Things to Do

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Goose Rocks Beach

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We are not biased, but this is one of the nicest beaches in Maine. The crescent shaped beach is bordered by two tidal rivers approximately two miles apart, with a high/low tide differential of over 10 feet on occasions. Whether it is braving the cold water, kayaking, taking long walks along the beach or around Timber Island at low tide, or just having a cocktail on the beach at sunset, it is, as the Maine saying goes, “the way life should be."

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Kennebunk Beach

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Across the inlet from the Colony Hotel and the primary beach in Kennebunkport. You might even be able to watch a few surfers.

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Fortune Rocks Beach

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In Biddeford, a short drive north on Route 9 from Kennebunkport. It is also a very long beach, popular with surfers, and has nice sand and wide-open ocean views.

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Cape Pier Chowder House

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(www.capepierchowderhouse.com) in Cape Porpoise is a long-time Sobel favorite. Spectacular light as the sun sets and the best fish and chips anywhere (at least according to Ted). They also have excellent chowder and lobster plates. Very low key with picnic benches on a pier right next to a working lobster fishing operation in Cape Porpoise. Perfect for an informal taste of Maine for lunch or dinner.

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Congdon's Doughnuts

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(www.congdons.com) A new discovery for us south of Kennebunkport in Wells. If you are looking for a doughnut fix, there are few places better anywhere.

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Earth at Hidden Pond

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(www.earthathiddenpond.com) is the most upscale restaurant in the area and worth every penny they charge. North of Kennebunkport along Goose Rocks Road and part of the Hidden Pond resort, it has a great inland setting and every meal we’ve ever had there has been terrific.

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Five Acres Farm Stand

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1 Bryant Lane. a small farm stand on Route 9 just past the roads leading to Goose Rocks Beach where the “Pie Lady,” as we know her, prepares delicious pies and cookies daily. It usually opens at 10am and all payment is on the honor system. Her pies are perhaps the best we’ve ever had and the molasses cookies are a must eat.

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Goldthwaites

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(www.poollobster.com) is a great stop on a visit to Biddeford Pool, just 10 minutes north of Kennebunkport (and not far from Fortune Rocks Beach. Order informal Maine fare inside and eat outside on picnic benches overlooking the ocean and harbor in Biddeford. Basket Island is directly in view from the tables and is where the author Anita Shreve lived and wrote.

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Langsford's Lobster

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(www.langsfordroadlobster.com) On the near side of Cape Porpoise Harbor, Langsford Road is a working lobster and fish wharf with picnic tables out back offering an amazing view for enjoying fresh steamed lobsters, mussels, steamers, clam chowder, oysters, etc. Steamed only, nothing fried. BYOB

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Goose Rocks Dairy

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278 Mills Road, Kennebunkport. Ted's favorite place in Maine. A must stop for every ice cream lover. Be forewarned, the small is large and the large is gargantuan.

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Nunan's Lobster Hut

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(www.nunanslobsterhut.com) is an iconic Maine lobster restaurant built in an old fishing hut in Cape Porpoise that accepts only cash. You can choose the size lobster you want, there is a steak option for those who really won’t eat lobster, several good salad and desert choices, and plenty of beer to choose from. You won’t want or need anything else!

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Port Lobster - Our favorite lobster roll

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(122 Ocean Avenue) is mostly a wholesale lobster provider, but is open to walk-in traffic for the best lobster rolls in the area. Port Lobster is right next to the Colony Hotel on Ocean Avenue and you can take your lobster roll (with Cape Cod chips of course) and eat it sitting on any number of town benches along the water.

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The Tides Beach Club

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(www.tidesbeachclubmaine.com) is situated overlooking Goose Rocks Beach. Terrific Happy Hour drinks and snacks and a good dinner menu, especially with a seat outside or on the porch.

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Biking

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One of our favorite activities in Maine. The roads are in good shape, relatively flat, and there are often very few cars on the road. Bring your own bike or bikes can be rented at Mainely Bicycle (www.mainelybicycle.com) or Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike (www.coastalmainekayak.com). The best routes along the coast are 1) heading south and east from Kennebunkport along Ocean Avenue past Walker Point and either looping back along Wildes District Road or connecting to Route 9 in Cape Porpoise where you can then 2) head north along Route 9 towards Biddeford, detouring to Goose Rocks Beach, and then hitting Fortunes Rocks Beach, or 3) heading west from town along Kennebunk Beach or Western Avenue towards Wells. You can also ride inland through beautiful countryside.

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Golf

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Golf is very, very relaxed in Maine and the best and closest place is Cape Arundel Golf Club (www.capearundelgolfclub.com), just a few minutes from the Colony Hotel. A private club with tee times open to the public, Cape Arundel is an old and short Walter Travis course with diabolical greens. If you spot two black Suburbans in the parking lot you may get a sighting of “W.” Just look for the men (mostly) in shades. Other nearby places to play are Webhannet Golf Club (www.webhannetgolfclub.com), Dutch Elm Golf Club (www.dutchelmgolf.com), Old Marsh Country Club (www.oldmarshcountryclub.com), and Biddeford-Saco Country Club (www.biddefordsacocc.com). There is also a fun local driving range – Hillcrest Golf – just south of town on Western Avenue.

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Hiking

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"Hiking" can be done on the beach as the tide goes out (Goose Rocks and Fortunes Rock Beaches are probably the longest), but there are also set trails such as those at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel-carson) in Wells. The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (www.kporttrust.org/land-and-trails) has funded and built multiple good inland trails in the Kennebunkport area.

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Shopping

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Last, but not least of the activities in the area. Just walk into town from the Colony Hotel and you will pass multiple shops and art galleries as you head to Dock Square. From high end art and clothes to beach-themed tchotchkes, you will find plenty of places to buy something (hopefully memorable) in Kennebunkport.