South Coast Maine Inns and B&Bs place you are the center of comfort & natural beauty

Start your day at the handsome, comfortable Inn at Tanglewood Hall with an absolutely scrumptious breakfast. Indulge in blueberry-raspberry French toast or herb and veggie frittata on the wraparound veranda, sun-drenched dining room or privacy of your exquisite room or suite with gas or electric fireplace, silky sheets and period antiques. Stroll through the 19th-century inn’s natural woodland gardens, past whimsical fountains, or amble along the Cliff Walk to York Harbor Beach. Village shops and eateries are a delight, and activities from harbor cruises and sea kayaking to amusement parks and cultural venues are nearby. And don’t forget that Maine lobster dinner! Back at the inn, enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda, under twinkling fairy lights.

The elegance of a colonial inn, with quiet, inviting grounds and a great location across from Ogunquit River Beach, Terrace by the Sea is a special place for travelers who want to be in the heart of a charming village and close to the water. In the heart of Ogunquit Village, with its eclectic assortment of shops, restaurants, galleries, theaters and cruises, the hotel, which has an outdoor pool, also offers easy access to the beach and spectacular ocean views from its parlor, wraparound porch and many of its pleasant, spacious rooms and suites. Most accommodations have an outdoor sitting area or deck where you can gaze out at the ocean while sipping morning coffee or an evening cocktail. An expanded continental breakfast is served daily.

How does this sound: a luxurious stay in a beautiful room or suite in a 19th-century Greek Revival inn half a mile from Dock Square in Kennebunkport? When you stay at the Inn at English Meadows, you have the best of both worlds: a quiet, comfortable inn in a fireplaced room or suite, surrounded by English-style gardens plus the convenience of being a short walk to the shops, galleries, historic homes and restaurants of this quintessential New England village. Breakfast at the inn is a gourmet treat, from fresh-baked scones to lemon ricotta and blueberry pancakes. One suite and a private bungalow are pet-friendly. Others have lovely garden, lawn or village views, some from your own balcony.

At the exquisite 1802 House bed and breakfast inn, modern amenities and traditional hospitality combine to provide guests with the classic New England home-away-from-home experience. The six lovely rooms and suites have fireplaces, premium bedding and deluxe toiletries; some feature two-person spa tubs, four-poster beds; one has a bay window overlooking peaceful, landscaped gardens, another has a private deck, perfect for that romantic glass of wine at evening’s end. Breakfasts are gourmet, three-course delights based on local and organic ingredients. (Early risers can get breakfast to go.) It’s a short stroll to Dock Square with its shops, galleries and restaurants. And short drives to gorgeous beaches, scenic cruises, nature sanctuaries and golf courses.

In the heart of the Kennebunks, the Waldo Emerson Inn combines its stately, Colonial-era presence with the lighthearted touch of its new innkeepers. The sense of elegant whimsy can be found in the inn’s six spacious rooms and suites, where you can order up champagne, flowers – and macaroons! – before you arrive. Some rooms have fireplaces, all have lovely views and touches from the inn’s storied past. A gourmet breakfast is served every morning, and you can refresh and rejuvenate at candy, bread and cocktail “bars” throughout the inn. Beaches are three miles away (get your gear at the inn’s beach bar), and Kennebunkport beckons with delightful shops, galleries and restaurants. The hiking, biking, golf, tennis and horseback-riding are also great.