Maine
Kennebunkport is the Maine coast in miniature: a shipbuilding village at the mouth of the Kennebunk River, a rocky shore road that runs out to Walker's Point, long sandy beaches in neighboring Kennebunk, and the working harbor of Cape Porpoise with its 1833 lighthouse.
This guide covers Intown Trolley tours and private trolley charters, the Seashore Trolley Museum with its unlimited vintage rides, walking and food tours of Dock Square, sails and cruises along the headlands, Blowing Cave, Goose Rocks Beach, the Kennebunk beaches, the Brick Store Museum and the Wedding Cake House, plus easy day trips to Ogunquit and the Rachel Carson refuge. Alongside twenty attractions you will find nine hotels across the river, Ocean Avenue, the beaches and the woods, and six guides on timing, trolleys, itineraries and where to eat.
Intown Trolley Tour of the Kennebunks
A narrated sightseeing ride along the Kennebunks coast, from Dock Square past the Bush family compound, the Franciscan monastery, the beaches and the old sea captains' houses, leaving from the Trolley Stop on Ocean Avenue.
Seashore Trolley Museum
The world's first and largest electric railway museum, a short drive inland from Kennebunkport, where admission includes unlimited rides on restored vintage trolleys, carhouses full of streetcars and a model railroad.
Kennebunkport Historic Walking Tour
A guided stroll through the oldest part of Kennebunkport, tracing the shipbuilders, sea captains, summer visitors and presidents who shaped Dock Square, the river and the streets above it.
Sail Away: 2-Hour Coastal Maine Sailing Excursion
A two-hour sailing excursion off the Kennebunkport coast, with the wind in the sails, granite headlands and lighthouses sliding past, and the Maine shoreline seen the way it has been seen for centuries.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
A narrated sightseeing ride along the Kennebunks coast, from Dock Square past the Bush family compound, the Franciscan monastery, the beaches and the old sea captains' houses, leaving from the Trolley Stop on Ocean Avenue.
Charter the trolley for your own group: a private, narrated ride around Kennebunkport and Kennebunk for weddings, family reunions, birthdays and small tour groups, with a route you can shape around the places that matter to you.
The world's first and largest electric railway museum, a short drive inland from Kennebunkport, where admission includes unlimited rides on restored vintage trolleys, carhouses full of streetcars and a model railroad.
A guided stroll through the oldest part of Kennebunkport, tracing the shipbuilders, sea captains, summer visitors and presidents who shaped Dock Square, the river and the streets above it.
Dock Square is the heart of Kennebunkport, a cluster of shops, galleries and restaurants beside the Kennebunk River bridge, and a short introductory walking tour is the easiest way to get to know it.
A guided tasting walk through Kennebunkport at lunchtime, sampling local food and drink at several stops while a guide adds the stories of the village and the Maine coast.
A self-paced scavenger hunt through Kennebunkport that turns the village into a game of clues, photos and local trivia, good for families, friends and anyone who prefers to explore on their own schedule.
A two-hour sailing excursion off the Kennebunkport coast, with the wind in the sails, granite headlands and lighthouses sliding past, and the Maine shoreline seen the way it has been seen for centuries.
A private golden hour sail along the coast near Kennebunkport, the most romantic way to end a day in Maine, with the headlands turning gold and the lobster boats heading in.
A private motor cruise along the Kennebunkport shoreline, with a daytime or sunset departure, comfortable seating and time to photograph the harbor, the headlands and the working waterfront.
The famous seaside loop out of Dock Square: Ocean Avenue winds along the rocky shore past the Bush family compound on Walker's Point, the stone church and the surf, and is free to drive, bike or walk.
Two of the best places on Ocean Avenue to watch the Atlantic work on the rocks: waves surge into a cleft at Blowing Cave Park and spray rises from the ledges nearby, especially on stormy days and rising tides.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Ocean Avenue, Kennebunk River
A classic Kennebunkport resort on Ocean Avenue beside the Kennebunk River, a short walk from Dock Square, with river views, a seasonal pool and a long family-hosting tradition.
Check rates →Beach Avenue, Kennebunk
A luxury country inn and spa in Kennebunk, set in gardens on Beach Avenue near the river, the monastery grounds and the beaches, aimed at special occasions and refined stays.
Check rates →Ocean Avenue, Gooch's Beach
A historic oceanfront hotel on Ocean Avenue beside Colony Beach, with a classic grand-hotel feel, a seasonal pool and a long record of welcoming families and pets.
Check rates →Ocean Avenue, Kennebunk River
A riverside inn and spa on Ocean Avenue with rooms in several buildings, relaxing treatments and an easy walk to Dock Square and the Kennebunk River.
Check rates →Dock Square
A village inn at the edge of Dock Square, with period charm, a restaurant and bar on site and the shops, galleries and river all within a few steps.
Check rates →Beach Avenue, Kennebunk Beach
A small inn on Beach Avenue in Kennebunk, a short walk from Gooch's Beach and the promenade, ideal for couples and anyone who wants the beach at the doorstep.
Check rates →Goose Rocks Beach area
A woodland resort of cottages and treehouse-style stays near Goose Rocks Beach, with a garden-and-nature feel, a pool and a stylish, secluded atmosphere.
Check rates →Lower Village, Kennebunk
A historic bed and breakfast style inn in Kennebunk Lower Village, a quiet, good-value base across the river from Kennebunkport with easy access to the beaches.
Check rates →Ocean Avenue, Cape Arundel
An oceanfront inn on Ocean Avenue near Walker's Point, with sea views, a restaurant and a position on the most scenic stretch of the Kennebunkport coast.
Check rates →The essentials for a first visit to Kennebunkport and neighboring Kennebunk: how the towns fit together, when to go, what to book and how to see the coast without fighting for parking.
A three-day plan for Kennebunkport and the Kennebunks, balancing trolleys, boat trips, beaches, history and lobster, with options for rainy days and a day trip to Ogunquit.
A guide to eating in the Kennebunks: lobster rolls and shacks, fried clams, oysters, chowder, harbor spots in Cape Porpoise and how to taste the village on a food walking tour.
A season-by-season guide to Kennebunkport: when beaches and boats are at their best, when foliage peaks, how winter and spring feel and what to expect from crowds and opening hours.
Which trolley experience to choose near Kennebunkport: the narrated Intown Trolley Tour, a private trolley charter or the vintage rides at the Seashore Trolley Museum, with tips on timing and pairing them.
Easy day trips from Kennebunkport: the Marginal Way and Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, birdwatching in Wells, the fishing village of Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks Beach and more.
