Two Nights In Kennebunkport, Maine

Our first destination in Maine was Kennebunkport. Heading south from the Portland airport, about 30 minutes and a lot of back roads later and we ran right into this picturesque port town. There are two towns nestled next to each other. Kennebunk on one side of the river and Kennebunkport on the other. Locally known as the Kennebunks. You probably wouldn’t even notice crossing the town line if it wasn’t for opposing welcome signs on the town’s central bridge. Anyway, after a couple delayed flights, we were so excited to arrive, grab dinner and relax at our bed & breakfast.

One of the mornings, I woke up early to walk around and snap pictures before all the commotion started. Turns out, Kennebunkport is a bustling little town for its size. Obviously that has a lot to do with tourists, but people were out and about, walking their dogs and getting coffee. People were already on the water and shop owners were busy setting up for another summer day. I’m not sure what you picture when you think of Maine, but Kennebunkport has to be close. Restaurant and store signs hang from metal poles, painted with gold letters. The smell of salt water hangs in the air and a cool breeze is almost always available.

What now is a slow-paced, very aesthetically pleasing oceanside town was once a ship building hub. Strolling the residential side streets shows off historic homes built for sea captains and boat builders. Wooden directional signs still show you the way to and from all the local favorites. Two nights in Kennebunkport seemed like a good amount of time to explore & see the major sights. However, the ideal scenery and relaxing vibe has us thinking we could spend even more time there. Below I’ve listed the things to do, places we ate and a little more detail on where we stayed.

Things to Do

• Relax on Gooch’s Beach
• Shop, explore & eat downtown
• Rent kayaks or bikes
• Drive up to Walker’s Point
• Visit Cape Porpoise
• Lobster cruise or whale watching tour
• Schooner rides – forecasted storms unfortunately cancelled our ride, but the Pineapple Ketch looks so fun!

Where We Ate

• Arundel Wharf – the only restaurant in town actually over the water
• Federal Jack’s – a laid back brewery vibe with great views
• Ports of Italy – wonderful Italian food!

Where We Stayed

Ah, The Maine Stay Inn & Cottages. I cannot say enough good things about this cozy B&B. The mansion was built in 1860 and owned by a sea captain and housed his 10 children. We loved getting a dose of history and being super cozy in one of the original bedrooms. For the record, this was our first bed & breakfast experience, so neither of us knew what to expect. We knew breakfast would be included each morning, but we had no idea it would be so delicious. And served on the most picturesque front porch in the most ideal weather. We also didn’t realize how relaxing the whole experience would be. The staff was absolutely amazing. So helpful, easy-going and truly there for whatever you needed. Only a couple blocks from the town center, The Main Stay Inn definitely added the perfect touch to our time in Kennebunkport.

xoxo. B