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It's a Shore Thing
Three inns offer a "lobsters, lighthouses and luxury" package for a discounted summer weekend in Rockland, Maine
Wednesday, May 3, 2006;
The Real Deal: Two nights' accommodations; two tickets for Captain Jack's Lobster Adventure Cruise (try to haul your own lobsters!); a $50 voucher for dinner at one of 25 participating restaurants, including James Beard award-winning Primo; two tickets to the Maine Lighthouse Museum; a guided tour of Rockland's Historic Breakwater Lighthouse; an autographed copy of The Lighthouse at Rockland Breakwater Then and Now; maps of local and state lighthouses; an illustrated book of Maine Lighthouses; and two souvenir lobster hats. Rates range from $385 to $565 per room.
When: Jun. 1 - 30, 2006
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional seven percent. The $50 voucher can be used for select shops instead of restaurants. The range in rates at each inn is based on the size and amenities of the room selected
Book By: No deadline; based on availability
Contact: Historic Inns of Rockland, 877/762-4667, historicinnsofrockland.com
Berry Manor Inn, $385 - $565 per room
Captain Lindsey House, $415 - $455 per room
LimeRock Inn, $395 - $485 per room
Getting There: Rockland is a small, quintessential mid-coast Maine town boasting some of the state's best lobster. While not as pretty as neighboring Camden, it has a lovely historic district and lively arts scene. It also makes a good jumping-off point for exploring Monhegan Island, an artist colony just off the coast. June is an ideal time to visit; the weather is balmy and the traffic more manageable than in the later summer months.
The lowest round-trip airfares we've found to Rockland's little-known airport in early June are: $389 (U.S. Airways) from New York City; $432 (U.S. Airways) from Chicago; $450 (U.S. Airways) from Washington, D.C.; $466 (America West) from San Francisco. The Rockland airport is a 15-minute cab ride from downtown Rockland and costs about $6.
The activities included in the package and local sights such as the petite Farnsworth Museum--known for its collection of seascapes and works by sculptor Louise Nevelson and the Wyeth family--are accessible by foot or cab, so a car isn't necessary if flying into Rockland.
Fares into Portland, Maine, tend to be at least $100 cheaper. However, it's at slow hour-and-a-half drive north on Route 1 to Rockland. Along the way, you could stop at the L.L. Bean Factory Store in Freeport. Alternatively, if arriving from Bangor airport to the north of Rockland, you could stop at the Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor.
An economy car rental starts at $14 (Enterprise) from the Portland airport and at $37 (Enterprise) from the Rockland airport. By car, Rockland is 82 miles from Portland; 189 miles from Boston; 295 miles from Montreal, Canada; 375 miles from New York City; and 650 miles from Washington, D.C.
For detailed driving directions and more area information, visit the Rockland/Thomaston Chamber of Commerce, realmaine.com, and Rockland's own website, ci.rockland.me.us.
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A plum-colored inn with twelve elegant Victorian rooms filled with antiques, plus a porch and drawing room. It's set in a stately residential neighborhood within walking distance from downtown Rockland and the harbor. For a three-night stay: $464 to $760. 800/774-5692, berrymanorinn.com
The nine-room B&B is right off Main St., and is the most central of the three options. There's a garden patio, library, and a cozy parlor with a fireplace. For a three-night stay: $489 - $560. 800/523-2145, lindseyhouse.com
The Victorian mansion is located on a sleepy side street near the historic downtown. It has eight rooms, a wrap-around porch, a library and a living room with a fireplace. For a three-night stay: $478-$601. 800/546-3762, limerockinn.com