Property Peek: Inn by the Sea
On my recent trip to Maine, I took a day trip to Cape Elizabeth to visit the Inn by the Sea, a lovely boutique hotel situated on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The property is an easy 20 minute drive south from Portland, making it an ideal location for travelers who want to stay in a quieter, natural setting, while still having access to all of the amenities and activities that Portland provides. The hotel is next to a state park, and the grounds reflect this natural setting, with nicely manicured lawns and lovely landscaping.
Rooms
The Inn by the Sea can accommodate around 250 guests across 61 rooms - a mix of traditional rooms and suites. This smaller size provides a more intimate experience than some of the larger coastal resorts in the area. The suites all have kitchenettes (including a small two-burner stove) and outdoor access, either a garden patio or a balcony, making them perfect for travelers looking for accommodations that support social distancing. All of the suites have been completely gutted and rebuilt over the last eight years. They feel very updated and have a cozy and modern beach style.
Dining
Inn by the Sea has a restaurant, Sea Glass, as well as a bar/lounge area. When I arrived for my visit, the bar area was set up with complimentary coffee, which I find is a simple yet effective way to extend extra hospitality to guests. Sea Glass is open to the public and has both an indoor dining room and an outdoor patio. Both dining areas overlook the property grounds and have a view of the ocean. During my visit, I was able to enjoy a lovely lunch out on the patio. The menu had a little bit of everything and focused on local, seasonal ingredients. My heirloom tomato & melon salad with seared salmon was quite tasty. Due to some challenges with operations during COVID, they are currently offering a breakfast menu and a summer all-day menu, but hope to return to offering separate lunch and dinner menus soon. The Inn by the Sea is also a culinary partner of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, which promotes sustainable, local seafood and fishing practices — the fish of the day at Sea Glass is almost always an underutilized fish from the local area. The dining room and the outdoor patio are not very large in terms of capacity, but since the suites all have kitchenettes and the location is so close to Portland, the majority of guests are not relying on eating all of their meals here.
Amenities
There are a variety of on-site activities and amenities for guests of all ages. For summer stays, the direct beach access is wonderful. Crescent Beach State Park borders the hotel property, and while the beach itself is open to the public, the hotel does have a private boardwalk to take guests directly to the public beach. It is important to know the boardwalk is quite long and has stairs. Guests with limited mobility will need to access the beach through the state park entrance. Since the beach is public, the hotel cannot provide any services directly on the beach, like meal deliveries. However, they do provide chairs and umbrellas, and can pack guests a picnic lunch to take with them. The hotel also has a hospitality station at the end of the boardwalk with towels, snacks, and water.
The hotel does have a pool, though it is on the smaller side, but still provides a nice alternative to the beach.
The SPA at Inn by the Sea offers a variety of treatments, including massages and body wraps. With the onset of COVID, the SPA is now offering some of its treatments in outdoor cabanas, allowing for guests to be pampered oceanside in a private section of the property.
There are a handful of activities offered each day, including yoga, bike riding, nature walks along the beach, ice cream breaks, and nighttime smores at the firepit. During my visit, there was also a bean bag toss and an oversized Connect Four game set up on the lawn. Activities are seasonal and the schedule changes weekly.
Unique Feature
Something that truly sets Inn by the Sea apart is its commitment to rescuing dogs through a partnership with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. As a way to increase dog adoptions, Inn by the Sea fosters shelter dogs on property. Guests are welcome to interact with the dogs, play with them, take them for walks, and ideally, end up adopting them by the end of their stay. To date, over 155 dogs have been adopted through this partnership. As one can imagine, the property is very dog-friendly, and guests can bring their own four-legged friends along for their stay. The Inn by the Sea has specific rooms that have been designated for guests with dogs, and special amenities like a dog menu and optional dog-sitting services are available.
The beach is closed to dogs from April through September, but between October and March dogs are welcome, though they do need to stay on leash. If your dog really loves swimming, the hotel offers one week a year where dogs can swim in the pool, right after it closes down for human guests.
Takeaways
The Inn by the Sea offers a great option for travelers looking to stay at a smaller property outside the hustle and bustle of Portland, but with many of the amenities of a larger resort. Direct beach access is a big plus. Dining areas are small and the menu currently has limited variety with the all-day menu, but the food is excellent and fresh. The greater Portland area has a number of amazing restaurants so most guests will find the dining options on-site more than adequate, plus nicely appointed kitchenettes in suites allow for the flexibility to cook meals on your own.
Large groups and multigenerational families would be well set up here, as the suites are spacious, with some accommodating up to eight guests, and kitchenettes provide flexibility for group dining and picky eaters. The suites are also great for travelers looking for an extended stay, since the kitchenette, outdoor space, and large square footage can feel more like a small apartment than a hotel room. Dog-lovers are also a great fit for this property.
Rooms book out a year in advance for summer dates. Consider staying here for the fall foliage towards the end of September when the tourist population shrinks down and the local charm re-emerges.