Kennebunkport, Maine

Maine has over 5,000 miles of pristine coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, so it’s saying something when Kennebunk beaches are counted among the state’s best. Family-friendly Gooch's Beach is a wide, soft-sand beach that provides a perfect daylong getaway with the kids.

Visitors can stroll down the long shoreline hunting for sand dollars and building sand castles; splash, play, and skim board the surf or hit the gentle waters to swim or kayak. The beach is lifeguard protected and has porta potty facilities and paid parking.

Beach Avenue, Kennebunk, ME, Phone: 207-967-0857

Seashore Trolley Museum encompasses a 330-acre living history park with numerous transportation exhibits and a Visitor Center containing a History in Motion exhibition and a museum store. Visitors may take unlimited rides on meticulously restored streetcars along a 1.5-mile interpretive railway.

A restored Atlantic Shore Line locomotive, the only remaining piece at the museum from the original railway, sits on a demonstration track for visitors to see. Other museum highlights include the restoration shop where the streetcars are authentically restored, car barns where they cars are stored, a bus exhibit, and a modern urban mass transit rapid rail vehicle exhibit.

195 Log Cabin Road, Kennebunkport, ME, Phone: 207-967-2712

Visitors can taste their way through Kennebunkport, Maine, on a 2.5 to 3-hour walking tour beginning at Dock Square and crossing the bridge into the lower village. This leisurely tour allows guests to visit six different venues within a half-mile while learning the culinary history and current foodie scene from their knowledgeable guide.

Visitors can speak with talented food artisans and creative shopkeepers as they indulge in delectable, locally sourced fare. Maine fish and clam chowder, crabmeat sandwiches, fresh off the boat lobster, whoopie pie, and craft brews are just a few of the samplings featured along the way.

Maine Day Ventures, Phone: 207-233-7485

A favorite way for people to explore Kennebunkport is from the sea, and sailing along the rugged, rocky coastline of Southern Maine on The Pineapple Ketch is an unforgettable experience. The classic 1970s Downeaster 38 has been restored to its original high quality beauty, and sails morning, midday, and evening.

Those who prefer smooth sailing with lots of photo ops of the shoreline should sail mornings. Visitors who prefer an exciting ocean sail with plenty of action will want to book an afternoon sail. Guests who crave the romance of a sunset sail may want to bring their favorite sundowner beverages on the last sail of the day.

95 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport, ME, Phone: 207-468-7262

Visitors to the coast of Maine cannot get enough of whale watching; after all, being in the presence of a breaching whale is a majestic experience. Although these sightings can’t be guaranteed, the captain and crew of First Chance are experienced seafarers who know just where to take visitors to see humpback, finback, and minke whales, as well as chance sightings of the endangered right whale and the rare blue whale.

The best time for whale watching is summer. Expect weekend trips to be available in May and June, while daily trips are available from July to early September. The modern boat has a galley and plenty of elbow room on the rails.

4 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, ME, Phone: 207-967-5507

Kennebunk Beach is actually a combination of three beaches stretching 1.5 miles along Beach Avenue. On one end is Gooch’s Beach, then Middle Beach, and finally Mothers Beach ending at Lords Point. All three beaches are great for swimming and kayaking.

Mothers Beach has the calmest surf and a playground, so it is a popular beach for families with small children. The three beaches are also connected by sidewalks and are excellent for taking a scenic walk along the beach. If fitness is the goal for walking the beach, know that from one end to the other and back is a three-mile trek.

Beach Avenue, Kennebunk, ME, Phone: 207-967-0857

The Parsons Way Trail is a leisurely two-mile walking path along the coastline of Cape Arundel that passes by Spouting Rock and Blowing Cave and provides extraordinary views of the ocean. Most visitors can tackle this easy trail in an hour or less while enjoying the natural beauty gifted by the trail’s namesake, Henry Parsons.

There are a few secret benches hidden along the way, perfect for relaxing while listening to the surf and basking in the sun’s glow. Visitors will also pass by St. Ann’s Church, a beautiful site even though it’s gated, before finally ending at President Bush’s family summer home.

1 Parsons Beach Road, Kennebunkport, ME