Romantic Escapes in Maine

By Robert and Patricia Foulke

Where to eat, where to stay and what to do are covered. The Foulkes also throw in tidbits such as tasty regional recipes, a bit of poetry by Emerson and a love letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Chicago Daily Herald. "[The] captivating prose invokes the spiri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hunter Publishing
• Release date: Dec 7, 2009
• ISBN: 9781588438553

Book preview

Romantic Getaways in Maine

Patricia & Robert Foulke

Hunter Publishing, Inc.

Introduction

Maine

Southwest Coast

Where To Stay

Kennebunkport

Ogunquit

York

Where to Eat

Kennebunkport

Ogunquit

York

What to Do

Kennebunkport

Ogunquit

The Wedding Cake House 

York

If you go...

Casco Bay

Where to Stay

Bath

Freeport

Durham

Newcastle

Pownal

Where to Eat

Newcastle

Nobleboro

What to Do

Shopping

Other Than Shopping

Cruises

Recreational Areas

More Exploring the Peninsulas

If you go...

Penobscot Bay

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

What to Do

If You Go...

Introduction

We never tire of exploring New England, and Maine in particular. The diversity in terrain stimulates us, and, unlike snowbirds, we enjoy all seasons. Some people are happiest in the mountains, with far-reaching views and great hiking. Others are mad about the ocean, especially when boisterous waves crash on a rocky coast. And the rotation of seasons brings gorgeous crisp fall colors, pristine winter snowfalls, spring wildflowers, and summer days spent lazily on a beach. Taken together, the six states offer a greater variety of activities than any other region of the United States.

What is a romantic getaway? Couples, as well as each man and woman, have different visions of romance. But no matter what your definition is, some time spent outside your normal routine of home and work can stimulate your imagination and provide relaxation and renewal. It's the chance to be alone together and build memories to share. Even a short trip may be just the break in routine that will refresh stressful couples who have forgotten what brought them together.

When do couples plan romantic trips? Some are considering an engagement, others are enjoying a first, second, or 20th honeymoon, an anniversary of the day they met, or a birthday, yet others are celebrating a promotion, marking the completion of a project, or just seeking some time away from the demands of children. Some head out on impulse or plan a surprise just to escape from ordinary life at home. Romantic anecdotes in the text may entice you to consider your own weekend jaunt.

Where do you want to go? Some well-known towns and resorts in Maine are obviously appealing, with great views, interesting architecture, and many activities at hand. Other spots equally attractive are relatively unknown and unspoiled, just waiting to be found. It has been our pleasure to explore many towns, villages, and country roads throughout New England, and almost every trip brings the pleasure of new discoveries. In addition to the ambience of their location, many inns and B&B's have attractive rooms and a habit of pampering their guests in a discreet fashion.

As travelers together for almost 45 years and travel writers for almost 20, we have poked around finding new inns, B&B's and restaurants, as well as revisiting ones we already know. Yet we have only scratched the surface. This selective book focuses on places we know well, ones that have some distinctive character other couples are likely to enjoy. It makes no pretense of covering all attractive places to visit or stay in New England, leaving that to far less detailed but more comprehensive accommodations directories.

With a few exceptions, our choices lie outside of cities because most couples want to escape the urban environment and get into the countryside for their romantic weekends. Our description is meant to help you visualize what the place really looks like. We have listed various ways you can get information about accommodations (telephone, fax, e-mail, Web site).

Prices for Accommodations

$50-$100$

$101-$200$$

$201-$300$$$

$301 and up$$$$

Be sure to ask about high, low, and shoulder seasons, weekday and weekend rates, romantic packages, and special activity weekends. We suggest that you plan well in advance because many of these inns