Kennebunkport, Maine is famous to many people for different reasons. For me–it was the attention to detail in the food, architecture and way of life that was pure and idyllically New England. And what isn’t there to like about New England?
Maine – a state so big, it feels like your driving on a never-ending road through little towns, big rivers and vast parks. As you continue to drive North, cities melt away behind you and there is more and more nature ahead. You feel as if you could drive forever–or at least until you get tired of listening to podcasts and drinking road coffee. There are 2 destinations that are considered the primary “site-seeing” attractions for any first-timer in Maine: Kennebunkport and Bar Harbor /Acadia National Park. While both of these places are on the more touristy side of Maine, they open your eyes to what the rest of the state has to offer. The places get you hooked, to the point were you are considering the 8 hour drive back up from NY or CT because it was that beautiful.
Kennebunkport, Maine is famous to many people for different reasons. For some it’s for it’s beaches, to others because it’s home to the George W Bush compound and to others because of its fishing and shipping heritage. Each person finds Kennebunkport special to them for their own reason. For me–it was the attention to detail in the food, architecture and way of life that was pure and idyllically New England. And what isn’t there to like about New England?
What’s the difference between Kennebunk & Kennebunkport?
Ah–a great question. The Kennebunks is the name given to the entire area encompassing the 5 villages of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, Cape Porpoise, and Goose Rocks.
I only had 24 hours in Kennebunkport with Patrick. Therefore, we tried to check off as many things to do in Kennebunkport in June as possible. We got in late Thursday night and spent all of Friday exploring its many nuances and attractions. Kennebunkport is a gorgeous town. It has tree-lined streets, antiques, boutiques, colonial homes, eighteenth and nineteenth-century homes and a lot of art galleries. We had a short, yet unforgettable time there.
1. Walk: Main Town
The first thing to do in Kennebunkport is wander around the main town. The streets are lined with old-fashioned colonial and federal homes, whitewashed facades and bright shutters. All of which are classical New England. In the 19th century, Kennebunkport was home to many shipyards and trading was popular with the West Indies. This fueled a number of sea captains’ homes in the area. There are more than 150 structures still up today and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Similar to Newport, Kennebunkport saw an uptick in tourism when it was positioned as a fishing village resort in the 20th century. Today, many of the old homes have become inns and restaurants.
Aside from being the summer home of former US President George W Bush, Kennebunkport was also home to many artists and world-renowned authors, so it isn’t uncommon to see many art galleries tucked away throughout the area.
2. Ride: The Intown Trolley or Visit the Seashore Trolley Museum
If you’re lucky, you can catch the Intown Trolley which makes its rounds around town. It follows a fixed route through town that takes in Kennebunks main sights and beaches. The Seashore Trolley Museum on the other hand houses over 200 trolleys, some which you can ride through nearby woods.
3. See: Dock Square
In the center of Kennebunkport, Maine, is Dock Square, one of the top things to do in Kennebunkport in June – or any month of the year really. Dock Square is a beautiful historic neighborhood floating a top of the Kennebunk River on stilts. The old fishing houses are full of shops and boutiques, including a coffee shop called Dock Square Coffee House.
4. See or Kayak: Kennebunk River
The villages of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport are divided by the Kennebunk River. From June onward, on a calm day you can kayak on the river, guided would be preferable because it’s a tough River to navigate!
5. See: The Wedding Cake House
The Wedding Cake House is the most photographed home in the State of Maine. The home, located on 104 Summer Street. It’s overwrought Carpenter Gothic exterior is eye-catching to say the least. Built in 1825 by shipbuilder George W. Bourne, it’s Gothic architecture was inspired by the beauty of the Cathedral of Milan – il Duomo. The entire home was made by George and his apprentice using hand tools. Impressive to say the least.
6. Eat: Famed Lobster Roll at The Clam Shack
Located on the river in Kennebunkport town, The Clam Shack has been talked about by media outlets far and wide as being potentially the best lobster roll in New England. Because it’s so famous, they charge a premium for their lobster roll – a toasted hamburger bun from a local bakery stuffed with pounds of freshly picked, soft shell lobster in large, meaty chunks bathed in your choice of mayo or butter. The line wrapped around the bridge and the sign said there was about a 30-40 minute wait. Patrick and I had so much to do that day, that we chose to skip The Clam Shack and go for a more scenic lunch instead in Cape Porpoise. More on that later.
