Just what possessed innkeepers Tom and Marcey White to move from Texas to Bethel, Maine, to open a most unique inn, a prodigal son Inn & Gallery, is the question was recently posed to this charming couple.

For those of you familiar with Bethel, this tiny town is located in the mountains of western Maine, 70 miles from Portland. Since its founding in 1768, its population of about 2360, including the communities of the surrounding district the school has remained fairly stable. However, during the high season it swells to about 6000.

What is remarkable about this picturesque area in the heart Maine West is its convenient location to the popular Sunday River Ski Resort and snowmobiling, hunting, tubing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, antiques, kayaking, canoeing, golf, historical research, and not to forget the brilliance of fall foliage.

Marcey indicated to me that when she and Tom moved Maine, who were trying to find a way that Tom could not leave the building and carpentry field and concentrate solely on his career. Apparently, About ten years ago found that Tom had an innate artistic talent for sculpture and painting. Quite surprising is that Tom is a self-taught artist had not taken a lesson!
Their goal was to find a property that allows them to have an inn and at the same time a place to showcase art work Thomas.

The result was the 1813 purchase of a historic property that Tom incredibly lonely in a beautiful renovated hostel with adjacent art studio. Prior to the implementation of the inn, Marcey had experience in the food and service industries and thus could easily transfer their skills.

Name inna rarer is the model of the parable of the prodigal son and Thomas exquisite bronze sculpture reflects his message. It is the hope of the innkeepers that customers experience the same welcome as shown in sculpture and history.

Initially, the property had been owned by one of the founding fathers of Bethel, the Twitchell family, who had been the owner of about 150 years. For twenty years before Thomas Marcey and property, the sale had been announced as the "first Bed and Breakfast in West of Maine. "However, only six rooms with a shared bath and kitchen privileges.
Today, six in the room inna deserve top marks for its spaciousness and tasteful decoration, each with their own private bathrooms and some with whirlpool tubs. Rooms named after the innkeepers children and one grandchild. According Marcey, adopted the personality of each of them to reflect their favorite colors.

Frequent throughout the lodge is peace and tranquility. We also found the rooms lacked uniformity and exudes great warmth and elegance.

Introduction of the living room inna, we were immediately greeted by an original Thomas-of-a kind bronze sculpture. Marcey indicated to us that guests are invited to watch is a "world-sculptor class "as you go about creating his magnificent works of art. It did not take long to take her to the offer and visited the adjacent study has been created in a renovated barn adjacent.

No doubt Thomas artistic inspiration has been enhanced by the spectacular scenery that surrounds the inn, with its grasslands, rivers and lakes nearby, (the inn is across the Androscoggin River), and the mountains.
We also wonder why this sale has proved popular for couples intimate weddings at the kiosk located in the stunning gardens inna is perennial.

By the way, leading to the front inna at the gate are private trails and no access to cross-country and snow systems.

During the fall foliage and winter, when weather becomes a little nippy, there is nothing that can beat sitting in front wood burning fireplace inna enjoying afternoon tea and delicious cookies that Marcey prepared and set for your guests.
When time permits, you can sit in the garden Gazebo after a thrilling ride in the woods and maybe spot a deer or picking berries.

Marcey serves a delicious breakfast in the dining room with a large assortment of sweets juices, cereals, bread, eggs, to virtually anything you may want to paddle.

ROMANTIC DINING

On our travels, my wife and I have noticed that every town has one restaurant that is considered by the Town to be a "a court aboveÂ" others. Such is the case of one of Bethel your choice of restaurants, La Posada de Sudbury. The restaurant is located in an inn that dates back to around 1873.

You know you're a real pleasure when looking at the menu with its myriad of options and veal picatta, Sole Florentine Sicilian chicken, Maine lobster boiled Pomodro the Red Snapper fillet meat.

Owners Bill and Nancy White has built a reputation for offering the best personal service possible, along with a menu creative.

Another option is the residents of Bethel Bethel Inn & Country Club, where after a round of golf you can indulge yourself at lunch or dinner served in the Club's dining room.

Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team, writer and water colorist, who write and paint about romantic destinations. Basically, they meld art and words to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom made’ for the story – original story and original art.

Norm and Lily have collaborated with several Convention Bureaus and Public Relations Companies visiting many romantic travel destinations, resorts and inns throughout the New England States and Florida.

You can view all of their articles and art work at sketchandtravel.com

LA Pink Dragons paddling after the Women’s Division Race Portland 2009