Vacations are meant for decompressing and reconnecting with your loved ones and yourself. So what better way to do so than to immerse yourself in an environment where you connect with nature and the simple pleasures in life as well? We’ve complied four bed and breakfasts where you can unwind and explore the beauty of the natural surroundings so you can head back to work and life refreshed and reinvigorated.
Built in 1917, The Lodge at Moosehead Lake is an ultra-private, four-season luxury bed and breakfast that epitomizes rustic elegance. Tucked in the North woods of Greenville, Maine and perched high atop Blair Hill, this stately Cape Cod home turned country inn offers guests the ultimate in privacy, luxury, history, and first-class hospitality with unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains hemming in Moosehead Lake. The inn offers nine guest rooms, eight of which provide travelers with commanding lakefront views with equally breathtaking sunsets. Each morning guests are greeted with a delicious breakfast made by innkeeper/owner, Chef Dennis.
Adventures abound in this outdoor enthusiast’s oasis where guests can visit Moxie Falls (the largest waterfall in New England), hike Mount Kineo to the 800-foot summit where guests will enjoy spectacular views of Moosehead Lake’s sapphire waters, soar on a scenic float plane to get an aerial view of the mountains, or embark on a moose safari with a private professional guide. Whatever guests choose to do, a visit to this historic lodge will provide an unforgettable North Woods experience.
Located in the historic river town of Chestertown amidst twenty private acres of land, Brampton Bed and Breakfast Inn offers guests the ultimate in luxury and privacy in a regal 1860 plantation-style property. This Eastern Shore bed and breakfast offers guests the choice of staying in a private room, a suite, or a cottage. The cottages offer unparalleled privacy and romance, each having their own whirlpool bath, while the Plantation rooms in the main house offer guests the feeling of stepping back in time with its elegant architectural details.
Every morning guests will enjoy an artisan breakfast made with only the freshest ingredients from the inn's kitchen garden (when in season) and local farmers who raise organic and free-range proteins and eggs. Since the Brampton Inn was originally a peach plantation during the 19th century, whenever peaches are in season guests can be sure to experience something "peachy" on a daily basis paying homage to the property's rich history. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is one of the best places in the United States for bird enthusiasts, and the area offers some of the best biking, kayaking, and boating to explore the upper Chesapeake region.
Squam Lake Inn is an historic 1895 farmhouse that has been lovingly converted into an elegant bed and breakfast located a short walk or drive from the shores of Squam Lake with close proximity to the towns of Lake Winnipesaukee and Meredith. This family-owned boutique property offers nine newly decorated guest rooms with Gilchrist & Soames organic amenities. Each morning guests will enjoy a gourmet breakfast prepared with seasonal ingredients in addition to afternoon tea and homemade desserts like fresh baked cookies made on-site. The Inn Kitchen + Bar is the inn's onsite restaurant that serves lunch and dinner and is open to the inn’s guests, locals and visitors serving the freshest, local, and seasonal ingredients available sourced from local farmers.
Guests can enjoy a variety of water activities such as boating, kayaking, and fishing on Squam Lake, which offers crystal clear water (and was made famous as the location for the Academy Award Winning film, On Golden Pond. Guests will most likely catch a glimpse of moose and bald eagles and can explore the lake with its extensive network of hiking trails offering stunning vistas and sunsets. The property is also roughly a half hour away from the New Hampshire’s famed White Mountains, which include some of the highest peaks in New England.
Set along the cascading Millstream, The Woodstock Inn on the Millstream offers guests an opportunity to unwind in casual elegance while reconnecting with nature on this secluded three-acre property. Built in 1948, this historic bed and breakfast offers guests privacy and solitude, yet is within walking distance to the legendary Bohemian village of Woodstock where guests can explore boutique shops, restaurants, galleries and various festivals year round. This refined inn offers eighteen rooms and suites in addition as well as two private cottages with fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms with a farm-fresh continental breakfast served in the morning.
Guests don’t have to go far to immerse themselves in nature. Bordered by tall pines, weeping willows, and maples guests can lounge around on plush beach towels or Adirondack chairs while listening to the gurgling stream and simply enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature provides as the landscape.
Disclosure: All of the above inns and many other historic travel destinations can be found on our website.