The Maine Stay Inn - a proud member of the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport

The Historic Inns of Kennebunkport, the Maine Stay included, provide yet another great reason to visit Kennebunkport in the spring – Cookie Madness!  On April 24, 2010, the historic inns will join together for a tour of each spectacular property, made even sweeter by a selection of their favorite cookies! (Okay, I confess, the pun was intended…) This is the perfect opportunity to snoop in all of the inns you have been so curious about! So walk from the Maine Stay Inn to Captain Fairfield Inn, Captain Lord Mansion, and Captain Jefferds Inn. If you’re up for a longer walk (or feel the need to burn off some of those treats), hike on over to English Meadows Inn, located in Lower Village Kennebunk.  Don’t worry, no one will fault you for hopping in the car, especially when you’ll want one to explore the 1802 House Inn and Old Fort Inn.

The Maine Stay is looking forward to baking (and enjoying) their favorite cookies and sharing them will all of you!  So save your appetites for the Historic Inns’ Annual Cookie Tour.  See you next weekend!

Kennebunkport’s Maine Stay Inn will offer guests 50% off weekend room rates Monday through Thursday between April 26^th through May 28^th 2010 in support of ‘Hospitality for Habitat’, a Maine Innkeepers Association program, originally designed to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity projects in Maine. This year, after the devastating earth quake in Haiti, part of the funds raised will also be distributed to help support Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti.  In exchange for steep discounts, guests must contribute a $35 donation check written out to Habitat for Humanity.

The Maine Stay Inn will join participating members of The Maine Innkeepers Association all across the state to help build homes for deserving families.  In 2009 Hospitality for Habitat raised over $16,000 for Habitat for Humanity, and the Association has raised over $30,000 since the program began in 2004.

To enjoy a 50% reduction in room rates between April 26^th and May 28th 2010, and be part of Hospitality for Habitat,  please make reservations in advance and acknowledge your intention to participate. Your tax deductible donation for $35 should be made out to Habitat for Humanity in the form of a check and given to the innkeeper. For more information, or to make a reservation in support of Habitat for Humanity please go to www.mainestayinn.com or call 207.967.2117.

Is it Spring?

Experience our charming winter one day and glorious springtime the next.  Although this is how New England weather works year round, March is particularly prone to rapidly changing weather. We’re not even through the first week of March and we have already seen gentle snow with blustery winds and fifty degree days with ample sunshine!  But take advantage of our incredible “Third Night Free” package and you’re sure to experience a little of everything.

...Or Still Winter?

If anything is certain, though, it is that you will want to curl up by our cozy fires at night with your special someone, relax in our jetted tubs, and dig into our hearty gourmet breakfasts each morning.  So join us for three nights this winter (or is it Spring?) for the price of two, because two nights at the Maine Stay Inn just isn’t enough!

• Cape Arundel Inn Restaurant (This seaside restaurant overlooking the famous Bush compound and vast Atlantic offers fine dining in an airy, comfortable setting)
• Grissini (Authentic Italian in Lower Village with an extensive wine selection)
• Joshua’s (Slow-food fine dining featuring organic ingredients in a Colonial home)
• On The Marsh (Intimate fine dining in a converted farmhouse overlooking a native marsh)
• White Barn Inn (Five star dining with a fixed price, multi-course menu)

And this Valentine’s Weekend (February 13 and 14), we can even help you get there!  The historic inns of Kennebunkport are debuting their trial run of “Designated Destination,” a shuttle service to local eateries leaving from the participating inns.  The Maine Stay is proud to announce their involvement and look forward to helping provide guests the opportunity to savor their favorite wine or cocktails before and during dinner without having to worry about navigating our winter roads.  We’ll be your designated driver!

Hopefully this sheds some light on our often overwhelming dining scene, but we’re happy to talk with you to ensure you find the perfect dinner destination.  Let the Maine Stay Inn be your personal concierge!

Beginning Saturday night February 13th, guests arriving for a weekend stay at one of the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport have the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary ride to dinner and a worry-free return home afterwards as the group launches it “DesignatedDestination” shuttle service. This first of its kind guest service on the Maine seacoast gives visiting guests the opportunity to celebrate the Valentine’s weekend without the stress of driving after dark, in poor weather, or after enjoying a romantic bottle of wine or two.

