Rick and Bev Litchfield have been innkeepers and owners of the Captain Lord Mansion in Kennebunport, ME for more than 30 years.  In innkeeper years, that’s a lifetime! The Captain Lord Mansion is testimony that practice makes perfect.  From the beautiful Memory Garden that greets guests upon arrival to the lavish bathrooms, this is one inn that truly understands guest comfort and care.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by name on a welcome board. Next to each guests’ name is the number of visits they’ve had to the Captain Lord Mansion.  There were visitors from all over the world; one woman was celebrating her 42nd visit.  For each five visits to the Captain Lord Mansion, guests receive a beautiful gift, ranging from cut glass vases to diamond necklaces.  Upon the tenth visit, a stone is engraved with the guests’ name and placed in the inn’s Memory Garden that surrounds a beautiful fountain.  Right now there are 450 stones in the garden, and another 20 are coming soon.  It’s quite a moving sight to see all those stones and to meet guests who make this inn their vacation home.  Rick told us about one couple who’ve been there 75 times.

The inn is Victorian in architecture and design.  It’s filled with beautiful oil paintings and antiques.  We stayed in the Callender Room, named after a historic ship.  The room had a beautiful four poster king bed, gas fireplace and lavish bath.  I’ve never experienced heated marble floors in the bath – truly heaven in the morning.  The shower had four body jets and a rainshower head above.  This is what I call a decadent shower!  The thirsty thick towels and satin robes just put the icing on the cake.  This room, as all others at the Captain Lord Mansion, comes equipped with a refrigerator filled with soft drinks and waters.  A strong wi-fi signal is available throughout the inn too.

Rick gave us a tour of the inn.  The kitchen was bustling with guests enjoying a warm cranberry apple cider, cheese and crackers and homemade pumpkin bread.  Others sat in the parlor before a roaring fire, enjoying the complimentary afternoon refreshments and the beautiful antiques of the parlor.  The inn features a fabulous gift shop – more like a store – filled with everything from balancing toys to jewelry, toys and fine linens.  There’s a spa room and a second casual living room with a large flat screen TV, insuring there’s entertainment for every taste. In addition, the inn has a nice selection of wines available for purchase, with prices that are extraordinarily reasonable.   

Breakfast is served family-style in two seatings.  Listen for the breakfast bells to chime and then go running.  The first course was fine yogurt, cereals, fresh juice, a lovely baked apple and coffee/tea.  Next came delicious warm cranberry muffins followed by pumpkin pancakes with homemade apple syrup that was just delectable.  Guests were also offered the opportunity to enjoy soft boiled eggs – a return to the past!  We walked away so full that we skipped lunch that day.

Every guest takes the drive down Ocean Avenue past Bush’s compound at Walker’s Point (just a two mile walk from the inn), but there are plenty of additional entertainment from wonderful nature trails nearby to meandering through the galleries and shops in Kennebunkport.  Yet, for many guests, there’s no need to leave the Captain Lord Mansion.  Between the lovely grounds and gardens and the sumptuous rooms, just relaxing here is what the vacation is all about.   

For more information, visit CaptainLord.com.  There you will find beautiful photos of the inn, and all the information you need to plan a getaway.  You can even view and then send a video postcard of the inn from their site.  To talk to the inn, call 800-522-3141 or 207-967-3141.

Marti Mayne is the B&B Editor for Wandering Educators.