The Colonial Inn is a seasonal property that's open roughly between April and October. This small hotel attracts a range of guests including families gathering for reunions, parents and children in the summer season, and couples looking for a quiet romantic retreat in the spring and fall. The main building dates to 1887, and the property underwent a four million dollar renovation in 2015. The inn is made up of a yellow Victorian house with a welcoming porch complete with rocking chairs and bench seats overlooking private homes and other inns. Guests walk through cobalt blue doors to a cheerful lobby decorated like a traditional, beach house with crisp white molding, fabrics in pale blues and greens, and ocean-themed artwork. A black grand piano sits in one corner, and a marble side board holds free coffee, tea, ice water with cucumber slices, and a plate of homemade cookies. Drinks can be brought to the heated pool on the grounds with its adjacent hot tub. In the summer this bright blue rectangle brims with children. The grounds are well kept and feature some tables and chairs.

The Colonial Inn is on a street full with other hotels and inns in the middle of downtown Ogunquit. In season, there is a trolley stop in front of the inn with hop-on/hop-off service around town. The waterfront is a short three-minute walk away. Guests can also walk to the Ogunquit Memorial Library in one minute. Blacksmith's Mall is a nine-minute walk away. The Leavitt Fine Arts Center is also nine minutes by foot from the inn. The cherished Marginal Way Walkway that passes by the ocean is a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Perkin's Cove, where guests will find shops and lobster shacks, is a 15-minute walk away. The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is a four-minute drive. Wells and its three beautiful beaches is a 16-minute drive. Portland International Airport is a 27-minute drive, without traffic.

Guest rooms at The Colonial Inn continue the tasteful, beachy decor of the common spaces, with wood floors, striped area rugs, and textiles in soft blues and greens with prints of seashells or paintings of the shoreline. Rooms are spacious, even in the lower-categories, with plenty of windows to let in natural light. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Higher-category rooms offer more space and some have Atlantic Ocean views.

Surrounded by soft pastel walls and white wainscoting, the bathrooms are light and airy. Attractive pedestal sinks are either paired with glass walk-in showers or shower/tub combos with glass partitions. Magnifying mirrors and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries add luxe finishing touches.

Aside from the inn's main building, there are three outbuildings with more lodging. The Colonial Inn's East House has 22 units with queen-size beds and private patios or balconies. (Rooms without outdoor spaces have pull-out sofa beds.) The Garden House also has queen or king-size beds with pull-out sofas, and the first-floor suites here share an outdoor patio. Another option is The Guest House, a white, wooden summer cottage with king beds and pullout sofas. Accommodations in the three outbuildings have microwaves and mini-fridges as well as tables and chairs for in-room dining. One room in the Guest House also includes a full kitchen.

For a smaller, guest house-style property, The Colonial Inn has some inviting extra features. One highlight is the small heated pool and hot tub surrounded by a sundeck with loungers. The free breakfast is another highlight, featuring local baked goods and homemade preserves. Coffee, tea, and ice water as well as homemade cookies are available all day in the cozy lobby, where there are books to borrow and free newspapers. Staff at the inn will also provide bar service for guests at the pool and in other common areas of the property. There are also picnic areas on the grounds. A concierge will help with guests needing tickets or directions. Wi-Fi is free throughout.