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The White Barn Inn-
Kennebunkport, Maine
By: Norm Goldman
Artist: Lily Azerad-Goldman
 If academic degrees were awarded to resorts and inns,
The White Barn Inn located in Kennebunkport, Maine, would graduate summa
cum laude-with the highest distinction.
Built as a farm-house, dating back to 1820, the Boothby
family, who were the owners in 1887, added a large porch to the front of the
property, divided the upper floors into guest rooms, constructed large airy
rooms on the ground floor, et voilà, you had a charming delightful
boardinghouse.
Much has changed since these early days, when it was
known as the Forest Hill Inn.
For one thing, in 1973 the inn was renamed the White
Barn Inn. It has also undergone considerable renovations in order to achieve
and maintain its AAA Five Diamond status.
As a member of the prestigious
Relais & Châteaux Association, the unpretentious international staff, as
well as its informal general manager, Roderick Anderson, strictly adheres to
the association’s philosophy: all members must be devoted to catering to
their discerning guests with a passion for hospitality and pampering. In
addition, each establishment must reflect the five “C’s”-courtesy, charm,
character, calm and cuisine.
It is little wonder this establishment has earned top
honors and accolades.
Condé Nast Traveler “Readers Choice Awards” recognized
the inn as one of the “Top 25 North American Small Hotels.”
In 2003, Travel and Leisure placed the inn among the
top five hundred greatest hotels in the world.
LOCATION
 Tucked away on a residential street in picturesque
Kennebunkport, and located less than a mile from
Gooch's Beach to the south, the intimate inn’s suites and its several
cottages with its private patios and entrances, provide the classic
environment to escape from the chaos of urban life.
Where guests can soak up the exhilarating ocean air
that will rejuvenate mind, body and soul within a setting of peace and
tranquility.
Added to all of this is that it is only 80 miles from
downtown Boston and 25 miles from Portland, Maine.
It is also a stone’s throw away from the quaint fishing
village of Cape Porpoise, where you can pick up the freshest lobster in
probably all of Maine.
Stepping into anyone of the guest accommodations, you
immediately are greeted with fresh flowers and fruit, plush terry cloth
robes and Moulton Brown toiletries.
Recently, the entire main house guestrooms as well as
the junior suites have been tastefully renovated.
The latter are named for their colors and each
comprises expansive bathrooms with sleek black granite floors, white marble
walls and seamless glass-enclosed rain-style showers.
In addition, sleeping on king-size feather beds with
down comforters and oversized upholstered headboards is something you can
hardly refuse.
If the air should be a little chilly, every one of the
junior suites comes equipped with a wood-burning fireplace and plenty of
wood. The staff will even start the fire for you. In fact, they strongly
recommend they attend to this chore, as you run the risk of smoking up your
suite, if you should attempt this yourself.
Among the amenities offered are a more than an adequate
continental breakfast, the morning newspaper, afternoon tea served with
delightful goodies, port and brandy, turndown service, public-area
fireplaces, lending library, touring bicycles, canoes and beach chairs.
The inn also boasts a unique swimming pool nestled into
a landscape of birch and pine trees. Apparently the pool had been pattered
after those found in many Swiss exclusive hotels.
Introduced recently are the in room massage services
offered guests of the garden rooms, wharf cottages, junior suites, Mays
cottage, the Loft and by the pool in the summer.
These run the gamut from a Swedish massage, Deep Tissue
Massage, Reflexology, to a Four Hand Massage.
ULTIMATE ROMANTIC EXPERIENCE
For the ultimate in a romantic experience, and if you
are a guest of the Junior Suites, Mays Cottage and the Loft Suite, you may
wish to experiment with one of the inn’s bath services.
After setting up a time, a butler will arrive and
transform your suite’s bath with richly fragrant waters reflecting one of
your choices, the orchid milk bath, the goodnight (moon bath), it’s a good
day bath or even the double bubble champagne bath.
All drawn baths feature the finest quality Molton Brown
bath and spa products.
You need not worry about intruding on your privacy. As
soon as the baths are drawn the butler discreetly disappears.
Although the inn is not set up for large wedding
parties, they nevertheless can lay claim to setting up a most unique wedding
ceremony. Recently, a justice of the peace performed a marriage ceremony
while the groom’s rabbi participated in the ceremony via a telephone
conference call. The wonders of modern technology!
ROMANTIC DINING-CATERING TO THE SOPHISTICATED PALATE
The inn also proudly upholds its reputation as New
England’s première AAA Five Diamond dining establishment, where the
experience is nothing less than memorable and the food superb.
We can all use a little dose of romance every once in
awhile, and when you have the combination of candlelight and fireside quiet
conversation with superior service, you can’t help but create the perfect
romantic setting.
We had the pleasure of sampling the mouth- watering
sautéed local halibut filet on a white asparagus and vanilla ragout with a
Vidalia onion and potato cake. This had been preceded with a lobster spring
roll with carrot, daikon radish and snow pea in a Thai inspired spicy sweet
sauce.
After savoring these tasty delights, we understood why
in 2002
Relais Gourmand recognized the creative, elegant and innovative cuisine
of the White Barn Inn’s signature dining facilities.
Wine Spectator in 2001 bestowed the Award of Excellence
to the inn’s restaurant for having one of the most outstanding wine lists in
the world.
Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 100 Readers’ Choice Awards”
in 1998 ranked the dining facilities as highest in the world for a resort
kitchen.
Just consider its incredible wine cellar with an
international selection of more than 7000 bottles of carefully chosen wines,
impeccable service, refined atmosphere and superb chefs, and you can
appreciate why these prestigious publications have agreed with Relais
Gourmand.
For luxury-loving travelers and sophisticated tastes
the White Barn Inn and its restaurant will beyond doubt serve as that sought
after impetus in realizing all of your romantic fantasies.
The White Barn Inn
37 Beach Street, Kennebunkport, Maine
Tel: 1-207-967-2321
Fax: 1-207-967-1100
Email:
innkeeper@whitebarninn.com
Norm and Lily Azerad-Goldman are a unique husband and
wife team, writer and water colorist, who write and paint about romantic
destinations.
Basically, they meld art and words in order to create
an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of
the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the
story-original story and original art.
They can be contacted at:
l.goldman@sympatico.ca
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