We can not say thank you enough to everyone at the Dexter Vet’s office for all you’ve done and also to the cat charity Spirit’s Place in St. Albans for all your fantastic help with her from the start, and all you do for the community. Spirits Place has 200 cats of all ages and sizes in a big barn and they take care of them, get them vet care, and try to adopt out as many as possible. As well as being involved in spay/neuter clinics in the community. We will never forget how they helped us greatly right at the start. Because of that, we do plan at some point this season to add a small donation page on our website to Spirits Paypal link for anyone that would like to make a small donation (as guests have asked about and already done) whether it be money or a donation of food or bedding that we can get to Spirits. If anyone is looking to adopt a cat, we always suggest they visit Spirits.

Brownie is looking forward to spring returning so she can once again enjoy laying among the flowers and doing her favorite hobby: guest watching. We look forward to returning guests seeing the progress she’s made and introducing new guests to our queen.

The post Meet Brownie- Queen of The Brewster Inn appeared first on Brewster Inn.

The Brewster Inn recommends all our guests visit the Moosehead Lake region at least once while staying with us. It is a short, and beautiful, 45 min drive.

Depending on your interests we can recommend various things that may be of interest, including:

Walking around the town of Greenville which is on Moosehead Lake and visiting all the various shops and restaurants. The Kathadin Boat cruises and Moosehead Marine Museum are also a big hit with guests. You will see a variety of boats and seaplanes on Moosehead Lake, many at the marinas in Greenville.

International Seaplane Fly-In at Moosehead Lake

If you’re lucky enough to be here at the start of September you might catch the International Seaplane Fly-In. This year marks the 50^th flyin and is scheduled for September 5^th-8^th in Greenville Maine.We have guests who love to attend every year when possible. People not only get to see all the beautiful seaplanes flying and landing, but also watch them compete in various contests. The seaplane parade planned for Saturday September 7^th at 8:30am. The Fly-In is organized by a non-profit that hosts this event every September on Moosehead Lake in Greenville. Per their webpage, their mission is to “promote fellowship, personal contact, and unification among seaplane pilots and to encourage aviation enthusiasts to pursue their passion”. The International SeaPlane Fly-In facebook page has a complete list of the schedule and events, plus pictures from previous years flyins.

Visiting the B52 crash site on Elephant Mountain which is a short drive from Greenville. For more information visit this website for the B52 Memorial

Located in Shirley (on the way to Greenville) there is an excellent 18hole mini golf course that’s recently opened called Moosehead Mini Golf.

For outdoors enthusiasts that want to go out on an ATV, try and see a moose on a wildlife tour, go white water rafting or just be on a  peaceful stretch of water and fish, you have Youngs Guide Service  https://youngsguideservice.com/  , Northwoods Outfitters and NorthEast Whitewater https://northeastwhitewater.com/ to help you with that.

There are so many more things to see and do in this beautiful part of Maine and we’d love to help you plan your trip while you stay with us.

The post Visiting the Moosehead Lake area while staying at The Brewster Inn. appeared first on Brewster Inn.

Our Maine Bed and Breakfast is a wonderful alternative to the typical hotel and motel accommodations for Maine family vacations, honeymoons, a romantic getaways.  We recognize that it can be intimidating to think of staying in “someone’s home,” but once you enjoy a stay at a great B&B, you’ll see that it’s so much better than any other lodging options. First-time B&B guests are often uncertain of what to expect, so we’ve tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, debunk some of the myths, and provide some information specific to The Brewster Inn.

Privacy:

Guests might be afraid they won’t have any privacy. Each B&B is set up differently, with intentions of making you feel welcome. The Brewster Inn is spacious with a large living room, expansive gardens, screened porch, and covered patio for reading, conversation, or relaxing as you watch the world go by. The dining room is also available for writing, or playing board games. You’re encouraged to interact with other guests as much, or as little, as you choose. Each guestroom has a lock on the door and a private bathroom. You’re also given a key to the front door to come and go as you wish.

Breakfast:

Breakfast is one of the great values included in the B&B experience. New B&B guests may feel they will be dictated to as to what time they have to eat. Each B&B has different routines for breakfast. The Brewster Inn serves a buffet-style breakfast, 7 days a week from 8-9:30am, to allow you to eat at the time you want. Breakfast includes juice, milk, coffee, tea, eggs, fruit salad, breads, cereals, and a different hot serving each day. Please make your hosts aware of any special dietary issues or food allergies. Learn more about Breakfast at The Brewster Inn.

