A trip to Maine has been on my wish list for quite sometime. For the past few summers, I’ve tried making plans to get there, but our dates and hotel availabilities never seemed to jive. I was destined for this year to make it happen, so I started planning well in advance, and we kicked off our summer, along with Father’s Day and my daughter's birthday, in Kennebunkport, Maine!

Kennebunkport is the furthest town south, so at only five short hours in the car from New York City, it’s definitely easier to get to than other Maine destinations, like Portland. As soon as we pulled into town, we noticed the nautical, marina feel of Kennebunkport. It boasts the cutest little Main Street, lined with fun shops and restaurants.

We were excited to shop and eat, and especially indulge in some lobster fare! We quickly checked into our hotel, The Lodge On The Cove upon arrival to drop our bags and start exploring. It is a super kid-friendly hotel, just a two minute drive from town. In fact, most days we walked or rode our bikes into town. The Lodge offers a modern, light-hearted approach to the quintessential Maine resort experience. Nestled on a wooded cove, the refurbished motor lodge is a mix of beachy and elegance, with 30 rooms throughout its four buildings. As a family of five, we had two adjoining rooms. Both rooms were spacious, with amenities including refrigerators, microwaves and simply-furnished semi-private decks.

The kids wasted no time changing into their bathing suits and heading straight for the pool. With a serene setting overlooking a tidal cove, the kids played for hours on end. Afterwards, exhausted from the drive and the time in pool, we decided to eat at Lodge On The Cove’s poolside bar and restaurant, The Dory. Maine is known for their incredible lobsters, so almost every meal we tried to eat lobster, be it in a roll or straight out of the shell!

The following day we drove around the surrounding area, discovering all that Kennebunkport has to offer. It was a bit chilly, so a day of sunbathing on the beach was out of the question, but that didn’t stop us from collecting a few sea shells to add to our collection. We also passed by the Bush Compound, famously anchored in Kennebunkport, where the kids got a brief history lesson, before taking some photos, and climbing the rocks leading down to the beach.

Back in town, we browsed the local shops. Day Trip Society, the adult and kids store was definitely a family favorite. It was such a fun store for pretty much anything you are looking for from pool floats to cute little trinket souvenirs. That evening, we went to Federal Jacks for dinner, and made it back to Lodge On The Cove in time for their campfire s’mores. Ryder, Siella, and Gemma live for bonfires during the summer months, so this was the ultimate treat for them!

The following day was my daughter's birthday, so it was left up to her to plan the entire day. She wanted to go to the beach, so we decided on Goose Rocks beach, which we absolutely fell in love with. We picked up sandwiches for lunch, and set out for our first beach day of the summer. The water was a chilly, but the kids didn’t seem to mind one bit. Then it was time for a little b’day dinner. Everyone raved about Mabel’s Lobster Claw, so we couldn’t wait to try it. This place was hands down was our favorite restaurant in all of Kennebunkport! My husband hasn’t stopped talking about it since, and even my son wanted to go back the following day for lunch. Last stop before leaving town was Father’s Day brunch, to continue the consumption of our weight in lobster. We had a lovely brunch at the Boathouse and strolled through town once last time before hitting the road back to NYC! Our extended weekend couldn’t have been more perfect, and will definitely be a memorable one!