FALL IN LOVE WITH

THE FOUNDRY

Manchester, New Hampshire

Picture red brick walls, soaring ceilings with original timber beams, wrought iron light fixtures, historic artifacts from Manchester’s industrial past, and large windows with views of the Merrimack River just outside. Once a factory, The Foundry is now a refined industrial space filled with sumptuous leather dining chairs, bar stools, and cushy booths. Its certified farm-to-table menu tempts from start to finish with dishes like 18-hour pork ribs, oysters on the half shell, beefy burgers and thick-cut fries, creamy herbed risotto dotted with foraged New Hampshire mushrooms, and grilled bone-in ribeye. Also, don’t miss the restaurant’s themed nights: burgers and beer on Mondays, prime rib on Thursdays, and a popular all-you-can-eat buffet brunch on Sundays.

Decadent cheeseburgers are a menu staple at Central Provisions.

Photo by Kari Herer

CENTRAL PROVISIONS

Portland, Maine

Raw fish crudo may not be the dish that comes to mind when you’re thinking cozy, but Central Provisions is one of the coziest restaurants around, and we’re definitely ordering up some crudo next time we get a seat at its chef’s counter. Well-balanced bites of sliced seafood are a main attraction at this wharf-side spot, such as bluefin tuna adorned with radishes, mustard, and crispy shallots. The small plates menu features a bounty of vegetables, fruits, and herbs arranged in inviting ways; rich cheeses; and meaty morsels like suckling pig with apple butter. The downstairs bar—shelves stocked with spirits, reminiscent of the building’s history as a storehouse—is one of the coolest places in the Old Port to while away a wait for a table. Meanwhile, the dining room is a testament to the owners’ dedication to honoring the history of the building. Stools and chairs made by a local blacksmith and table and bar tops handcrafted out of reclaimed heart pine are just the beginning of the interior’s rustic-elegant ambience. NEL

GOLD STANDARD

Historically accurate and exceptionally crafted, The Standard is a new multi-use development with luxury condos and niche retail spaces in downtown Mystic.

IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT, it may be for any of several reasons. Historically, Mystic was a thriving seaport and shipbuilding center for more than a century, starting in 1784. To commemorate the small town’s seafaring heritage, Mystic Seaport came into being nearly a century ago and has become one of the largest maritime museums in the country. The popular 1988 romcom Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts, was based on a local pizzeria still in operation. Meanwhile, owner and executive pastry chef Adam Young of Sift Bake Shop put the small town on the map as winner of Food Network’s Best Baker in America three years ago. In fact, it was while they were working on a construction project at Sift that Eric Goodman and Kody Blake started musing about the property next door. “We kept Fall in Love with looking at the site and saying to each other that so much more could be done with it,” says Goodman, co-owner with Blake of K Blake & Company, their four-year-old construction management and general contracting business. SOUTHERN MAINE Where to stay, what to eat, and top 10 things to do.

written by Janice Randall Rohlf Written by STACEY MARCUS

The Tides Luxury Beach Residences

Photo by Heidi Kirn

’Tis the season of ripe apples, leaf showers, and air perfumed with cider donuts and pumpkin spice. Take a moment to inhale the awesomeness of autumn in southern Maine, a place where ribbons of foliage flow throughout mountains and along craggy coasts.

Fall in the Granite State means hiking, paddling, dining, shopping, and relaxing. All the good stuff. “I suggest viewing our fall color from the water on a boat or kayak tour,” says Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism. Lyons adds that the best road trips involve plenty of impromptu stops for unexpected adventures along the way.

WHERE TO STAY

The Langsford

The Tides Luxury Beach Residences in Kennebunkport is a truly unique accommodation option. It’s a historic property that’s been renovated into three private beach residences available for rent year-round. Each one features upscale furnishings, smart TVs, plush towels and robes, Frette linens, and Jonathan Adler décor. You also get a dedicated parking spot, beach chairs, Weber grill, and Peloton bike. The best part? These cool rental homes are right on Goose Rocks Beach and just steps away from the Tides Beach Club hotel. Ideal for both couples and families.

Set yourself on Kennebunkport’s more serene side by staying at The Langsford, right in the heart of Cape Porpoise village. It’s within walking distance to Cape Porpoise Pier and harbor and a quick drive to Goose Rocks Beach and downtown Kennebunkport. This former guest house has been completely renovated into nine private units. The apartments, townhomes, and cottages embody the charm of coastal living.

