Table Of Contents
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Welcome to the Wild Iris Inn, a Portland, Maine bed and breakfast!
Located in a historic neighborhood in downtown Portland, the Wild Iris Inn offers travelers a comfortable place to spend the night. The inn is conveniently located within walking distance of Portland's many attractions. Whether you prefer to spend your time exploring Portland's Arts District, shopping at the waterfront stores, or strolling through the city's largest park, our bed and breakfast offers convenient access to all that Portland has to offer.
We will be happy to help plan your activities, make your restaurants reservations, or recommend places for you to visit. After a busy day, return to the inn and relax in our cozy common room or sit in the backyard garden as you make plans for dinner at one of Portland's many outstanding restaurants. We look forward to seeing you and are confident that your stay at the Wild Iris Inn will provide you with many special memories.
The Wild Iris Inn, an eco-friendly, environmental leader participant, Maine bed and breakfast, which was built in 1894. It was originally as a two-family house built by Walter Brown, who lived here until 1929. This beautifully restored Victorian-style house retains many of its original features, along with all of its New England charm. It has been operating as a bed and breakfast for the past twelve years. You can visit many of the lighthouses nearby, on the East Coast of Maine. The house has nicely equipped Common Room and Business Office.As you look into Portland, Maine lodging options, consider the Wild Iris Inn. Our eco-friendly bed and breakfast has six beautifully decorated guest rooms, all with private baths. One is a two room suite that can accommodate up to four people. Our rooms have been restored with care and furnished comfortably. Our bedrooms have flat screen televisions with DVD players. You can choose from our DVD library or bring your own movie.
The Innkeeper, Diane Edwards, warmly welcomes you to her bed and breakfast on Coastal Maine - the Wild Iris Inn.
Our Green Policy
The Wild Iris Inn is committed to environmental improvements to help protect the Earth while pledging that our green lodging will provide our guests the quality of service they expect and deserve!
In our efforts to become a green business, we have been making improvements to better serve you and the Earth. In the past year we have developed an environmental policy that has led to installing energy efficient lighting, an on-demand hot water system, new gas boiler, motion lights and solar-powered garden lights, as well as three different methods for composting food waste, and recycling everything we can in paper, metals and plastics. Our plastic cups are made of biodegradable corn product. We also have a towel & linen reuse program in place, and we incorporated environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products in our housekeeping department. We try to buy local products, like our Organic Fair Trade coffee from Coffee By Design in Portland, Maine made jams, maple syrup and our homemade granola is from all organic ingredients.
As an environmentally friendly business, the Wild Iris Inn will continue to create a green environment. We will find new ways to reduce our impact on the Earth and to educate others that any effort, no matter how small, helps the planet.
Ways you can help!- Help us conserve water consumption by participating in our optional towel and linen reuse program and don’t let water run unnecessarily in sinks and showers.
- Help us recycle plastic, metal and paper by separating them and putting them in our recycle bin located on the second floor end of hall.
- Help us conserve energy consumption by turning off lights and air conditioners in your room when you are not there.
- Help us become more aware with an idea you may have to go green and you could win a prize for the best suggestion.
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Travelers are always looking for memorable and relaxing experiences. Let’s discover more through the words of our innkeepers. Many thanks to Diane Edwards for sharing her own secrets with BBOnline.com! Why do most travelers stay at your inn? Travelers choose to stay with us because we are a "green inn" and are reasonably priced.
What are you best known for? What makes your inn unique? What do you love most about your inn? We are best known for being the only certified "Green Inn" in Portland.
If someone has never been to your city, what is the #1 reason to come visit? Portland is a "foodie town", so people should enjoy all of the great restaurants in the area. We also have an incredible art museum.
What’s the best compliment you have ever received about the inn? Our guests say they feel very comfortable here and we think that's the best compliment we can receive.
What’s the best kept secret about the area? I can't think of anything about this area that people don't already know. Portland has recently been featured in many travel guides with a lot of information about the area.