Value:

B&B guestrooms are not all one cookie-cutter price like hotels. The Brewster Inn guestrooms are available at a range of prices to suit the most budget-conscious traveler to the guest that would love everything. Please feel free to browse the room selection on our website and discuss any questions about them with us.  Brewster Inn guestrooms include free:  fast Wi-Fi, large smart TVs and plush luxury robes to wear during your stay. Coffee and tea are also available 24/7 in the dining room and some rooms have personal keurigs.  If you’d like something stronger, a good selection of beer and wines are available for purchase too. Explore our guestrooms, and BOOK TODAY!

Personality:

Guests are often accustomed to hotel chains where all rooms are replicas of each other. B&B guestrooms tend to have much more personality. The Brewster Inn is a unique and special historic mansion full of personality ready to be explored both inside and outside in the gardens. Some guestrooms also have their own fireplaces and original window seats; and the Honeymoon Suite includes a huge 30 jet air tub. The Brewster Inn is a child-friendly bed and breakfast, and we are lucky to be located across the street from a large playground for children.

Innkeepers:

Guests new to the B&B experience may be unsure of how Innkeepers will interact with them and fear they will be intrusive. At The Brewster Inn we strive to make your stay with us a wonderful experience while, at the same time, respecting your privacy. We are a great resource of information on the local area events, restaurants, shopping, and tourism opportunities. We are always available for a chat throughout the day. Anything you need at all, please just ask. Our sole aim is for you to feel the Inn is like a home-away-from-home and that you will want to return and recommend us to your family and friends.

“Newbie” B&B Guest Quotes:

“My first ever stay in a bed and breakfast. It’s a beautiful hideaway that fits in perfectly with the surroundings here. very homely with a warm feeling of knowing you’re supposed to be here and we’re glad we are.”

“We had an amazing stay. It was warm and comfy like we were home. I would say that for our first b&b this definitely will be memory we will remember for a very long time. Thank you for all your hard work, especially waiting up late for us to check in. We look forward to coming back” -Jon and Karen

“We were so lucky to find such a great place with super accommodation. We only wish we could stay longer and will be telling our friends back home about it, offering to show them how to get here… of course so we can stay again. Thank you Brewster Inn for making the first day of our romantic getaway end on a very, very high note.”  -Ally and Adam

“Thank you for making my first stay in a b&b extraordinary. Spent 2 nights in 2 amazing rooms, Honeymoon Suite and Game room. Looking forward to seeing you again next summer.” -Keith, Marie and Nathan

“I had never stayed at a B&B before and this was an astounding experience. I have already written a friend of mine in Mass telling her that she must come up to see this place. Being here is an adventure unto itself. I can’t wait to return…”  -Carol

“As our first stay in a bed & breakfast we found it very comfy, cozy and clean. The innkeeper Mark was very professional, personable, welcoming and knowledgeable. This was such a great place to stay. It’s so cute we’ll be back to stay again. Loved the common room, super warm and cozy…” -Susan

Read more reviews!

The post Considering staying at a bed and breakfast for the first time? appeared first on Brewster Inn.

Whether you are a prospective student coming for a campus tour or are visiting someone who already attends a local school, The Brewster Inn provides comfortable accommodations for your stay.

University of Maine
Founded in 1865 and situated in the town of Orono near Bangor Maine, the University of Maine, is the No 1 university in the state with students from Maine, America, and all over the world represented. See University of Maine on map.

Foxcroft Academy
Established in 1823 and situated on a 125-acre campus in Dover-Foxcroft, ME, Foxcroft Academy has 350 students locally and from many States in America as well as 105 from numerous countries worldwide. See Foxcroft Academy on map.

Maine Central Institute
MCI was founded in 1866 and remains one of the oldest schools in the State of Maine.
Numbering around 450 students in total, including 140 that are residential and located in Pittsfield, Maine, MCI welcomes students from both the USA and the rest of the world. See Maine Central Institute on map.

The Bossov Ballet Theatre
Bossov Ballet Theatre was founded in 1996 and named for its Artistic Director, Andrei Bossov, who danced 20 years as a Principal and Soloist with Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg, Russia, formerly the Imperial Ballet of Russia. Dancers come here from all over the world and from every state in the Union to study classical ballet under Bossov, while they reside in the dormitories of Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield. See Bossov Ballet Theatre on map.

