It's a Maine Thing :: The Bar Harbor Inn and Spa

May 2, 2008 at 4:55 PM | by mytwocents | 0 Comments

While some of you Nor'easterners have your heart set on visiting the Hamptons or the Jersey Shore this summer, at least a third of you is going to head up to New England. And if you love fresh Maine lobster, we suggest you head for the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa, one of only three hotels in Maine to be listed among the top 500 hotels on the planet by Travel + Leisure.

Built in 1887, the inn has a long and fascinating history, tied in to the lives and fortunes of the Vanderbilt's, the Pulitzer's, and other prominent American families who spent leisurely summers in Bar Harbor.

The hotel is directly on Frenchman's Bay and has 154 rooms in three distinctive buildings on eight acres of landscaped grounds: the Main Inn, Oceanfront Lodge, and Newport. For larger rooms with balconies and incredible oceanfront views, opt for the first two.

We spent some time in a Main Inn room which was modern and airy, with a comfy king bed, high-speed wired/wireless access, plasma screen TV, complimentary coffee/tea, and a nice-sized bath with robes. The feature we loved most was the private balcony, where we began our days and ended our nights gazing out at the harbor.

There's also a complimentary continental breakfast buffet served in the lobby of the Oceanfront Lodge, lunch at the Terrace Grille outdoor café, and a real downeast Lobster Bake at the Reading Room in the Main Inn.

And when we weren't trekking through Acadia National Park or strolling through Bar Harbor's downtown village, we made use of the hotel's heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center. And now that the spa is open, we're heading back this summer again for a mud body wrap and champagne facial. And who says you can't keep it swanky in Maine? Rates range from $99-$379 all year long.

[Photo: Rchristie81]

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