TIMESTAMP: AUGUST 2016
SWEET SLEEPING @ WHITEHALL
"T h e w a y l i f e s h o u l d b e"
There's a reason this is Maine's tagline; and Whitehall is no exception.
Whitehall is a feast for the senses.
Relax your mind. Recharge your soul. Fill your belly.
Perfectly situated in picture perfect Camden, Maine, Whitehall is a historic Inn that transports you back in time, while somehow keeping all the feels of the modern world. Whitehall manages to capture all of New England's essence and bottle it up in the form of one glorious Inn.
If you weren't a fan of poetry before, you may very well become one after staying here. You can't help but be inspired while standing in the exact room that Edna St. Vincent Millay was discovered in, whilst reciting one of her poems during a summer party.
"The world stands out on either side
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky, --
No higher than the soul is high."
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
(excerpt from Renascence)
It's here I learned that Edna is my spirit animal.
DETAILS, DETAILS
Before anything, you're greeted by an expansive porch; one with rocking chairs, of course.
Rock on.
If you can get yourself past the porch...you'll find yourself wandering through the gorgeous common area of the Inn, propelled by the scent of fresh zucchini bread and coffee drawing you to the reception area. Check in is impossibly friendly and with the option to borrow an iPad during your stay to boot! Yes, please.
I stayed in a wildly delightful room where attention to detail became an art. They've literally thought of everything.
Let's take a moment to appreciate the sheets. No, really, though. They were at least 5 million thread count, and it was like sleeping in butter, (but not as gross). Quite possibly, dare I say, the softest sheets I've ever slept on.
If you need me, I'll be here, in this chair. It's like a really good a hug.
TELL US MORE
The decor is an eye candy + texture buffet. One that you're going to want to over indulge on. I promise.
Weary? No problem. Whitehall boasts seemingly endless quaint sitting areas. Each one prettier than the last.
THAT VIEW THOUGH…
Sure, you're in a picturesque Maine seaside locale. But getting yourself to leave the property will prove more difficult than you think. There is so much to marvel at, in and around the Inn, that it will be nearly impossible to stop. And who says you have to? It's your vacation, isn't it?
Those sitting areas I mentioned? Yeah, they're outside too.
That’s it, I’m moving in.
It was here, with the early evening sunlight splicing through the trees that I had one of my all time favorite hotel moments. And it was all because of THIS SWING...
Take part in the resident shuffleboard or cornhole games, just wait for the sun to sleep, and the magic to rise...
WHAT TO DO…WHAT TO DO
If you manage to coax yourself away from Whitehall- well done, well done. Worry not, there's activities aplenty to keep you occupied during your inevitable period of withdrawal.
L E A V E T H E W H E E L S.
You can walk to the ridiculously charming downtown of Camden and window shop really shop; let's be real. Stroll by the harbor and realize you're looking at a real life postcard. Just make sure you get yourself an ice cream from Camden Cone - after all, you deserve it.
S I P.
Wine, that is. The Cellar Door Winery will knock your socks off.
I N D U L G E.
Yep. I give you permission. The on-site restaurant, Pig + Poet is totally worth it.
Ambiance + handcrafted cocktails + AMAZE food = the total trifecta.
Oh, and if you're anything like me, you'll be obsessed with the bar. And the stick taps. And the lighting. And the rustic feel. And the fire pit...
A B S O R B.
Take in New England, Maine, Camden, and the incredulous...sunrise
The harbor + solitude + island lighthouse = sunrise goals.
V I E W.
Hike or drive up to the top of Mt. Battie for seriously impressive views of the Penobscot Bay, and take a moment to revel in how small you feel. Channel your inner Edna St. Vincent Millay- this is where she wrote her most famous poem of all...Renascence, and it's easy to see why.
"So with my eyes I traced the line
Of the horizon, thin and fine,
Back to where I’d started from
Straight around till I was come"
-Edna St. Vincent Millay (excerpt from Renascence) TIPS
*Check the dates- I went while the annual Lobster Festival was going on in nearby Rockland, and I'm sure glad I did! Find another event in the area, or don't...either way your stay will be fan-freakin-tastic.
*Explore other towns in the surrounding areas. Take a drive even a few miles up the road can land you in an intriguing antique shop and with two homemade baked goods in your hands- or maybe that's just me.
*Try the Eagle Tracks ice cream flavor at Camden Cone. SERIOUSLY JUST DO IT.
SO YOU WANNA STAY?
52 High Street, Camden, Maine
T:(207) 236-3391
**Whitehall is part of the genius Lark Hotels selection of boutique stays around New England & California. Check out their other properties, you'll want to stay in each. and. every. last. one.
"Beauty is whatever gives joy"
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
