how do you search?
When it’s time to plan a vacation or just get away for a few days, do you tend to go to popular sites like hotels.com or Expedia and search for a place to stay? Do you choose based solely on price? Do you surf trip advisor and read lots of reviews, or do you go to the same beach house year after year and keep it simple?
In the past, I’ll admit I have sometimes relied upon a trusted upscale hotel site mainly because it is so easy. The rooms are generally very reliable and the site I like has a great interface. I can always count on them. In addition, they have hotels in most major cities around the world. Super EASY, right?
While it may be it’s easy, reliable, and clean, it’s not very interesting and the spaces don’t inspire me that much. Because of that, over the years I have been able to find some unique and very affordable hotels, inns, or glampsites. I’ll share one with you today, but be sure to subscribe now so you don’t miss out on future blogs featuring some very cool spaces. Now, on to why noticing creativity in travel is important to me.
why bother, it’s just a bed and a shower and you’re hardly there?
While this may be exactly what my husband often says, and while he may be technically correct, my theory is the same for this as it is for most things in my life. If I’m not going to try my best, why try it at all?
Let me give you a little history. I graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Delaware where I studied to become an Art Director. My fellow classmates and I traveled in what might be called a small cohort. There were only 22 students accepted into the creative program that year long ago when I applied and we are all still very close today (thank you Facebook). During my time in the program, I was greatly inspired by our small team of 3 professors, one for each creative discipline: Advertising, Design, and Photography. What these teachers taught my cohort, changed my outlook forever. They challenged us to become, not just Art Directors, but also conceptual thinkers, who try to make the world a more inspiring place. Here are some mantras they taught that stick with me to this day.
Go big or go home.
Make it worth my time or please don’t bother.
Do great work and work hard to make a difference.
Therefore, I believe everybody, everything, and every place has an interesting story to tell. This belief has inspired my business and much of my life. So, I’ll share with you why I think it’s important, and fun to apply this philosophy here.
look hard, discover always
Late this summer my husband and I decided to take a short trip and visit a friend who had moved up to Maine. We are from Pennsylvania so the drive is about 9.5 hours. This is too long for anyone to drive non-stop, so I was tasked with mapping out the trip, and to be clear, this includes determining the route, the restaurants, the hotels, and the activities. All of it.
It took me a few days to decide which route through New England we would take because I always want to stop in Newport, RI. It’s one of my favorites and the victorian mansions are worth repeating. But this time I decided we’d travel a bit further and land for our first night all the way up in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit is a town I was especially eager to see because it’s my brother’s favorite and I have never been.
After days of internet surfing and loads of Trip Advisor reviews under my belt, I just wasn’t finding anything…interesting. The bed and breakfasts, as much as I love them, seemed stuffy and expensive this time, so the search was difficult. Then my brother suggested I try searching in a neighboring town. That was the ticket. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.
notice creativity everywhere
I began googling neighboring towns to Ogunquit and I found the small town of York. I am not at all familiar with Maine, except for the popular spots like Bar Harbor and such, so let me tell you why tiny York captured my attention.
York is about 15 minutes from Ogunquit, an important fact for this trip as Ogunquit was our destination. But in York, I found this newly restored little, retro-boutiquey-motel-ish-like place. A super trendy new/old hotel whose conceptual website STORY inspired me enough that I called and booked a room on the spot. The hotel was The York Beach Surf Club and here is why I liked it.
My husband Michael in front of the York Beach Surf Club, York, Maine
the name got me
First of all, I’ll admit the name did get me, immediately. The York Beach Surf Club has a fantastic name. It’s unexpected, edgy, and really fun. I like that. It doesn’t sound like a hotel at all. Instead, it sounds like a really cool place to rest after spending some time away from home. I dug into the website a little more, learned the history of the name and the people responsible for that history, and I was hooked. Very happy with my discovery. So we took off from Pennsylvania on a Tuesday afternoon in pursuit of a Surf Club.
We arrived in York sometime after 7 pm and checked in at the front desk which was located in a small outbuilding right next to where Michael is standing. The very functional multi-use space is a lobby, a front desk, a gift shop, a cafe, and…bingo, a modern mini-bar, which was very welcoming Tuesday evening! I was impressed with everything so far, the overall design, the layout, and even the funky logo. Attention to detail is important. Logos are details and the first thing most people see. This one has the “vibe” we were looking for.
why it’s good to drink coffee
The room was nice and had a very simple, modern, clean design. We had an oceanfront room with a small balcony so we could see the sea. That was great. All good for our one-night stay.
The next morning we woke to hurricane-style “Maine rain”, lots of wind and rain blowing in off the ocean making it quite cold. A little upsetting as we only had one day to spend seeing both York and Ogunquit. But, through the gale, I somehow made it over to the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar for my large cup of hot coffee, and luckily I did because guess who I met? None other than Taylor Perkins, the owner and restoration genius behind The York Beach Surf Club!
