1. Beach Farm Inn
City: Wells, ME
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (207) 646-8493
Address: 97 Eldridge Rd.
Description: Wells is known for its salt marshes, and this pretty, 19th-century farmstead used to be a saltwater farm. A sunny breakfast porch, a plum-colored dining room, antique furnishings, and an inviting pool are among the many amenities. There are eight guest rooms, several of which have a shared bath, and they are decorated with thoughtful details like damask curtains, satin moiré bedcovers, and hand-stitched pillows. The third floor is cooled with air-conditioning. Rates are extremely reasonable for a place this nice. Two cottages are also available for weekly rental.
2. Belle Of Maine Vacation Village
City: Wells, ME
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (207) 646-2668 or (800) 943-52
Address: 1139 Post Rd.
Description: Seven new cottages were added to this little “village,” but you’ll want one of the funky older ones with pine paneling on the walls and varnished cabinets over the sink. Reminiscent of the old Maine and a whole lot of fun, these places are almost like going to camp! The cottages, with their clapboard sides, red roofs, and porches, cluster around an inground pool, with the marshes of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the ocean in the distance. They come in a variety of configurations, all heated and air conditioned—you can choose a cottage with one or two bedrooms, and they all come with a kitchenette. Gas grills are also available. (There are motel units as well.) And the trolley stops out front to trundle you off to the beach.