by Suzanne Bair
Conveniently located directly off Main Street and Highway 1, the Meadowmere Resort is walking distance to the village of Ogunquit, Perkins Cove, and the Ogunquit beach. Only an hour and a half drive from Boston, Massachusetts, and less than an hour south of Portland, Maine, Meadowmere is perfect for a quick getaway for any occasion.
Read more about Ogunquit, Maine here.
Pick a Room, Any Room
This family owned and operated resort built in 1983 by the Cavaretta family has undergone continuous growth. It blends traditional with a touch of contemporary design, offering comfortable luxury without being pretentious. It started out with just 40 rooms, but this luxury resort now boasts an incredible selection of 144 room accommodations catering to families, honeymooners, city escapers, and North Coast explorers of all types. With 5 family suites, 16 luxury suites, 3 large honeymoon suites, and 120 standard rooms, including 7 ADA rooms in a variety of classes, Meadowmere offers great options for all budgets and room needs.
The Room Experience
During my visit, I stayed in one of the beautiful accessible honeymoon suites, room 840. The suite offered plenty of space to move around in a spacious sitting room with cozy gas fireplace and eating area, private sleeping area with king size bed, and a luxurious, spa-like bathroom. Even with heavy, traditional furniture in the bedroom, there would be plenty of space for a wheelchair to move freely throughout. The generous bathroom offered both a lighted jacuzzi and a roll-in shower with a fold-down bench seat, which gave me flexibility to meet my mobility needs. Both bathroom amenities and laundry soaps are 100 percent gluten-free throughout the resort, making this a fantastic, stress-free destination for those with gluten sensitivities. The private balcony was the only area of the suite that may be challenging for wheelchair users, but this could easily be remedied by removing some of the chairs to allow for wider access.
The Price Tag
Accessible rooms during the low season, in January through April, start at $129 (standard room) – $399 (luxury suite) and vary in price throughout the year to the high season, in mid-June through the beginning of September, starting at $219 (standard) – $599 (luxury suite).
Fueling Up
From May 1 to October1, the West Meadow Pub serves an abundant, complimentary buffet-style continental breakfast offering a variety of hot and cold items including bacon, sausage, potatoes, eggs, cold cereals, fruits, and baked goods. Check with resort staff for gluten-free and allergy-sensitive options. The West Meadow Pub also serves light lunch fare and beverages poolside during the summer months and offers a quaint onsite location to grab a drink year-round. Jonathan’s, located right next door, is a great choice for full dining options.
Water Without the Beach
No need to leave the resort and head to the beach to enjoy the water in this coastal community. The hotel offers an outdoor, unheated pool perfect for those hot summer days, a heated indoor pool for those like me who prefer not to have a frigid and bracing encounter, an outdoor hot tub to enjoy under the stars, and a luxurious, indoor saltwater Roman bath to relax in after a long day exploring. Both of the pools, hot tub, and roman bath are accessible by a portable pool lift.
Amenities of Plenty
Throughout this three-acre resort, there are also other fantastic, accessible indoor and outdoor amenities to enjoy, including a game room/arcade, movie room, bbq’s and garden fire pit, business center, and a health club/fitness center that rivals my physical therapist office. Even in the summer months when the resort is at full occupancy, there are plenty of space to spread out over beautiful grounds and enough amenities throughout the resort that you never feel crowded.
The Final Word
The Meadowmere Resort is one of those places where you struggle with that “do I stay and enjoy all the amenities or do I go explore the area and come back to unwind after a long day” question. Allyson Cavaretta, director of sales and marketing, sums it up perfectly, “In the summer, guests come to enjoy Ogunquit’s beautiful beach – and our resort is a great location to do that. In the quiet season, though, folks stay because it’s the Meadowmere and we just happen to be in Ogunquit. They discover the warm, welcoming atmosphere and a chance to truly relax.” I couldn’t agree more. While this resort was not originally built in the ‘80s with accessibility in mind, this is a perfect example of how hotels and resorts are making it part of their business model to renovate and create beautiful inclusive spaces for all of their guests. It is easy to see why guest keep coming back year after year. I know I can’t wait to come back and stay here again!
A special thank you to Visit Maine for inviting me to explore Maine’s beautiful southern coast. Although this trip was partially hosted, all opinions are honest and entirely my own.
Suzanne Bair is a disabled multi-genre writer, photographer, and community advocate. She is the founder and lead writer of Accessible Family Travel. Her previous work can be seen in Tiny Tim Literary Review, Bellingham Alive!, North Sound Life, and North End Metro magazines encompassing a variety of literary, editorial, and photography content. Suzanne has also been a volunteer and community advocate working with local school districts, and national organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA, Head Start/Ecap, and the Center for Independence focusing on education and disability inclusion for over 20 years.
