Kennebunkport and....?

Old Apr 16th, 2014, 11:13 AM
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Kennebunkport and....?

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip for June 28- July 6 of this year. I am pregnant with our first child, and we'd like to get away for one last vacation before the baby arrives. This morning I got an email from Jetsetter with a deal for the Cottages at Cabot Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine (http://www.cabotcovecottages.com/). I put a hold on a room from June 28 - July 2. I have three days to book the room or it will be released.

Our initial thought was to fly into Boston on the 28th, pick up a rental car, and drive to Kennebunkport that night (about 1.5 hours from Boston).

Upon checking out on the 2nd, we are having trouble deciding what to do next.

We could either drive back to Boston (get rid of the rental car) and explore Boston until leaving on the 6th. If we decided to stay in Boston, what is the best area to look for a hotel/apartment? We have never been to Boston and would like to be within walking distance of the main attractions, good restaurants and shopping.

I would like suggestions for other cities/towns within driving distance of Kennebunkport. We are open to flying out of an airport other than Boston, assuming our air miles will work. While I would love to finally visit Boston, I am also drawn to the idea of seeing more of picturesque New England and enjoying a more slow-paced, relaxing vacation before the baby arrives. I would love suggestions! Thanks in advance!
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 04:08 PM
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Book the car a.s.a.p. since you're traveling over a major holiday long weekend. You can always change or cancel it. And before booking a flight out of a different city, check the one-way car surcharge as they can be exorbitant in Maine at that time of year.
Also be aware of the extremely heavy traffic you'll face heading down to Boston on the 6th,, as well as probably a nightmare at Logan airport that evening...you may want to stay somewhere close to Boston on the 5th instead, or fly home from Portland Maine or Manchester NH instead if they have good service to your home city.
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 11:09 PM
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Loved Kennebunkport. We did a scooner trip in Maine and then hit small towns on our way back to Boston. Portand Main is lovely place to visit as well. Boston will be busy over the 4th-6th Plan NOW....
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 03:15 AM
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I agree with suggestion to stay near the airport for your flight home. I95 is going to be a traffic jam on Sunday afternoon but if you have a morning or early afternoon flight, it might be ok. (Maine to Boston) You might find it cheaper and easier with car rental to fly into Portland or Manchester NH. MHT is probably as close to Portland as Boston and a much easier drive.

The cottages look nice but we don't like the congestion and traffic in the southern Maine area. You will probably find restaurants very busy. We prefer quiet areas and tend to have lunch out but do breakfast and supper in. Last year DH rented a cottage in Bath without consulting me and I can't recommend it but with a microwave and small fridge we could do take-out dinners if we wanted to avoid crowds.

If you want relaxing, go further north. Even though it's a big holiday, the traffic isn't bad for Bath ME's Heritage Days which usually coincide with July 4th. There's a great parade, nice craft fair and we even liked the chicken barbecue. If you got, get there early to stake your spot for the parade (we use bag chairs). The stores are open for browsing. It's an old-fashioned kind of day. Because of the Iron Works, it's a working class kind of town but the park behind the library where the craft fair is held is very nice. If you go, look for the tent where the church ladies sell slices of pie. YUM!

Nearby Brunswick is a college town and east of Brunswick lies the Harpswells where it's like the clock was turned back. Bag chairs are cheap enough so you could buy some here and then donate them before you leave. We like to find a quiet spot and take iced tea, snacks, books and binoculars. Places we like are top of Mt Battie (Camden) with the fantastic view overlooking the harbor, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (there's a shady spot in the pines), a quiet public beach in the Harpswells.

We did stay at the Dunes in Ogunquit once which although on Rt 1 is far enough off the road to be very quiet so maybe Cabot Cove Cottages is like that. Very pretty grounds and each unit had Adirondack chairs and a little outside space. But driving out for a restaurant is back into Rt 1 traffic congestion. We prefer driving around the Harpswells where there are several good lobster places.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 03:15 AM
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btw I spent yesterday (Thurs) with a friend in the Kport and Wells area. She loves that part of Maine. Despite being an April weekday, there was not many parking spots available in the public lot (which is pretty small) in downtown Kport. Lunch was mediocre. There were quite a few out of state license plates. The beach area on a cold, windy sunny day was empty and not many people in the shops. Rt 1 traffic wasn't too bad but it's awful in the summer.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 05:07 AM
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We stayed at Cabot Cove many years ago - very quiet, low key place with a little salt water pond. There is a nice beach a short drive away, and the downtown is somewhat touristy but very charming. definitely spend some time in Boston.The Marriot Long Wharf is pretty ideal as far as location - close to Fanuel Hall and the North End (little Italy). Portland Maine is a fun little city with a real New England seaport feel and many great places to eat. You can also check out York Beach and Cape Neddick Lighthouse, and artsy Ogunquit with it's very scenic Marginal Way footpath. Yes, southern Maine can get very busy on route 1, but there are lots of quiet side roads and some unspoiled little fishing villages like Cape Porpose. all of these places are within an hour of Kennebunkport.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 05:38 AM
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We went on to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, but that may be too much driving for you.

Ogunquit would be my second choice.
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