Town of Kennebunk, Maine

Kennebunk—or “the only village in the world so named,” as several prominently posted signs around town will proudly inform you—is often confused with its more famous counterpart, Kennebunkport. Yes, Kennebunkport is home to the oceanfront George H.W. Bush family compound and the seaside tourist catch basin known as Dock Square…but make no mistake about it: Kennebunk is a destination in its own right.

Exploring Kennebunk Maine

Founded in 1820, Kennebunk started as a shipbuilding community—if you take a drive down Summer Street on your way to Lower Village, the first mile or so is lined with jewels: Sea Captains’ mansions, including the famous Wedding Cake House—lasting testaments to the town’s rich mariner history. And if history is your cup of tea, visit the Brick Store Museum in the center of town—this gem features 6 rotating exhibitions and shouldn’t be missed. Another fascinating historical resource—and a fantastic way to spend a beautiful day—is the Museum in the Streets history walk, a series of 25 panels scattered throughout the town, each featuring archival imagery relevant to the location.

Beaches In Kennebunk

Kennebunk offers three beautiful, dog-friendly beaches (many folks “from away”—read: not born here—are under the mistaken impression that Mother’s, Middle, and Gooch’s beaches are in Kennebunkport). Mother’s Beach is small, but it also offers a modern, sprawling playground for the kiddies. If you aren’t a fan of gleefully screaming children and sand isn’t a necessary part of your day at the beach, then Middle Beach is for you. More of a hillside of ocean-worn stones and pebbles, this swath of Maine’s rocky coast is just that—rocky. But the view is amazing, and parking (paid permits for all three beaches are available at the sidewalk kiosks) is rarely a problem. At just over half a mile long, Gooch’s Beach is the granddaddy of the three, but in typical Maine-coast fashion, the majority of the hard-pack sand disappears at high tide: the water comes up to the seawall for more than half of the entire beach—so be sure to check the tide chart before striking out for the day.

Dining and Shopping

Less than a mile inland is Lower Village—Kennebunk’s counterpart to Kennebunkport’s Dock Square. Here, you will find well-heeled tourists strolling along shop-lined sidewalks and dining al fresco at one of the many excellent food and drink establishments in the area. A year-round favorite is Old Vines, where the late George H.W. and Barbara Bush could often be found enjoying libations and laughter with the locals.

Kennebunk shifts gear just about 6 miles inland, offering a stretch of US Route 1 that features options for all of the retail necessities Kennebunkport pretty much lacks: groceries, gas stations, banks, dining options, salons, and the like. The recently-renovated Hannaford also has a pharmacy and curbside pickup. But less than a mile from this short swath of suburban convenience is a calendar-worthy stretch of the same road that offers residents and visitors alike a sample of old-world Main Street charm…and with free parking, to boot. Restaurants—including 50 Local (an upscale, locally sourced gastro-pub), the historic Kennebunk Inn, Garden Street Bowl (a high-end bar/bistro/bowling alley), and the local favorite Duffy’s Tavern, overlooking the Mousam River—abound alongside a local history museum, bakeries, an organic market, and the Waterhouse Center, an outdoor center for summertime artisan fairs, sport courts, and wintertime ice skating. Curious? Check out the related posts below for more information on some of these gems.

Outdoor Activities

For those that would rather return to nature for their downtime, The Kennebunk Land Trust has wisely set aside swaths of undeveloped land for perpetual public enjoyment, some offering well-maintained walking trails. And speaking of walking trails, the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge provides access to meandering pathways and boardwalks that course through towering pines and untouched marshlands—keep your eyes peeled for a bald eagle, osprey, or even a fox.

The Kennebunk Plains—or the Blueberry Plains, to locals—are another example of the town’s many and varied faces. Emerging from the pine-shaded neighborhood along route 99 into a vast, sunshine-filled field of low scrub and grasses, it feels as though you’ve crossed into another world…or at least another state. There are public parking areas and trails that run throughout the plains—and if you are lucky enough to be there in late July-August, bring your buckets! While smaller than their high-bush counterparts, Maine blueberries are in a class of their own when it comes to flavor. And, again—not to beleaguer the point, but keep an eye out for wildlife, be they feathered or furry.

If you prefer fins to feathers or fur, there are also public landings on the Kennebunk and Mousam Rivers from which to launch your canoe, SUP, or kayak—and of course, the surfing culture is alive and kicking in Kennebunk! Never hung ten? Give Aquaholics in Lower Village a call; they’re the local surf instruction experts, and their familiar pickup trucks and vans are a familiar sight at the shore. But remember, if you’re going to be anywhere other than on the beach, bring your bug spray! Where there are woods and water, there WILL be mosquitoes.

If swatting tiny flying vampires aren’t your thing, those same paths become a sparkling wonderland come winter—trade your OFF! for snowshoes or cross-country skis and you’re good to go. Speaking of winter, no New Year’s Eve would be complete without the annual Blueberry Drop from the Unitarian Universalist Church’s gorgeous clock tower at midnight every December 31st—don your LL Bean winter gear and head on up to the top of Main Street for cocoa, music, and companionship…but don’t expect buckets of the quintessential Maine fruit to be unceremoniously dumped from on high—it is a mini-version of the renowned Times Square spectacle—only this glowing ball of light is made up of blue bulbs and shaped like—well, you get the picture.

Moving to Kennebunk

Looking to relocate to Kennebunk? The town is located only 90 miles north of Boston and 25 miles south of Portland. It also offers proximity to I95 and features an excellent consolidated (Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel) school system and a large public library. One of the town’s biggest employers is Corning Life Sciences, located just off the Interstate in West Kennebunk, along with a new Hampton Inn. There are two emergency walk-in health centers, several pharmacies, wellness centers, and senior living/care options; having an older population (almost 36% of the town’s residents are over 65) also makes Kennebunk a great retirement location. A classic example of Maine’s “Vacationland” status, Kennebunk’s population balloons by 50% in the summer months—many folks have summer homes by the beaches and then retreat to warmer climes in the off-season.

From the moment you arrive in this multi-faceted coastal Maine town—and with every moment longer you spend here—you, too, will come to understand that there’s something very unique about Kennebunk…and it isn’t just the name.

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