Category Archives: Hotel

York Maine and Nubble Lighthouse

Anchorage Motor Inn, Food, Hotel, lighthouse, Lobster Cove, Motel, Nubble Lightho, Restaurant, seafood, seafood, Sun N Surf, , , , ,

York Maine is one of the greatest places that I have ever visited. Our first visit was by accident. We were traveling North from Boston on our tour of New England and had failed to make a reservation for the night. As the sun began to set we arrived at York Maine.

Anchorage Motor Inn
Anchorage Motor Inn

Driving North up the coast we passed some great looking older motels. One that we loved, Anchorage Motor Inn, had a great view of the Nubble lighthouse and the ocean. We drove past the motel to get to the lighthouse before we lost all light.

Nubble Lighthouse
Nubble Lighthouse

The Nubble lighthouse is the best lighthouse that we have ever seen. I think it is the perfect example of a lighthouse. Not having enough time to look at and photograph the lighthouse, we decided to spend the night at York.

Beach at York Maine
Beach at York Maine

We drove back to the motel, Anchorage Motor Inn, that we had seen driving in. The second floor of the motel had tables and chairs overlooking the ocean. I asked for and got a room on the second floor near one of the sitting areas.

Beach at York Maine
Beach at York Maine

The gentleman at the front desk was great. He recommended places to eat and things to see. Then as I was leaving he made one last recommendation. He told me that the sunrise was beautiful and something to see as the sun rises out of the ocean.

That night we walked across the street to the Sun N Surf restaurant  and got lobster rolls to go for supper. We sat outside at the table overlooking the ocean and enjoyed our food and the beautiful view.

My Mother sitting on the deck at Anchorage Motor Inn
My Mother sitting on the deck at Anchorage Motor Inn

The next morning my wife and I got up early and walked on the rocky beach in front of the motel, drank our coffee that they gave me at the front desk and watched a beautiful sunrise.  For breakfast that morning we drove a short distance south of the resort to a little restaurant called the Lobster Cove, which had a lot of local customers.  We were seated by the window facing the ocean.  The only thing better than the view was the food.  Staff was great and very friendly and my breakfast was the best breakfast that I the entire trip.

Sun rise at York Maine
Sun rise at York Maine

Before leaving York we drove back to the lighthouse to get some better photos and views of the little island it sits on and ocean around it.

My wife and I at Nubble Lighthouse
My wife and I at Nubble Lighthouse

If you ever travel up the New England Coast, York Maine is a must stop.  We enjoyed our time there and made plans to return.

Longfellow House and Menotomy Grill

Bar, Boston, Food, History, Hotel, longfellow, longfellow house, Menotomy Grill, Restaurant, , , , , , , ,

Our last evening in Boston consisted of a meal at Menotomy  Grill, but before going there we stopped to visit the Longfellow House located at 105 Brattle Street.  The beautiful home was built in 1759 by John Vassall.  Mister Vassall was loyal to the King and chose to abandon the house when George Washington and the Continental Army marched into Cambridge.

Finding the house empty General Washington moved in and used it as his headquarters during his time in Boston.  In 1843 the house became the property of the noted American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who lived in the house until his death in 1882.

The house is worth your time and is a great example of the colonial period.  The part of the visit that I most enjoyed was the walk through the gardens behind the house.  I would love to return to the house in summer when everything is in full bloom.  As I walked through the gardens I could imagine Longfellow walking as I was with pen in hand.

Gardens at the Longfellow House
Gardens at the Longfellow House

After the tour we returned to our hotel – the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Arlington.  Beside the hotel is the Menotomy Grill and Tavern.  The Menotomy Grill also has its part in history.  It was built at the site where another tavern once stood.  The older tavern that the Menotomy Grill and Tavern replaced was Cooper’s Tavern.

After the battles of Lexington and Concord the British army returned to Boston.  The return march was not pleasant for them.  Americans were up in arms and fired upon the British every step of the way.  Their march through Arlington was the worst part.

Hearing that the British were approaching the Coopers decided to hide in their cellar.  They had only two customers in the tavern, Jabez Wyman and Jason Winship, who refused to hide with them.  When the British saw the light in the tavern they entered and killed both men then drug their bodies out into the road.

Enough of the history, let’s talk food.  The Menotomy Grill and Tavern has wonderful food and a menu which should satisfy anyone.  I had the Braised Pork Shank, which came with cheesy bacon grits, a fried egg, and cilantro.  It was a great contrast of flavors and textures. It is something really worth trying.

Also at the table we had herb roasted chicken with a potato sausage stuffing, a grilled chicken BLT which came with a chipotle aioli.  Just saying grilled chicken BLT says it all, you know it was good.  For those who like to combine the modern with the past, the Grill has a drink called the Cooper Flip in honor of the other tavern.

The Menotomy Grill and Tavern was a great end to our time in Boston and Cambridge.