Great selection of hiking equipment including top line Osprey backpacks and hiking shoes and hiking…read morepoles. Glad we stopped so we could swap out bad equipment

Nice store - big old black dog usually greets customers. Good selection of sports gear - snow shoe…read morerentals, etc. Great gloves, slippers, and boots. Sales in the back room. Maps, hiking gear. Lot of stuff to check out - occasional tent sales. Worth checking out.

Do you like know it all's? Are you looking for someone to tell you what you need despite what your…read moreneeds are? Would you like advice from someone who probably doesn't even spend that much time on the Snow? Then look no further you have found the place. The woman I talked to couldn't be wrong, knew everything and probably had no physical proof to back up anything she was saying. I talk to people who ski and board on a daily basis. The advice you get from someone who has the experience in relation to gear far supersedes someone who has "30 years experience in sports gear" (I'm sure parroting whatever representative pays the most) They are too expensive for what they are and definitely prey on who they perceived to be inferior. I knew I've been avoiding this place for a reason. A waste of time popping in. All I got was an attitude, a hardhead and a know it all. Beware

In town for a conference and looking for an afternoon activity. The event sponsored kayaking was…read more"sold out", and we were unable to find an alternative online. A hotel employee recommended this company for a private kayaking outing, and wow these guys were fantastic. We were Experienced, so had a solo outing. They take you to the pickup point, show you where to pull out of the river, and let you drop off your cars so leaving is easy. Then you are driven to a drop off point a few minutes away. The staff were fast and friendly and worked with us on weather related timing. The river itself was very pretty but a little slow- if you don't paddle you kind of just rest in one place. Cost was lower than other similar events ($40 a person, $50 single fee for the shuttle) and worth it. Equipment was well maintained and in good condition.

Quick service and inexpensive prices, but there's a reason for the latter. Rented a sport ski…read morepackage for $35 for my teenage nephew - they had absolutely NO EDGES, and he was slip sliding all over. We had gone to Loon the day before and he was skiing great on properly tuned skis, so I know it wasn't him. Made for a less than enjoyable day for him, and frankly it was dangerous at times. When we got back to the shop, I let them know, thinking I was doing them a favor so they could make sure they sharpened them for the next customer. A less able skier could get hurt due to the poor quality of their equipment. Their response - "well that's what happens after a busy holiday week"! No apology, no thanks for letting us know - nothing but outright rudeness, and absolutely no care about our experience. They will never get my business again!

We rented skis here on our way to Sunday River--they're on the road leading to the resort so you…read moremight as well stop here instead of paying up at the resort. We checked out Great American Renting just up the street but their prices were a little higher so we drove down the street to this place. The staff was professional and friendly and got us set up quickly. The skis were new this season and although I'm not an expert they seemed to be good quality. I had no complaints and will be back when in the area.

The staff was very helpful and efficient in handling our rental. Equipment was in good shape.read more

Excellent service and great value with the tune cards. They do a 1hr tune turnaround and retuned my…read moreStocklis after something felt off. Very nice and would recommend to anyone skiing Sunday River.

The parking and shuttles are major bummer but once you on the trails, the experience is much…read morebetter. The lifts move quickly for the amount of people. The mountains and trails have plenty of options. Stay away from weekends or holidays for the best time.

This was my first time at Sunday River. I looked online before I went and the website said for…read moremilitary discount you had to purchase tickets at the place. So when I arrived I explained to the gentleman that I have never been skiing before and wanted to know about taking lessons, renting gear, as well as applying a military discount. Since I have never been skiiing I assumed these were the main things to do. He told me he had nothing to do with the lessons and I would have to go talk to the school, and as far as gear I would go talk to the rental place. He then proceeded to sell me ski lift tickets for each day I would be there. Mind you, knowing I have never skied before, he still chose to sell me the higher priced tickets for "all access lifts." Something I had no idea was even a thing and didn't find this out until later that day. I then proceed to the ski rental place, which was right around the corner from "Guest Services." I picked up gear for a day and a half and then proceeded to the school where they give lessons. Come to find out, if you take a lesson the school provides you with gear and a beginner ski lift pass. I signed up for their next available class which was the following morning. Then, the school said I should talk to "guest services" to see if I could switch my lift pass for the next day since the school was already giving me one. I went to "guest services" to inquire about changing the lift passes that I was sold. The woman at guest services said she could refund me as a credit or switch it to a different day. That's when I found out that I in fact had been sold the "all access" lift passes which apparently is more expensive than if I had bought a beginner pass. When I asked her why the gentleman who sold me the lift tickets didn't explain there was a difference in the lift passes nor say anything about the school possibly providing a lift pass and gear she said it wasn't their job to explain everything. She also stated if she had to explain things like that to customers then the line would be out of the door. So, even though I walked into the first building at the ski resort and went up to the desk that said "Guest Services" that still meant that I needed to get that information somewhere else? For the amount of money this place makes off of everyone that walks in those doors, the last thing they should be doing is not providing customer service when it is needed. Needless to say I didn't need the "all access" lift pass after I took a first time beginner lesson, with the gear I rented and made it on the beginner ski lift 2 times. This has really left a bad impression on me and the friends I attended with. They do have an area to keep your shoes and anything you'd like to not take with you on the snow. It is not locked up so I would keep anything of value in there. Overall, the employees handling the rental gear were all very friendly and patient. The women at the school seemed confused when I showed up with my own gear. I took a first time adult lesson with the school. The lesson was with me and 3 others with an instructor learning the basics. Since I was able to catch on fairly quick I was told to continue practicing going down the small hill by myself. I was fine doing so but after about 45mins of me doing this by myself I started questioning why I was paying for a lesson. I checked in with the instructor and she was finally able to take me on the ski lift and down the mountain. And then of course the lesson was over. In hindsight, I should have taken a private lesson and hopefully would have gotten my moneys worth. This place is pretty kid friendly. They could use more equipment stands as there were quite a few people laying their gear anywhere they could find someplace to put it. I don't plan on going back, I'd rather take my money to Loon where everyone is friendly.

