Learning to ski as an adult is both thrilling and terrifying. While happy with my slow but steady…read moreprogress, I'm often looking for ski locations offering trails that align with my current ability and offer a bit of a challenge when I'm up for it. Cranmore delivered just that and more. Lots of greens and blues where I could work on my skills, try trails with escalating difficulty, and still kick back when I just want to enjoy myself and not be a ball of nerves. I also enjoyed the length and variety of their many trails I could traverse. Was happy to have more options than just a quick up and down in a straight line over a full day of skiing. Their main lift was quick and skiers were able to load efficiently. Lots to look at on the way up. The day of my last visit there were several ski competitions going on just next to the lift so it was fun to watch people competing and see spectators make the trek up to watch as well. Ski patrol were out and about and lots of staff available to check in with as needed. The lodge itself had everything I needed... free cubbies to store your stuff, bench seating to change into your boots, adequate table space both up and downstairs to grab a bite to eat, indoor and outdoor gas fireplaces to huddle by, a bar and hot foods, and best of all... a bathroom at the same level as where you can ski up to so no having to navigate stairs in clunky footwear. Drop off area for skis, quick in and out to purchase tickets, simple walk over to a very large parking area. I can't wait to return when the opportunity arises!

Who doesn't want a day acting like a little kid or reliving their winter childhood dream of playing…read moreand sledding (in this case tubing) in powdery snow? Add in adult beverages (for sale nearby). What a blast!! This was a perfect way to celebrate my 60th! We had a blast!

Beautiful hotel, amazing restaurants (look at these photos) and we loved the nature and the…read moresurroundings. The only thing that was missing was dental floss & toothpicks.

Giving it four star review for the tavern at the hotel because of its view - the outdoor patio…read moreoutlooks the mountains and I think it's worth it to come for a lunch. Food was okay. The chicken wings were delicious but the salads were not satisfying - the greens were not fresh but yellow and chewy, and the kitchen forgot to put the dressing on the side as requested.

7/5 stars. Went for the first time with my mom, who's been three times before, this summer. I knew…read moreit was going to be a relaxing experience focused around food and entertainment, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the sense of community the owners cultivate by hosting happy hours, buffet dinners where you sit with other families, and nightly entertainment. I enjoyed time on Lake Kezar (a lake tour on a pontoon, riding a water bike, and swimming), had some excellent meals including a lobster dinner, worked the NYT crossword every morning, and saw a week of enjoyable concerts and shows. The place is filled with huge, multi-generational families, which gives it such a cool vibe. I was among a handful of first-timers, and I think all of us lefting wanting to go back. I so totally understand why my mom has been hyping this experience up since she first went 15 or 20 years ago.

Another fantastic week at Quisi…read more This place is so unique and special. A lake straight off of a picturesque post card. A staff that is cheerful, helpful, kind and talented. Evening performances that you can't believe you are watching in the Maine woods; your waiter is also a fantastic musical theater actor, a beach staffer might be a concert level pianist. several Quisis staff have gone one to Broadway, Lincoln Center, etc. And ownership/management is very aware of the unique community they have created. they love the place and it shows. They do everything they can to make sure your family has a great vacation, all while keeping the traditions that make Quisisana so magical.

Great summer get away. Family run. Awesome lobster casserole and fish chowder next door.read more

My family has been coming here for something like 45 years in a row…read more From the beautiful sandy beaches to the plentiful water sports and great sunsets, WIP is an amazing place. We love the Burnhams and the kids love their weekly ice cream social. Get away from it all and enjoy warm water in Maine (as opposed to the shore)! I'll be back again, 2 weeks from today!

