At Samoset Resort, it's all about the views

Samoset's new cottages offer a commanding view of the sea and the golf course.

Sitting on a peninsula that stretches into Penobscot Bay, the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, has a commanding view of the rugged shoreline and gentle tides that this area is known for.

Perhaps you've been there before? Well, if it's been a while, you'll be wonderfully surprised at the changes.

After a multi-million dollar renovation of the lobby, pool, kids club, restaurants and lounge, as well as the addition of a spa - all focused on the views - the Samoset has transformed itself from a stodgy old lodge to a hip new resort where guests never want to leave the property and locals always want to come back. For the food, the wine and the ambience.

Many of the 178 guestrooms at Samoset offer ocean views but to really get up-close-and-personal with the surrounding sea, you need to book either the Flume Cottage or one of three guest cottages that overlook the bay.

Samoset's golf course is scenic as well as challenging.

The Flume Cottage - which actually was built on a rock that jots out over the water - is the perfect hideaway, maybe the best in Maine. The 1500-square-foot accommodation includes two bedrooms, each with its own bath, a spacious living room with a gas fireplace, a fully stocked kitchen, and a large secluded deck with lounge chairs, gas grill and a hot tub. But maybe the best part of staying at the Flume is the ocean view. Or should I say views? Because it's front and center from every room in the Flume.

During the recent renovations, the resort added three more private guest cottages on their 18-hole golf course. While they weren't built out on the water, each does have spectacular water views, along with a screened-in porch that is ideal for sitting and sipping a little wine while watching the sun set.

When guests can tear themselves away from the cottages or rooms at Samoset, they usually head to the resort's new and trendy restaurant, La Bella Vita, which has gone through a total transformation from the old-style tableside service Continental restaurant called Marcel's to this modern and engaging Mediterranean bistro which emphasizes simply prepared fresh local ingredients.

The new zero-entry pool overlooks the water.

Samoset has also added a new spa that offers everything from facials and massages to manicures and pedicures. The tranquil seaside space is a wonderful respite from the activity outside. Yet even here you can't escape the views.

The old pool, which once sat off to the side of the resort near the parking lot, has been replaced by a zero-entry pool up on the hill overlooking the sea. The pool's free form beach-like edge allows you to walk in instead of climbing down a ladder or steps. Tiered decks afford every one an ocean view. And the full-service café and bar make it a great spot for lunch or an evening drink.

The renovations have made Samoset the perfect place to spend some time this spring, summer or fall. (The resort is open April 27 to November this year.) For more information, visit www.samosetresort.com

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