Inn by the Sea is a beautiful hotel right on the water in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I had the pleasure of staying here during my summer trip to Maine and I loved it!
Upon arriving at the Inn by the Sea, the first thing I fell in love with was the pristine lawn dotted with Adirondack chairs! It was my fantasy Maine hotel in person! My favorite feature of the hotel is how it’s located on the beach. You simply take a walking trail from the hotel right down to Crescent Beach.
The coastal views and beauty of the Inn by the Sea make it a hotel to remember. The hotel is pricey but well worth it. All of the hotel amenities you would expect are available (free Wi-Fi, free parking, on-site gym, Spa services, poolside patio, etc.) and there is a fabulous in-house restaurant, Sea Glass, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I tried Sea Glass for breakfast and the Avocado toast was so good! During our stay at the hotel, there was a s’mores bar set up on the patio which was fun (and delicious).
The accommodations match the luxuriousness of the Inn. My husband and I booked a King loft suite. Loft suites are two-level accommodations featuring a king-sized bed on the upper level. The first floor of the guestroom offers a wet bar kitchenette including a mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, glassware, and dishes. The kitchenette opens into a large living space with a full-size pull-out sleep sofa and executive desk.
A balcony opening from the living space features ocean views and seating for two. On the second floor of the Loft Suite is a lofted bedroom and oversized bathroom. The bathroom offers an air jet tub, a glass walk-in shower, and a heated floor.
A great feature of the Inn by the Sea is its proximity to Portland, Maine. It was so convenient to stay at the Inn and then only have a 20-minute drive into Portland. Most of the activities and dining I had planned for Maine were in Portland, so a conveniently located hotel was key for me. Stay tuned for the full blog post I have coming on things to do in Portland, including a sunset cruise with Portland Schooner Co. Until then, rest assured that Inn by the Sea is close to all Portland, ME has to offer!
Crescent Beach is located just a short walking distance from Inn by the Sea. Simply exit the hotel and follow the delightful little wooden walking trail that turns to sand as you get closer to the beach. The hotel provides umbrellas and beach towels for your use, all complimentary!
Crescent Beach is a mile-long crescent-shaped beach with saltwater coves, wooded areas, beachgrass-studded sand dunes, and lots of rock ledges. The beach is perfect for picnics, nature watching, walking, swimming, boating, and fishing.
Thanks for joining me and I hope that you’ll get keep Inn by the Sea on your list for your visit to Maine. It’s always fun getting comments and feedback for you all, please keep them coming!
On my recent visit to Maine, I enjoyed visiting the famous Portland Head Light Lighthouse. Portland Head Light is located in Cape Elizabeth Maine, on the shores of the beautiful Fort Williams Park. Portland Head Light looks out over the Portland Harbor which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine.
In addition to the lighthouse, Fort Williams Park offers ninety acres of hiking, picnic facilities, sports & recreation views, and the most stunning ocean views!
In 1787, construction on the lighthouse began (for the UNBELIEVABLY low cost of $750!), and was completed in 1791. The first lighting of the tower was on January 10, 1791. Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. During the American Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor had become commonplace, and because the lighthouse was so necessary, the structure was raised an additional 20 feet.
Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water. The light station is now automated and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard. Portland Head Light Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The current keepers’ house was built in 1891, and up until 1989, it was home to lighthouse keepers. The keepers’ house and grounds are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth and are now operated as a maritime museum.
Fort Williams Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. There is NO admission fee to the park, but some parking areas do have a small fee.
I visited Portland Head Light in June and the weather was unexpectedly chilly (for me anyway, I’m a NC native and June means HOT). Be sure to dress in layers during your visit to the lighthouse, I’m told the temp never goes above 70 degrees!
While there were plenty of visitors to the park, it was never overwhelmingly crowded, with more than enough room for everyone to see and enjoy the sights. As always, I do recommend arriving early to get the best photographs!
For food, don’t miss the Bite Into Maine food truck! The food truck is parked at the top of a hill right inside Fort Williams Park and they serve the most delicious lobster rolls! Don’t worry, my next blog post is all about Bite Into Maine so you’ll be able to see and learn more about their awesome food. In addition to Bite Into Maine, there are Gelato carts and other food options in the park, and with all of the picnic areas, you can certainly bring and enjoy your own food!
Looking out at the water and seeing the colored lobster buoys in the water felt like such a quintessential Maine experience that I’ll forever be grateful for! Please be sure to stay tuned for my next post, all about the delicious lobster roll truck inside Fort Miller Park!