Maine’s Best-Value Bed and Breakfasts
In the last article, I shared details about some of Maine’s most beautiful and luxurious bed & breakfasts. Though we’d all love to stay in a room with an ocean view and a whirlpool tub, sometimes our budget just doesn’t cut it — many of these upscale B&Bs cost more than $400 a night, especially in summer.
Even so, there are many other wonderful bed & breakfast inns throughout Maine that offer comfort and convenience at affordable prices — all of these B&Bs have an average price of $150 a night or less, but don’t sacrifice any of the quality.
The Hartstone Inn
In Bar Harbor, the Black Friar Inn is the perfect place to stay if you’re planning to explore the breathtaking beauty of Acadia National Park — the inn is only a mile away from Acadia, and a short walk to the shops and sights of downtown Bar Harbor. The Inn’s seven guest rooms each feature beautiful antique furnishings, and each is equipped with a private bathroom. The innkeepers bake fresh bread and muffins each morning as part of your decadent breakfast, which may also include quiche, pancakes, or Belgian waffles with fresh fruit. And if you’re itching for a little off-island adventure, the Inn also offers professionally guided kayak and fly fishing trips.
Black Friar Inn
10 Summer Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1424
(207) 288-5091
http://www.blackfriarinn.com
Carriage Trade Inn, located in the southern Maine coastal town of Ogunquit, features five beautiful guest rooms and a large suite in an traditional cape house that has been renovated to include all the trappings of modern life. The B&B includes conveniences such as wireless internet service and a 42” television in the living room, which is perfect for watching sports games and movies if you’re stuck inside on a rainy day, as well as a 10-person whirlpool spa in the garden area outside. The daily breakfast includes a cold buffet of fruit, yogurt, and other fresh items, along with a choice of two fresh-cooked main selections. The innkeepers also welcome their guests to join them for snacks and socializing from 5 to 7 every evening, giving visitors the chance to relax and unwind after a long day of fishing, boating, or hiking.
Carriage Trade Inn
254 Shore Road
Ogunquit, ME 03907
http://www.carriagetradeinn.com
In the lovely mid-coast town of Camden, you’ll discover the Hartstone Inn, an 1835 Victorian mansion that’s been converted to a 12-bedroom bed and breakfast. The guest rooms and spacious suites include elegant decor, air-conditioning, and extras such as a TV, a DVD player, and free wireless Internet access. The Hartstone’s owner, Michael Salmon, is a professional chef with more than 25 years of experience in exceptional restaurants all around the world — so rest assured, the included breakfast will be delicious.
A typical breakfast might feature salmon eggs benedict, proscuitto baked eggs, or Maine blueberry and almond pancakes. The Hartstone also offers an award-winning restaurant for dinner, with nightly set five-course meals. If you want to learn how to make some of Chef Michael’s gourmet recipes at home, he also offers private cooking classes, where you’ll help to prepare that evening’s dinner menu and learn some restaurant tricks of the trade. Get a good night’s sleep and gourmet training – what could be better?
Hartstone Inn
41 Elm Street
Camden, ME 04843
http://www.hartstoneinn.com
Those are just a few of Maine’s fabulous bed and breakfasts that offer luxury without the extravagant price tag. To find more great B&Bs in the state, visit:
http://www.bbonline.com/me/index.html
Written by Kathy Hawkins on July 16, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Bed & Breakfast, Places to Stay, Bar Harbor
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