INN BY THE SEA: A LUXURY RETREAT IN CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE

“Become like the lighthouse. Shine your light brightly, and guide others safely to the shore of love. Life after all is about love.”

— anonymous

In early November, Lin and I spent 7 days traveling The Maine Coast which you can read all about here. On day 6 we met the beautiful Cape Liz for the first time and ya’ll….this special place has just stolen a piece of my heart. It's natural beauty at its best!

Cape Liz is stunning. We spent some time exploring the area’s most picturesque lighthouses and their picturesque surroundings in the freezing cold rain! We began at Two Lights State Park (free admission), where Maine’s first "twin" lighthouses were erected on the rocky shore in 1928. (The scenery inspired Edward Hopper’s painting Lighthouse at Two Lights.) Then we made our way to Fort Williams Park next and climb into the tower of Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light. Just see for yourself…..

We then enjoyed a lovely lunch at The Good Table—-a family-owned establishment that serves Greek recipes with a local twist. Choose from weekly specials, like Greek Island–style mussels with feta and fresh basil (market price), or among mainstays like the farmer’s market omelet or traditional Greek plaki made with scallops or haddock (market price). They are known for their lobster rolls too!

After lunch we checked into the beautiful Inn By The Sea .

Inn By The Sea is an award-winning( elected as one of the Top 10 Resorts in New England for 2017 by Condé Nast Traveler) luxury resort that is quite frankly, huge. There's beach suites, cove suites garden suites and spa suites as well as traditional guest rooms. And with something for pretty much everyone, it's a good option for anyone looking for a break and only 10 minutes from Portland! I love that this place has the option for you to be as busy and as active as you like on your holiday or be as lazy and care-free as you like. Another super cool thing is that Inn By The Sea is Maine’s first carbon-neutral hotel and the only proper hotel in Cape Elizabeth. And it’s incredibly pet-friendly which really warms my heart. Their doggies are as important to them as they are to you and they extend them a warm welcome—at no charge—in their designated pet-friendly oceanfront rooms and suites. When you make your reservation, be sure to let them know about the dog(s) who will accompany you so they can reserve the appropriate lodging and have all the pet necessities ready ! They have complimentary accommodations, water bowls, beach towels, cozy blankets, and signature treats at turndown for Fido. There is also pet massages, gourmet pet menus, dog walking and doggie sitting services available for your doggie divas. Melvin and Henry must experience this!

THE R O O M S

We had the most gorgeous relaxing two-floor spa suite with a private patio with ocean views! The space was light, airy and unbelievably spacious for two people, with two TV's, fluffy bathrobes and one of my favorite features-a huge bathtub! The final test of a good room came in the comfiness of the bed, which I can report back was absolute bliss.

SPA INN BY THE SEA

Another fave feature was the Spa Inn By The Sea. I must say we did not partake in any spa activities as our time was so short but I had to include this for you all. The Spa features separate men's and women's sanctuaries for your spa retreat, your own locker appointed with a robe and sandals, private steam rooms, experience shower, lush amenities and beverages to help you transition into a relaxed frame of mind and start the therapeutic process even before your treatment begins. Our Suite for Two includes an oversized soaking tub and luxurious side-by-side treatment beds making it the perfect couples spa retreat. They have the finest spa products featuring active ingredients from rejuvenating seaweed, marine-based peptides, nutraceutical extracts and pure essential oils. All are inspired by their coastal setting and follow the world's best ancient and modern practices. They also use OSEA, one of my fave brands ever!

https://www.innbythesea.com/spa/about-the-spa

T H E G R O U N D S

Psssst ! You can come to Inn By The Sea and not ever need to leave the property except for when you leave to go home. Firstly, because you come to Inn By The Sea because you want a relaxing stay and secondly, because the resort really has everything you need.(there is an exercise room too) Aside from all of its facilities, what really sets Inn By The Sea apart is its beautiful, jaw-dropping setting. You can stroll down the wooded footpath to a PRIVATE stretch of Crescent Beach and later explore the five acre property’s lush indigenous gardens, home to a certified wildlife habitat and Monarch butterfly way station. Being super cold, we had the beaches almost to ourselves for the camera moments! In the summer months, I can imagine it's a totally different scene and I bet there's not many other idyllic ways to spend your days in Cape Liz as a wander down the winding decked path to the beach sipping rosé. Bliss.

F O O D & D R I N K

The resort has an amazing restaurants and bar on site meaning you'll never go hungry or thirsty for the duration of your stay! We had a delish dinner in our hotel at Sea Glass Restaurant. Sea Glass Restaurant at Inn by the Sea offers an unsurpassed Maine dining experience with spectacular ocean views from its intimate oceanfront dining room or al fresco deck, just ten minutes from Portland Maine. Chef Andrew Chadwick marries the freshest local ingredients with a focus on health and taste to create "intelligent" cuisine that offers both flavor and nutrition on seasonally changing menus.

Alongside local produce from nearby Portland Maine farms and his signature Lobster Tacos, Chef Chadwick's day boat catch and evening menus feature underutilized seafood fresh from Maine’s coastal waters.

We also enjoyed breakfast in bed too! And the breakfast was just divine!!

We had a delish dinner in our hotel at Sea Glass Restaurant. Sea Glass Restaurant at Inn by the Sea offers an unsurpassed Maine dining experience with spectacular ocean views from its intimate oceanfront dining room or al fresco deck, just ten minutes from Portland Maine. Chef Andrew Chadwick marries the freshest local ingredients with a focus on health and taste to create "intelligent" cuisine that offers both flavor and nutrition on seasonally changing menus.

Alongside local produce from nearby Portland Maine farms and his signature Lobster Tacos, Chef Chadwick's day boat catch and evening menus feature underutilized seafood fresh from Maine’s coastal waters.

We also enjoyed breakfast in bed too! And the breakfast was just divine!!!