Here are the top five viewing spots:

• St. Ann’s Episcopal Church – Regardless of your denomination, St. Ann’s sits on prime real estate.  Overlooking the Atlantic, you can see all the way down the Southern Maine Coastline, and the spit of land it sits on sticks far enough out that you can  glimpse the sun setting over water.
• The Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Bridge – with calm water and incredible colors, this spot can’t be beat.
• The Gooch’s Beach Jetty – if you can’t get into St. Ann’s at least you will be able to see it!  The jetty is so peaceful and catches the most incredible breezes, a must for a hot night.
• Cape Porpoise Pier – watch the lobster boats come in and smell dinner cooking at Pier77 and the Ramp or the fish sizzling at Cape Pier Chowder House.  The view of Goat Island is incredible in the fading light – even if the sunset lies at your back.
• Spouting Rock – be careful, you might get wet!  Spouting Rock really does spray.  From here, revel in the evening surf, the sun setting over St. Ann’s and all of Kennebunkport.

So after enjoying the scenery, head back to your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast and listen to the horse drawn carriage clop by the Maine Stay Inn.

Often July 4th sneaks up on you, but now it’s time to plan your summer vacation in Maine at a Kennebunkport inn.  So come on up (or down!) to Kennebunkport and experience summer at its best at the Maine Stay Inn, your favorite Kennebunkport bed and breakfast inn.

• The park at the end of the Cape Porpoise Pier (with views of the Goat Island Lighthouse and Cape Porpoise Harbor with its picturesque fishing boats and benches nestled among the beach roses, it is ideal for an intimate moment – plus, Cape Pier Chowder House is right there for  great eats)
• Parson’s Way Walk (overlooking the Bush Family Compound and parking, there are lots of rocky cliffs and benches that are perfect for watching the sun set over the Atlantic)
• Parson’s Beach – There’s limited parking, so during the summertime we only recommend that guests visit on bike or in the evenings (prime picnic time!).  A sunset picnic on one of the most breathtaking beaches imaginable – what could be more romantic?
• The Franciscan Monastery – Situated along the western shore of the Kennebunk River, this Friary is open to the public and offers 66 acres, including much river frontage, walking trails, and lush lawns.  The grassy knolls would be great for a picnicking family, while the protected shore overlooking Dock Square could provide a quiet escape for two.
• Narragansett Point – This rocky protrusion separating Gooch’s Beach from Middle Beach is a great spot for outdoor noshing.  During the daytime, you’ll catch a nice breeze and a quieter spot, as this sand-less patch doesn’t attract usual beach goers, but complimentary passes provided to guests at our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast inn make parking a breeze.  Kids can frolic in the nearby sand and surf, while couples can choose a more secluded spot.  Best of all there’s even a portable restroom downwind.
• The Maine Stay Inn!  Offering a variety of ideal picnic venues, it is perfect in any season or weather scenario.  How does lobster on the wraparound porch sound? Even on a rainy day, there’s nothing more relaxing. What about an afternoon with sandwiches on the lawn and games of volleyball, bocce, or horseshoes?

So enjoy a lazy afternoon or evening during your Maine Vacation and enjoy the most scenic views around.  Looking forward to your visit to the Maine Stay Inn!

A view from the Marginal Way

After breakfast, amble down Route 1, bearing left onto Shore Road once you reach the center of town.  Continue into Perkins Cove for a waterfront lunch at Jackie’s Too and a walk along the Marginal Way.  This mile-long path reveals a coastline vastly different from the fine sands of the Kennebunks.  The rocky vistas are a sight to behold in any weather or any season.  From here, you can walk back into Ogunquit proper for shopping and scenic meandering.

Bintliff’s Restaurant, famous for breakfast and brunch (not that you’ll need it after gourmet breakfast at the Maine Stay Inn), but also serving excellent dinner options, lies just outside of downtown Ogunquit.  It is a great place to nosh if you want to avoid summer crowds or are hurrying to a performance at the world-famous Ogunquit Playhouse.  For fine dining, try the Old Village Inn, with private parking right in the heart of Ogunquit, Maine.  Everything on their menu is sure to hit the spot – it’s all equally incredible.  The atmosphere’s unpretentious and the service excellent.  Just looking for a great salad? The cozy bar is perfect and doesn’t require reservations.

The Ogunquit Playhouse

One thing to add to your “must-do” list is to catch a show at the Ogunquit Playhouse.  With daily performances through October, there’s no excuse to miss it!  Both evening and matinee shows feature professional casts worthy of Broadway – and some are just on summer holiday!  This all-star season is sure to be the best yet – another great reason for your Maine summer vacation and a stay at your favorite Kennebunkport bed and breakfast inn, the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages.

June 22 and 23 brings the Windjammer Festival to Boothbay Harbor, a scenic seaside town in lower Midcoast Maine, about 90 minutes from Kennebunkport.  This annual festival draws historic boats into the harbor and fills the town with fireworks, parades, and concerts.

Portland’s Annual Greek Heritage Festival falls on June 24-26, tempting thousands of visitors with incredible Greek cuisine, music, and dancing.  Great activity for families!

Closer still to your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast inn, the Maine Stay, is the famous La Kermesse Festival in Biddeford, Maine.  This annual Franco-American fest runs Friday through Sunday and offers parades, dining, and live entertainment.

Just southwest of Kennebunkport lies South Berwick, home to the Strawberry Festival for the last 30+ years.  This year, enjoy bake-offs, an enormous juried craft fair, and entertainment on June 26.

July 1-5 brings Ogunquit Days to the town of Ogunquit.  An easy drive from your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast, don’t miss five days of great events and celebrations.  A great way to celebrate July 4th!

The Maine Stay Inn is looking forward to making sure your summer vacation or quick getaway is absolutely A+!

But if you’re up for some extra activity, our collection of backyard games has grown immensely.  Now guests can enjoy soccer on our expansive lawns, a friendly (or competitive) game of bocce ball, a fun round of volleyball, or can even try their hands at horseshoes!

The Maine Stay is gearing up for summer and so should you!

A View from St. Ann's

This annual five day festival begins on the first Wednesday of June with the influx of talented artists into Kennebunkport, Maine, where they quickly disperse to paint in the open air.  These incredible artists are know collectively as the Plein Air Painters.  The opportunity to watch these skilled individuals at scenic venues continues for four days, so you can’t miss them.  The next great event is truly a once in a lifetime experience.  Imagine a specially crafted dinner for 12-16 by a famous chef flown in from across the nation. But it’s not just a dinner – it’s a gourmet feast paired with wine and inspired by an incredible piece of art, hosted in one of Kennebunkport’s incredible private mansions.

On Thursday, visitors experienced the Artist-In-Residence program at Kennebunkport bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels, watched the filming of Chef’s Kitchen, and attended the acclaimed Festival Preview.  Hosted by Tattinger, it was a chance view work from the festival artists while sampling an array of fine champagne and mingling with winemakers, chefs, and artists.

Friday yielded more wonderful events, while still leaving opportunity to shop, dine, and enjoy the scenery that makes Kennebunkport an incredible vacation destination.  In the evening, St. Ann’s opened its doors for the Twilight Soiree, a chance to see one of the most gracious historic buildings in Kennebunkport and enjoy delectable hors d’oeuvres, sample fine wines and champagnes, and view more fine art.

Saturday brought more gallery exhibit openings and art viewing opportunities, as well as the Grand Tasting.  Hosted by Cellardoor Winery, the tasting was blessed with incredible weather  - perfect for a riverside wine tasting, incredible nibbling, and fine art viewing – and, of course, mingling with other foodies, artists, and visitors and residents of Kennebunkport.  The evening brought the finest event for your early summer vacation – the Chef’s Gala, a multi-course dinner accompanied by wine, music, and dancing.

Sunday brought the opportunity to tour Kennebunkport inns and other Kennebunkport lodging establishments, as well as view great artwork and chat with their astounding creators.

So make sure not to miss the Kennebunkport Fine Living Festival 2011, and now that summer has officially begun, book your Maine summer vacation at the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages today.

3300 year old stump

sand (not to worry, it’s replaced naturally by summertime), but the sight of these stumps is a true rarity.  These geological rarities pay homage to a time, thousands of years ago, when stately pines towered where current beaches lie, and the sands stretched far out into the Atlantic.

This incredible sight – of enormous preserved tree trunks poking through the sand – is just another great reason to visit Kennebunkport and the Maine Stay Inn this spring (and every spring)!  So hop up to our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast inn for a relaxing getaway and a chance to see these beautiful pre-historic trees.