Inn at Diamond Cove
(Great Diamond Island, Portland, Maine)
The end of every school year is filled with tons of obligations and it can be completely exhausting. The Inn at Diamond Cove was the perfect place for me to get away for a few days to recharge before the last two weeks of school. The island is a tranquil spot for a peaceful and relaxing stay. A guest at the hotel said it best, “You don’t realize how much noise you have in your life until you step on this island and it all disappears.”
How do you get to the island?
The island is a picturesque 30-minute ferry ride from Portland, Maine through Casco Bay. What an amazing way to start your adventure. Even though you’re close to Portland, you’ll feel like you’re a world’s away from everyone. On your way over, admire the rugged Maine coastline and the beautiful homes on the islands. Diamond Cove is the third stop on the ferry, after Little Diamond Island and Great Diamond Island.
Arriving at the island…
I was pleasantly surprised to see there was a golf cart from the inn there to greet us and take the guests and our luggage to the inn. I love that there are no cars on the island and primary modes of transportation are golf carts and bicycles. In the 1890’s, Fort McKinley’s was part of the country’s coastal defense system to protect Portland’s Harbor and Casco Bay. The inn is housed in Fort McKinley’s former barracks and overlooks the former parade grounds. Diamond Cove was a famous artists’ retreat where literary greats such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe spent time.
The ferry docks at this lovely pier.
This is the most traffic you’ll see during your stay…lol.
On your way to the inn you’ll pass lovely Diamond Cove Beach.
First impression of the inn
As the inn appeared, I loved seeing the red bricks, white pillars, and quaint porches.
The colorful flowers around the grounds creates a cheerful ambiance. My favorite were all the irises.
Check out this gorgeous lobby
The lobby is beautiful and welcoming with its cozy fireplace as the focal point of the room.
There are hints of coastal décor around the room.
There are many comfortable spots to sit and read a book or the local paper.
The lobby also has a lovely bar!
Take a peek at my room
The inn has 44 luxury rooms. Let me show you around my room. I stayed in room 119.
The first thing you’ll see when you walk into the suite is the living room area.
The room has a subtle coastal feel with decorations such as blue lobster prints.
The room had a wet bar with a sink, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, and toaster. It also has plates, bowls, utensils, coffee cups, glasses, and even had bar essentials like a cork screw and an ice bucket.
A cool feature of the suite is the bedroom and bathrooms are downstairs. It made the suite feel huge and I felt like I was staying in an apartment. The bedroom was cozy and comfortable. I read some reviews that some people felt like they were sleeping in a basement, but I liked it because it felt so private. The bed was unbelievably comfortable and it had 6 pillows. You know how picky I am about pillows and these were incredible!!!
I love the personal touches in the bedding.
You’ll want to jump into this luxurious king size bed, however, there’s so much to explore on the island, so it will have to wait.
Check out this bathroom
The bathroom is unique because it was spread out into two rooms. The first had a toilet and sink. I love the black and white tile that gives a farmhouse feel. How cute is this bikini print?
The second room had a large walk-in shower with a sink.
I love the colorful starfish! It had the same black and white tile and so many shower amenities.
My favorite part of the room is my balcony.
It has lovely wicker furniture with comfortable pillows and cushions.
The balcony overlooks the sweet town and you can see the pretty homes with golf carts parked out front. It was so quiet and calm out there.
As much as I loved my room, I couldn’t wait to explore the grounds so I decided to explore for a bit.
Here are some fun things you could do at the inn.
Indoor basketball
Duckpin bowling in a restored turn-of-the-century bowling alley
Ping Pong table
Billiard table
Foosball table
Arcade games
Play corn hole, croquet, or bocce ball
Rent a fat tire bike.
Borrow a book from the library
Do a puzzle in the Bay Room or the Aucocisco Room.
Play a game of tennis at the tennis courts
Time to explore a bit
I decided to walk down to the Ice Pond and it was so gorgeous that I sat on the Adirondack chairs and watched this family of geese swim around.
It was the perfect place to be present.
I also walked over to Diamond Cove Beach. It has Adirondack chairs and picnic tables, and would be a great place to have lunch.
Time for dinner at the Lobby Restaurant
Caleb was attentive and informative and he made one of the best cocktails I’ve had. I started with a Maine Blueberry Mule. For an appetizer I had Oysters Rockefeller and for my main course, I enjoyed a delicious Lobster Roll.
Relaxing at the fire pit
After dinner I sat at the fire pit and Face Timed with my kiddos. They were so jealous at how beautiful the fire was.
