Maximize Mileage on a Maine Road Trip and Make Memories at Four Coastal Bed and Breakfasts

Ready for a road trip without messy maps? Grab your GPS and hit the highway to maximize mileage and make memories at four Maine coastal inns. Stay at Blueberry Fields Bed & Breakfast, Grey Havens Inn, The Inn at English Meadows and York Harbor Inn.

By Shirley Anitra Swagerty

Blueberry Fields Bed and Breakfast, Washington, Maine
From away? Fly into the cosmopolitan hub of Portland International Airport, rent a car and head north to spend your first night on the central coast of Maine at Blueberry Fields Bed and Breakfast in Washington. Nothing says Maine better than ten scenic acres of blueberry fields with hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country trails. One hundred wooded acres include a sugar maple grove, small brook and a marsh on the eastern edge that is frequented by an assortment of wild animals. Accommodations include upscale amenities in a warm setting with private outdoor access. Innkeeper Debbie Zeigler was a professional baker and her New England recipes are used for hearty breakfasts and home-baked afternoon treats. From this location, take a lighthouse tour that reflects Maine’s maritime heritage, with stops at the often-photographed lighthouses of Owls Head, Pemaquid Point and Portland.

Grey Havens Inn, Georgetown, Maine
Drive south to Georgetown Island peninsula where Grey Havens Inn sits high on the bluff with breathtaking ocean views of midcoast Maine. Relax on the huge wraparound porch that overlooks Harmon Harbor and the North Atlantic, or sit inside by the massive stone fireplace surrounded by a huge picture window. The inn has a deep water dock with two moorings for boats. Now under new management by Eve and Dick Roesler, this historically significant yet completely renovated inn is considered authentic Maine at its best. Blue is the popular onsite restaurant open to the public for breakfast, dinner and an incredible Sunday brunch. Reid State Park is nearby, with a mile-long beach, natural lagoon, sand dunes, crashing surf and wooded walking or biking trails. Take a charter Boat that departs from Five Islands for a scenic cruise.

The Inn at English Meadows, Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is known as one of the top ten beach towns in America. Located in Kennebunk’s Lower Village, just an 8-minute walk from the shops, art galleries and restaurants of Dock Square, new owners Eric and Liz Brodar made extensive renovations to change The Inn at English Meadows from an old-fashioned B&B into a completely modern, sophisticated inn. Beautiful gardens and a relaxing patio highlight nearly two acres. Savor a delectable three-course breakfast with signature entrees and produce made with fresh local ingredients. The area has so much to offer amid an unhurried setting, so enjoy Maine time like a local and plan on coming back again for another visit.

York Harbor Inn, York Harbor, Maine
Fairs and festivals are year-round events in Maine, and the York Harbor region in the southern coastal area holds numerous ones from Artfests and Antiquefests to Carfests and Salefests. Those are in addition to Harvestfest, the Festival of Lights, and many other seasonal shindigs held at the beach or on the village green. York Harbor Inn is a waterfront resort offering five separate lodging options that include simple yet elegant country rooms and luxury suites with heated tile floors, fireplaces, Jacuzzi spa tubs and oceanview decks. Stay bed and breakfast-style with a daily continental-plus breakfast provided. Indulge in award-winning cuisine and oceanview dining at the 1637 restaurant or the more casual Ship’s Cellar Pub, both onsite.

Seasonal Escapes 
So what are you waiting for? Enjoy prime time leaf peeping and have an amazing autumnal adventure along the coast of Maine. Various agricultural fairs as well as the maritime heritage and traditions are experiences for all ages. Taste award-winning wines, ports and spirits at Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery and hike the trails with colorful panoramic views of the Medomak river valley.

Not quite ready to roll? Maine is a winter wonderland of treasures. On Maine’s second-highest peak, easily accessible Sugarloaf boasts 1400 skiable acres of terrain and a trail that runs 3.5 miles. Camden Snow Bowl offers 80 acres of skiing overlooking Penobscot Bay. Freeport has become a shopper’s haven with dozens of outlet stores and the retail home base of L.L. Bean. Bluegrass and blues music are classic New England sounds with top bands performing in many nearby venues.
Still in the planning stage? Spring is picture perfect and summer invites seaside escapes. Discover miles of waterfront and woodland trails amid stunning ornamental gardens, waterfalls, exceptional natural beauty and incomparable sculpture and stonework at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Renown Acadia National Park graces an island with the popular town of Bar Harbor. Windjammer cruises, whale watching and anything lobster-related are quintessentially coastal Maine activities.
Any month is a good month for a Maine road trip. This coastal itinerary from Washington to York Harbor via Georgetown and Kennebunkport is less than 150 miles from one end to the other and allows time to experience all things Maine.