Kennebunkport Captains Collection

Kennebunkport may be most widely known as a summertime haunt for the likes of the Bush dynasty, but the reasons it became a presidential getaway are good reasons for just about anyone to visit: the town itself is a typically welcoming New England seaport, with all the pleasures and perks of a small maritime village. In short, it’s a healthy environment for a top-shelf bed-and-breakfast like the Kennebunkport Captains Collection. Housed in a renovated Federal mansion dating back to 1813, this hotel is situated on a quiet tree-lined street within easy walking distance of galleries and antique shops.

Each of the nine guest rooms has been refurbished, but the extent of the modernization varies. The Library room offers a glimpse into the building’s former life as a sea captain’s well-appointed home — here, an antique mahogany writing desk and four-poster bed sit atop wide plank floors, and the private porch gives way to a garden. For the less rustically inclined, several rooms have been entirely redone, with crisp whites and dramatic reds lending a thoroughly modern boldness to the walls, curtains and linens. Most rooms come with gas fireplaces — not exactly faithful to the captain’s 19th-century lifestyle, but on a cold Maine night we think you’ll be happy to forgive the anachronism.

Innkeepers Jed and Alana don’t skimp on the breakfast portion of the New England B&B experience, either — there’s a multi-course spread, seven days a week, featuring locally sourced fruit and mouth-watering twists on waffles and eggs. If breakfast in the morning and freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies in the afternoon don’t fill you up, just take a quick stroll to sample everything from fresh lobster rolls to world-class fine-dining.