Think of nan cleanable infinitesimal successful Maine for illustration a firefly — captivating, bright-burning and brief. “Summers don’t past agelong up successful New England, but that’s what makes it a spot much exclusive,” says Mary Cropper of luxury recreation institution Black Tomato.
Rows of clapboard houses pinch bikes propped up against sea-weathered fences, and winding, sandy lanes starring to concealed beaches make a travel to Maine nan eventual all-American vacation, she adds.
Gorge connected lobster rolls, prime up a fewer surf-polished seashells and return refuge nether 1 of nan rows of umbrellas — preppily stripey, of people — dotting nan soil dunes.
The southernmost reaches of nan authorities are astir a 90 minutes’ thrust from Boston (fly there, for little prices and much flights, versus authorities superior Portland). This agelong of seaside towns is reassuringly tony, anchored by 2 hubs: Kennebunkport, location to nan Bush family’s summertime compound, and artsier, queer-friendly Ogunquit.
The erstwhile is fittingly afloat of fancy hotels for illustration nan Auberge-operated White Barn Inn. It conscionable added its ain twist connected a penthouse suite, a 512-square-foot, one-bedroom houseboat Cora, pinch its ain backstage tile platform moored astatine nan hotel’s riverfront dock.
The astir exclusive clang pad, though, is Hidden Pond, a cluster of cottages nestled successful nan woods. Borrow 1 of nan hotel’s bikes for nan brief, breezy thrust to nan glorious Goose Rocks Beach, and person a lazy luncheon astatine sister spot nan Tides Inn overlooking nan water. Otherwise, motorcycle a spot further to Nunan’s Lobster Hut. Plan for an evening retired successful Ogunquit, says Cropper.
“It’s sewage a small separator to it, and it’s wherever you tin fto your hairsbreadth down — formation by day, statement by night.”
Pinball betwixt Main Street and nan Front Porch location until your power flags.
On your measurement northbound to explore, make judge to detour via nan capital, Portland, for a speedy pit stop, which has a akin quirky charm to its left-coast twin. Ken’s Place successful Scarborough is different lobster rotation standout — “as classical arsenic it gets” — aliases effort nan Lobster Shack astatine Two Lights State Park — “go for nan lobster roll, enactment for nan view.”
The rugged seashore and choppy waters present mean it’s dotted pinch lighthouses; nan oldest, Portland Head Light, adjacent Cape Elizabeth, dates backmost to 1791 and it’s worthy scurrying to nan apical to look retired complete nan Atlantic. The champion caller edifice for overnighting present is unarguably nan Longfellow, a 48-room spot owned by a section family patient which opened past summertime successful nan historical West End — drawback a portion astatine nan lobby bar, Five of Clubs.
Once you’re past Portland, nan existent escapade awaits. Northern Maine is simply a agrarian hideaway pinch a storied history that modern celebs are embracing.
“Everyone knows a Rockefeller aliases a Vanderbilt up here, because they utilized to travel up during nan summertime successful nan 1900s,” says June Kim, an creator and longtime New Yorker who now lives year-round adjacent Acadia National Park. “Jennifer Coolidge was present a fewer summers ago, and Christy Turlington and Ed Burns came into my friend’s shop.”
Kim recommends nan aptly named Sand Beach, a rarity successful this rocky area.
Bar Harbor is nan best-known guidelines here, connected nan northeast seashore of nan promontory, but it’s besides nan busiest successful summer, truthful caput alternatively to Southwest Harbor.
It’s a quieter, much locals-heavy town, location to nan Claremont Hotel. “There’s a tiny small boathouse astatine nan extremity of nan dock — get a blueberry mojito,” says Kim, nodding to nan state’s charismatic consequence and cardinal crop.
“There’s a tiny small boathouse astatine nan extremity of nan dock — get a blueberry mojito. ”
June Kim, an creator and longtime New YorkerTry lobster risotto astatine Red Sky edifice adjacent aliases crossed Somes Sound, there’s Northeast Harbour — location to Salt Market, wherever proprietor Maude Kusserow combines java and homemade pastries pinch a action of goodies she’s handpicked, whether a solid teapot aliases a niche basking sauce.
Go for meal and luncheon astatine Milk & Honey and effort nan “crunchy and not-too-sweet” house-made granola that June Kim buys successful bulk.
Craving a lobster roll? Head to Thurston’s Lobster Pound successful Bernard, correct connected nan confederate reaches, wherever nan crustaceans extremity up on the array hours aft they’re fished from nan water.
“They navigator them successful saltwater — that’s nan secret,” says Kim, who loves roaming Little Long Pond pinch her dog, a 4-mile loop that was erstwhile portion of nan Rockefeller Foundation. It’s a spot that appeals moreover arsenic nan crowds statesman to bladed arsenic nan play ends astir Columbus Day. Some shops and restaurants whitethorn shutter for nan winter, but Kim says that nan pandemic-era influx of distant workers, now year-round residents, has boosted nan entreaty of nan region beyond that firefly-like summer.
“It’s beautiful, moreover successful nan wintertime — that’s erstwhile you consciousness for illustration you’re successful Narnia,” she says.