I had the best solo trip to the Mayflower Inn last weekend. I originally booked a trip for Maine the weekend of my birthday and I had been counting down the days. As I got closer to the actual trip, I ended up pivoting to a hotel closer to home so I could drive and avoid airports. (I’m sure it would have been fine either way, but air travel just hasn’t been super reliable lately and I didn’t want any travel hiccups to deal with.) Because it turned into a last minute booking, my options were a little more limited. I ended up landing on The Mayflower Inn, which is a hotel I’ve been to in the past a few times and have greatly enjoyed. This was by far my best visit there and everything I could have asked for in a perfect solo trip. I was fully able to unwind and relax and recharge.
One thing I was looking forward to was just being in one spot and not really needing to go anywhere or do anything besides sit and read. I did end up venturing “off campus” a few times to pop into my favorite stores in the area and grab lunch and coffee, but for the most part I just settled in. While I was only there for three nights, I savored every minute and it felt like I was there much longer.
I can’t wait to visit again with Mike– I know he’d love the property and the food too– but I also really appreciates and respects that I needed a little bit of time by myself. (We both really value our alone time, so neither one of us gets offended!)
While the trip was to relax, I always find that having a loose “schedule” to follow helps me really shut my mind off and then I can just go on autopilot. On Friday, I drove up to Connecticut. Before checking into the hotel, I drove through Litchfield and popped into a few stores I love, including Littleish. I had lunch and swung by Hickory Stick Bookshop to pick up the book I wanted to read for the trip– Culpability. Yes, I could have purchased it at home but it felt fun to go to bookstore to get once I got there. My plan for Friday was to unpack, walk around the hotel property a little, and keep it extra low key by ordering room service and watching a movie in bed.
After sleeping in and getting breakfast on Saturday morning, I got a massage at the hotel spa. The spa at the Mayflower is the reason to go. It is incredible and such an oasis. My massage was the best massage I’ve ever had– just edging out a prenatal massage I got at the Greenwich Hotel in 2021– if you go, ask for Rebecca!! It was 10/10 luxury and my only regret was not splurging for 90 minutes!! I basically floated out there.
The rest of my trip was spent reading in every nook and cranny of the hotel. Every couple of hours, I’d find a new spot to get a change of scenery. Each meal was also incredible. The food has always been good, but this trip it was really delicious. After dinner each night, I’d pick a movie or show to stream and needlepoint for a couple of hours.
It was really heaven. I drove back on my birthday so I could celebrate with my boys. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend away!
