area, but as dollars flow in, the neighborhood benefits.
Compared to other more traditional neighbourhoods, the redeveloped Titanic Quarter is a very modern looking part of the city. It mixes residential, touristy, and commercial spaces suitable for both short-term and long-term visits, and has a general maritime theme to it all.
If youre travelling as a family, you might want to check out the Odyssey Complex, an entertainment venue that hosts concerts, exhibitions and sporting events. It also has bowling, a cinema and plenty of eateries . The W5 interactive discovery centre, basically a science centre, is a great place to take the family when you want to do something less touristy and more kid-friendly.
Titanic Belfast by Nico Kaiser is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Photo has not been modified from original. .
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Fort Point State Park
Three miles from Stockton Springs along US Route 1 the Fort Point State Park points of interest include the Fort Point Light Station, the remaining bits of Fort Pownall, the stone marking the original 1759 burial site of General Samuel Waldo, for whom Waldo county is named.
Apparently some folks thought Waldo should be buried in the city of his birth, so they dug him up and buried him again in Boston.
I visited Fort Point State Park on a windy day in late September, disappointed that the lighthouse interior is not open to visitors. Theres an easy little hike called Grants Cove out to a beach.
Summer activities include hiking, biking, fishing and paddling. During winter the trails are open for cross-country skiing.
Open from 9 am to sunset from May 15 to October 15 but you can still visit the park in off-season
Natalies Camden Harbour Inn
The dining room has the elegant design hallmarks of an upscale Parisian bistro, but the sweeping view of mast-filled Camden harbor definitely anchors this night out in Maine. And the menu makes the best of the states signature luxe ingredient. If you think the only thing to do with Maine lobster is to dip the meat in butter, consider coconut-lobster bisque graced with a pickled pepper or a lobster salad with crunchy jicama and spicy nasturtium leaves. Either or both could show up on the legendary five-course lobster tasting menu.
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The Red Barn Baking Co
Three days a week from spring to autumn, baker extraordinaire Kate Capra fills the glass cases in Lincolnvilles Red Barn Marketplace with freshly baked breads, tarts, pies, strudels, cakes, cookies, brownies, and hand pies. Dont miss the decadent cherries-and-cream brioches, the buttery yet light and flaky croissants, or, truly, anything.
So Where Should You Stay In Belfast
If youre coming to Belfast for the first time, and want to focus on sightseeing, the food and drinks scene, and Belfasts exceptional cultural attractions, Central Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter are the best neighborhoods in Belfast. Central Belfast is busier and more touristy, whereas the Cathedral Quarter is less touristy, with plenty of events. If you cant decide between the two, dont worry too much: its only about a 12-minute walk between St. Annes Cathedral and Belfast City Hall.
If you want to stay in an area thats younger, and has more of student nightlife scene, consider staying in the Queens Quarter.
If you are looking to experience a more Irish part of town, be sure to visit the Gaeltacht Quarter. The Titanic Quarter is also worth visiting to see the Titanic Belfast Museum, and experience a more modern and urban version of Belfast, with plenty of nightlife. These two neighborhoods dont have many accomodation options, however.
Wherever you stay, most of Belfasts neighbourhoods are quite close to each other, making them all pretty convenient. Whichever of Belfasts best areas to stay you do choose, make sure to visit all of them at some point during your trip, to enjoy a wide selection of Belfasts live music, street art, delicious food and incredibly kind people.
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Ten Facts About Maine
Now lets get into what to do in Belfast Maine!
Kayaking at Knights Pond in Northport Maine in the fall one of the BEST things to do in Belfast ME
Day Trips From Belfast Maine
For a change of scene you can take a day trip from Belfast to go exploring more of midcoast Maine and beyond.
Many of these day trips are only a 30-minute drive from Belfast so you can add two or three stops to your road trip to see more attractions.
A beautiful hike! Gorham Mountain trail summit sign at Acadia National Park
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Things To Do In Belfast
Settled in the 18th century by Europeans, Belfast blossomed in the 19th century. You can see that in the architecture grand sea-captains houses sit majestically in leafy neighborhoods while the downtown is dominated by ornate brick buildings. The downtown is considered so beautiful its a Nationally designated Main Street Community and working waterfront.