Husson University
Founded more than 100 years ago, and with around 2600 students on the Bangor campus from Maine, America, and all over the world, Husson is one of the best universities to study at in the State of Maine. See Husson University on map.

Unity College
Unity College was established in 1965 in Unity, Maine. On 225 acres of wooded campus, students study the outdoor careers that they want to follow in life. See Unity College on map.

Faith School of Theology
Established in 1959, the Faith School is situated in Charleston Maine and offers diplomas in Christian and ministerial education. See Faith School of Theology on map.

Colby College
Colby is one of the oldest independent colleges specializing in the liberal arts in America being formed in 1813. Just less than 2000 students from all over the world study at the college that is situated in Waterville, Maine. See Colby College on map.

The post Lodging Convenient to Schools in Central Maine appeared first on Brewster Inn.

We were shut for part of the first year and then had a lot of restrictions for the rest. Income was limited and non-existent at times. The cost of everything increased dramatically: food, water, electricity, etc, and so we found ourselves having to raise room rates as well. We spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas to make changes that would help improve the guest experience.

Here are some of the changes we made:

• The Honeymoon Suite: got an amazing spa tub with 30 air jets, chromotherapy lights and room enough for two adults to sit side by side. Guests who have visited before and after we installed this new tub have remarked the last one was big but this one is HUGE. (pictured)
• Coffee, coffee, coffee: we love coffee as do most of our guests (or tea). No more having to wait for breakfast to have that first cup of the morning. We’ve added a Keurig to the dining room so guests can have coffee 24hrs a day. The largest three guest rooms: Honeymoon, Hatherley & Game now have single-cup Keurigs in them as well.
• Beds: guests have often complimented our beds and the quality of sleep. We have got new beds in several rooms and updated the mattress sets as well to make them even more comfortable.
• TV’s: everyone knows the price of cable is exorbitant and kept getting more and more expensive. We decided to cut cable and install flat screen smart tv’s in all the rooms. You can still find most channels on the Hulu Live app installed on the TVs. You can also sign into your own Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., and watch your own shows as well.
• Internet: we knew with the plan to switch from cable to internet-based tv that we would need a great internet system. We upgraded to a wifi 6 system and put pods throughout the house to boost the signal.
• Windows: in a 150 yr old house (last remodeled 90 years ago), the windows were the rope and anchor type that had become hard to open and not energy-efficient. When the ropes broke it became nearly impossible to find someone to fix them. We created a plan to replace the windows with energy-efficient ones that are easy to open (and clean). 6 guest rooms have had new windows installed and we hope to finish the other 3 later this year. The house has 100+ windows so it will take several years to replace them all but we’re excited to see it happening. We were able to get windows that do all we needed while still maintaining a historically accurate look.
• Patio: We love sitting on the back patio from spring into fall and guests have always enjoyed the space as well. The awning was estimated to be 25+ years old and had begun to have leaks in spots. We had some patchwork done a few years ago to try to extend the life, but it was beginning to leak too much. Sitting out there while it was raining was always relaxing, but not when you were getting wet. We found a company to make us a new awning to fit the current frame and we are excited to see it installed sometime next month.
• Food: many local restaurants have closed permanently or are closed from fall to late spring, leaving guests with few options if they didn’t want to travel out of town. We started offering some options that guests can add to their stay. Those include fruit and cheese platters, charcuterie boards and of course we continue to offer our homemade chocolate-covered strawberries. You can see all the options on our enhancements page by clicking here: Enhancements

These are some of the changes we’ve made in hopes of our guests having the best possible stay with us. We really do want the Brewster Inn to be your home away from home while you’re with us. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Mark & Tina

The post Brewster Inn Changes appeared first on Brewster Inn.

• Stephen King tour. The excellent author lives just 40min from the Brewster Inn. Stu at SKTours does minivan tours of locations featured in SK’s books and films. We have done the tour ourselves and Stu likes it to be very interactive. Of course, you will get to see King’s home and there are plenty of photo opportunities. If you are really lucky, you may get to see Stephen King himself, just like we did. There are also 2 film locations in and near Dexter as well.
  