I was planning a trip with a friend for my birthday in January, and then I decided why not just…read moretake advantage of our own gorgeous winter beachscapes right here in Maine? I'd been to the Inn before for happy hour and brunch so I was familiar with the main building and the fabulous view--so for this weekend I booked a Coveside Suite, which is a *huge* 2-bedroom setup with a living room and kitchen, balcony overlooking the snowy lawn and oceanfront, and a gigantic bathroom with both a shower and soaking tub. One bedroom has a king bed and the other two queens, which is perfect for a group of friends (it's not easy to find an arrangement like this). It's all very nicely designed (upscale beachy without being pretentious), and with freezing temperatures and a snowstorm on the way, the fireplace in the living room was the best. Pure hygge! I also recommend taking advantage of the spa, which we did on Saturday, both enjoying wonderful massages (hot rocks nearly had me drooling I was so relaxed). And even if it's cold, you can still tromp around the snow-covered lawn and down to the beach, or bundle up and have a cocktail outside on the deck by a fire pit, which a friend and I braved for awhile because we're weirdos. Large resorts like this can sometimes have food that feels institutional, but that's not the case here at the Sea Glass restaurant, which reliably turns out a nice range of tasty dishes inspired by Maine seafood and produce. I appreciate that there's some overlap between the breakfast/brunch and all-day menus; you can reserve in the restaurant (as we did for Saturday night), eat at the bar (it was hopping on Friday evening, since it's also a destination for locals), or order room service (bless the staff who came out in the cold for us for breakfast!). Everything I had was delicious, with the highlights being a roasted sunchoke appetizer and a hangar steak special with melty Parmesan fries. And I so appreciate the staff, all of whom were friendly and helpful! Service and communication were really top-notch overall, while also being super low-key and relaxed--you never feel the effort behind everything they do to keep things running seamlessly, which is clearly a lot, and that's an art. Pro tip: take advantage of winter rates (and there's an extra little discount for Maine residents, which is nice). Oh, and bring your pooch! The Inn is dog-friendly and there were many happy pups in their winter gear frolicking in the snow. While this was certainly a splurge for me it was one well worth it, and as a local, I'll definitely be back to do so again.

I inquired to both host my wedding and a room block (separate inquiries, I never heard back on the…read moreevent side) at Inn by the Sea, a hotel I have attended many events at in the past and a place I grew up admiring. While I understand booking dates and availability, Laurie in the sales office was dismissive and unhelpful. As a catering sales manager in luxury hotels myself, I would never speak to a client in this manner bluntly saying "we are not booking in 2027" after I requested clarification "Thank you for your email. Do (yes, spelled incorrectly) to the size of our property we do not offer courtesy room blocks for events not at the Inn." "If we were to host an event such as a rehearsal dinner or welcome party, what would be the minimum required to host a courtesy block of that size?" "You could potentially book a rehearsal dinner or welcome party if the wedding for that weekend is not having a Friday event and does not have a block of rooms. Currently we are not booking into 2027 so I would not know if that would be available until closer to the date. Rooms are contracted, not courtesy blocks; therefore, there would be a 2-night minimum and a 90% attrition for unused rooms." "I'm a catering sales manager myself in hotels and not understanding what you're saying here. Can you please clarify what you mean by that first paragraph? I understand on the rooms side but if this date is too far out, I'm happy to go elsewhere as other hotels are booking these dates." "We are not booking into 2027 yet." That is the entire conversation. Very disappointing service for a place that wouldn't even offer the opportunity to book with when other similar hotels in the area have opened their books.

We had dinner at the Lodge at Pleasant Point. Our drinks were delicious and fun. I had the Rabbit…read moreRabbit and my husband had an expresso martini. Our meals were generous and tasty. We enjoyed the mussels and sliders. All of the staff were super friendly and attentive. Of course the view of Kezar Lake can't be beat. We loved our night out! We'll be back.

I came for a September wedding and Scott and his daughter treated all 60-plus wedding guests like…read morewe were family. Maybe even better than family, because my family doesn't clear my plate after I eat. The grounds have a nostalgic Dirty Dancing vibe, and not in an it's "rustic" = euphemism for "run-down" way. I mean it's genuinely relaxing and unique. This is no cookie-cutter hotel. I slept well, the food was great (please tell me how you season the zucchini/summer squash noodles!). Scott the owner, his daughter, and grand-baby spoiled everyone rotten! Next time I'm taking yoga and the yogi has the class imagine their happy place, I'm thinking about The Lodge at Pleasant Point.

