While Mother Earth and her sadist lover, Winter, beat up the remainder of the East Coast, I’m happy to say that so far the Winter in Boothbay Harbor has been almost enjoyable.

How often does DC have to negociate daily life through a meter of snow, and in Boothbay Harbor the sun is shining and it’s a balmy 48 degrees. This, however, is not a case of schadenfreude. Other people should shovel snow once in a while, too.

So why come to the Welch House and spend a few days enjoing Boothbay Harbor and MidCoast Maine this time of year? You’ve got snow. So do we.

But we also have a fantastic view of Boothbay Harbor, comfy rooms with fireplaces, and breakfasts good enough to be written up in “Getaways for Gourmets”.

Get away from your snow for a couple of days . . . Sit by our living room fireplace with a glass of wine and catch up with old friends. Or make some new ones.

Stay two nights between now and May 27th, and you’ll get a king or queen bedroom with fireplace and private bath, two fabulous gourmet breakfasts, and dinner at our favorite local, McSeagulls. It’s a short walk into town.

Just $250.00/tax per couple.

No time until summer? How about Windjammer Days (June 22nd), Boatbuilder’s Festival (August 1st) or Fall Foliage Festival (October 9th)? Visit us anytime this year and bring this postcard.

Dinner at McSeagulls is still on us.

On Sunday, May 31st the Harvey Gamage will be docking at Wooton’s Wharf in beautiful Boothbay Harbor at one o”clock.

The Harvey Gamage has just returned from four months at sea with a full crew of High School students. Working with partner schools, the Ocean Classroom Foundation offers a multitude of programs on it’s three ships, including the “Semester at Sea” program and Seafaring Camps.

Congratulations to all our sailors and thanks to the Ocean Classroom Foundation for the use of the photo of the Harvey Gamage!

I wanted to take several blog entries to talk about all of the activities going on during the summer  in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. This entry will deal with our favorite ocean activities, because, well, we live in a Harbor.

Cabbage Island Clambakes - A very well-run operation that combines a harbor tour with a true New England lobster bake on a privately owned island.

Schooner Sailing - A must for anyone visiting the Maine coast. See it the way the first visitors did - aboard one of the traditional wooden sailing vessels that call Boothbay Harbor home. Schooner Eastwind, a traditional wooden windjammer captained by world voyagers (and outstanding hosts) Herb & Doris Smith; Schooner Lazy Jack with Captain Joe Tassi; or Bay Lady, a friendship sloop run by Balmy Days Cruises.

Blackjack Sport Fishing - Captain Dan Stevens grew up on the bays and inlets of this region, and you won’t find a more knowledgeable or experienced guide. If its stripers you’re after, he’s your man. (207-633-64452 or cell: 207-380-5445)

Burnt Island Lighthouse Tour - A limited schedule, but worth going out of your way for this living history tour, seen through the eyes of the last lightkeeper’s family.

Go to the Welch House Inn’s “Innkeeper’s Picks” page to see more choices for great activities in the Boothbay Harbor region, or read what the Boston Globe has to say about our fair town.

As you can imagine, it takes a lot of behind the scenes work to keep up an inn of this size and age. there is always something to be painted, repaired, swapped-out, flipped, and sometimes, just tossed.

Well, so it goes with our office. It has been several years since it had a major overhaul, so Susan and Tammy and I rolled up our sleeves this weekend and tore it apart. It really needed it.

We’ve ordered new furniture and have totally changed the color scheme from a creme to a very dramatic blue. Don’t you feel better when you retire a tired look?

I’ll post some photos when we’re done . . . I’m sure that you’ll love the new look.

Here it is . . .

In an effort to keep everyone out there up to date with the goings-on at the Welch House (and mid-coast Maine in particular), Susan & I have launched this blog to take an opportunity to talk to you folks on a regular basis.

We will have three blog categories . . . “Boothbay Harbor”, dealing with the best and not so best here in the Harbor, “Midcoast Foodies”, talking about the very best food from Portland to Rockland, and “Welch House Innformation”, where we’ll talk about the Inn and what we’re up to.

Take a look every once and a while because we promise to keep this fresh and topical, and we look forward to your comments and input.

Michael