Picturesque Bethel, Maine, and Skiing @ Sunday River

During our March break skiing getaway (March 9 to 15, 2008) we stayed in the quaint mountain village of Bethel, Maine, one of the oldest villages in North Western Maine. It's a rather small place, with less than 2,500 full-time residents. One of the most impressive places in town is the Bethel Inn, a historic 150 guestroom resort that originally was a mental health hospital, founded in 1913. Just outside of town, close to the Sunday River Ski Resort, is a covered wooden bridge that dates from the late 1800s, an often photographed and painted local landmark.

Bethel's main street features a variety of quaint shops, cafes and another impressive property: The Victoria Inn, a Victorian-era mansion that has been turned into a restaurant and bed and breakfast. I had a chance to interview the owners, Stacey and Kamil, who relocated from Columbus, Ohio, to fulfill their life's dream of becoming inn-owners in New England. We also enjoyed a nice dinner on our last evening at the Victoria Inn, enjoying chef Kamil's cooking.

Bethel is also the location of a private high school called the Gould Academy and features the "world's largest snow woman", Olympia, standing a record 120 feet tall at the moment, until she will start to melt away in the next few weeks.

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• Bethel
• Maine
• Skiing
• Bed
• and
• Breakfast
• Sunday
• River
• resort