► Maple Hill Farm - Hallowell.
Powered by wind and sun, this extraordinary inn was Maine's first certified Environmental Leader. The fields are left to grow through summer, providing habitat for a host of Bobolinks, Savannah Sparrows, and American Woodcocks. Walking trails behind the inn skirt the homes of Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a multitude of warblers and thrushes. The Prairie Warblers at the top of the field are among the northernmost in Maine.
Certified: Environmental Leader .

► Econolodge Inn and Suites - Augusta.
The EconoLodge Inn & Suites is a terrific value in the Augusta area. It fits nicely into any traveler's budget while still offering the great amenities one would expect in a much more expensive hotel. Located within five minutes of most state office buildings, it is also close to I-95 for a rewarding bird chase, perhaps after a day of business in the state capital. Margarita's famous Mexican restaurant is attached - a favorite local watering hole.

► Fairfield Inn and Suites - Augusta.
A right turn leads quickly to the Augusta Civic Center nearby, which is a big plus for anyone attending an event there. But by turning left, birders quickly find themselves in the Belgrade Lakes area. This combination of quiet lakes and mountains is an oasis of great birding. Black Terns and Virginia Rails nest on Messalonskee Lake within 15 minutes of the inn. The hardwood forests of the Kennebec Highlands are just a few minutes beyond. The easy trails that ascend these hills are alive with summer songbirds. The profusion of warblers, grosbeaks, and tanagers is impressive even in a state that boasts of such abundance.
Certified: Environmental Leader .