One could argue that all regions of Maine have some idyllic element. From the tourist-crammed South Coast to the lesser traveled far north-eastern coast, to Steven King’s old hometown, the lakes of the interior, and mountains on its western border, there is something for every couple with a passion for the outdoors (and lobster). Here are our best picks for romantic getaways in Maine.
Looking for more romantic getaways on the East Coast? Check out our Best Getaways in New England post or 110 Surprisingly Romantic Getaway In Northeast USA.
Sip Cocktails, Raise A Pint, and Bed Down in A Sexy Boutique Hotel In A Former Mill Town
Fortunes were made and then lost in Biddeford Maine’s textile mills. But the town’s revival has been nothing short of extraordinary. Plan to stay in one of the sexiest hotels in New England, grab lunch at a diner with James Beard cred, laze on a sandy beach, and taste your way through breweries and distilleries that have put Biddeford on the map.
Share A Fascination For Horror
Have you and your guy/gal bonded over Steven King? Then, get thee to what King calls “Derry ME” in many of his novels. Of course, there’s a Steven King Tour available in Bangor, some great shops and restaurants, and a Residence Inn by Marriott with the coolest double showers ever.
Read all about this unusual weekend getaway in Bangor ME: Stephen King and More.
Summer On The Coast of Maine
Boothbay Harbor ME was the first “off-Route-1 town” that became popular with tourists on the Maine Coast, and, centered in “Mid Coast Maine” is quicker to get to than Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park to the northeast.
The harbor is the heart of the village, and it is a hub for boating activities, such as fishing, sailing, and kayaking. The downtown area offers a charming atmosphere, with quaint shops, art galleries, and restaurants that serve fresh seafood and other local specialties.
Yes, tourists converge here in the summertime but plan a trip in June, and you’ll get the best of all worlds: temperate weather, phenomenal blooms, uncrowded attractions, and lower hotel rates. There’s a reason Boothbay Harbor and the adjacent Boothbay became so popular – collectively, it’s stunning.
We recommend staying at Spruce Point Inn beach hotel, a favorite of the Kennedys and Ernest Hemingway. Read about the hotel, and others, in our travel guide, Boothbay Harbor ME: The Other Maine Harbor.
Explore The Last True Fishing Village In New England
And, here’s more for the crowd-averse couple. Far off the well-trod Route 1, visiting Castine ME and the Blue Hill Peninsula is another great escape from the hordes. Just an hour from booming Bar Harbor, time seems suspended here, especially around Castine’s Town Green– a whitewashed series of buildings that include the Unitarian Church, Town Hall, and Historical Society – and the waterfront, not much more than a couple of restaurants and docks.
We recommend booking Pentagoet Inn, read about it in our travel guide, Castine and the Blue Hill Peninsula, Maine.
Design A Fashion Forward Stay
Starry-eyed twosomes seeking the hottest hotel on the East Coast will discover it here. InStyle Magazine called the re-imagined Cliff House on Cape Neddick ME one of the best spots in the world to get engaged. And when you drive past lovely shore homes, pull into the long drive, and at last enter this Oceanside resort perched on rocky Maine cliffs, you’ll understand why.
Read all about it in our travel guide, Visit Southern Maine Coast: Kittery, York, Ogunquit.
Shop Till You Drop For Outdoor Gear
Love to shop? LL Bean, open 24/7, is headquartered here. And you can stay in Ole Yankee luxury at the Harraseeket Inn.
Read all about it in our travel guide: Freeport Maine: Shop Till You Drop.
Frolick Amidst Fabulous Fall Foliage
There’s not much going on in this New Hampshire/Maine border town. Yet it is one of the Maven Favorite romantic destinations. Why? The Oxford Inn – an upscale, four-room bed and breakfast with two outrageously good restaurants (one a pub), with one of the most stunning views on this list. Go in Autumn when the foliage turns the hills ablaze with color.
Read all about this getaway in Fryeburg Maine: In the Foothills of The White Mountains.
Mosey With The Mooses
If your love loves to take photos of moose – or criss-cross snow-covered logging roads on a ski mobile, a visit to this Northern Maine town is in order. Greenville Inn is snug, cozy, and luxurious all year long. But it’s particularly lovely in winter. In summer, the skies buzz with seaplanes landing on Moosehead Lake. This is one of the most unique romantic getaways in Maine and one that we love.
Read about it in Greenville and Moosehead Lake ME: Find Your Inner and Outer Moose.
Collect Seashells By The Seashore
Repeat visitors told me not to write about Inn By The Sea, a luxurious, beach-set, big-dog friendly environmentally “green” inn. They’d like to keep it their secret (and not be blocked out of rooms). The best choice on the East Coast for dog-loving duos.
Read about it in our travel guide: Inn By the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Get To Know Quintissential Maine
In the Kennebunks, you will find the freshest New England cuisine, transcendent ocean-scapes, the light, and the sea at play against the rocky shore. All that makes Maine, Maine is here. But on a much smaller, less touristy scale. Plan to go in the warm shoulder months of June or September, when sightseers don’t overrun the place and you can find parking and reduced hotel prices mid-week.
