The Beach House Inn, Maine

The Kennebunkport Area is one to explore in Maine and there are plenty of things to do to keep you busy. The Beach House Inn is a great hotel that you could go to stay whether it be for a family vacation, a getaway as a couple, or a seaside escape from the city. The Beach House Inn is a relaxing place to rest your head, no matter what your reason for visiting may be.

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Explore the beaches (just down the street in either direction), head into the village or Dock Square to dine or browse the shops, or visit the playground. You could also take the chance to visit the Breakwater Spa and treat yourself to a day of pampering bliss. If you just don’t feel like doing anything or going anywhere you can enjoy the view of the ocean from your room or one of the porches that wrap around the building.  The hotel offers beach towels and beach chairs for use free of charge, as well.  Just sign them out with your room number and you are good to go.

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Just a few things to do when you are in the area are visiting Maine Antiques, Kennebunkport Shopping, Kennebunkport Brick Store Museum, Seashore Trolley Museum, golf courses, whale watching, nature walks, sailing, the gyms, art galleries, shore walks, the beaches, and the First Families Museum.

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The First Families Museum is an 1853 Greek Revival house reflecting the lives of its early residents Charles and Celia Perkins, whose fortunes were connected to the thriving shipbuilding era of Kennebunkport, making the town one of the wealthiest in New England. Original furnishings and French wallpaper (in it’s original state, and full of arsenic if you can believe it!) reflect the luxurious living of the family. The guided tour presents stories and artifacts from sea captains and shipbuilders to rusticators to Kennebunkport’s most famous summer residents, former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush and their family. It’s a fun stop to learn about the area, it’s residents, and the former president.  It doesn’t take long to get through, and yes- it has a gift shop.

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After you have had a long day of enjoying Kennebunkport, you will be hungry. Why not visit one of the local favorites, Stripers Restaurant. (Yes, the Bush family have eaten there among other famous diners.) Many, if not most of the tables offer views of the water and lobster boats that are heading to and from the ocean. Stripers Restaurant is delicious, and offers the best of coastal Maine.

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Enjoy New England seafood classics, locally sourced, as well as beautiful views. The sunsets are amazing. Feel free to take your food outside and dine on the waterside deck. Before you get started, there are cocktails and appetizers available on the Adirondack chairs on the riverfront lawn or at your table. For lunch or dinner, there are local fish, lobster, and shellfish meals-  if seafood is not your style, they do have alternatives for you.

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The dining area at the Beach House.

The lunch menu is a little lighter with salads, burgers, and sandwiches along with specialty seafood dishes. Make sure that you try their truffle fries or oysters on the half shell while you are there.  There is also a Sunday Brunch offered as a Kennebunkport  tradition with lobster omelets, Stripers burger and Bloody Mary mixes. If you would rather something more casual while you dine, The Sunset Lounge would be perfect for you. There is a huge selection of daily specials, cocktail menu and wine list for you to choose from.

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When you head back to the Beach House’s cozy rooms to get ready to relax for the evening, remember there is a fire pit outside that can be lit.  Pull up a rocking chair, grab some marshmallows or a s’mores kit  from the front desk, and enjoy your evening.  (There are no sticks to roast the marshmallows with, so make sure to bring your own).  The rooms are spacious, and have nice views and cross breezes- even though we were there in August, we didn’t need to use the air conditioner at all.  In the morning, breakfast is served in the front, and you can eat indoor or outside.  There is also a “snacktime” at around 5, when there are teas, coffees, cookies, muffins, and other food and beverages out.

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So come and enjoy the view and the great food at Beach House Inn and Stripers Restaurant. The duo is one of the best in Maine and will do the best to make sure that you have a full heart and a full stomach when you leave.  Make your reservations here.

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The Cliff House Resort and Spa, Maine

I love resorts with history and oceanfront locations! Lucky for me, when I was last in Ogunquit, Maine I had the opportunity to stay at a lovely resort that offered both a rich history of welcoming guests for more than 142 years and a stunning location on 70 Oceanfront acres of land.
pic6The Cliff House is an aptly named resort and spa. Situated on the cliffs of the Maine coastline, the centrally located resort offers vast meeting spaces and the largest banquet facilities in the area making it the ideal location for productive business travel.
P1010331I enjoyed the full service spa with 10 service rooms, a sauna, an outdoor stone meditation labyrinth and a state of the art fitness center. Not only was I able to relax in an adults only atmosphere, but I was able to do so with stunning ocean views! There is nothing like indulging in a massage or a pedicure while taking in the sights of the sea.

