As the proprietors of The Craignair Inn by the Sea, Greg and Lauren Soutiea, we’d like to personally invite you to experience the magic of MidCoast Maine via our welcoming Spruce Head bed-and-breakfast.
It’s a genuine honor for us to introduce guests to this sublime stretch of New England seashore that we’re so deeply passionate about. Indeed, we have to remind ourselves not to go too overboard singing its praises, because it can sound a bit hyperbolic. Those who’ve experienced the MidCoast, though, know this is a tucked-away jewel that really lives up to the hype!
With our combined experience in the hospitality industry, we’d mulled over the idea of owning and operating a New England inn for some time before first checking out the historic Craignair Inn (which first opened back in the late 1940s) in August of 2018.
Now it’s our privilege to serve as innkeepers of this venerable property and stewards of its lovely setting here on the quiet St. George Peninsula, nestled along a cove-tucked shorefront just across the causeway from serene Clark Island. We’ve grown roots here, and fallen into the refreshing patterns of the coastal seasons, and yet we’re still daily amazed and seduced all over again by this place.
Gazing out from your room or suite—or from The Causeway Restaurant, or from one of our Adirondack chairs out on the lawn—you’ll admire the inviting causeway between Long and Clark coves, and the picturesque profile of Clark Island.
Stroll Clark Island’s trails, admiring the maritime spruce-fir forest, hardwood stands, and birdsong-filled fields and skirting the salt marsh-, tidepool-, and beach-edged waterfront. A quarry in the preserve not only hints at the tranquil island’s settled past but also serves as our favorite local swimming hole. You might also explore the old foundations of the quarry worker buildings and then meander through the Clark Island apple orchards, which are especially lush and fragrant every Fall.
Having this island preserve just a pebble toss from The Craignair Inn is a gift. And inland, the St. George Peninsula itself beckons, its quiet backroads ideal for bicycling. (Hey, you just might see us running with our dogs on Clark Island Road: a regular tradition!)
“Wedged between the indie environs of Portland and the great outdoors of Acadia National Park,” the New York Times notes, “Maine’s midcoast region has long enthralled summertime drivers with its quaint towns and pastoral, pine-lined roads. The tranquil harbors and craggy beaches along U.S. 1 offer settings as quintessentially Maine as can be.”
And with well-appointed B&B accommodations at our Inn, you’ll find yourself ideally poised for sightseeing, adventuring, foodie-focused touring, lighthouse-hopping, and otherwise exploring throughout the MidCoast realm. (A realm, by the way, that's just as amazing outside the summer window too: from the fired-up fall colors of autumn to the ultra-cozy, snowbound serenity of deep winter.)
We are, for instance, a mere 20 minutes from charming Port Clyde, home to the Marshall Point Lighthouse—instantly recognizable from Forrest Gump as the landmark Tom Hanks’s character reaches at the end of his cross-country run—and one of the jumping-off points for ferry rides to swoon-worthy Monhegan Island.
We’re also but a hop, skip, and a jump from the lively little towns of Rockport, Camden, and Rockland, and one of the must-see outdoor destinations along the New England coastline: Camden Hills State Park, where some of the most impressive peaks directly along the Atlantic coast serve up stunning panoramic views.
And just beyond the MidCoast, over in “DownEast” Maine, Acadia—among the most iconic national parks in the U.S.—is easily visited on an unforgettable day trip.
We could go on and on (really, we could—don’t get us started), but suffice it to say that our perch here at The Craignair Inn in Spruce Head, Maine—right at the doorstep of Clark Island and right in the heart of the MidCoast—makes for a superlative Vacationland getaway.
Find out for yourself this summer—or, if you’ve been here before, it’s high time you get back!