They don’t call it Vacationland for nothing. Besides Stephen King, lobster and L.L. Bean, Maine deserves more of a nod — perhaps no town more so than Kennebunkport. All that’s quintessentially New England, nautical and charming, this town of just 3,500 boasts myriad hotels and experiences all deserving of a road trip up the Maine Turnpike, ayah?
Maine Hidden Pond-Cottage © Kennebunkport Resort Collection
Renowned for its adjacent farm-to-table restaurant of the same name, Hidden Pond guest cottages are a destination in their own right with one-bedroom bungalows featuring a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, flat-screen television, marble bathroom, outdoor rain shower, screened porch, Frette linens, luxury toiletries and wet bar with mini-fridge. You’re not exactly roughing it either in the two-story, two-bedroom cottages or single-story two-bedrooms (1,100 square feet) with screen porches, full kitchens, outdoor rain showers and gas fireplaces with river stone. The main resort here also features a fun family pool, Back Porch bar, fire pit, a beach shuttle and a “treehouse” spa.
Resort amenities at an RV park? Sandy Pines puts pizzazz on camping in the pines with three different options. A dozen Camp Carriages (stylish cottages) uniquely designed by Kennebunkport interior specialist Krista Stokes are outfitted with king-sized beds, air conditioning, exterior window shutters, fire pits and seating areas at Sandy Pines; she also collaborated to design 12 Hideaway Huts with full-sized beds and fire pits. This season, the campground added four more safari-style Glamp Tents for a total of 16 professionally decorated spaces, each with antiques, four-post beds, chandeliers and more. Pre-order a lobster dinner for delivery to your campsite and partake in weekly entertainment like nights at the pool and Sundae Funday ice cream buffets.
There are only nine rooms at this boutique property a five-minute walk from downtown shops and restaurants, and each is brimming with special design flair courtesy of Lark Hotels’ resident interiors guru, Boston-based Rachel Reider. Her specialty is blue hues and nautical, and she hits it out of the park at this 1813 Federal mansion. Enjoy wine, fresh-baked cookies and gourmet small plates at a historic B&B.
Maine Hidden Pond – Stargazer Cottage © Kennebunkport Resort Collection
If you’re looking for cool but kid-friendly, Lodge on the Cove is the place to be. The refurbished motor lodge features bold patterns, contemporary and classic furnishings and fun colors. Many guestrooms feature two queen beds for the entire brood. There are plenty of family activities like lawn games, tie-dye Tuesdays and free use of kids bikes, along with a seasonal outdoor heated pool, complimentary beach chairs, towels and parking permits for Kennebunk Beach, free kayak and canoe rentals at Kennebunkport Marina and a seasonal dinner trolley to town and the Lodge’s sister restaurants. On-site, The Dory poolside bar serves up burgers, tater tots and all-American fare.
The Boathouse Waterfront hotel
One of the best locations to enjoy it all (waterside, of course!), the Boathouse has just 25 modern guestrooms spread throughout two buildings. Each features Maine-made Cuddledown bedding, robes and Frette linens, and several rooms feature private balconies. Your concierge can help plan activities, on-site or off-site dining and beach-going at three local recreation areas: Colony, Goose Rocks and Kennebunk beaches.
A Relais & Chateaux property just a few hundred feet from the beach, Grace White Barn Inn & Spa has just 26 rooms in late 19th-century digs. Garden rooms open to a wooded area and waterfront cottages decorated in the region’s typical Arts & Crafts style have views of the Kennebunk River. The on-site restaurant is one of Maine’s finest, in a romantic but rustic converted barn setting.
Maine Sandy Pines © Kennebunkport Resort Collection
Magnificent ocean views await at Arundel from two estates: the Main House, a Victorian mansion with a front porch and sloping lawn; and the Club House, a vintage manor set on 15 wooded acres. Everyone gets to enjoy the Club House Lounge’s fireplace, billiards table and turn-of-the-century bar. There’s also a heated pool with daytime food and cocktail service, yoga and complimentary bikes. Grab a seat and watch the sun set from an Adirondack chair or opt for fine dining at Ocean restaurant (yes, there’s plenty of seafood on the menu!).
The only hotel located in the center of town, you can enjoy the view of the downtown restaurants, galleries and boutiques from this late-1890s estate formerly a tea merchant’s mansion. The furnishings have been updated since then, of course, but still pay homage to the area’s history and time period with more contemporary rooms and nautical colors. Don’t miss the Burleigh, Kennebunkport’s newest on-site restaurant, with year-round butter-poached lobster and local craft brews.
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