If a traveler is staying at your inn for 4 nights, what should he/she do in the area? For travelers staying more than just a weekend we suggest they visit the harbor and the islands. People should also visit the art museum and the great restaurants in the area.
Is there anything within walking distance of your inn? Portland is a walkable town so we are close to everything. We are within walking to downtown and many restaurants.
What is your favorite restaurant/food in the area? We are close to many great restaurants, but a few favorites are... Local 188, Petite Jacqueline, and Boda (a great Thai Restaurant).
Any good area guides/websites that travelers could reference? How many rooms does your inn have? We have a 6 rooms.
Do you accept pets? We do not accept pets.
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As you look for Portland accommodations, consider the Wild Iris Inn Bed and Breakfast is a refreshing accommodation alternative for your upcoming business travel! We offer comfortable rooms and a quiet place to spend the night, with all the comforts of home. After a restful night’s sleep and our delicious breakfast, we are sure you'll be ready for the meetings that you have scheduled during your stay. We are conveniently located in a historic neighborhood of downtown Portland, Maine, and within walking distance to all the major hotels, restaurants, banks, businesses, art galleries, museums and Old Port.
For your travel convenience, we are less than 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from the bus and train station.
Within walking distance of:- Maine Medical Center / Mercy Hospital
- Major hotels / Sea Dog's Hadlock Field / Civic Center / Merrill Auditorium
- Several Area Banks
- Post Office / Public Library / Kinko's
- Federal Building / County Courthouse
- Art District / Museums
- Fine Restaurants & Bars
- Deering Oaks Park / Farmer's Market / Old Port Waterfront District of ME
- Ferries to Casco Bay Islands and Nova Scotia
Features and Amenities:
- We have wireless Internet connections available!
- Flexible Check in for the business traveler
- Free "Flex-Time Breakfast" / 24 hr. tea, coffee or spring water
- Free Local Calls / Fax / Printer / Wireless Internet Access
- Free Off Street Parking
- All Air Conditioned Rooms
- Free Newspaper, Cable TV and DVD in Common Room
- Iron / Ironing Board / Dry Cleaning services
- Guest Refrigerator & Microwave Access
- Backyard garden to relax and read the newspaper
- Car service arrangements for meeting held out of town
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“Great value, great location”
Reviewed September 9, 2012
We really enjoyed our end of summer stay at the Wild Iris Inn. The location is perfect for walking around Portland. We could enjoy the downtown area restaurants, shops, and ferry line easily. It was also close to Back Cove providing a lovely setting for early morning walks. On Saturday's in the summer they have a wonderful farmer's market only a block away from this property. The rooms at the inn are charming and comfortable. The breakfast is a great assortment of fruits, juice, house made granola, yogurt and bread. There was a home made breakfast bread or muffin each day that was the real treat. Tea and biscotti are available at anytime so it was nice to have a bit of tea after a long day of seeing the area. Diane was an excellent hostess and provided directions and good suggestions for activities around the city. We spent the rest of our trip in Acadia and she had helpful suggestions for our stay there as well. Rooms are charming and comfortable. If we return to Portland we will definitely stay at the Wild Iris Inn again.
JTS-Indy
Indianapolis, Indiana
“It was a great place to stay”
Reviewed August 28, 2012
I found Wild Iris Inn to be incredibly convenient to downtown Portland.
Our room was quaint and had its own bathroom. Diane was lovely. She was a responsive host and breakfast was delicious. The dining area was also very cozy and pleasant and a great place to discuss itineraries with the other guests. Its a lovely victorian with close freeway access but nice and quiet and quaint.