If you’re looking for beach access, then the Tides Beach Club is an exceptional choice in Kennebunks. For alternatives, check out our travel guide, Kennebunks ME: Presidential Perfection.
Perch On The Bay Of Fundy
This Getaway – to Lubec and Eastport ME, and FDR’s summer cottage on Campobello Island – brings you to the easternmost land in the United States. With a short foray into Canada. Yes, it’s all the way up here. Or Down Here – to coin a “Downeast” phrase. Plan to drive a good ten hours from New York City or 7 from Boston. But so totally worth it. It’s beautiful and welcoming, especially to couples in love. But don’t forget to bring your Passport!
Stay in the easternmost town in the US at the Peacock House B&B, and read all about this getaway in our travel guide, Lubec and Eastport ME, Campobello Island, CA.
Lodge By The Lake
If loon calls at night thrill you no end, and the thought of a crackling fire in the living room of your own luxury cabin sets your heart ablaze, this lakefront resort is your perfect fit.
Stay at Migis Lodge; read all about it in Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake ME.
Enjoy Harbor Vistas That Move Artists
Ten miles off Mid-Coast Maine, Monhegan Island is known for its artists and lobstermen, who live, symbiotically, on this tiny crust of land just under a square mile in size.
Though the population dwindles to 50 year-round, when lobstermen continue to pull in those popular Maine crustaceans, warm weather brings artists, writers, birders, nature lovers, and curious tourists who don’t mind experiencing a simple life without cars (or paved roads), private bathrooms, or even, in some cases, electricity. (Yes, it’s rustic, but in our view, one of the most romantic getaways in Maine).
But, ah, those views! The views inspired some of America’s most famed artists. Those are what you came for, anyway.
Unplug at Mohegan House; read all about it in Monhegan Island ME: Artist Paradise.
Bounce Between Museums and Beaches
The Sebasco Harbor Resort becomes a multi-generation hub in the heat of the summer. But come off-season, and this waterfront resort is prime for romantic couples seeking peace and quiet. Read about it in Brunswick, Bath, and Phippsburg Peninsula ME.
Savor Art And Seafood In Rockland
This picturesque coastal town boasts a beautiful harbor, art galleries, and museums, as well as charming shops and restaurants. Take a stroll along the harbor, and watch the boats come in, or catch a sunset over the water.
For the art aficionados who love Wyeths and lobsters, and a chance to stay in a hot new boutique hotel. Or – sail and stay on one of the most historic Windjammer ships in the fleet: the Stephen Taber. (See below).
We recommend the boutique 250 Main. Read about it in Rockland Maine: Art Lives Here
Visit the Port Town That Started Maine’s Gastro-Tourism Craze
Portland Maine was once a working port town. But sometime around the 1990’s, serious chefs eyed empty wharf buildings and storefronts on cobblestone streets, and decided those would make for cool spots to set up shop. One of the first was Fore Street, which led to an explosion of interest – both by foodies and other chefs just starting out. Portland was also home to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and artist Winslow Homer. Food, drink, lighthouses, poets, artists – all ingredients of a most romantic getaway.
Sail Away On A Windjammer Cruise
Nothing says “romance” like a multi-masted sailing ship at full sail. Especially when it’s you and a nautically-minded special buddy onboard an authentic Windjammer. Wine and cheese pairings, gourmet grub, and a lobster fest are included in this mid-coast Maine adventure. It is positively soul-stirring. You might just agree it’s one of the best romantic getaways in Maine.
Read about it in: Windjammer Sailing Vacation In Penobscot Maine.
Schooner sail from Rockland (above) or Camden – so plan a night or two on land before setting sail.
Hike Off The Beaten Path In Acadia National Park
Are the two of you in sync about nature and hiking but hate crowds? Infinitely more secluded, Schoodic encompasses 3,500 additional acres of Acadia National Park, with ferry and bus access to the bulk of it on Mount Desert Island.
The small towns of Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, and Prospect Harbor are all located on Schoodic. So on this Getaway, you’ll experience nature in its rustic glory. And, if you’re game, a few “Pickled Wrinkles.”
We recommend staying at Acadia’s Oceanside Meadows Inn; read all about it in Schoodic Peninsula ME: Acadia NP’s Quieter Side.
Experience The Sea Faring Life
Dine in intimate splendor and stay at a grand Sea Captain’s mansion, and then poke around a sleepy island just offshore on this unique lesser-known-Maine getaway.
We recommend staying at the Captain Nickels Inn; read all about it in Searsport and Islesboro ME: Ship Captain Central.
More Romantic Getaways In Maine
- 7 Outstanding Things To Do In Augusta; Maine’s Capital City
- 10 Outstanding Things To Do In Waterville ME
- 7 Unmissable Things to Do in Presque Isle, Maine
- A Road Less Traveled: Your Ultimate Guide to Madawaska, Maine
- Rangeley Lake Maine: Where Wilderness and Comfort Meet
- 10+ Spectacular Things To Do In Bethel Maine Beyond Ski Season
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Amazing romantic place for couple and lovers. Thanks for sharing