Those classic downtown buildings now serve as homes and workshops for a cadre of local artists and artisans. Check with ourtownbelfast.org for information on visiting their galleries and shops. If youre in Belfast in summer, join a Belfast Art Walk on select Friday evenings. These events bring out creatives to show off their wares.
The performing arts are also well supported. The Belfast Maskers, the local community theater, has been active for more than 30 years and now performs in a historic theater space. Speaking of theaters, step into The Colonial Theatre, a classic cinema in downtown thats been entertaining Belfast since 1912.
For lovers of local food, Belfast is hard to beat. Theres the Belfast Co-op, one of the states most popular, which opened in 1976. Like farmers markets? Belfast has two. Maines largest farmers market, the United Farmers Market of Maine, is open indoors every Saturday. The long-time Belfast Farmers Market is open Fridays – indoors during winter, outdoors during the warmer months.
Where’s The Best Place To Stay In Ogunquit
Are you going straight to a hotel, orlooking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?
The best resource on neighborhoods, areas,and hotels is the Trippy page onwhere to stay in Ogunquit .
If you’re looking for a quick answer, you can check out Studio East Motel, which was mentioned 2 times on Trippy.
Want to research more popular hotels in Ogunquit ?Click the blue button below.
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Where To Stay In Belfast: A Quick Guide To Finding The Best Area To Stay In Belfast
If youre planning a visit to the city and are wondering about the best places to stay in Belfast, start with this quick guide to Belfasts best neighborhoods.
Weve added detailed info about all the best areas to stay in Belfast in this Belfast Neighborhood Guide later on in this post, but we also wanted to provide a quick-guide summary of our top where to stay in Belfast neighborhoods. Each of the neighborhood names is clickable, and will take you to more detailed info about that section below. But for now, heres a summary of Belfasts best neighborhoods!
Donegall Place Belfast by William Murphy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo has not been modified from original. Photographers website.
Where To Stay In Belfast: Travel Tips & Faqs
Hopefully, were answered most of your Belfast neighborhood questions and given you an idea about the best area to stay for your trip. However, weve also included a few travel tips and answered some questions we know youll probably be wondering about. As we get questions from more readers, well do our best to update this section over time.
Is Belfast Safe?
Disturbances between Nationalists and Loyalists are rare these days, but still a possibility. MI5 continues to rate Northern Ireland as severe when it comes to terrorism-related dangers/threat level, a rating that is separate from the general UK terrorism threat level .
After the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, most of the riots and political violence has evaporated, but youll still see signs of the threat of violence, including barriers around police stations, use of armoured vehicles by police, and generally visible police presence .
So while Belfast is generally safe , its still worth keeping your wits about you, and being aware there are some areas best avoided.
The Holylands near Queens Quarter is one such area, and has a reputation for having some troubles and vandalism, especially at night.
As a general rule of thumb, its a good idea to avoid wandering too far off the main roads of the divided communities at night.
Specific safety tips for Northern Ireland include:
Belfast Travel Tip: How to Get Around Belfast?
Belfast Travel Tip: How to Get From Belfast Airport to the City Centre?
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Before You Travel To The United States
With specific exceptions, noncitizens who have been in certain countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States, either as immigrants or nonimmigrants. For more information, visit Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States.
For information about COVID-19 requirements for land travel, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals.external icon
Where To Stay In Belfast: Central Belfast Is The Heart Of The City
Great area for: Sightseeing Nightlife Pubs and Restaurants Arts and Culture
Central Belfast is the beating heart of the city, and is where most things nightlife, culture, food and drink, etc. happen.
And the heart of Central Belfast is the majestic City Hall building. In addition to being architecturally magnificent, the building also plays host to a variety of events throughout the year, such as the Belfast Christmas Market in December, and various seasonal exhibitions open to the public.
If youre a music lover, be sure to wander the streets around Victoria Square, home to Belfasts many street performers, and check the schedule at the Grand Opera House, home to some of the best shows in the country.
The busy, commercial streets around the Golden Mile are ideal for an afternoon of shopping, and there is no better or more quintessentially local way to end your day than grabbing a pint at The Crown, one of the most emblematic pubs in the city, opened in 1885 and famous for its intricate detail and ornate interior .
Lively, vibrant and full of options to entertain newcomers and locals alike, Central Belfast cant be missed by first-time visitors. Its also a great place to stay in Belfast if you plan on taking day trips to the surrounding towns and cities, as the train and bus stations are within walking distance.
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