Beachmere’s front-row seat to the Maine coast keeps guests coming back year after year.

Credit: courtesy of Beachmere Inn

10 New England Summer Vacations to Book NOW!

Beachmere Inn | Ogunquit, Maine

There are three reasons why the Beachmere continues to sell out summer after summer: location, location, location. A small gate at the far end of the inn’s sprawling lawn opens onto to the famous mile-long cliff walk they call the Marginal Way. Turn left, and you can stroll downhill to the main beach, stores, and restaurants in Ogunquit. Turn right, and discover even more breathtaking vistas of the jagged coastline and vast Atlantic. Keep going, and soon you’re in the compact neighborhood of Perkins Cove, where you can shop for painted lobster buoys and grab that requisite lobster roll at Barnacle Billy’s.

Beachmere’s front-row seat to the Maine coast keeps guests coming back year after year.
Credit: courtesy of Beachmere Inn

BOOKING IT: “Many of our guests book at least a year in advance,” says innkeeper Sarah Diment. You can book one-week minimums for summer until April 1, and three-night minimums after April 1. beachmereinn.com

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West Street Hotel | Bar Harbor, Maine 

After a day of hiking, biking, or sea kayaking in Acadia National Park, there’s arguably no better place to unwind than the welcoming West Street Hotel in Bar Harbor. Take in the mesmerizing seascape from your balcony, overlooking Bar Island and Sheep Porcupine Island and all the boats in between. You can head to the rooftop pool for an energizing dip; you also have the option to swim at the nearby Bar Harbor Club, whose Olympic-size pool is situated right on the edge of the ocean. The hotel is within easy walking distance of all the restaurants in town, so go ahead: Sample the zesty grilled fish tacos at Side Street Cafe, the blueberry pancakes at 2 Cats, and the heavenly black raspberry ice cream at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium.

BOOKING IT: To ensure you have your desired room come vacation season, the best time to book is winter or early spring. Minimum stays apply at peak times, such as summer weekends. theweststreethotel.com

The Lodge on the Cove | Kennebunkport, Maine

Positioned for a 15-minute walk to the restaurants and shops of Dock Square and a 15-minute bike ride to Kennebunk Beach, the Lodge on the Cove is well situated to entertain the whole family. And it does so with gusto, offering food service at the outdoor pool; complimentary beach chairs, towels, and beach cruisers; nightly bonfires with s’mores; kayak and rowboat rentals at nearby Kennebunk Marina; lawn games; Saturday morning crafts; and movies in the clubhouse (with popcorn!). Four buildings house 30 spacious rooms, many of which are easy to connect for those making a multigenerational trip.

BOOKING IT: The property is open seasonally, May through October, and it’s recommended that guests book four to six months in advance, especially if seeking connecting double queen/king rooms. During the summer, there’s a two-night minimum on weekends, and a three-night minimum over holidays. lodgeonthecove.com

Winvian Farm | Morris, Connecticut

Winvian’s private cottages are awash with luxury touches.
Credit: Courtesy of Winvian Farm

It was 2006 when the Smith family decided to transform their 113-acre estate in Litchfield Hills into one of New England’s most unique luxury resorts, hiring more than a dozen architects to create “cottages” nestled into the meadows, ponds, and rolling farmland surrounding the c. 1775 main house. These 18 custom structures are one-of-a-kind architectural gems that range from the Helicopter Cottage, which boasts a bar and entertainment center inside a fully restored 1968 helicopter, to the Treehouse Cottage, a two-story structure situated 32 feet off the ground, atop a tree. When not admiring the cottages, you can stroll through the wildflowers to a pond where great blue herons take flight or opt for a longer hike in the surrounding White Memorial Foundation, a 4,000-acre wildlife sanctuary. Afterward, treat yourself to a massage at the spa or a swim in the pool. Winvian is also a Relais & Chateaux property (as you’ll soon realize at dinner, a four-course feast), and it’s no surprise that it books out all cottages and the grounds for weddings in summer.

BOOKING IT: Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day) are booked as far as six months in advance. Of Winivan’s 18 cottages, the Greenhouse, the Camping Cottage, and the Artist Cottage are the most popular in summer and book six months out. A two-night minimum is required on weekends. winvian.com

Cliffside Inn | Newport, Rhode Island

A short stroll from the Cliffside Inn is all you’ll need to understand the allure of this in-demand property. Within minutes you’ll access Newport’s famed Cliff Walk, a 3½-mile gem of a trail perched above the Atlantic and offering views of the sloping lawns and backsides of those summer “cottages” the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, and Astors built at the turn of the 20th century. But first you have to leave the cozy confines of this c. 1876 Victorian home. Each of the 13 guest rooms and three suites is distinctive; the Garden Suite, for example, is a duplex with its own private garden, a double Jacuzzi, two fireplaces (in the bathroom and the bedroom), and Peruvian limestone tiles that are heated so your tootsies won’t get cold on that long walk from bath to bed.

BOOKING IT: If you’re looking for a specific room in summer or fall, you’ll have to book in winter. There’s also a three-night minimum on weekends in summer, and a two-night minimum on weekdays. cliffsideinn.com

Ale House Inn | Portsmouth, New Hampshire

With an up-and-coming food scene (including several chefs nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award) and one of the nation’s best collections of Georgian and Federal architecture, Portsmouth is a popular weekend getaway in the warmer months. The problem is the lack of available lodging near the center of town, with its collection of 40 antique buildings at Strawbery Banke and boutique shops, restaurants, and microbreweries near the waterfront. That’s the reason why the 10 rooms of the Ale House Inn, located on the third floor of a circa-1880 building on Bow Street, are always in high demand. One of the first Lark Hotels properties to debut (the company also manages the Hotel Portsmouth, on the other end of town), the Ale House Inn has the look of a cruise ship hallway. Plop your bags down in the light-filled rooms and grab your complimentary growler. Then make your way over to the Portsmouth Brewery for a taste of one of its signature brews, the Surrender to the Flow IPA. That will whet your appetite for the selection of New Hampshire oysters, harissa-rubbed grilled shrimp, and fries cooked in duck fat found at the Franklin. Work off dinner with a stroll across Memorial Bridge into Maine.