New England 2017: Kennebunkport

We left Plymouth, stopping at the JFK Presidential Library.  Next up...Kennebunkport, Maine.  Our first stop was a late lunch.  We had lobster and more lobster at Mabel's.  So delicious and a great introduction to Maine lobster!  I had the lobster roll.

I just fell in love with our hotel when we drove up.  When I think of a traditional, New England seaside hotel, this is the picture I think of.  The Colony is an old-school style place...no A/C, no tv, and older style furnishings.  We loved it!

After resting for a few minutes, we headed down to the heated, saltwater pool.  You couldn't beat the view!  But it was definitely a little chilly when we got out.  It was about 70 or 75 degrees outside.

There was a vintage car club staying at the hotel, so we enjoyed seeing all the cars in the parking lot!

We topped off the day with some dessert in the lounge/bar area by the pool.  Blueberry pie for Michael and I...milkshakes for the kids.

The next day we took a walk down the coast along Ocean Avenue.  There are some incredible views along this pathway, as well as some huge, luxurious homes.  And of course, this coast is the summer home of George H.W. Bush - Walker's Point.  We saw on social media that lots of the Bush family had just been there the week before.

We took a look at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, with it's beautiful outdoor sanctuary.  This is the church the Bush family attends in Kennebunkport.

Above you can see some of the beautiful homes along this walk.  And below you can see Jack ready to skip some stones.

Below is a zoomed picture of the Bush "compound."  What an incredible place to spend your summers!

There was a really inspiring plaque and an Naval destroyer anchor near Walker's Point.  It reads:

“For our friend and 41st President George H.W. Bush.  As he was for our nation and world during four years of tumultuous and historic change, so, too, has Kennebunkport served, in the words of St. Paul, ‘as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stead’ to him.  Presented by those who love him as much as he loves this special place.”

After the Ocean Avenue walk, we headed into the town of Kennebunkport.  We stopped for a break in the village green, which contained a garden in honor of Barbara Bush and her literacy programs.  I loved her quote about peonies and volunteer work.  The garden is called Ganny's Garden.

We never see peonies growing here in Texas, so it was a real treat to see them thriving in a garden.

Above - a statue called Our Forebears of the Coast

Below - a reminder of Barbara Bush's literacy efforts

We walked through the town, visiting so many cute shops!  We ate at Federal Jack's, after a recommendation from Johannah!

After two nights in Kennebunkport, we hit the road again and drove north to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island.  Along the way, we stopped at the Portland Head Lighthouse.

We also stopped at the L.L. Bean headquarters.  This place was so big!  We ate lunch in their cafe.  I had heard that whoopie pies were popular in Maine, and we saw them everywhere.  So of course we had to try them!

And further north we travelled...

DETAILS

HOTEL

The Colony - I loved that we could get a suite here with 2 bedrooms connected by a bath.  It felt great to spread out a little at this point in the trip!  We also loved the "retro" feel here.

ACTIVITIES

Portland Head Light House

Parson's Way Walk along Ocean Avenue

RESTAURANTS

Mabel's Lobster Claw

Federal Jack's

New England Vacation 2017

Boston I:  Freedom Trail and Duck Boat Tour

Boston II:  Art Museum and Fenway Park

Boston III:  Cambridge and Science Museum

Plymouth:  Plimouth Plantation and JFK Presidential Library

Kennebunkport, Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine:  Acadia National Park

Linking to:

Calypso in the Country