Sophisticated AAA Four-Diamond Inn in Coastal Maine

“When I arrived in Camden five years ago and looked out at the harbor, I instantly thought of the East India Trading Company," recalls Camden Harbour Inn innkeeper Raymond Brunyanszki. " I imagined the old tall ships returning from a voyage, unloading their cargo from faraway lands.” So when it came time to design the Camden Harbour Inn, Raymond named each of the guest rooms after the East India Company’s exotic ports of call: Sumatra, Bonaire, Taiwan. “Of course,” Raymond smiles, “Camden is the final port of call.”

Raymond and co-owner Oscar Verest pay meticulous attention to detail, visible in the 150 fresh red roses delivered weekly to add pizzazz to seemingly every shelf and table. After purchasing the property in 2007, the pair exhaustively renovated it, overhauling the interior with custom-made European furniture and eclectic light fixtures inspired by wide-ranging destinations, from Indonesia to New Orleans. They also performed a soft renovation in 2011.

After breakfast (included with this Groupon)—an à la carte champagne breakfast and a spread that includes charcuterie, smoked salmon, homemade pastries, and mimosas—feel free to plan your day over fresh-brewed coffee in the study, or curl up in the glow of the adjoining great room’s cavernous fireplace. Come cocktail hour, there’s a complimentary welcome flute of prosecco at the restaurant bar, which was custom-crafted from century-old wooden doors salvaged from a French convent.

Beyond a row of red-velvet barstools, waiters emerge from the kitchen of Natalie's, the inn's modern French eatery helmed by executive chef Geoffroy Deconinck. They offer a prix fixe and seven-course tasting menu that are composed of dishes prepared almost entirely from locally sourced ingredients, such as Chef Deconinck's personal favorite, a roasted duck breast with black mission figs.

Camden, Maine: New England Coastal Charm

Located along the Atlantic Coast about an hour and a half north of Portland, Camden and its shingled cottages, rocky shorelines, and picturesque harbor embody a postage-stamp-worthy archetype of New England charm. Coffee shops and boutiques line Main Street, and seafood restaurants dot side streets that overlook the water. After a fresh snowfall, the nearby Camden Snow Bowl comes alive with skiers and snowboarders. Tickets for the Camden Snow Bowl can be purchased at Camden Harbour Inn for half price. Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland features a large collection of works by sculptor Louise Nevelson and its Wyeth Center is dedicated to the three generations of Wyeths.

In the tiny village of Rockport, 4 miles south of Camden, lobster fishermen work throughout most of winter. These hard-working men and women are usually more than happy to share a few words with visitors or squint photogenically at the horizon. For a chance to see boat builders at work, The Apprenticeshop in nearby Rockland opens its workshop to the public, offering a porthole into the art of making wooden boats. On select weekends, families can craft their own sleds as part of the shop's two-day toboggan-building classes. The Cellardoor Winery offers tours and tastings.

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