After a wonderful night’s sleep, I was happy to start my morning with a coffee on my balcony. The inn provides Keurig coffee, cream, and sugar in your room.
Work out time!
After coffee, I decided to start my day off with a good workout so I headed to the fitness center. It had everything you would need, like an elliptical machine, Stairmaster, nautilus, treadmill, and a rowing machine. It also had mats, free weights, bands, yoga equipment, etc. The room was so cool with its exposed brick.
After coffee, I couldn’t wait to go down and get some breakfast. The day was beautiful and I ate outside at the restaurant. Cameron was so kind to everyone he served and he made breakfast a pleasure. I had a delicious avocado toast! It had a sunny side cage free egg, baby arugula, garlic aioli, and breakfast potatoes. I added bacon.
It was finally time to start exploring the island.
There are miles of trails and inland roads to walk, run, or bike. The inn loaned me one of their Fat Tire Bikes they rent to guests. It was perfect for exploring the many beaches on the island.
Here are some of my favorite spots:
Pleasant Cove Beach is stunning
And you can find colorful sea glass there. Make sure you only take 1-2 pieces so everyone can enjoy it.
Indian Cove Beach
Sunset Park has chaise loungers you can relax on.
One of the most unique things about Diamond Island are the old bunkers.
Time to hit the pool!
I spent three luxurious hours lounging by the pool reading my magazine. I can’t believe how warm the pool was. It felt amazing!
The pool was perfect for swimming laps, or just floating around. There were plenty of beach towels provided by the inn. Make sure you take time to relax in the hot tub. It is a great way to relieve your muscles after biking around the island.
The Cabana Bar
The Cabana Bar is convenient when you’re lounging by the pool. Unfortunately, it was not open while I was there because it is closed Monday-Wednesday in June. When open, it serves snacks, pizza, sandwiches, salads, and treats.
Dinner in my room
Since I was so tired from my day exploring the island, I decided to have dinner in my room. I had their delicious special for the night…a surf and turf with filet mignon and shrimp, roasted asparagus and potatoes.
I was craving something sweet and after riding around the island all day I figured I earned it…so I had the crème Brule with berries. It was unforgettable!
Full-Service Marina
If you are boating into Diamond Cove, plan to dock at Diamond’s Edge Marina. Water, electrical service, restrooms, showers and a great restaurant are available.
The General Store
The store offers grocery items, ice cream, pizza, fresh sandwiches, beer & wine, creative dinner specials and events throughout the summer. It was not open the days I was there.
Diamond’s Edge Restaurant
Diamond’s Edge was an artistic retreat community and later the historic site of Fort McKinley, so it remains rich in charm and history. It serves wonderful local seafood and New England favorites. The restaurant offers stunning waterfront views of Diamond Cove. Unfortunately, because of staffing issues they were not open the day I was there. I would love to bring my husband there for a romantic lunch or dinner one day!
Where do you fly in?
You can fly in to Portland International Jetport (airport code PWM)
Click here for an amazing price on your flight.
Who would I recommend it to?
The Inn at Diamond Cove is a wonderful destination for families. It is so romantic, and would make a wonderful couple’s getaway. The island would also be perfect for a wedding or a family reunion.
Ferry Information
Ferry service to Diamond Cove is available through Casco Bay Line. Fares and schedules are available at cascobaylines.com. The ferry terminal is located at 56 Commercial Street on the Maine State Pier at 56 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine.
Purchase tickets to the Diamond Cove stop on the Great Diamond Island ferry, which go for around $11 for a round trip ticket.
Tips for Planning your Stay
Check-in: 4:00 Check-out: 11:00
They are not offering house cleaning services at the moment.
Ferry Parking: When you are driving to the ferry station, be sure to arrive in plenty of time to find parking. The public parking lot next to the ferry terminal often fills up during summer.
Internet: The Wi-Fi is a bit slow, but that’s to be expected while on an island.
Snacks/drinks: I brought some snacks with me as well as water. I also brought some wine and cheese to enjoy on my porch.
22 MCKINLEY COURT
PORTLAND, ME 04109
(207) 805-9836
Click HERE to get to their website.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/inndiamondcove
A warm thank you to Inn at Diamond Cove for having me as your guest. The island has quintessential Maine charm and is the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration in this hidden gem. I can’t wait to return with my family and share how stunning this inn is. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% of MyTravelingKids.com.
*All restaurant hours are based on when I was there in June 2022.
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