January 7th, 2015 —
Travelers who like their summers filled with lobster, lighthouses, and nautical adventure have a new reason to visit Maine come May 2015. Lark Hotels has announced the reopening of the Whitehall with a new restaurant, Pig + Poet, to be helmed by celebrity cuisinier Sam Talbot, a former founding chef at the Surf Lodge in Montauk and Imperial No. Nine in NYC.
Originally built by a sea captain and opened in 1901, the boutique inn will draw inspiration from the natural environment and local culture, both in the revamped interior design and dishes. Talbot, who plans to stay true to his farm-to-fork sensibilities, says he has “always been drawn to the water and waterfront towns and I’m excited to join the amazing food movement going on in the MidCoast, Portland and throughout Maine.”
As you might guess from the name, guests can expect lots of sustainably raised pork at the Pig + Poet, where a charcuterie bar and raw bar will be offered alongside staple items like lobster rolls, chowder, and blueberry-sweet corn cobbler.
Situated in the picturesque town of Camden, “where the mountains meet the sea,” the Whitehall will feature a fire pit-equipped outdoor lounge, shuffleboard court, and revolving collection of art by local Maine artists. Rooms, which start at $129 per night, are currently available for booking.
How to get there: Greyhound bus from New York to Camden. Then a short taxi ride from the station to the inn. The trip is 9.5 hours and tickets are $49/one way.
Related stories:
From Newport to Nantucket, Lark Hotels Among the Best Places to Stay in New England
Things to Do in Rockland, Maine: Small Nautical Town with a Big Taste
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram