Next stop on our New England trip is Kennebunkport, Maine, a charming town I had heard about for years, but really didn’t know what to expect. It was off the charts charming and I really enjoyed Kennebunkport and the surrounding smaller coastal towns. We got in mid afternoon and checked into our cute quaint inn, The Kennebunkport Inn. This was a great place to stay and the location was perfect, right in town, which is walkable and easy to get around. It’s the quintessential New England Hallmark town!
If you missed my Bar Harbor post, catch up first!
I would highly recommend the Kennebunkport Inn. Right in town, it was a walkable area easy to get around on foot. The inn had a continental breakfast which was just fine. We didn’t need to eat heavy every morning, so Mark was happy to get his honey nut cheerios at this stop. They had muffins and bread/bagels, plus fresh apples to pick up and take with you, with plenty of juices and coffee available too. This was where I ran into a reader, who recognized me at breakfast one morning. Carol and Mark are from Texas and were also in New England looking at the leaves and we had a nice visit with them later that day in the restaurant after dinner. It was so nice to run into someone who follows me all the way up there!
Before we got to Kennebunkport, we stopped in an iconic store that I’m sure you all know!
On our way down to Kennebunkport from Bar Harbor, we stopped in the huge LL Bean store in Freeport, Maine. From what Mark remembers, it was just one store the last time he was there, but now it’s several buildings, including home furnishings. LL Bean is such a popular Maine store that I’m sure most of you have shopped their catalog. I’m not a die hard LL Bean fan, but we bought bought one item for ourselves in the store, so that was fun.
We were ready for lunch when we arrived in town and at our previous stop in Bar Harbor, a lady at our first inn had just been to Kennebunkport so she told us about a restaurant that had the best lobster rolls. Of course, we perked up over that and put Mabel’s on the list for lunch.
Mabel’s was on the main drag out of town and we parked and put our name on the list, there was about a 30 minute wait and it’s a small place.
That’s Mabel’s and apparently it’s very popular, as people came and went constantly. We sat out under the covered area and it was fantastic.
This lobster roll did not disappoint and we both got this and ate every bite. Such a treat, it was the hot buttered lobster roll.
After lunch, we heard about the Walker’s point/Bush compound, so drove down and took a picture of that across the way.
Complete with plaque and all.
It was a beautiful area and I can see why they love it there.
We walked around town and also the neighborhoods, looking at all the gorgeous homes. I took so many pictures of charming and quaint New England homes that I’m going to do a whole post just on the homes we saw from all our journey. I wish they would build more New England style homes in the south, they are gorgeous and never go out of style.
Downtown has a lot of cute shops and restaurants. I might be an oddball, but I’m not a shopper especially on vacation. I don’t even shop that much at home anymore, so I really don’t love checking out all the shops when we are on vacation. I’d rather walk around and look at architecture and homes.
But if you’re a shopper, there’s plenty of cute shops around all these New England towns.
The scenery is breath taking all over and there was so much to take in and see.
You definitely get the coastal feel in these small towns.
Of course, we have to take a few selfies in spots.
These glass pumpkins were very pretty!
I loved this church and one of my good friends in Georgia texted me after I posted it and said it was her in-laws church when they were in Maine. Her hubby was raised in Kennebunk and they went up there all the time, but her in-laws have passed away now.
I couldn’t get enough of the fading hydrangeas!
A few houses on our walk around town, all ready for fall and Halloween.
I loved all the quaint churches and took pics of all I could get.
Our inn had a big pumpkin display out front that was a perfect spot for pictures.
Courtyard at the Kennebunkport Inn.
Sunset in Kennebunkport.
We headed out our second day in Kennebunkport south to Ogunquit and a few other stops. this lighthouse was on our drive and now I can’t recall the name, but I got it from a long distance.
Ogunquit Maine
Ogunquit is a very charming town on the coast and I had several people tell me not to miss it, so we made a point of heading there.
I also heard a walk along the coast on the Marginal Way was not to be missed as well and they were absolutely right about that. We found a parking lot and made our way to the signs pointing the way to this majestic paved walk along the coast.
These gorgeous dahlias were still in bloom and I was pleasantly surprised at all the blooms still around this late in the year.
Gorgeous!
This day was a little gray, so no sunshine, but still a beautiful walk along the coastline with beautiful homes as well.
I took so many pictures because it was so unique, so hope you enjoy them all!
I loved the rockiness of the beaches in Maine. So different from the gulf coast of Florida that we are used to.
Someone volunteered to take our picture so I took advantage of that.
This tree is a 90 year old native Black Cherry.
Stairs down to the rocky beach.
Homes along the way.
I was so fascinated by all the rock walls in New England, especially these that had jagged rocks cemented in on top. I guess that’s a clue that no sitting is allowed! Ouch!
Another lighthouse: Nubble Lighthouse was a beauty!
Kittery Maine
Heading to Kittery, we stopped in Bob’s Clam Shack. I had heard about it too, so wanted to check it out and get clam strips.
It’s a very casual place and very popular.
I got the fried clam basket and Mark got fried shrimp. A little fried food goes a long way, so we didn’t do much of this on our trip. We mostly stuck to lobster! I liked the fried clams, but definitely like lobster the best.
Another scenic church along the way.