Developing Kennebunkport as a “Designated Destination” is a much needed solution for both visiting guests and local inns and restaurants. Creating an opportunity for guests to plan – and enjoy – a wonderful evening out at one the excellent local restaurants without worrying about the dark, the weather, or their consumption was the motivation that drove Finn MacDonald of the Captain Fairfield Inn to propose the idea to the group. “This is a win, win, win,” MacDonald says, “This is a unique service that can help my guests enjoy their evening out here. If our guests appreciate this service, that will help my business. And this service really benefits the restaurants because guests can have a worry-free evening knowing the Designated Destination shuttle will take care of getting them back to one of the inns. The service is scheduled for the evenings of Saturday February 13^th and Sunday February 14^th. For more information, please contact a participating historic inn on the www.kportinns.com website.

The Maine Stay Inn is, of course, thrilled to be jointly debuting this program, as we continually strive for our guests to have the best experience possible.  Winter driving on dark, unfamiliar streets can sometimes deter guests from enjoying certain culinary delights during their stay and the ability to offer this service to our guests is a tremendous step forward. So this Valentine’s Day, crack open your bottle of wine and let the Maine Stay take care of the rest!

Maine Stay Inn Teams up with Maine Innkeeper Association program to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity

Kennebunkport, ME – February 2010 – Kennebunkport’s Maine Stay Inn will offer guests 50% off weekend room rates Monday through Thursday between April 26^th through May 28^th 2010 in support of ‘Hospitality for Habitat’, a Maine Innkeepers Association program, originally designed to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity projects in Maine. This year, after the devastating earth quake in Haiti, part of the funds raised will also be distributed to help support Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti.

Visitors to the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages will receive the deeply discounted room rates in exchange for a $35 donation check written out to Habitat for Humanity.

“With today’s challenging economy we are delighted to offer guests the opportunity to experience a wonderful Maine getaway at half the regular room rate,” said Judith Hauer, owner/innkeeper of the Maine Stay. We appreciate

this opportunity to partner with our guests in support of such a worthy cause.”

The Maine Stay Inn will join participating members of The Maine Innkeepers Association all across the state to help build homes for deserving families.  In 2009 Hospitality for Habitat raised over $16,000 for Habitat for Humanity, and the Association has raised over $30,000 since the program began in 2004.

To enjoy a 50% reduction in room rates between April 26^th and May 28th 2010, and be part of Hospitality for Habitat,  please make reservations in advance and acknowledge your intention to participate. Your tax deductible donation for $35 should be made out to Habitat for Humanity in the form of a check and given to the innkeeper. For more information, or to make a reservation in support of Habitat for Humanity please go to www.mainestayinn.com or call 207.967.2117.

For a complete, and constantly updated list of participating properties, visit The Maine Innkeeper Association’s web site at www.maineinns.com and click on the “Hospitality for Humanity” logo. Direct Links to each property will provide information on specific room rates, availability, and restrictions.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter, they helped build and had bought with the assistance of no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. More information can be found online at www.habitat.org.

About the Maine Innkeepers Association

The Maine Innkeepers Association, a leading provider of tourism information to both Maine’s lodging industry and its visitors, represents nearly 700 B&Bs, camps, cottages, hotels, inns, motels and resorts across Maine, and their suppliers. Through communication, education, promotion and government affairs, the Association helps its members achieve prosperity and deliver a quality product to the consumer. Maine Innkeepers Association is located in Freeport, ME and can also be found at www.maineinns.com.

Best of all, however, was the company.  Dinner began at 7, and when the ball dropped, no one was ready to go home.  With a little extra caffeine, conversations could have lasted all night.  One surprise discovery was that two guests were pastel painters, who were Facebook friends!  What a small world!

It was an incredible evening, and we at the Maine Stay certainly left the table feeling particularly close to those we shared it with.  We can’t wait until next year  - for the food and the friends.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2010!

Asleep in the hammock

The first week of August has been nothing short of spectacular!  Check out these pictures of guests enjoying the summer weather.  We have added to our outdoor collection with a new hammock and patio set, as well as more porch seating.  

Don’t forget that September is just as nice as August, so take advantage of our September Specials!

And remember, at the Maine Stay Inn, we still have the nicest guests!