Taylor offered me a danish, but I kindly refused as I’m reducing sugar these days, and instead, I turned the conversation to what I was obsessing over and burst out with: “SERIOUSLY, YOU’RE THE OWNER!!! :) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS???” That may have been exactly what I said, with precisely that amount of enthusiasm as, by now, we were both sitting on the sweet pink chairs pictured below at the mini-bar turned morning coffee bar. Remember, it was torrential outside and so Taylor and I had lots of time to chat.
create a mystique
While we sipped our lattes, Taylor shared his story of growing up in York, its historical relevance, and why he came back home to renovate an old Motel and gave it a crazy, funky name. He explained that he spent a long time looking around for a property that his family could transform. They had a vision and wanted to create a cooler “STAY experience” for younger, travelers looking for something less intimidating than stuffy, upscale bed and breakfasts, but nicer than traditional, old Maine motels. After months of searching, they found that The Old York Harbor Motel was for sale. It was perfect, situated right on the ocean and it had good bones and loads of history. It even had a pool that could be brought back to modern life. Taylor shared his photo album with me and told a few stories of the difficulties and setbacks they suffered through during the pandemic restoration. He told me about his close relationship with his father and about his dad’s love of surfing. He even shared a painting of his dad that he has prominently displayed near the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar. His heart was really in this and it showed.
Taylor’s dad, Sonny Perkins, was the first surfer in the State of Maine with a fiberglass surfboard and in 1963 he started a surfing club with a loose coalition of surfers/friends to represent York in surfing contests along the east coast.
So 2020 when Taylor and his team of friends and family began the extensive renovation of the old York Harbor Motel, they were looking for a name. Since Taylor had grown up hearing the stories of the York Beach Surf Club and its members, they decided this name created the perfect mystique. And so became the York Beach Surf Club, hotel.
After a multi-million dollar restoration with the addition of the new pool, food & beverage cafe, and fully renovated buildings and bungalows, the property was now ready for its next 50 years and generations of York visitors. The York Beach Surf Club just celebrated its first season as it opened in the Spring of 2022. I am happy to report we are two of its early adopters!
why details are cool
All photography throughout the hotel is curated entirely from locals, of locals and I think this is so important when you are creating a style or building a brand. The photos reminded me of photos I’ve seen of my parents and that warmed my heart as I walked down the halls. You can see my reflection in the photo below. I took this photo because this woman is the spitting image of my aunt circa 1964. Wow. The images were enlarged, framed, and neatly hung down the hallways and in all the rooms. A nostalgic touch that I think was very well done.
inspiring interest
In the small lobby, the resort also pays homage to the original 1960’s surf collective, The York Beach Surf Club, and tells the unique story of the evolution of surfing in Maine. There is also a prestigious collection of 1960’s Longboards, lots of logo-imprinted swag & Maine Surf Photography available to guests.
SURF MANIA: 1963-1980 MAINE
York, Maine has a deep history of being the playground of the northeast, and one of the top summer hot spots on the east coast. Originally located at the end of the whistle stop, vacationers would take the train up to York to enjoy a stay in one of the many beautiful victorian hotels dotting the oceanfront. As the evolution of the automobile changed commerce in the area, the shift to exterior corridor motels took the country by storm, creating a dynamic couple of decades of design in the building styles celebrating the culture of the automobile and travel.
As a locale for summer migration with a permanent influx of travelers, York Beach inevitably found itself at the frontline of the wave of 60’s surf culture. A place infused with the spirit of rebellion and the creative experimental edge of the 60’s, surfing found a place here amongst the southern Maine youth.
Some surf club perks today!
Pineapple All-Day Cafe
The Pineapple Cafe, located in front of the York Beach Surf Club, is an all-day cafe opening at 7am daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day.
Heated Saline Pool
The new heated saline pool has over 3,500 feet of saltwater complete with beach entry, splash pad for laying out, and poolside food & cocktail service for guests of the surf club!
The Rolling Pearl
The flagship food truck camper, the Rolling Pearl, is open on weekends and for special events with cocktail service and snacks by the pool!
Surfing and Surf Instruction
The York Beach Surf Club is partnering with local vendors to offer summer surfing camps and private lessons!
The Daybreak Coffee Company
The Surf Company’s own coffee brand, Daybreaker Coffee Co., has a retail store located in the Pineapple All-Day Cafe.
Rooms and Spaces
The room photographs below were captured by Photographer Craig Capello. If you are interested in hiring Craig for a photo shoot, you can contact him here.
Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com
Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com
Photography: Read McKendree
I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration about how to find an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation. I’ve included a few creative books below that you may find to spark your interest. Please be sure to leave comments as well. I’d love to hear your interesting STAY STORIES.
I’ve included the York Beach Surf Club’s contact information below should you want to pay a visit the next time you head to Maine. If you do, please mention Kim from Studio Sprig as Taylor would love to hear how you found him. Thank you.
Instagram: @YORKBEACHSURFCLUB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkBeachSurfClub
Web: www.yorkbeachsurfclub.com
Email: reservations@theyorkbeachsurfclub.com
Phone: 207-363-SURF
Learn: Top 25 books to unleash your creative potential. A great list.
Create: Find something you think needs “reviving” and take serious steps toward changing it.
Inspire: Share this post with the next real estate professional, contractor, or builder you meet. Be the change.
Photo credits: The owner’s historical footage, Kim Bensing, Craig Capello and Read McKendree
