What to do when you get here — An insider’s guide to interests and attractions in the area surrounding The Cliff House Resort & Spa.

Experience a Maine Delicacy: Wild Blueberries

When visiting Maine there are a few delicacies that one should not miss. Seafood from our corner of the cold Atlantic is a must and known worldwide. But I am writing to recommend wild blueberries that grow in abundance down east in Washington County. There on barrens formed by glaciers, broken by a huge bolder or a stark pine tree, are endless rolling plains of blueberries. At harvest time the fields are actually blue! It is Maine’s official berry, packed with antioxidants and just plain delicious. You can buy them by the pint or quart in late summer, or flash frozen any time.

At the other end of the state on the south coast, I visited Wild Blueberry Heaven! The Cliff House has adopted this tiny berry and offers guests ways to celebrate it from toe to taste buds! It starts in the Spa where berries are blended for signature treatments. There is a facial that includes a Blueberry Smoothie Mask as well as a Blueberry Manicure and Pedicure, a Blueberry and Rice Body Polish and Blueberry Body Wrap. I chose the wrap combining the power of fresh blueberries with ocean botanicals. It was pretty heavenly! 

In my guestroom there were soaps and lotions infused with blueberry essence. These have the therapeutic benefit of being a natural antiseptic. They smell heavenly, too.

In Ocean Terrace I met the blueberry again, this time in refreshing Blueberry Sangria Lemonade. Here the fruit mingles with cranberries and lemons and is combined with Chardonnay. The taste is summertime in a glass!

Shall we move to the Dining Room? Oh, yes; there is more! For an appetizer I had Chilled Maine Blueberry Champagne Bisque. For dinner, the signature Halibut in a vivid purple compote! It sounds like blueberry overkill but it’s not because the chef uses them in such creative ways.

I returned to Ocean Terrace to enjoy the Atlantic view. It was dusk and the ledges below were lighted. A lobster boat chugged home.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I heard Frankie crooning, Turn to the right, there’s a little white light…It’ll lead you to my blue heaven^©.I seemed to have found it here at my favorite getaway.