Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Live Like a Gatsby...


Ah...Jay Gatsby...handsome, rich, elegant...a perfect wisp of F.Scott Fitzgerald's imagination. The Great Gatsby is definitely a Summer novel, the smell of the ocean is nestled within its pages, and with the advent of warmer weather upon us, I turn to its debonair hero for inspiration. So, where would Mr. Gatsby go to get away from it all for a perfect weekend? Definitely, somewhere on the Northeast, definitely something by the sea and definitely the sort of place both casual and elegant but trying to be neither...

The Tides Beah Club, along the coast in Kennebunkport, Maine would have been Gatsby's perfect hideaway...it also happens to be mine! Bright whites and plush furniture with nautical accents set the sleek, modern vibe of this luxury seaside resort located on Goose Rocks Beach. The rooms are crisp and clean, the linens heavenly, the decor is very 'JFK on vacation chic' and the rugged beauty of the beach is unparalleled. Turn off your cell phone, leave the computer at home, all you'll want to do here is lie on the sand with a good book, go for leisurely bike rides and forget the hustle and bustle you left behind in the real world.





I recommend an ocean view room, it may cost a little extra but it's worth the added expense. And if you really want to treat yourself, then the Jonathan Adler Suite will make your getaway extra special. The private deck directly overlooking the ocean and replete with bright yellow lounge chairs is the perfect place to sip a cup of coffee while you watch the sun rise. Fall asleep as you hear the waves crash against the shore...



For all you foodies out there, pay a visit to the Tides Beach Club sister property "Hidden Pond" and check out their restaurant "Earth". It's a mecca for foodies and I'd heard so many rave reviews I decided to experience it for myself. Food and its connection to the earth, a vital relationship we too often overlook, is sacrosanct at this restaurant. This farm to table experience allows the freshness of the ingredients to speak for themselves, even the decor is inspired by the beauty of the natural surroundings. Ingredients are sourced from organic gardens on the property and James Beard Award-Winner Ken Oringer has gone out of his way to make sure you experience the authentic flavor of fresh produce. Interesting items on the menu include snacks such as "Relish board, cauliflour, fiddle heads, Vidalia's and Kimchi asparagus" or local "Fried Nonesuch River Oysters with padron pepper relish and sage". I had a chance to speak with fellow diners at Earth and they all seemed to concur that for a foodie, Earth was something of a religious experience. After dinner, head out to the bonfire surrounded by Adirondack chairs where guests sip wine and roast marshmellows around the open fire...it's the perfect nightcap.

If you love the ocean as I do, then the Tides Beach Club in Kennebunkport, Maine is for you. Nothing beats hearing the waves crash upon the sand from your window, watching the sunset on the horizon, or even going for late night walks on the quiet beach... And if you squint and use your imagination, you might even catch a fleeting glimpse of Jay Gatsby himself getting away from city life, throwing on his chicest pair of Khakis and dreaming of Daisy as he stares into the ocean and the distance beyond...

I highly recommend the Tides Beach Club
http://www.tidesbeachclubmaine.com/