My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our two-night stay at the Lawnmere Inn. The grounds are beautiful, with an enpansive rolling back lawn leading down to the water's edge, and a wraparound front porch complete with hammock and bicycles for the use of guests (kayaks are also available). Our room on the third floor of the main inn was clean, fresh, and understated, with a lovely view of the cove. Breakfasts are tasty, the staff was friendly and helpful, and we treated ourselves to an incredibly delicious dinner in the Inn's restaurant our 2nd night. If you're lucky enough to go during blueberry season, be sure to order the blueberry pie! Package deals are available through the Inn -- we enjoyed a special mid-week package that included whale watching tickets on a boat tour leaving out of nearby Boothbay Harbor (about two miles from the Lawnmere). Finding parking in Boothbay can be tricky in August, but if you don't mind walking a few blocks you can park for as little as $3 a day in the designated yards of Boothbay residents (look for the parking signs).

The grounds of Lawnmere were lovely (just as they appear on the website) & the breakfasts were hearty and tasty. However, the rooms were very basic and somewhat old. I don't think I would stay here again unless the price was right.

The bar looked really cute at Lawnmere, but it was closed (on a Saturday night) when we were there... I thought that was weird.

Lawnmere Inn is in Southport which is about a 10 minute drive to Boothbay Harbor. It's a cute little island, but pretty sleepy...

A clean, nice place, however not all rooms of the inn are equal in ammenities or attractiveness. We stayed in 2002, and at that time many of the rooms were outfitted with a hodge-podge of everything from Victorian, to post 1960s era furnishings. Other rooms were more decidedly Victorian. It was an odd mix, to say nothing of the inn's detached "cottages," a rather generic building housing several on-suits that were more campy-kitch than cottage-like. The very tiny decks overlooking the bay were hardly big enough to fit two small chairs.

I would recommend the Lawnmere for families with children, but not for a romantic retreat. It was at times noisy, especially in the main house. It should also be mentioned that only certain rooms in the main house have a view of the water. The rest look out to the main road. You'll want the room air conditioner's fan left on high to drown out sounds of traffic at night.

Even with the noise and less-than-stellar view from our room, the inn still managed to cast a spell. What earned it an above average score was its restaurant, which overlooks the bay. The food was great, as was atmosphere. The inn's views and the grounds themselves made it a lovely place to take walks, or simply recline with a book on one of the many lawn chairs that overlook the water.

For the most part, this is not your typical New England inn. No four-poster beds, ornate flowery wallpaper and strict adhereance to Victorian theme. Don't go if that's what you're after. However, if you're not too concerned about these things, and just want to escape to beautiful Southport and Boothbay Harbor, the Lawnmere is a great place to lay your head at night.
Susan Parran, Amherst, NH.