My husband (!!!) and I just got married at the Bear Mountain Inn this past weekend and it was…read moreliterally the most incredible wedding in the world. Nick and Jessica go above and beyond for their couples and Cassie is an incredible day of coordinator that makes you feel like you're at home on your big day. It was pouring rain all day on Saturday and the whole BMI team made our day so special. We decided early on to have our ceremony in the beautiful barn on site and it was literally the most beautiful set up I've ever seen at a wedding. We couldn't get over how beautiful everything looked. It is such an intimate and beautiful memory that is burned in our brains for life. Our wedding was for about 160ish people so we rented a tent to do our reception outside - this couldn't have been an easier process and the tent looked like a fairy tale out on the yard. When I tell you think is the most incredible wedding venue on the face of the Earth we so mean it. Every single moment our wedding was so perfect and it was really was made possible by the team at the Bear Mountain Inn. Nick, Jessica and Cassie + team we LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH and legit cannot wait to come back in the winter to hang out and party with you guys. Thank you SO much for everything you did for us WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!! ps - these photos were taken by Ben Wheeler at Ben Wheeler Photography Rooms: Literally the cleanest, most beautiful rooms I've stay at away from home. Every single one of our guests were blown away by the Inn. Nearby activities: Lake life, quaint restaurants and beautiful scenery! Noteworthy details: The property the Bear Mountain Inn sits on is a literal dream. It was foggy and raining on our wedding day and it really looked like something out of a movie like OMG take me back!!!

In November 2021 - I was able to visit for a day as part of a Women's Yoga retreat - I had a day…read morepass. The drive to this location was rural but as you get closer the views are so beautiful. We drove by beautiful waterways - not sure if they were ponds or lakes, but they were beautiful and snow capped mountains in the distance - simply breathtaking as you drive further away from civilization. The location is easy to find, it's private enough for your events as well - far away from heavily traffic roads. There was plenty of parking for our group of 38 people (some of us did car pool). The grounds were so well kept - clean and neat and multiple outdoor fire pits to sit around, each with comfy chairs. The views of the water from the Inn grounds were so peaceful. You can also hike away from the water as well. So much nature to just take in, very calming for frayed nerves. The buildings are updated, but remain with a rustic style. Seems like pages right of a catalog. Gorgeous. The owners were so warm and welcoming to our group and very respectful of the privacy of the retreat. They took the time to welcome each of us and get to know us as people. Very much felt like we were guests in their home. It was fantastic. We hope to be able to visit again next year. Beautiful venue for retreats, weddings and gatherings. I highly recommend based on my days worth of experience.

Unfortunately we had only one night in Cabin 1, the original cabin, at Sunset Lodge but we will be…read morereturning. There is a special charm and feel you get from the place which is set up for families to create memories without a lot of interruption from the outside. Between the closed in porch, the fireplace or kitchen table inside or the chairs in the yard, the grills by the dock or the beautiful lake there are multiple locations to gather, play games and just share time together. We can envision our family spending a week in this unique setting and actively contemplating when we can schedule our longer visit.

I have been going to Sunset Lodges for over ten years with my family. My wife has been going since…read moreshe was a child, and now it is the most highly anticipated week of the year for my five year old. The location is incredible, with easy access to a variety of daily excursions, or for just hanging out on the docks. The cabins are always clean, staff is very helpful and the overall value is great. I love that we can bring our dog too! I highly reccomend Sunset Lodges.

Oh wow! Dreams do come true. What an amazing 1 mile sleigh ride through beautiful Christmas lights…read moreblanketed in fresh snow. It was magical. The entire property is like a Norman Rockwell painting. The beautiful sleighs and horses, multiple fire pits with s'mores kits, complimentary hot chocolate, and jingle bells from the sleighs heard all throughout. Bring your own blanket and cuddle up with those you love as you ride thru beautiful scenery, over bridges, beside frozen rivers and gazebos covered in white lights. It's romantic. It's magical. It's Christmas!

Beautiful farm , wonderful skating rink in the pond . Slay rides and fire pits , smores ! Great…read moreplace to take kids in the winter