I would stay there again!
csleung5
Oakland, California
“Lovely Inn in Portland, ME”
Reviewed August 27, 2012
This Inn is centrally located in Portland - you can walk everywhere or borrow one of Diane's bikes! It is very comfortable, clean and green! Diane is a wonderful host, the breakfast is delicious and simple - granola, bread, muffins, yogurt and fruit. The Inn is in an old house but has a wonderful home feeling to it.
toonanny73
Ottawa, Canada
“Accommodating and Convenient”
Reviewed August 27, 2012
The innkeeper was very accommodating and environment-conscious. She has bikes for guest use and recycling bins in the rooms. Even those who are not tree-huggers will be compelled to follow her lead and keep the AC and lights low. I suggest booking the Tulip room because is it only one floor up, which is the 1st floor for guest rooms and next to the kitchen/dining area. The inn is also in a great location and the walk downtown or to the harbor is lovely. A long bike around South Portland is a must! For those of you who miss your furry friends when you are away, there is a super friendly orange 7-toed kitty (he stays outside so you don't have to worry about allergies).
Jenine V
Long Island NY
“Great Inn in Portland”
Reviewed August 25, 2012
Jim and I stayed here for 2 nights after a long, driving trip in Maine. We could not have been more pleased when we arrived and experienced Diane's hospitality. Her breakfasts, including fresh fruit, homemade bread and granola, plus outstanding coffee were hard to beat. In addition, Diane was a helpful host and suggested great places to eat in walking distance to the inn. We were pleased in every way and highly recommend the inn.
carolandjim733
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
“Wild Iris Inn ---couldn't be nicer”
Reviewed August 24, 2012
The inn was in comfortable walking distance of every place we wanted to go. As always, Diane was a perfect hostess. The rooms are exceedingly attractive and spotlessly clean; linens are classy; the breakfast is ample, fresh, and delicious; the coffee is excellent; and the inn is top-drawer in every imaginable respect. I liked the very personal and Maine-related touches in the decor and the appointments. The area was very quiet; to the best of my knowledge I slept like a log, but----how would I know?---I was sound asleep at the time. As a bonus, Diane gave us excellent suggestions for dining.
Thomas B
Syracuse, New York
“"Green Inn, Organic, Homemade, Local, Clean - We loved this place"”
Reviewed August 21, 2012
We totally enjoyed our stay at the Wild Iris Inn. The whole place was super clean and we were impressed with Diane's Green Policy for the inn. Breakfast was great - best organic fair trade coffee, homemade bread/muffins, local products and organic items were available. The inn is walking distance to the Art District and Old Port Waterfront District. Diane was very pleasant and we would give her the highest rating for all her hard work at making this inn "Green" and providing us with a healthy breakfast - Thank You Diane.
Ben and Amy from Homer, Alaska -
Theater
Portland Stage Company - www.portlandstage.com
Mad Horse Theatre - www.madhorse.com
Lyric Music Theater - www.lyricmusictheater.org
Good Theater - www.goodtheater.com
Music
Merrill Auditorium Events - www.porttix.com
Portland Symphony - www.portlandsymphony.com
One Longfellow Square - www.onelongfellowsquare.com
State Theatre - www.statetheatreportland.com
Port City Music Hall - www.portcitymusichall.com
Space Gallery - www.space538.org
For more events go to - www.portlandmaine.com or www.visitportland.com
If you would like us to make a dinner reservation for you at one of Portland's wonderful restaurants please let us know!
Check out Portland Food Map
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The Wild Iris Inn is the ideal choice for Maine Coast lodging, and it is a perfect alternative to hotels in downtown Portland, Maine. From our beautifully restored rooms to our personal service, our goal is to make your time with us as special as possible. This may be your first time to travel to Portland, but we are sure it won’t be your last!
From South:
In Maine, take I-95 North to I-295 North. From I-295, take exit 6A (Forest Ave. South). Bear right off the exit ramp toward Rt 77. Go straight through the first traffic light. After the light we are located on the second block on the left.From North:
Follow the directions above.From the airport:
Exit from the airport and turn right onto Congress St (Rte.22). Follow Congress Street to St. John St. Turn left onto St. John. At the next light (Park Ave.) turn right onto Park Ave. Follow Park Ave. to State Street. At the light at State Street, turn right. We are in the second block on the left.Once you are here, we will be more than happy to give you directions to area attractions and sites, including the Cumberland County Civic Center.