Enjoy Unlimited History, Seafood, And Scenery On Diamond Cove In Maine
By Celina Colby|Published November 16, 2021
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Celina Colby
Author
Celina Colby is a Boston-based writer and native New Englander who has been covering travel, arts, food, and culture nationally for ten years. When she's not on deadline you can often find her reading, sewing, and searching for the perfect empanada.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Just a 30-minute ferry ride from Portland, Maine, you’ll find Diamond Cove, a former military base turned exclusive summer getaway. The island experience that used to be for upper-crust residents only is now available to travelers of all kinds.
The island is accessible only by water, so hop on the ferry that runs all day, year-round or charter a water taxi to take you out. Be sure to get off at the Diamond Cove stop, not the Great Diamond Island stop. Though both are on Great Diamond Island, Diamond Cove is where the treasure trove of history lives.
When you arrive, you'll notice that there aren't many cars on the island. Only construction and island maintenance vehicles are allowed. All the residents use golf carts to get around which is downright whimsical.
Formerly Fort McKinley during the Spanish-American war, many of the vacation homes and the Inn at Diamond Cove are renovated historic military buildings. While walking around the island, you'll find hidden bunkers and other structures covered in growth from the hundred years since they were used.
It's a delightful adventure to explore the island, imagining what it would have been like during those early twentieth-century years.
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After all that exploring, you're going to want a nice meal. There are two restaurants on the island: Diamond's Edge Restaurant and Marina and Crown Jewel. Crown Jewel provides a chic interior and innovative, Asian-inspired cuisine.
Diamond's Edge provides classic seafood, craft cocktails, and endless views. You can sit right on the lawn of the property overlooking the marina and the ocean beyond it.
Biking around the island is a great way to see all the sights. In addition to the military ruins, there are several beaches on the island and a number of scenic outcroppings equipped with Adirondack chairs and begging to host a sunset glass of wine.
The Inn at Diamond Cove offers upscale condo-style accommodations to Diamond Cove adventurers. With spacious and stylish interiors and amenities like private porches, an outdoor pool, and a fire pit, the hotel is a cozy place to rest your head in between island activities.
The Inn and island often host events, from weddings to family reunions and corporate getaways. After all, what could be more magical than scenery like this?
Mainland Portland has a lot to offer, but there’s something special about a getaway to a private island. Here you can soak up the history and serenity of Diamond Cove, without missing out on the fine cuisine and luxurious accommodations of a Portland getaway.
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