Weekend Getaway to Kennebunkport, Maine

I had a chance to explore the little coastal town of Kennebunkport, Maine, which I had never spent time in before (even though it’s only about a 90-minute drive from Boston). Thanks to some excellent recommendations from the Lark Hotels team and some discovery on my own, here’s a run-down of some of the places to shop, eat and explore if you have a couple days to play:

Where to stay:

Captain Fairfield Inn – This inn is perfectly situated within walking distance to downtown Kennebunkport and is anything but your average B&B. All of the properties owned by Lark Hotels have been updated with amazing decor, while maintaining some of the original features of the property and/or paying tribute to them. With the Captain Fairfield Inn, the wide plank wood floors are still the original floors from 1813 and there’s a painting of the man who built the home, James Fairfield, in the center entrance hallway. I really loved staying at a B&B that was updated with such cool, modern decor – it’s a nice change from what you typically see in most of the historic inns that are converted homes/properties. Lark Hotels owns 18 boutique hotels, with the majority of them located in New England and two in Northern California.

The Captain Fairfield Inn offers great amenities, including an iPad for each room, an anything-but-average homemade continental breakfast spread that is prepared by the innkeepers each morning, an afternoon snack of salted chocolate chip cookies and toiletries from a small organic products company called Lather.

Shops not to skip:

Daytrip Society – A cool store filled with fun games and other items for the beach house, including tons of very “Maine” things like Salt Water sandals (I was so close to buying a baby pink pair!).

Daytrip Jr. – The sister store to Daytrip Society and around the corner…this one is filled with adorable baby and kids clothes, books and other toys (see pic above).

farm + table – This shop, set up in a renovated red barn up in Cape Porpoise, is now one of my favorite retail spots of all time. Big statement, I know. My mom and I had to control ourselves and only buy a few things because we wanted everything in sight. They offer an amazing selection of home decor and hostess-type gifts such as wooden bowls and cheeseboards, candles, dish towels, wall signs, etc.

Where to eat/snack:

There are plenty of places to eat (a lot of folks like the White Barn Inn, Joshua’s in Wells and Bandaloop for vegan) but these three are the spots that all of the frequent visitors recommends…

The Ramp Bar & Grille – This is a tiny, low-key restaurant right on the water’s edge at Cape Porpoise Harbor and it’s a great spot to grab lunch (the fish and chips are very good!). It’s upstairs neighbor is Pier 77, which is a little more formal (also open for lunch and dinner like The Ramp).

Rococo Ice Cream – I love hand-crafted ice cream joints that offer unusual flavors and this place rotates the menu regularly. For example, when I was in town, they were offering an Earl Gray tea base mixed with cherry and pistachios.

Earth – This is the hottest upscale restaurant in the area and a spot that you must reserve at least a month in advance to get a table on the night you want. They offer “farm to fork” organic dishes among a beautiful, woodsy/garden setting.

Places to explore/stop: 

Snug Harbor Farm – I love to explore farms and this one is a few minute drive from downtown and is such a cool place. The property consists of a few different nurseries, a fenced-off area with mini horses and a pond, a barn filled to the brim with just terracotta planters, a super cut gift shop and more. The succulent arrangements sold on-site were out of the world!

Ocean Ave – A stunning road that follows the ocean and features so many gorgeous coastal homes to ogle, including Former President Bush’s family compound.

The Wedding Cake House – Not too far of a drive from Gooches Beach, this house is currently abandoned but has turned into a major Maine tourist attraction! It’s designed after a Milan cathedral and quite unusual!

Cape Porpoise – The is a small fishing village north of downtown and happens to be where farm + table is located, as well as The Ramp/Pier 77. There are nice views past the pier, as well as the colorful dinghy “photo opp” spot (see pic, above!).

If you visit Kennebunkport at some point and visit any of these places, let me know your thoughts!