A Taste of Summer: Coastal Maine
Our family vacations together a few times each year. Like most Minnesota families, we seek warmth for Spring Break. We stopped big gift-giving in favor of a Christmas vacation a few years ago. And with all the kids home from school, we love a relaxed summer trip. Last summer, that trip was along the coast of Maine.
My husband and I discovered the beauty of Maine a few years ago. We chose it as our 20th anniversary destination, and it did not disappoint. We discovered the weather is similar to Minnesota summer, minus our dreaded humidity. You can enjoy being flanked by mountains and ocean, thus making every view incredible.
Where we stayed
Kennebunkport
This town gets a ton of recognition amongst all the cute spots Maine has to offer, and it earns it, in my opinion. There are great shops, equally wonderful restaurants, and it’s incredibly walkable. Or if you’re up for renting some bikes, very bikeable.
My husband and I stayed for the back half of our anniversary trip a few years ago and fell in love with it. So, of course, we took our kids back when we had the whole crew. It led to two slightly different experiences.
For the two of us
We stayed in the most spectacular one bedroom at Cottages of Cabot Cove. This tiny resort is a treasure. It’s nestled on, as the name would imply, an inland cove that rises and falls with the tide. The cottages wrap around the cove, with cute Adirondack chairs to sit and enjoy the sunset (which we happily did with a bottle of wine). Breakfast gets delivered to your door each morning, and there is a shed full of bikes you can borrow to cruise around town.
For our family
The cottages, cute as they are, would definitely not house our family of seven. So on our return trip, we rented an Airbnb closer to Maine Street. It was convenient, cozy and full of character, as many of them are. There are any number of Airbnb’s in town to suit your family size and space needs, but I would make your reservation early in the new year, as they book up quickly.
Boothbay
We discovered Boothbay during our drive on our anniversary trip. The pier, and the surrounding town, spoke to me. We wandered around for a day on that first trip, and I swore we’d stay on our next visit. To be fair, I had two different friends comment on my post from the pier letting us know it was also their favorite, so it was confirmed as a must.
Again, here we rented an Airbnb to accommodate the whole family. The one we rented was very cute, but a little further away from town. The kids enjoyed being closer to the heart of Kennebunkport, so again, I would book early for a prime location.
An extra stop for two
As another lovely spot to stay up the coast, we reserved a room at the Island View Inn for the first half of our anniversary trip. Highly recommend it. It overlooks the ocean, has quaint and charming rooms, and is close to great restaurants and shopping in nearby Camden and Rockland.
Where we ate
Kennebunkport
I love food. I love trying restaurants. I have a personal Top 5 list of places I have ever eaten, and this is firmly on it. The location is stunning. It’s tucked back in the woods of Adam’s Corner, just outside of Kennebunkport. The restaurant is rustic, warm and vibrant and serves a seasonal 4-course dinner that is worth expanding your waistband for.
Dock Square Coffeehouse
This tiny little stop just east of the bridge in town. If you like a good cortado (like me) you can find a wonderful version here. If you like some fun, latte flavors (like my oldest and his sweet girlfriend) they make those too.
They have strong basic flavors if you’re traveling with kids. They also branch out into some great gourmet recipes. My personal choice is the fig jam, prosciutto and arugula. Much like the pizza joint we found in Arizona, I love anyone who combines a little salt and a little sweet.
Boothbay
I love breakfast, and am always looking for the perfect stop. Mama D’s is that spot in Boothbay. Built out in what was an old house, small tables now fill the rooms, and the pancakes taste like they were lovingly homemade.
The beer is yummy. The pizza is delightful. They had a lobster pizza special while we were there, and it might be one of the best slices I’ve ever had. It’s just a great place for a laid back night out, across the board.
Other stops along the way
Breakfast. But not just any breakfast. A killer, this is going to fuel me for the rest of the day kind of breakfast. The staff is awesome. The food is too. I think I’ve tried half the menu at this point and will happily travel back to try the other half.
Stellar Asian food from a number of different backgrounds. Freshly made noodles and lots of locally sourced ingredients. Honestly, so tasty, even my husband, who can be a picky eater, fell in love with this place.
The Great Lobster Roll Debate
Finally, you’re in Maine. Lobster Roll Country.Thankfully, I have kiddos who love to compare, contrast and rank their favorite spots. And they’re committed.
We built a scorecard that ranked lobster and bread quality, meat to bun ratio, butter/mayo flavor and overall experience. Our top 5 are here, in order:
- Robinson’s Wharf
- Mabel’s Lobster Claw
- Batson River Brewing
- Clam Shack
- Ocean Point Kitchen
Honorable Mention: ***Not with the fam, but I tried Harraseeket in Freeport on our first trip. Also delish, just unranked.
Places to Visit
Maine Lighthouses
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
Park and take the pier walk out to this adorable lighthouse. It’s exactly what you think of when you think of Maine itself. The pier is about a mile long, so it’s a fun walk to take and watch all of the lobster boats gather their catch.
Owl’s Head Lighthouse
A brief jaunt upward gives you a wonderful view of this lighthouse. It’s a great stop that overlooks a beautiful section of the ocean between Portland and Boothbay.
Around Kennebunkport
Saint Ann’s Church
The caretaker here is worth the visit himself. In our experience, he’s pretty much always there, and he takes great pride in this lovely little church that overlooks Gooch’s Beach. We’ve made the stop while biking around Kennebunkport. Good for a quick rest and pretty view, inside and out.
Gooch’s Beach
Just south of Kennebunkport, it’s fantastic. The beach is both wide and long, leaving lots of space for lounging or tossing a football or frisbee, even on a busy day. Parking is sparse, so plan accordingly. The water temperature rivals any childhood swims I’ve taken in Lake Superior, which, if you’ve never experienced it, is ice cold. But on a warm day, or if you have fearless kids, it’s a great dip.
Cape Porpoise Pier
Another awesome stop on our bike ride around Kennebunkport, this pier is out of town past the Bush compound. The ride is varied and beautiful, and the pier is a fun outcrop that shows another side of town.
A Few Planning Notes
Boat Tours
There are a lot of options for boat tours in many of the small towns along the coast. It is still helpful to review ahead and make a reservation. We took a lobster tour off the pier at Boothbay, and got to see some of the neighboring lighthouses, and some wildlife (seals!) on our way out and back.
Bike rental
Perhaps if you don’t need seven bikes, the rental process is less of a roll of the dice. Thankfully, the bike shop we worked with in Kennebunkport was able to humor us same day. That said, I would advise making rental arrangements ahead of your trip.
As I’ve shared with many of our friends, Maine has become one of my most beloved vacations. The pace is instantly relaxing, filled with easy walks, beautiful scenery and outstanding food. For those of us that are running constantly, with the day to day sometimes more imbalanced than balanced, it’s the perfect location to slow down and recharge all at once.
