This area is replete with outdoor activities. Non-skiers, rejoice: the Camden Snow Bowl offers rip-roaring tobogganing for just $10 an hour. And for an unexpected yet quintessentially Maine experience, consider booking a rowing class with DoryWoman Rowing, which takes guests onto Belfast Bay in traditional wooden dories all year-round (pending the weather, of course).
Before turning back to head home, budget some time to pass through Freeport. It’s home to the L.L.Bean flagship (the brand’s only store open 24 hours), as well as the Freeport Conservation Trust Trails, a swathe of 1,500 acres open to the public for hiking and snowshoeing. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs and breathe in that crisp coastal air before the drive back.
A bustling hospitality scene as hot as ever: Portland
The big scuttlebutt in Portland these days? The impending April opening of The Longfellow Hotel—the first independent, full-service boutique hotel to open there in nearly twenty years. Its new spa, in particular, will be a welcome addition to the city’s hotel scene. If you can’t wait until spring, both The Francis and Blind Tiger offer the renovated Victorian vibes that Portland’s West Side neighborhoods are known for (Blind Tiger is technically two locations close by each other, and both are equally fantastic). But don’t just count on boutique hotels for the fun—the new Canopy Hilton Waterfront is a fantastic way to redeem some Hilton Honors points, and has a stellar restaurant and an enclosed rooftop bar with excellent views of downtown and the water.
Yes, Maine is all about the rural retreats and rugged landscapes—but spending a night or two in the center of the action in downtown Portland is still very much worth it this time of year to stay within a stone’s throw of all the city’s latest and greatest food and drink. It’s hard to go wrong in this town, but for a venerable shortlist: 2023 James Beard Award Seminfinalist Sur Lie for international-infused American tapas; TWELVE from executive chef Colin Wyatt, formerly of Eleven Madison Park, for the secret (read: off-menu) off-season-only burger; popular food truck-turned-restaurant Quanta Basa’s sourdough Neapolitan pizza; natural wines and snacks at Lambs; indulgent low-dose chef-created edibles from female-owned Pot + Pan.
Best for off-peak deals at luxury hotels: Maine’s South Coast
While there are still a number of hotels (especially along the coast) that close seasonally in Maine, a number stay open year-round, and offer plenty of promotions and events to entice visitors to make the journey north. In Kennebunkport, the tony White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection following in the footsteps of Cape Cod’s Wequassett Resort & Golf Club has partnered with outerwear company Barbour for an in-house borrowing closet; simply call ahead with your sizing for a warm new coat to borrow (or perhaps buy) on those bracing winter walks, which will be waiting in your room. March through May, the Inn will also be offering Farmsteader Dinners in its titular 150-year-old barn, honoring the tradition of Maine’s agrarian families coming together after a long day of working the land. The dinners will highlight local farms, purveyors, beermakers, and other culinary delights. And in May, on the cusp of peak season, White Barn Inn will welcome iconic Montreal restaurant Joe Beef for an “immersive culinary weekend” pop up.
Also in Kennebunkport, over on the oceanfront overlooking Walker’s Point (also known as the Bush family compound), the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort offers a “Timberland Winter Wardrobe” stay package: $969 plus taxes and fees gets a two-night stay, access to a custom Timberland closet to raid some hiking boots and outerwear to bring home, a guided outdoor hike or snowshoe with a Registered Maine Guide, a round of cocktails upon your return, and a three-course dinner for two at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ocean.
A few towns southward, the iconic Cliff House Maine, which has welcomed guests since 1872, has truly mastered the art of staying busy even in the off season. This winter, the resort offers a “Snow Globe” outdoor dining experience, as well as resident artist–taught painting classes, performances by visiting Broadway talent, and more. Wherever you stay, you can bet on the nightlies being significantly discounted from steep peak-summer rates.