What a lovely addition to Bethel. Spa pool wasn't open yet, but rumor is sometime in September…read more Inside restaurant was lovely and the outside gardens beautifully kept. Dinner was so yummy, blackened salmon, chicken Marsala and Mushroom ravioli were enjoyed. Only one minor detail, Caesar salad was served with what looked like sardines Dogs enjoyed the doggie bag .

An impeccable stay! My husband and I spent a Saturday Evening at Grace Note since we were in…read moretown for party with friends. All we can say is WOW. We stayed in Room#5. The entire property is beautifully decorated and the amenities are lovely. Our room had a wonderful sitting area, gas fireplace and giant king size bed that provided one of the best nights' sleep I have had in a hotel. The innkeeper is so lovely, friendly and ensured our stay was exceptional. The thing we loved the most about our stay were the details. The well appointed bathroom and the coffee bar were both notable additions which made our stay more enjoyable. The breakfast in the morning was delicious, featuring a mushroom and prosciutto frittata that was next level spectacular. Next time, we will enjoy dinner at the restaurant since it appeared to be a local favorite. Did I mention the adorable dog that oversees the inn. The sweetest! Grace Note, we will be back. The Parkers

Six years after my initial review I still stay and play 4 days of golf at The Bethel Inn each year…read more I'm adding a star as this years visit showed improvement in a few areas. The condo unit I stayed in appears to have been recently renovated with fresh paint and new kitchen appliances. The place was immaculate. The restaurant, Millbrook Tavern and Grill also upped their game. The food served for dinner was much fresher and tastier. During my stay I had their fish and chips, Maine lobster roll, and the Southwestern Rice Bowl. For starters I had their clam chowder and wedge salad. All were very good. Service, which has been notably slow in the past, was terrific. Each night our servers were quick and pleasant. The bartender, was equally quick serving great drinks. The golf was fine. The area has been inundated with heavy rain for over a month. So the course was sloppy wet in many areas, so much so we were told to ride cart paths only for the first 2.5 days. But it was still quite playable and is a nice layout with some challenging holes. Scenery on some holes is gorgeous looking at the Maine mountains. We had a great 4 days at The Bethel Inn.

Not good. The place is severely understaffed. There was no provision for guests getting into the…read morerestaurant, so without reservations (at the restaurant at our own hotel - why didn't staff tell us this when we booked) we were left on our own to find food in town. Not fun when every place is jam-packed and it's five degrees out. The in-house restaurant won't even do takeout, so forget getting a pizza in your room. Winter amenities - the pool (closed), s'mores, sleigh rides - there wasn't a word about them. So the hotel is advertising features that clearly don't exist, or at least communicating very poorly about their availability. The staff are overwhelmed. They are so busy trying to keep the place afloat that they don't have time to solve problems. There was no manager on premises the entire weekend we were there. We didn't need one, but there was a family there who'd just arrived at their Bethel Inn time share, only to find that the place the had partial ownership of was occupied. Again, no manager, no solution, ruined vacation for that family. That's right. This isn't a place that is simply poorly organized. They are in such dire straights that they actually RUIN vacations. Here's a clue as to why. Just look at the help wanted ads. Sunday River hotel jobs generally pay several dollars more per hour and include ski benefits, health care, and even housing. For example, an $18/hr hotel maintenace tech job at Bethel with no benefits pays $24/hr at Sunday River. Even a bellman at Sunday River's hotel makes $22/hr, also gets tips, free skiing, and subsidized housing. The Bethel Inn was bought by a large hotel chain a few years back. The chain owns a lot of Holiday Inn Express and Fairfield Inn locations, in addition to "luxury" destinations. It seems pretty clear that the owners have yet to decide which they want the Bethel to be.

