Fodor's Expert Review Mill Pond Inn

Rooms are comfortably furnished, warm, and inviting at this circa-1780 inn set beside the large, unspoiled Damariscotta Lake, where casual afternoon gatherings on the deck and hammocks-for-two overlooking the water make the most of the location. You might see loons, herons, bald eagles, and other wildlife on an excursion with the owner in an antique Lyman powerboat. Swimming is big here, or you can go for a paddle: several canoes and SUPs, plus a kayak, are available for guests' use. Don't miss the fascinating fish ladder, a short walk away, where alewives swim upstream every spring to spawn. Downtown Damariscotta's shops and restaurants are 2 miles away.