Check out The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel, situated in downtown Kennebunkport with sweeping views of the Kennebunk River’s harbor side. The hotel is comprised of two buildings with 25 modern guest rooms and suites. Waterfront views are the norm, and private balconies are in demand. The Boathouse’s onsite restaurant celebrates classic Maine cuisine with a twist—don’t miss its raw bar with lobster, oysters, little necks, and scallop crudo.

The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel

Inn by the Sea

Want to bring along the family pet? Check out Cape Elizabeth’s Inn by the Sea, where you and your four-legged friend can be pampered equally. This hotel offers access to Crescent Beach plus a cozy fire pit, outdoor pool (open seasonally), and complimentary use of bikes to tour the coast. And when you get hungry, the onsite Sea Glass restaurant serves up locally sourced ingredients. Plus, Inn by the Sea has restarted its foster dog program with Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, so you might go home with an extra special souvenir.

Indulge in a mini retreat at one of nine luxury suites at The ViewPoint Hotel in York. Situated on four lovely acres, the property offers a front-row seat to Nubble Lighthouse, which will be donned in holiday lights come late November.

“WHEN I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND I DON’T HEAR ANYTHING, TAKE IN THE VIEW OF THE SEAPORT, SEE THE BOATS GOING BY AND THE SUN GLISTENING OFF THE RIVER—IT’S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.” Photo by Matt Crosby

David’s Restaurant, Portland

WHAT TO EAT

Southern Maine has immediate access to fresh seafood from the Gulf of Maine, including amazing groundfish like haddock, cod, pollack, and cusk, along with peerless oysters and clams. “Oysters start to plump up and are their most delicious in the fall months when the water cools a bit,” says Joe Schafer, executive chef at Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport. “Same with lobsters. During the cooler months, we get hard-shell lobsters, which are meatier and tastier,” he adds.

Earth at Hidden Pond delivers a dining experience like no other. Earth is a rustic oasis, nestled among balsam trees and birch forest. Its walls were built from trees cut to clear the site. Suspended above the cement floor is a beautifully preserved apple tree dotted with lights. Each multi-course menu focuses on “farm to fork” freshness. A perfectly ripe heirloom tomato. Freshly caught lobster. A cocktail with muddled local fruits and fresh garden herbs. That’s the Earth experience.

“Our state has great lobster, but what many people don’t realize is how abundant and fertile our local farms are,” notes David Turin, chef at and owner of David’s Restaurant Group. With two locations, David’s in Portland’s Monument Square and David’s 388 in South Portland, Turin is known for curating cuisine that is consistently imaginative yet still comforting. “Southern Maine rivals Tuscany with its vibrant crops during the fall harvest. Nearly everything we source for our restaurants is artisan farmed and organically raised,” he contends.

The Standard's four-story envelope, dotted with nearly “FALL IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR IN SOUTHERN MAINE! THERE’S SO 150 classic double-hung Marvin windows, fits in architecturally MUCH TO DO, ALL WITHIN A 20-MINUTE DRIVE OF PORTLAND. BIKE RIDING with historic Mystic Seaport. ON THE EASTERN PROMENADE TRAIL, HIKING UP BRADBURY MOUNTAIN, OR

JUST STROLLING THROUGH PORTLAND ARE ALL FAVORITE ACTIVITIES.”

—MAYOR KATE SNYDER, CITY OF PORTLAND

Cape Neddick (Nubble) Light

Above: Sip on delicious wine while cruising along Casco Bay on a Wine Sail, departing from Maine State Pier in Portland. Wine Sails

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO

#1 Wine Wise Wine Sails

In Portland, take a scenic Wine Sail aboard the 74-foot sailboat Frances. Cruise through beautiful Casco Bay, taking in views of lighthouses, islands, and foliage, all while indulging in a wine education experience with sommelier Erica Archer. Archer is known for her fresh, interactive approach to building your wine knowledge.

Wine Wise Wine Sails offers three types of tours: Wine Sails include an individually plated selection of cheeses, cured meats, fruit, and crackers. Wine & Oyster Sails pair wine with freshly shucked Maine bivalves. And Wine & Food Sails feature cuisine by some of Portland’s most acclaimed chefs.

#2 Witness the Wonders of Nature

The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region consists of thousands of acres, which, for avid hikers, means an extensive trail network. Its centerpiece is York’s 692-foot Mount Agamenticus, a family-friendly and therefore popular summit, where views stretch from Mount Washington to the Boston skyline on a clear day.

Established in 1966 to protect valuable salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds, the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge in Wells is a great spot to visit. Here, you can meander through various habitats: forested upland, barrier beach/ dune, coastal meadows, a tidal salt marsh, and rocky coast. The refuge’s entrance is located on