Accommodations

Under $100

Right in the center of the region, the Wiscasset Motor Lodge (596 Bath Rd./Rte. 1, Wiscasset, 800/732-8168, www.wiscassetmotorlodge.com [1], $72–108) offers rooms with knotty-pine walls and polyester bedspreads. But it’s clean, comfortable, and among the cheapest places around.

$100–150

Sitting on piers overlooking Boothbay Harbor [2], the Rocktide Inn (35 Atlantic Ave., Boothbay Harbor, 207/633-4455, www.rocktideinn.com [3], $105–205) is an extraordinarily friendly hotel that caters to families and singles alike. The marina-side bar sports brightly colored vinyl seating, while the dining room is traversed by model trains. In keeping with the character, rooms are decorated with over-the-top flowers and plaids, with a harbor-side balcony running the length of the rooms.

$150–250

An eye for detail makes the Brunswick Bed & Breakfast (165 Park Row, Brunswick, 207/729-4914, www.brunswickbnb.com [4], $145–185) a favorite for parents and luminaries visiting Bowdoin. Innkeepers Steve and Mercie Normand have renovated an 1849 Greek Revival mansion in a clean, modern style, tied together with country accents and quilts. On chilly mornings, a fire burns in the cozy sitting room, where a full breakfast awaits.

Built by a sea captain for his wife as a “compromise” for the years spent on the ocean, the Bradley Inn (3063 Bristol Rd., New Harbor, 800/942-5560, www.bradleyinn.com [5], Apr.–Dec., $175–250) has an enviable location a short walk from Pemaquid Light. The twelve individually appointed rooms in the main house feature cathedral ceilings and cherry four-poster beds. The grounds feature gardens and seaside paths just inviting a romantic stroll.

A former coast guard life-saving station, the Popham Beach Bed & Breakfast (4 Riverview Ave., Phippsburg, 207/389-2409, www.pophambeachbandb.com [6], $185–235) is directly on one of the most gorgeous beaches in Maine [7]. The decor is beach-cottage clean, with nautical colors and ocean views. A three-course breakfast each morning should help you tackle whatever outdoor activities you have planned.