A few weeks ago we reunited with our friends from Stamford at their family beach home in Kennebunkport. We were so thrilled to spend three blissful days in our favorite place with some of our very favorite people! I've been lucky to visit Kennebunkport several times either en route to visit my family in mid-coast Maine as well as for a photoshoot for my last job. It was a welcome change to vacation instead of pass through and/or work and I really enjoyed it for the first time in ages. We were so fortunate to being staying right on the water on Goose Neck Beach (arguably one of the best beaches in Kennebunkport) so most of our time was spent hunkered down with buckets of rose, flying kites and playing a few epic HOURS of Spikeball but I thought I'd share some of my favorite places in the event you're planning a visit!
Goose Rocks Beach: Probably my favorite beach in the Kennebunkport area. It's wide, the sand is soft, the scenery is stunning. I'm not sure what it's like to try and park there during high season but I'd vouch that it's worth the effort. Our friends also swear by Drakes Island in Wells but I've yet to visit.
The Clam Shack: This is probably the most famous seafood stop in all of Kennebunk. Self-proclaimed the "no-frills nook for fried seafood staples" this place is the favorite of everyone from the Bush family to the locals for fried clams and lobster rolls. The family that owns are some of the nicest people I've ever met and they are happy to share the fun facts behind their family restaurants. For example, all of the stools there are painted like lobster buoys. It's not random, however, as they are painted after the buoys of the fisherman that have worked with the Clam Shack for years. It's a big deal to get your own buoy stools there! Also - there is a secret back deck off of the restaurant... this is where high-profile friends of the Clam Shack (like the Bush family!) can eat their lobster rolls in peace.
Daytrip Society: I stop in to this store every time we visit Kennebunkport. They carry the best striped shirts, Pendelton blankets, vintage pennants, and great Maine books. Think of it as a hipster outpost meets souvenir shop. They also have a kids store, Daytrip Junior, in another building in town. You most likely will die from the cute.
Scoop Deck: This is actually in Wells, not Kennebunkport but close enough. Our good friends swear by this as the best ice cream in Maine.
Hidden Pond: I've also never been here but I was swooning at Jackie's photos of their poolside cabanas and and a ceiling full of vintage oils. (I also saw that my friend Julia is staying there this week as well and her bungalow looks magical!) I'll try to at least stop by for a cocktail and a tour on my next trip.
The Colony Hotel: I've never stayed here but we shot here for my last job and this place stole my heart. This is the sort of hotel that you can tell families have been visiting for generations and generations. It's worn, but in the best possible way as the same family has owned it since 1948. I'm trying to book a weekend here soon so that we can sip cocktails on the porch and dress up for Bingo on Wednesdays! (That's a big thing).
Docksquare Clothiers: I thought I'd do you all a favor and tell you the best tourist sweatshirt shop in town - it's hard to weed through them and this place definitely does the trick for garment dyed KENNEBUNKPORT swearshirts and t's :)
Farm + Table: This is in Cape Porpoise, not downtown Kennebunkport, but super close and a must-stop for New England homewares! I bought Maine-made cotton throw blankets in bulk and begrudgingly passed up massive reclaimed wood cheese boards. The store is perfectly merchandised and stocks all of the things people actually want you to bring back for them! There is also an ADORABLE little coffee shop in Cape Porpoise that's worth a stop. And if you stop in the tiny little grocery store there you will see the absolute cutest vintage P.O.Boxes that the town still uses as their official post office!
And of course you have to stop by the LLBean Flagship down the road in Freeport! We stop every year to "freshen up" our monogram tote bag collection ;) I'm sure I will think of more must-sees now that I'm writing this so feel free to check back on this post in the future if you're planning a visit as I'll continue to update it. Have any recommendations? I'd love it if you left them in the comments below!