Samoset Rockland Maine review

Samoset Resort is a spectacular seaside hotel and resort property on Maine’s mid coast. From the moment you enter the beautiful gates, just two-miles from downtown Rockland, you are welcomed by meticulously kept gardens, gorgeous greens where golfers are playing, and tasteful signage enticing you to the waterfront resort hotel. There is no more majestic property entry in Maine that we can think of among Maine’s top waterfront hotels and resort properties.

The Samoset Hotel is the centerpiece of an expansive lawn and golf course overlooking Penobscot Bay, Rockland and Rockport harbors. We say this is the place to stay in Rockport and Rockland to be close to everything and have so many fun activities right on the beautifully manicured resort grounds at the water’s edge.

There is just so much to do at Samoset Resort, plus you are perfectly positioned to explore this beautiful section of Maine mid-coast with easy day trips and boat tours. Samoset is an ideally located luxury stop on your midcoast Maine tour, perhaps on your way “downeast” from Kennebunkport or Portland, on your way up coast to Camden, Belfast/Searsport, Castine and beyond to Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.

Samoset has everything… Championship 18-hole golf course, with one of the most stunning set of fairways with ocean views! The infinity edge pool has stellar views too, and a relaxed poolside bar. Here you will also find corn hole, a playground, disc golf on the sweeping waterfront lawn, tennis and pickleball, plus there is a full indoor fitness center and Spa. Or just sit on your balcony and watch the schooners and lobster boats enter the harbor passing the grand Lighthouse out the long granite breakwater. Most every guest room and suite has a water view from this multistory (recently renovated) hotel.

Our Samoset room was modernly appointed, while not huge, it had a contemporary nautical theme, and a lovely, tiled bath with fluffy towels and robes and nice amenities. Our favorite part was the ocean view balcony overlooking the lawn, golf course and out towards to the Lighthouse and Breakwater.

Everything is à la carte at Samoset, no breakfast or dining is included in your lodging, but there are several options on property plus a little provisions store off the lobby. We loved our breakfast at Rockland Café and lunch at Home Kitchen Café, both offer for classic diner-fare in downtown. For a more sophisticated evening dinner, we loved In Good Company on Main Street in Rockland. See our Rockland Things to do review.

Don’t miss the seaside walk from the Samoset Resort’s beautiful grounds all the way out to the granite Breakwater which is almost a mile long, originally built in 1881, to the Rockland Lighthouse which dates from 1902, and continues to offer a spectacular view of the harbor! Just sitting out on this impressive granite pier watching the schooners and fishing boats pass by is entertainment enough.

The original 1889 Bay View Hotel here burned to the ground in 1972, and the Samoset was built in 1974. The newer replacement resort hotel is strategically designed to have water views from most every room. It is now an Opal Hotel along with Wentworth by the Sea in NH, Lake Placid Lodge and The Sagamore, among other grand resorts.

We should mention Samoset Resort is incredibly popular for weddings, conferences and group gatherings, so don’t be surprised to find big events occurring on the lawn, lobby, in tents and throughout the resort during weekends in summer and fall here.

Definitely discover Rockport and Rockland on Maine’s mid coast, a gem for lovers of art, lighthouses, lobster and gorgeous granite scenery along the magical seemingly-endless coastline that is Maine.

Day trips from Samoset include Lincolnville for a wine-tasting at Cellardoor Winery, shopping and daily boat tours from Camden, a drive out to Port Clyde and Marshal Lighthouse plus an amazing lobster roll at McLoons. Also venture a wee-bit north to Belfast and Searsport – more fun Maine coast towns.