• State Parks: There are 2 within an hour of the Brewster Inn. Both are situated on beautiful lakes with ample hiking opportunities. There’s other nearby state parks a bit further away that make great day trips.
  • Peaks Kenny State Park is on Sebec Lake which has a wonderful sandy beach and swimming area, kayak rentals as well.  
  • Lily Bay State Park is on Moosehead Lake, the largest lake in Maine.
  • There are two more State Parks which make great day trips. Mt Kineo State Park which is accessible by dirt road or ferry. You get to hike Kineo at the same time or play a round of golf at Mt Kineo golf course right by the mountain.
  • And then there is Baxter State Park, home to Mt Katahdin, the largest mountain in Maine and the endpoint of the Appalachian Trail which starts in Georgia. Baxter has over 200,000 acres of amazing scenery, viewpoints and moose as well as other wildlife.

• Wine producers: We have an abundance of great wine producers (all with opportunities for tastings) in our part of Maine from Anthony Lee here in Dexter, Dragonfly in Stetson and The Spotted Cat in Greenville which is right on the way to the B52 crash site. More on that further down.

• The Maine coast. We have always been shouting out that “Maine is more than just a coastline” because that is totally true, but there are some many amazing places to see on the coast from lighthouses, beaches, coastal towns like Bar Harbor, Camden, Rockland and Boothbay that are just a short ride away. The coast at its nearest point is just 50min away and we have some great itineraries using the Brewster Inn as a base to go and explore this part of Maine.

• The Penobscot Narrows Bridge, Observatory and Fort Knox State Park. All together on the same site and one ticket provides entrance to it all. The observatory is 420 ft. high and is the tallest occupied structure in Maine. According to the Maine DOT website, it is only 1 of 4 bridge observatories in the world. The other three are in China, Thailand and Slovakia. It also says it’s the highest bridge observatory in the world. Fort Knox State Park is amazing. You’ll spend a good while walking around it. Still an incredible structure. Take a flashlight with you if you have one as there are some tunnels inside where the lighting provided isn’t the best and the brick floors are uneven. Fort Knox was established in 1844 to protect the Penobscot River Valley against a possible future British naval incursion. It is a great place for a visit as you explore all around the fort, inside and out. There are even some cannons left in place. While you are over that way, we have ideas for No 6.

• We have a lot of great brewers in Maine. As we have a Maine State liquor license, we get to try a good variety of brews and have a focus on Maine brewers here at the Brewster Inn showcasing Rising Tide, Austin St, Foundation and Masons breweries currently. Over the coming weeks, we plan to go more into this with a blog post especially on it including showing brewers that are open for tastings that are all less than an hour away. Looking, further along, we also want to add distilleries to that list as well as we have now come across a couple of local ones. As a side note to finish No. 5 above when you are at Piscataquis Narrows Bridge and Fort Knox, stop off in Winterport on your way there or back to here and check out Winterport Winery and Penobscot Bay brewery. You go right past their door.

Photo Gallery: click images to view them larger.

In our next post, we will cover 7-11 which includes hiking, moose watching, atv riding, kayaking/canoeing and exploring a B52 crash site that’s now a memorial.

As we said, there are many things for guests to do in the beautiful state of Maine while staying with us. We hope to see you soon and share our love for Maine.

Mark and Tina

*Always remember to book direct at www.brewsterinn.com for the best pric

The post 6 Things To Do, Dexter Maine (Spring, Summer, Autumn) appeared first on Brewster Inn.

One of the things guests enjoy about our location is the ability to use us as a base for multiple night stay and go explore different areas of the state without constantly packing and unpacking. Our central location is perfect for day tripping. We decided to do some of the day trips ourselves so we could share the experience with others.

Our first journey was a solar system hunt. Yes, that’s right, you can do a planetary scavenger hunt right here in the gorgeous state of Maine. We heard about this and thought that sounds interesting. So, one day we set off early to check it out ourselves before passing the info on to guests. It turned out to be a fun day with lots of surprises.

We didn’t know until later that the models are done to scale so they aren’t always easy to spot at first. The Maine Solar System model is the world’s largest scale model of the solar system and is built to scale 1:93,000,000. It’s one of the largest scale models in the world and covers 40 miles on Route 1 starting in Houlton and ending in Presque Isle.

We decided to pass on our experience and some tidbits to make it easier for others to be successful. We passed a few up and had to scout the area to find them. It was well worth the effort though. There was snow on the ground when we had our adventure and we plan to do it again sometime when the weather is nicer as well. There were a few things we would have liked to have gotten out and explored further but the ground conditions prevented it.