On the way back to our inn, we stopped in a few antique stores and browsed. I wasn’t in the market for anything but it was fun to look.
There are lots of markets and antique stops up that way and the definitely celebrate fall and Halloween.
That night we opted for dinner in Kennebunkport on Main Street at Allison’s restaurant and it did not disappoint at all.
We sat upstairs and looked over the little town all lit up at night.
After my clam strip lunch, I wasn’t that hungry so I got lobster bisque and a wedge salad and it was perfect. so delicious!
Mark got the seafood risotto and he loved his meal too. If I had been a little more hungry I would have ordered this too. I had a bite and it was fantastic.
Our inn at night.
The next morning we headed out of Kennebunkport and made our way over to Vermont. Before I left, someone on Instagram told me not to miss the wedding cake house in Kennebunkport, so we found it and drove by for a look. It sure was fancy and evidently well known around there.
Built in 1825, you can read the history of the Wedding Cake House.
We sure enjoyed our stay in Kennebunkport. Again, we only had 2 nights in each stop, so that’s really only a day and a half with travel time in between. Our trip was a little bit hurried,, but I felt like we got to see the highlights on each stop and we were happy to move on to the next adventure. I was also told to go to Portsmouth, NH on our way to VT, since we were going that way anyway. We followed the map and arrived, but it was bigger than a village town, so we saw a bit of it in the car, but didn’t park and get out and then headed on our way. We had a couple hours drive to get to our Vermont destination. But I can now say I’ve been to New Hampshire, if only for a few minutes.
Next stop: Woodstock, VT. That will be up next week!
Enjoyed all these wonderful photos of New England. Such beautiful places and sites to see. Your lovely photos may be the closes I will ever get to see. Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventures.
When we lived in Mass. my husband fell un love with the rock walls like you. He built one at our house there. When we moved to Alpharetta he built one here. Went & gathered rocks & 40 yrs. later we still enjoy it in our backyard. Your pictures made me want to go back but getting harder to travel. You & Mark need to keep doing it as long as you can!!
Mark is so enamoured with those rock walls too and I wouldn’t doubt if he tried to build one in our backyard somewhere. That’s great that your hubby did so! We are determined to travel as much as we can in the next 10 years before we get so decrepit. We love to go, but it sure gets harder and harder on the body to recover and we love our home too.
We drove to NE around the same time and visited several towns after visiting with our son in Boston. On the way to Woodstock we stopped in Portsmouth and had a delicious lobster roll at Sanders Fish Market making the stop worth it. It was on a soft round roll with lettuce and tomatoes which is different than the traditional lobster roll, but it was loaded with tender lobster and so good! Highly recommend.
New England has so many charming places to explore. Lenox in the Berkshires was also charming, but there is something so special about the coast.
I’m sure Portsmouth was a wonderful stop, we just didn’t have the time to stop and take in everywhere we wanted to.
Beautiful photos. Always enjoy your posts and beautiful photos. We were in Massachusetts years ago and made a point of going to Kennebunkport so we could try real Maine lobster. Wonderful, of course, and I got a little gold lobster for my charm bracelet to commemorate the trip. I do like to shop when we travel but do more looking than buying. My favorite thing to do is buy a Christmas ornament reminiscent of the area, then when I decorate the tree I get to enjoy the memories of all our travels. So many places have year round Christmas shops now it is easier than in the past. I collect Santa ornaments and one of my favorites is my “Santa Claw,” a Santa Claus made from a lobster claw that I got on Cape Cod,
Hi, Sara, that’s a fun thing to do when you’re traveling. I haven’t done that for Christmas ornaments but I can see the appeal.
I loved all your photos of homes and hydrangeas. I also love the water and lighthouses. I was in Maine years ago and still remember eating the lobster rolls. Looked like a fun trip for both of you.
Oh, I do love these pictures. I can see you are as enamored of the rocky beaches as I was. It’s always wide white or tan sandy beaches for me. Those LL Bean catalogs photos of people sitting on a beach wrapped in sweaters in front of a fire suddenly made sense. And the lobster rolls! I would rather have that than a lobster tail. I’m so happy you two had so much fun!
What a great trip for you two! I enjoyed going on tour with you through your beautiful photos. While I don’t have an eye for appreciating architecture, I have obsessed over stone or rock houses since I was a child! I love the one you shared with the huge arched window in front. I can only imagine the residents’ spectacular view from there. Those are some great pictures of you and Mark together! A good looking couple! God is good!
Vicki
Thanks for sharing your pictures. I love visiting Maine.
Love love love the photos! Makes me want to go back! I love the houses and flowers also and the architecture! Can’t wait for next week!
Interestingly, a fellow church member has spent his last two summers as a boat captain for “whale spotting” tourists in Kennebunkport! I believe the time you were there was his last week this season. It is indeed a small world! Such a fun adventure for you and Mark.
That would be a fun part time job. We chatted with a guy in Alaska who was a whale boat captain during the summer season and then left after that. I’m sure there is a lot of that in these climates.
It’s so beautiful there and I love the rocky beaches. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos, it makes me want to travel back to Maine.
Very lovely post. Maine is my favorite state in New England, Kennebunkport is my favorite town. I agree I enjoy seeing all the beautiful houses rather than shopping.