In a new series, Jeff (my husband!), aka “Big Dog” (that’s a story for a different time) lists his top 5 favorite activites / must-do’s from our weekend in Maine.
1. Head to Cape Porpoise – an awesome fisherman village (the original English settlement in Kennebunkport) protected by more than a dozen islands. There’s a great view of Goat Island Light. Grab lunch and a beer at Ramp Bar & Grill located under Pier 77 Restaurant. Ramp has a nice view of the harbor, is casual, and covered in sports memorabilia.
2. Gooch’s Beach (5 minute drive from the Kennebunkport village) – a wide open beach with a long boardwalk/sidewalk. If you didn’t bring your surf gear, you can rent a wetsuit and a board from Aquaholics Surf Shop just outside downtown (friendly and welcoming guys at the shop).
3. Walkers Point – make sure to walk/yog/jog to Walkers Point, which is where the George H. Bush compound is located. There is a 2-mile sidewalk along the coastline from downtown to Walkers Point. Massive homes and beautiful views of the ocean lead you to an overlook of the Bush compound.
4. Dinner – Earth @ Hidden Pond – pricey, but set aside some $$ because it is a must do while in Kennebunkport. The restaurant is located about a 12 minute drive inland from downtown Kennebunkport and is 100% worth it. Bomb atmosphere and bomb food. We ordered the meatballs appetizer and the stir fried rice noodles, with Maine lobster and Calabrian chilis.
5. Nubble Lightouse – if your route back home is south, drive to get a look of Nubble Lighthouse in York. We stopped at Cape Neddick Lobster Pound for a lobster roll on the way. The lobster roll was huge and was more like a lobster sub than a lobster roll.
If you are heading to Kennebunkport during the corner months of the summer season, make sure you check to see if the restaurants and bars you are interested in are open. It seemed like most places open early to mid-May. We would have loved to grab a drink on the Spirit of Massachusetts, which is a bar on a 125 ft. Schooner built in Charlestown, Ma., but it was still closed for the season when we went the first week in May.