The “Sun” was one of the most difficult to find (as you’ll see later). You get a good sense of the sizes and distances between the planets as they’re done to scale.

Our adventure started at the visitor’s center in Houlton. That’s where we found Pluto. The staff there were helpful in providing us a pamphlet that listed the planets and gave you some idea where to look. We still missed some but doubled back and were successful each time in finding the one we had missed. It was a fun day for us, and I can imagine that children would enjoy the hunt as well.

The weather and driving conditions weren’t the best for pictures, but that was part of the adventure. The description for each is above the corresponding picture. So, come along with us-

Pluto: as we said, Pluto is found in a small box inside the Houlton Visitor’s center, right outside the main room where they have all the brochures.

Neptune is next and it is found on the Left side of the road in the Littleton township. The color on this one is gorgeous.

Uranus is next. It’s located on the Right side of the road, in front of the Bridgewater Town Hall.

Saturn is next and is also on the Right side of the road. You can’t really miss this one with the distinct rings!

Jupiter is next and on the Left side of the road. The colors of it are also very striking.

Between Jupiter and Mars we just happened to notice the small model of the Ceres Asteroid Belt.

Mars is next. It’s on the Right side of the road and outside the “Welcome to Presque Isle” sign.

Our planet, Earth, is next and is also on the Right side of the road. We found it outside an auto dealer.

Venus is next and on the Left side of the road.

Mercury is one of the harder ones to find. It’s on the Right side of the road, not far from Venus.

Finally, the Sun. The Sun is located inside Folsam Hall University of Maine, Presque Isle. We were lucky there was some classes and meetings going on that day, so we were able to get inside the building. After some searching, we realized the Sun is a huge multi story curved yellow beam going all the way up the inside front of the building.

We hope you enjoyed following along on our adventure and will come with us on new adventures this year. We plan to do some covered bridges, waterfalls, lighthouse, state parks and other day trips that may take us off the beaten path.

If you haven’t yet, please like our Brewster Inn Facebook and Brewster Inn Instagram pages to keep up to date with us.

Cheers, Mark and Tina

p.s. As we were traveling on Rt. 1 toward Houlton, we happened upon a model for the dwarf planet, Eris. This one is VERY easy to miss. It’s on a pole near the intersection of Rt.1 and Rt 6 and located near the Topsfield/Codyville Veterans Memorial.

The post Maine Solar System Scavenger Hunt: Day Tripping from the Brewster Inn appeared first on Brewster Inn.

Summer
Summer and vacation time is coming and there’s a lot to see and do.  Let’s start right here with Ed at Moose Country Eco Tours who is one of the very best State guides we work with. Ed specializes in unique and personalized tours of the beautiful Maine wilderness. 
Hiking (for all abilities) in the colourful and peaceful surroundings of forests and the Maine wilderness. You’ll learn all about the different plants, flowers, bird and animals that call this home. Enjoy the silence of natural Maine beauty at it’s best. Just you, Ed and nature. 

Ed also loves to be out in canoes on the ponds, lakes and streams in the area where you will glide along and get to see eagles, loons, ducks, beavers and other creatures. Hey, you may even see a moose too! He does night time paddles too were with just the natural light from the moon, you’ll get to see the milky way, constellations and meteor showers.

Autumn
During Fall Foilage time in the Autumn, the whole region changes its appearance as the leaves change colour. Ed loves waterfalls and whether large or small knows where they all are as you head through the peace and quiet of the Maine woods only to hear the thunderous roar of the waterfall getting louder and louder. Waterfalls look amazing all year round, from winter when a lot are completely frozen over to the warmth of summer when they flow freely. The color change in the autumn looks incredible and the same areas take on a whole new appearance.

Here at the Brewster Inn, we have worked with Ed for many years. He always looks after guests incredibly well and goes above and beyond every time to make sure that all our guests have the best experience possible. Contact him directly right here.

We went on a tour with Ed last year and it was amazing, we saw a huge Moose come out of the woods and swim in Sebec Lake. We can’t wait to do more exploring this year. What’s your favorite outdoor Maine activities?

Hope to see you soon – Mark and Tina

The post Experience all Maine offers on your vacation at The Brewster Inn appeared first on Brewster Inn.