July 15, 2011

I know as Innkeepers the ability to travel this time of year is out of the question. But luckily our job as inn consultants is different and I am deeply appreciative of opportunities that present themselves to us as part of Inn-partners.

One of our innkeeping seminar graduates hired us to look at an Inn in Millinocket, Maine. Have you heard of Millinocket? I never had! Trip advisor rated it as one of six most interesting travel destinations in the country! It is an old logging community; huge factories surround the town, all of them are now closed. The homes are well built, old wooden structures, well maintained.  There are histories of Italians, French, and Eastern Europeans sometimes three generations of loggers that came there and made a decent life for themselves and their families.

Sitting at breakfast, grandparents, hikers, relatives that had come back to celebrating High School reunions visiting their children, joined us. What rich conversations ensued? Breakfast was delicious.  And lots of coffee was consumed around the table as we listened about life growing up in Millinocket and business travel that had taken them from China to Europe.

Like at so many Inns, a group of successful people had gathered, truly enjoying being back.  Hiking Katahdin Mountain, kayaking in the Baxter Park and running the rapids at the youth camp near by, which drew us because of the squeals of laughter at their adventures early that day; they all seemed to have so much fun!

We stayed at the Young House B&B, friendly Innkeepers and very creative. And we visited another Inn called 5 Lakes Lodge, newly built …with a wall of windows overlooking a pristine lake. It is an exceptional spot for boating, swimming and really just relaxing.

I visited one of the Art Galleries in town that presented 15 local artists, what creative minds and what great paintings. We boated a tour one evening for 3 hours in search of Moose… over the rough Millinocket Lake, amid squalls windy breezes, and into the Mud River terrain. Did we see a Moose? Definitely not, but our excitement grew being stuck in our boat on an under-water huge rock!   So, Millinocket… are you ready for this new category of destination Inns? I assure you it is a great place to visit… despite the very “long” drive. There is much to do for the active Inn-goers, looking for a different adventure that is of a different personal experience.
Remember Millinocket, Maine and what Inn-going is all about…

Of course if you think that innkeeping might be in your future, we hope that you will attend one of our all inclusive innkeeper seminars and see if buying an inn might be in your future.