Inn by the Sea

Inn by the Sea assists the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland by fostering shelter dogs at the seaside resort each year. The staff walk, feed, and care for dozens of dogs annually, and guests in turn can walk or play with the pups. In its first four years alone, the program has helped secure adoptions for more than 150 dogs.

The Inn’s grounds are filled with native plants, shrubs, and grasses appreciated by pollinators, wildlife, and shorebirds. Additionally, the Inn helps with habitat restoration at Crescent Beach State Park, including reducing invasive plants with a herd of hungry goats. In collaboration with Hotels for Trees, a tree is planted for every guest reservation; more than 6,000 trees were planted in the first year alone.

Inn by the Sea has several initiatives to support local communities, including Books for a Booking, which donates books to local schools purchased from their librarians’ wish lists. The Giving Tree program helps supply food banks and shelters with new, warm clothing each winter. The Inn’s Habitat for Humanity fundraiser held for guests has also raised thousands of dollars annually to build homes for Maine families.

The Inn’s clean electricity is sourced entirely from Maine solar farms. Solar panels heat the inn’s outdoor saltwater pool, and design choices like recycled sheet-rock walls and recycled cork floors help reduce the Inn’s overall impact. Guests with electric vehicles will find seven electric car docks on the property as well.