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What to do in Portland, Maine

A trip to Maine needs to be carefully planned. There are many things to see, many things to sample and many experiences that one needs to have in this lovely state. If you are planning a trip to Portland, Maine there is really no question about where to stay. The Westin Portland Harbor View is the place to stay for picturesque views of the water, easy access to the Portland art scene, or just a fantastic place to unwind with the family (and even Fido) on your travels.

pic1The Westin Portland Harbor View offers all of the amenities you could hope for in a hotel. The Akari Spa is full service and will help melt the stress of daily life away. You can take advantage of your downtime and get a great workout in thanks to the NEW BALANCE gear lending service, and you can bring your dog with you to stay and play.

P1010346While you are enjoying the hotel, you might wonder what there is to do in the area. I would recommend that you take the #1 rated Trolley Tour from Portland Discovery Tours of the city.  Not only are trolly rides fun (I’ve never met a kid that didn’t love them) but it is a great way to see the city. On the tour you will see many notable locations in Portland and enjoy learning the history of the area from local tour guides.  You can take either a 45 or 9 0 minute tour depending on your wants and your time available.
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The Colonial Inn – the place to stay in Ogunquit, Maine

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If you love hotels with class, charm and history and you happen to be planning a visit to Ogunquit, Maine (or want to!) I have found the perfect hotel for you. The Colonial Inn has been in business, providing a lovely place to stay in a central location for over 125 years.

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In 2013 a massive 4 million dollar renovation was completed to restore The Colonial Inn to the ranks of the finest hotels in Ogunquit. While retaining the Victorian Charm of the hotel, the renovations offer guests the modern amenities such as a hosted wine/social hour, a heated outdoor pool and entertaining areas for families.

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The Colonial Inn offers a fantastic vantage point of all that Ogunquit has to offer- the hotel is close to the beautiful beaches which have made the area an ideal vacation spot. I liked that we could walk or take the trolley, which conveniently stops in front of The Colonial Inn, and explore the shops, the restaurants and the sights without the frustrations of driving.
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Lobster and Beyond: Family-Friendly Hidden Gems in Portland, Maine

Turns out this historic, progressive New England town has a lot more than just lobster to boast about: it’s a bona-fide foodie’s paradise. Best of all, there are are plenty of family- friendly dining options poised to please not only your sophisticated palette, but also your tot’s budding one.

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Here’s a sampling of some of the city’s finest offerings for fun, kid-friendly dining:’

For that lobster fix. the charming and whimsical DiMillo’s On the Wateris surprisingly kid-centric, with plenty to engage the little ones as you wait for your meal. This floating restaurant started out a decommissioned car ferry, and its antique ship wheels and oversized portholes with harbor views garner lots of ooohs and aaahs from kids and grownups alike. The lobster is simple and perfectly cooked, as you’d expect from an established Portland eatery, and there is a good kid’s menu that features plenty of crowd pleasers like Mac and Cheese and Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Located ocean-side in South Portland, The Saltwater Grille offers breathtaking water views inside as well as out with it’s a big saltwater aquarium, replete with pint-sized Adirondack chairs right in front of it, so your children can have an up close and personal look-see at all the fish inside while nibbling on their Chicken Fingers, PB&J, or a host of other children’s entrees. For Mom and Dad, Johnny’s Bouillabaisse or Linguini in Lobster Sauce are both excellent choices, and there is a good wine list to complement the seafood- focused fare.
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Jonathan’s in Ogunquit, Maine

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Jonathan’s in Ogunquit, Maine is a fantastic family friendly restaurant.  There is a 600 gallon fish tank in the middle of the main dining area to keep the kids amused while you enjoy a delicious meal. They also have beautiful gardens outside and concerts going on indoors on multiple days of the week to keep the entire family entertained.  The food is fresh, and choices range from seafood dishes to steak or pasta.  Jonathan’s caters to a variety of dietary restrictions too, so anyone can come in and enjoy a wonderful meal.  They have an entire gluten free menu, which is very hard to find. Many of the dishes can be made into gluten free versions- all you need to do is let your waiter or waitress know what you’d like.Maine

You can start out your meal with a silky delicious lobster bisque, oysters, boursin stuffed mushrooms, or a classic salad.  Maybe they will have the pan seared scallops special, which is fresh tender diver scallops, served with mustard green fritters for some crutch and carrot ginger sauce.  For an entree you will have to decide between items on the regular or specials menu, both will have you drooling by the time you choose.  They have a juicy chicken piccata or prosciutto stuffed chicken if you are in the mood for poultry, tender grilled ribeye and sirloin steaks if you would prefer beef.  They even offer a vegetarian option with fried eggplant, spinach, and goat cheese with potato gnocchi. Of course, there is a children’s menu with choices that all kids enjoy, and they even have crayons to color the menu with.
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