We had an unexpected stop over and decided to stay here. Devon was so accommodating and friendly…read more We were traveling with 2 small kids, she was great! The breakfast was delicious and the rooms are spacious and clean. Highly recommend. The pictures we looked at before booking are old. It's been updated.

Exterior of property is in need of upkeep. No one greeted us at front desk. Had to call the front…read moredesk from mobile phone and no one answered. We could hear someone talking but no one in sight. More than 5 minutes passed before Lisa entered with no apology, no greeting really. I don't think the room had heat. It was in the high 50's outside so I would hate to be there when it was colder. Was told by Lisa that at breakfast they would make whatever we desired. When I asked for an omelet, I was sternly told "No. we're not making omelets today". We were offered eggs, bacon, sausage and French toast. Food was good but not what I normally find at B&B's. Would not return.

The Grand Summit is not so grand. It was and still is an unsafe place to stay. The rains came…read morewashing the only road to allow staff, guest, ambulances, and firetrucks to pass. Three days trapped in a tiny studio was too much. Even though most of the rooms were empty, they wouldn't upgrade us to something a little bit bigger leaving us in a lonely, negative, dark, and cramped space, which increased stress and anxiety. The temporary bridge will not handle the weight of a firetruck, ambulance or any vehicle of considerable weight. The staff that were confined with us for the 3 days were incredibly helpful and informative about the bridge/road that washed away being needed for repair for a very long time. Keep your family safe and away from the Grand Summit and Sunday River.

I thought I posted this in March, but I guess it got saved as a draft. So here it is…read more In 2014 In a previous review I wrote I'd never spend another dime here. Well the ski in/out lodging choices can get desperate up here and I have been back six times since that review and every stay has been lackluster and expensive. There is literally only one reason to stay at this pig sty. That's to have a ski in/out experience. However this is my first experience back since coof started and yikes I'll start off with the good. As someone who has been coming up here sometimes twice a year since 1995 I always arrive an hour or two before the official check in time. This year my room was ready upon my arrival. That's a first. Very exciting. I'm a fan of the fact that there are multiple lift ticket pick up points. It's also great that you can text the front desk to harass them with mundane questions like. "Why does my fresh towel in my room have a large blood stain on it?" I'm a fan of the little igloos and A frames outside that's cool. The wifi worked really good for our stay. But the bad. The room was clean but was tired. When was this hotel built? 1992/93? I remember coming here as a child and everything was brand new. Our vintage 1990's oven kept turning on and off. Our vintage March of 1993 MIcrowave worked but was absolutely disgusting inside. (I did house keepings work and cleaned it) Apparently they no longer give you a roll of paper towels when you stay here. I mean i'm shelling out around 450 a night. You would think I could get a .39 roll of paper towels, but no I had to go get ripped off at the Barking Dawg. The television was messed up. We had one channel. I inquired with the front desk and they said they would send someone to the room on Friday. But they never did. I figured it out myself. Someone fooled with the setting and made it so you have to go into menu and scan the digital channels. Putting in the channel number did not yield anything. I know this sounds trivial and I don't really watch television. But sometimes it's nice to know that an amenity i'm paying for works. The tap water will literally burn your mouth. So that's nice! On my first night I went to get my pregnant wife some water at camp. They advertised that they are open until 9pm on Thursdays. But the door was closed and lights were off at 8:40pm. Oh cool. That's great. I then went up to the vending machine on floor 2. It was showing an error code and said out of order. I told the dude at the front desk the vending machine is broken. He said "oh they will be in tomorrow morning to fix that" Cool that doesn't help me. I found an unrefrigerated vending machine that was flashing a code that said "78 degrees" that has a single bottle of water in it on the other side of the hotel. So that's cool at least I did not need to drive to get my wife water. Just one measly $3 bottle of water. The room. So yeah it was vintage. The murphy bed housing was disgraceful and the mattress seemed thinner than the ones in other years. The vintage heater/ac unit sounded like a runaway train. The door was so racked you had to slam it to close it. Btw look at the picture. You can see the outside of the room around most of the door. So you could see everyone walking by at night. The inside of the fridge was absolutely disgusting and it was obviously never cleaned. That little cafe near the ski check was not open when we were there. Cashless payments are the literal antichrist. I tipped an extremely inattentive waiter $5 for my breakfast meal. Despite this man not filling up my water, asking me for anything and simply handing me my check he saw me pull out a wad of cash and put $5 in and he said "it needs to be charged to the room" Uhhh lol no. No, your employer can not force you to not accept cash tips. That is stupid. He told me he would not take cash so poor fella didn't get a tip. Oh btw if you advertise a buffet breakfast being available to 10 and don't allow someone in at 9:45 you suck. You guys did that to my pregnant wife while I was out skiing. She called me crying at 9:45 because some piece of shit told her breakfast was closed. What is this bull shit? Complaining gets nowhere with any BOYNE owned property. But what does work is people reading these reviews. If I cost them one couple going to a different place it's a victory in my book.