Maine's Southern Coast: Kennebunkport

Each of the towns we visited along the southern coast of Maine had it's own unique charm, but my favorite was Kennebunkport.  The people I encountered there were friendly and obviously took pride in their town.  There was a variety of restaurants, shops, and activities to keep us busy and happy, and there were many more that were within a 30-45 minute drive.  Located where the Kennebunk River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Kennebunkport's natural setting was simply beautiful.  We visited in early June before the summer tourist season really got started, so we were able to enjoy the town's easy-going, fun, and peaceful atmosphere before the crowds arrived.  Kennebunkport is a great little town that is a nice blend of classy and quirky.

"Love Locks" on the bridge entering downtown Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport Harbor

Planters in downtown Kennebunkport

Take a carriage ride and see the town

The wood slices on the side of this hotel seemed to fit well
with the driftwood along the shore of the river.

Cider Mill Press

Lobster, anyone?

The Nott House, 1853
National Register of Historic Places

Mermaids and Seahorses

Lovely homes everywhere

Love these creative planters!

An adorable fairy garden. . .

. . .and fairies arriving by hot air balloon!

Evening on Kennebunkport Harbor

Maine's Southern Coast: Ogunquit

The word Ogunquit means "beautiful place by the sea," and that's certainly an appropriate name for this lovely town.  Full of shops, restaurants, and hotels, Ogunquit also has a wonderful beach and a gorgeous oceanside walking path. Perhaps the biggest draw in town is Perkin's Cove, a pretty inlet surrounded by gorgeous homes and quaint shops.  A small drawbridge connects the two sides of the cove and crosses over the harbor which is full of a variety of boats. Here's a bit of what we enjoyed in Ogunquit.

Ogunquit has a beautiful stretch of beach!

Pretty homes dot the town, especially around Perkin's Cove and along the coastline.

Natural beauty and plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors

The Marginal Way, a one-mile coastline trail, begins at Perkin's Cove.

Perkin's Cove is a great place to book a cruise or tour or just to
watch the boats sail into and out of the harbor.

The footbridge offers lovely views and is a popular place for photos.

Perkin's Cove is also a fun place to shop.

Several good restaurants are located in Perkin's Cove, and good lobster is easy to find.

Don't miss the quirky birdhouses on the Harbor Master's office

and the side of the foot bridge

Annapolis, Maryland: Food & Drink We Enjoyed

There is no shortage of places to eat and drink in the Annapolis area. Restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, and specialty food stores are plentiful especially in the historic district.  We had many good meals in Annapolis, but our favorites came from these establishments.

The Severn Inn

Sunday brunch at The Severn Inn was my husband's special treat for me on this trip, and what a treat it was!  The inn assembles a huge spread every Sunday morning:  a hot buffet, a cold buffet, a dessert buffet, and a variety of drinks including Bloody Marys and mimosas.  Everything was good, but we really enjoyed the biscuits with chipped beef gravy and the beignets.  My husband had the prime rib which he said was delicious.  The service was good, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed.

Located on the banks of the Severn River, the inn offers spectacular views of the naval academy and Annapolis which are directly across the water.  It took us about 10 minutes to drive to the inn from our vacation rental in the historic district.  Crossing the Severn River via the U. S. Naval Academy Bridge made for a beautiful drive.  I love the graceful lines and curves of the bridge and the lamp posts that line the sides.

The Severn Inn sits at the end of the bridge to your right.

Galway Bay Restaurant and Pub

Located on Maryland Avenue in the historic district, Galway Bay is a great place to go for good food in a fun atmosphere.  We visited the pub twice during our stay and had good food and service on each occasion.  The Cork Reuben sandwich is awesome, as are the Irish potato cakes.  On our second visit, we met and visited with one of the two brothers who own and operate the place. The brothers, originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, have filled the pub with mementos from their homeland, and they make sure Irish music is always playing.

Dry 85

Dry 85 bills itself as "a modern industrial take on a Prohibition-era speakeasy," and that seems a pretty accurate description.  My husband had one of the daily specials, a stir-fry dish that he really enjoyed.  I tried a chicken sandwich with the house mayonnaise--spicy but good.

Our wonderful waiter told us the story behind the restaurant's name.  After Prohibition was repealed on Dec. 5, 1933, all the country seemed to celebrate--except for the District of Columbia.  D. C., it seems, had to remain dry for another 85 days until the Sheppard Act was passed on Mar. 1, 1934.

We also enjoyed these places:

* McGarvey's (featured in my earlier post on St. Patrick's Day)
* Dock Street Coffee--a couple of locations; good coffee & pastries
* Annebeth's--specialty food & wine store on Maryland Avenue
* Cantler's Riverside Inn--good seafood,fun & almost always crowded; located across the U. S. Naval Academy Bridge on Forest Beach Road