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While visiting the Berry Manor Inn, on of the Four Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, we feasted on freshly baked local Maine blueberry and apple pie. We tried to split the generous slice of pie that Cheryl, co-owner and manager extraordinaire, offered us. We could not do it, in fact we each devoured one of each flavor.

As a guest of these professional hosts, our team experienced a graciousness and grandeur seldom found on our worldwide explorations.

The Berry Manor is a place for romance. If not with a spouse or partner, you can romance the spirit of your solo soul in this stately old mansion. Although built in 1898 as a private residence, the innkeeper/owners, Cheryl Michaelsen and Mike LaPosta, husband and wife team, have transformed the wine colored Victorian into state of the art elegance.

Yet, this 12 guest room gem is relaxed, eco and user friendly. Cheryl and Mike offer two “raid the fridge” pie pantries for their guests. One is in the main house and the other in the carriage house. Simply walk in, any time of day or night, and raid the fridge. We loved this, despite our obvious lack of will power.

There was a story about The Berry Manor in a 2006 Yankee Magazine that we both remembered. It is called “Pie in the Sky.” The pies have literally put the Berry Manor and “The Pie Ladies” on the map internationally. The Food Network has already discovered them, and Rockland.

We love the Berry Manor story. Cheryl’s mother and Mike’s mother are in charge of making fresh homemade pies daily to serve complimentary to their guests. Cheryl’s mom swears by Crisco while Mike’s mom uses Crisco and butter. Both methods proved sublime. Now, the famous moms are a part of a pie tour of Rockland’s Historic Inn’s, in honor of National Pie Day, January 23. The name of the event is Rockland’s Pies on Parade. A close friend comprises the third in the trio of “Pie Ladies.”

Remember, this is mid-coast Maine. Even though it gets a tad cold in January, thousands flock to the delightful town of Rockland, Maine to eat pie. I hope they leave room for lobster, Maine shrimp and all of the other culinary delights of the town.

If you have never been there, or it has been awhile, as it was for us, Rockland is an amazing place. Now 240 years old, it is enjoying a renaissance. Rockland’s Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its architecture is an eclectic mix of Greek, Italian, Colonial and Victorian. We could not get enough of strolling down Main Street. Although it looked the same as we remembered (the benefit of being on the Register), it is now a vibrant modern town, with many museums, theaters, art galleries, wine shops and culinary creations. We delighted in its award-winning fine dining as well as Linda Bean’s little lobster roll shack.

Main Street is a food lovers dream, filled with dining establishments directly on or just off, one long and lovely street.

Rockland’s harbor-front is home to lighthouses, windjammers, a wooden boat museum, and lobster boats. Yankee Magazine said it best. “Rockland is both quaint and hip.”

We asked in the beginning, what could be better than a culinary tour of the Berry Manor House? The answer would be two visits, two tours and more pies, followed by a visit to the other three Historic Inns.

Although known for pies, it is not only the Berry Manor, that has put the town on the map. The Four Historic Inns of Rockland are not competitive. Instead, they are a model for other resort areas. All of the Inns, B&B’s, and restaurants we know are collaborative and cooperative. This is what makes Rockland especially unique and successful, year round. We have already planned one of our return visits to Rockland for June next year.