Winterguide 2016 | view this story as a .pdf

Hey, funny Valentine. Step right this way.

By Karen Hofreiter

Winter is a great excuse to get close and cozy with the one you love. Whether it’s a flurry of feathery snowflakes sparkling in the soft illumination of a city lamp light, a ribbon of steam swirling from a mug of hot cocoa, or the stillness of an off-season shoreline, no matter how you define romance, there’s a getaway in Maine to find it.

For those who find romance in the haunting beauty of a snow-dusted beach, head to the Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit. Gaze out over the gray, frothy sea from the warm comfort of your spacious room as you sip champagne and savor oysters on the half-shell while a fire dances in the background. Rent snowshoes or take a sunset walk along the rocky shoreline before returning to the inn for a warming soak in the saltwater hot tub. Later, enjoy the signature haddock chowder and other fresh-caught delights over dinner for two at Blue Bistro. Conclude the day with more champagne and a candle-lit bath (Book Room 35 for a claw-foot tub).

62 Beachmere Place, Ogunquit, 800-336-3983, beachmereinn.com; Romantic Getaway Package $395/couple + room cost.

If you consider Europe to be the pinnacle of glamour, you need travel no farther than Ogunquit, where Old World charm and the sun-drenched tastes of Italy await at the Hartwell House Inn. Rooms are sumptuously decorated in jewel-toned fabrics of silk, velvet, and jacquard, and furnished with antique period pieces (book the Polly Reed Room for a queen-sized canopy bed, two-person hydro-massage tub, and balcony). Upon arrival Friday, lounge upon the royal bedding (scattered with rose petals, of course) with a glass of chilled prosecco in one hand and a morsel of local handmade chocolate in the other before heading down to the parlor for wine and cheese in front of a cozy fire.

The next day, enjoy a gourmet breakfast (do not miss innkeeper Charlene Taubert’s cinnamon buns with cream cheese frosting!) before a late morning jaunt to the village center. That evening, get whisked away to the Italian Riviera with a special four-course “getaway dinner” at the inn, featuring hearty traditional Italian dishes like garlic lobster and shrimp crostini, linguine marinara with spicy sausage, and béchamel lasagna. After a leisurely night’s sleep, celebrate with a Valentine’s Day candle-lit breakfast. “This package is for couples looking for a quiet and romantic Valentine’s retreat (with some incredible food) in one of Maine’s most scenic coastal towns,” say innkeepers (and frequent Italy travelers) Eric and Charlene Taubert.

Hartwell House Inn, 312 Shore Road, Ogunquit, 207-646-7210, hartwellhouseinn.com; Valentine’s weekend package from $499/couple for 2-night stay, available Feb 12-14, must call to reserve.

When the way to the heart is through the stomach, romance is to be found at the Inn at English Meadows. There’s a good reason why innkeeper David Parisi says, “Foodie couples of all ages book this package.”

The inn’s daily three-course breakfast (think starters of fresh-baked wild blueberry muffins and yogurt panna cotta with raspberry puree followed by main courses like “breakfast pizza”–grilled pita with lemon mascarpone, prosciutto, arugula, and egg–or Black Forest ham and gruyere cheese waffles with Sriracha maple syrup) is just the beginning. During their stay, couples will also be treated to a private, customized cooking class with Chef David Ross at restaurant 50 Local and a five-course dinner at the award-winning White Barn Inn.

Options abound for working off these gourmet extravagances. Walk it off with a brisk outing to Kennebunkport’s Dock Square for a little window shopping; sleep it off with a snuggly catnap between luxurious Italian Frette linens and fluffy down comforters; or go the classic route with a digestif and good book in front of a fireplace in one of the modern, sun-flooded common rooms. The rooms and suites, decorated in hushed pastels with a modern beach-chic style, provide a serene oasis for lingering in bed. Book the very private Tranquility Suite with gas fireplace and sitting area, or the Morning Dawn Room with fireplace, two-person shower, and whirlpool tub. Other small treats to revel in during your stay include all things local like the English Meadows signature coffee blend roasted by Portland’s Coffee by Design; hand-dipped chocolates from Dean’s Sweets in Portland; and a selection of native Maine beers and spirits.

Inn at English Meadows, 141 Port Road, Kennebunk, 207-967-5766, englishmeadowsinn.com, Maine Indulgence Package: $980/per couple with 15% room discount.

Traditional romantics will feel at home at the Victorian-era Inn on Carleton. Guests at this trendy spot include Alec Baldwin. Resplendent on a stately and quiet street in Portland’s West End, it’s a short tree-lined stroll past the city’s grandest residences to the arts district. After an afternoon spent meandering among the Wyeths and Hoppers at the Portland Museum of Art, the inn’s ornate and richly decorated guest quarters–many with fireplaces and imported Parisian chandeliers–are the perfect place to retire for a glass of champagne and a long luxurious night of rest. Upon waking, experience what owners Leo and Patricia Mennitt consider “the best part of the day” at the inn: breakfast! Can anyone say red velvet pancakes?

Inn on Carleton, 46 Carleton Street, Portland, 207-775-1910, innoncarleton.com; “My Romance” package $400/couple for a 2-night stay, available Feb. 12-18.

Those who appreciate the nostalgia of a hand-typed love poem will find just the right sentiment at the Press Hotel. Housed in the former headquarters of the Portland Press Herald, this boutique hotel provides the ideal Old Port location for urban exploration, with a plethora of shops, coffee houses, restaurants, pubs, and the harbor–all within a few cobblestone blocks.

Leave time for pampering and relaxation with spa treatments by Akari Spa; a three-course, wine-paired chef’s tasting menu at Union Restaurant; and vintage cocktails (try the Acadia 75, a concoction of cognac, lemon, sugar, coastal root bitters, and bubbly) by the fireplace at the Inkwell Lounge. Each morning, feast on a breakfast of “enhanced local cuisine” like smoked salmon tartine on pumpernickel with shaved egg, pickled onion, and capers.

“The hotel’s high design elements by local Maine artists, sexy food and beverages, and richly appointed rooms mean everyone will love this package, but especially the couple who wants a romantic, relaxing weekend to recharge,” says Carla Tracy, who provides promotion for the hotel.

Press Hotel, 119 Exchange Street, Portland, 877-890-5641, thepresshotel.com; Akari Spa Getaway package from $999/couple for a 2-night stay.