24 Hours In Kennebunkport, Maine

If you are looking for a weekend getaway a few hours north of Boston, head to Kennebunkport. The seaside town, which is located north of Ogunquit and Kittery, offers an array of amenities from shopping at local boutiques to kayaking to beautiful shores. Be sure to head over to Walker’s Point to check out the Bush compound where the 41^st President and his family vacation each summer.

Where to Stay:

Photo Credit: Cabot Cove Cottages

The Cottages at Cabot Cove, part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, is centrally located just a short bike ride from downtown. Each beautiful cottage is quintessentially designed with all you need for a cozy weekend getaway. We recently stayed in Trellis, a bright one bedroom air conditioned cottage complete with living area, kitchenette with refrigerator and bathroom with shower stall. Breakfast was delivered each morning direct to the front steps of our cottage and included freshly squeezed orange juice, strawberries and fresh bread (for toasting in our cottage). The property is located near Walker’s Point (the summer home of President George H.W. Bush) and Dock Square. The property has beautifully landscaped grounds and also offers on-site rowboats, kayaks and bikes to complement your stay. Here, you can take a step back to relax and relish at a place where they live by the philosophy, “At the cove, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.”

Where to eat:

When it comes to fine dining, the Kennebunkport Resort Collection has its share of options. From the Tides Beach Club, Earth at Hidden Pond to a restaurant by favorite Maine chef David Turin at The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel, there is something for every palate. One of the latest newcomers to town is One Dock Prime located at the Kennebunkport Inn, one of the best steakhouses in town. Get started with a sampling of their signature mussels made with blue cheese and bacon (sounds unusual, but tastes delicious). As for main events, the fresh scallops are worth a mention, but the steaks are what the restaurant is all about. The juicy bone-in ribeye comes topped with mushrooms. Complement the dish with an enormous loaded baked potato and fried Brussels sprouts made with a spicy Sriracha honey sauce. For dessert, don’t miss the tableside s’mores.

For more casual fare, head to Federal Jack’s for some hand crafted beer and pub fare where you can snack on fried whole belly clams or a heaping bowl of mussels while sipping on a Sunfish Wheat brew. The hearty paella dish is filled with all things seafood – think shrimp, mussels and calamari in a spicy broth with chorizo. If you visit during the summer months, be sure to request a table on the patio for al fresco seaside dining or sit inside the main restaurant with windows that overlook the waterfront. The popular restaurant also offers entertainment nightly (a younger crowd comes here late night).