Maine Fall Vacation Ideas

We start off with the state’s best vacation spot to catch the sunset. Located on the eastern short of Rangeley Lake in beautiful western Maine, the Loon Lodge Inn has front row views of the sun setting over the water. The iconic lodge has been greeting guests since the late 19th Century and has been fully renovated and restored with all of today’s conveniences and personal touches. The hotel offers lakeside dining with panoramic mountain views, bluebird skies and a wonderfully crafted New American menu and wine list that’s a hit with even the most discerning palates.

With picture-perfect views of Camden Harbor, the Captain Swift Inn is the ideal jumping off point for all the excitement of Maine’s most electrifying city. Visitors to Camden love walking the harbor in the cool weather, or exploring the seaside village’s many unique boutique shops, antique stores, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants. The 19th Century inn recently underwent a complete renovation and is widely heralded for its newly revamped casual-yet-upscale ambiance. After a full day (or night) of fun, guests can unwind in a luxury suite that features spa showers, plush robes, local chocolates, fresh-cut flowers and an energizing three-course candlelit breakfast.

Another Camden hot spot, the Relais and Chateaux Camden Harbour Inn checks all the boxes for an upscale seaside fall Maine getaway. The hillside inn is a stone’s throw from the water, has 180-degree views of the harbor, bay and the surrounding mountains, offers a tasty take on local cuisine, and guest rooms that seamlessly blend traditional seaside white clapboard with chic European design. Guest rooms have tasteful furnishings and plenty of space, and common areas are terrific for private moments or Instagram photos. The on-site restaurant – Natalie’s – serves up one of the city’s best lobster dinners.

There’s no place quite like Mt. Desert Island. You can walk the waterfront in the morning, explore Acadia National Park during the day, and be back in time to walk the shoreline at sunset. At the Acadia Inn, guests have immediate access to the harbor, national park and town of Bar Harbor to go with cozy guest rooms and a long list of fun amenities for families and kids. During down times, youngsters can burn off excess energy at the on-site playground and heated outdoor pool or play a round of exciting bocce ball while the parents kick back in a comfy Adirondack chair.

Bar Harbor’s Grand Hotel sits right on Main Street just a few blocks south of downtown. The hotel’s unique positioning puts it steps from the water and only a short walk from all the shopping, dining and nightlife that downtown has to offer. It’s the ideal destination for travelers who like to be close to the action but want a little more peace and quiet back at the hotel. The inn has an Old-World ambiance mixed with modern amenities like a heated pool and Jacuzzi, free Wi-Fi and a fitness center. Guests can fuel up each day with a deluxe Continental breakfast. For dinner, go for the Downeast Lobster Bake at the inn’s sister property, the Bar Harbor Inn.

One trip to the White Mountains during the fall vacation season and you’ll question why they gave the hills that name. When colors season strikes, the mountains quickly become a beautiful quilt of golden browns, reds, oranges and yellows. At the Bethel Inn & Resort, guests can get some R&R on 200 acres with beautiful views, a 90-degree heated pool and an impeccable 18-hole championship golf course. Nearby, guests can shop, bike, boat, canoe, kayak, fish, ride horses or sightsee. The resort’s premier Millbrook Tavern & Grille serves fine cuisine and casual fare, including favorites like its famous Maine lobster dinner and signature prime rib feast.

Light, bright and chic, Rockland’s newest hotel – 250 Main – gives visitors a uniquely urban 21st Century feel. The stylish hotel offers 26 eco-friendly contemporary guest rooms and a beautiful rooftop deck that overlook the harbor. Guest room have either a king bed or two queen beds. Select rooms have balconies directly facing the water. The Rockland vicinity offers a plethora of offerings, including nearby art museums, galleries, antique stores and boutique shops.  At 250 Main, you won’t have to go far to experience Rockland’s finest. The hotel in centrally located and everything from fine dining to fun on the water are just steps from the inn’s front door.

The seaside Beachmere Inn has been greeting guests for generations at its classic resort halfway between Perkins Cove and Ogunquit Village. The 26-room hotel presents beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and is only a short walk from Ogunquit Beach and the many attractions in the village. Guests can take in the stunning ocean scenery from their guest rooms, many common areas at the hotel, the lawn or at the on-site Blue Bistro restaurant. The eatery serves up year-round local delights for lunch and dinner and offers an intriguing wine list and robust lineup of local craft brews and other libations.

Cozy and quaint, the Cottages at Cabot Cove sit along the Kennebunk River only a few blocks from the ocean in a peaceful setting for a fall seasonal vacation that’s both elegant and relaxing. The enchanting inn has 16 lovely cottages that are more like little houses clustered next to a beautiful inlet. Each residence is independent and intimate and comes complete with today’s modern amenities. In the mornings, guests receive a signature Breakfast Bag filled with fresh-baked regional delights. The region boasts an impeccable lineup of fine dining, including wonderful options at a few of the hotel’s sister properties.

At the Wolf Cove Inn on the shores of Tripp Lake in southeastern Maine, nature abounds. Less than an hour north of Portland by car, the inn offers a private lake shore with beaver dams, a private shore, a pine grove, lavish private gardens, wonderful fishing and maybe even a majestic bald eagle flying overhead. The pet-friendly hotel also has accommodations for families and travelers to bring their own four-legged friend from home for some fun outdoors. From family adventures to romantic escapes, Wolf Cove Inn has something for everyone. The area offers ample biking, birding, hiking, wine tastings, antiquing and plenty of great regional cuisine.