7. Find: The Many Signs of Kennebunkport
The wooden direction signposts scattered throughout Kennebunkport are iconic to the area. It’s one of the many things that give the place that unique flair. How many can you find?
8. Shop: The Galleries at Morning Walk
One of my favorite things to do in Kennebunkport in June? Shopping New England classics. Don’t stop at the end of Kennebunkport town. Keep walking a bit further towards the antique shops and away from the Kennebunk River. Just a few minutes off the Main Street in the town of Kennebunk is a shopping area called The Galleries at Morning Walk. Located on Morning Walk Lane, the shopping center is lined with 8 small cottages selling vintage coastal goods and quirky Maine accessories that you will want to take home with you. Think soaps in the shape of buoys, an Après Sea shop (I mean…how funny!), classic maritime keychains, décor, books, paper weights and more. The artists who own the cottages can be found either inside chatting with visitors or outside making their art.
9. Bike: From Kennebunkport To Cape Porpoise
June in Kennebunkport means breaking out the kayaks and the bikes. The back roads and trails around the Kennebunks invite endless exploration on two wheels. Narrow, winding and sometimes busy streets make for a stunning and scenic New England bike ride. Make sure to bring your bikes or rent some from your hotel property and take the 8-mile ride from Ocean Avenue to Cape Porpoise via Wildes District Road or Main Pier Road.
10. See: Ocean Avenue & Bush Compound
On your way you’ll bike by Ocean Avenue and stop to view the famous George W. Bush compound. If you see secret service cars parked outside, there’s a good chance the family is in for the season!
11. Shop: Farm + Table
Along the way, you’ll want to stop by the big red barn right before Cape Porpoise. Built in 1889, it once housed horses. Now it’s home to Farm + Table, a store that sells local New England artisan goods each with their own story. Whether it’s jams from Maine, pottery from Vermont, spices from Georgia, or table linens from Mississippi, everything is artisan-made. Unique to their place and not available at your usual big town store.
12. See: Cape Porpoise
When we arrived at Cape Porpoise, we realized very quickly how different it was from the more densely packed Kennebunkport. Cape Porpoise is one of the busiest commercial fishing ports on the southern Maine coast. The place was in constant motion as lobstermen unloaded and bought catch. Cape Porpoise smells like a fishing town, it’s authentic as it gets.
It only has a few places to eat sprawled in between vacation homes lining the shore broken up by salt marshes. However, the restaurants here scream pure New England. Most are draped in fish nets, buoys, and other marine paraphernalia. It isn’t uncommon to find lobster traps stacked high along the shoreline.
13. Eat: Lunch at The Ramp on Cape Porpoise
Time for a mid-ride recovery. Eating is one of my favorite things to do in Kennebunkport, Maine. As mentioned before, we had decided to skip The Clam Shack and hold our hunger till we got to Cape Porpoise for a more casual and longer sit-down lunch. We chose to eat at The Ramp. The entrance sets the mood. As you walk to your seat, you hear the cracking of crushed shells under your feet that cover the ground. We pass by buoys, fish nets, and oars decorating the sides of the buildings and internal courtyard.
June’s perfect temperature allowed us to eat outside and admire the small rowboats and lobster boats in the hanger in front of us. However, the truth is, you can’t go wrong sitting inside either. The ceiling is lined with oars and plenty of memorabilia. Being at a lobster pound, of course I ordered the lobster salad. And boy did it not only look pretty, but taste amazing as well. This is what New England is about.
14. Eat: Grab a Dessert Whoopie Pie Before Heading Out
After a satisfying lunch, Pat and I rode back to Kennebunkport. We loaded our bikes onto the car and mapped out the rest of our journey up to Brooklin and Bar Harbor. But not without picking up some dessert for the road first. Fun fact: Maine’s official state dessert is the Whoopie Pie. For those who are not familiar with what a Whoopie Pie is, it’s a dessert made with leftover cake batter and filled with your choice of filling. HB Provisions in the town of Kennebunkport, Maine, is the ultimate go-to place for the Whoopie Pie. And yes, you know it, the Bush family stops by here just for their insanely good Whoopie Pies–so this is a must on your Maine bucket list.
If You Have More Time…
As I mentioned, Pat and I only had 24 hours in Kennebunkport in June. But there is much, and I mean much more to see and do then what I wrote. In fact, a good long weekend is the best way to truly enjoy all the wonders, food, and beaches of Kennebunkport, Maine. If you have more time, here are additional places to hit up:
24 Hours in Kennebunkport, Maine Map
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