All of my expectations were wildly exceeded this year!  On the short drive from ourKennebunkport bed and breakfast to Rockin’ Horse Stables, eager anticipation mounted. Pulling onto the fields (yes, you park on grass) revealed the enormous one-ring big top tent. It looked just right!  Once inside the tent, you sit on brightly colored padded benches, and some little ones even sit on the ground at ringside.  While we had the privilege of sitting in the first row, the farthest seats were probably a whopping 15 feet from the ring.  Yes, that means everyone in attendance had first class seats!

Once the show started, only three adults were evident – the sound crew and the host, the rest of the performers were kids.  But you quickly forget that fact, as they perform as well as any professional circus performers.  For nearly two hours (with a nice intermission), you will be entranced by troupers scaling poles like monkeys, hanging by their feet from ribbons, and tight-rope walking.  Juggling is, of course, synonymous with the circus, as are clown comedies and uni-cycling.  But even the unicycling was far from ordinary – add in trampolines, rolling logs, and human pyramids and you might begin to imagine the incredible skill of these pint sized performers (okay, many of them are older teens, but still!). I was not prepared, however, for the incredible contortionist routines and aerial stunts performed without nets or safety lines.  As two girls performed, hanging 40 feet in the air, swinging and catching one another, I realized the strength of mind and body, as well as astounding amounts of training, that is required of these youngsters as young as six.  That alone left me eagerly awaiting next year’s performances.

So next year, when planning your Maine vacations or summertime family vacations, make sure not to miss Circus Smirkus’s visit to Kennebunkport, Maine!

On September 11 and 12, don’t miss the 23rd Annual Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival.  This widely known festival brings over 100 juried artisans to the Wells Reserve, and is poised to be bigger and better this year with a Maine beer and wine garden sponsored by Duffy’s Tavern.  In addition to great food and music, enjoy environmental educational programs throughout the festival.  There truly isn’t a more scenic venue for a craft festival, so don’t miss this one!

All of us at the Maine Stay Inn, your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast, are looking forward to these exciting displays of local work – a perfect afternoon activity for your Maine vacations!

Kennebunk River at Sunset

We’re always looking for unique ways visitors can experience all that Kennebunkport, Maine has to offer, and we just found a new one!  Take a short stroll from your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast to Dock Square’s Marina and hop aboard a Sunset Cocktail Cruise.  Seacoast Sailing, a Kennebunkport newbie, offers two-hour cruises from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.  Explore the Kennebunk River and  Maine coastline from the water while sipping your choice of wine, beer, or soft drinks and nibbling on appetizers.  Keep your eyes peeled for porpoises, seals, and even the occasional whale!

Their 60 foot motorized sailboat, New Horizons, was built to sail around the world.  It’s big

A New View of St. Ann's

and sturdy – that means a smooth, comfortable ride!  Enjoy the view beneath the sails on deck (with backless and backed seating – and plenty of cushions, don’t worry!), or head down below to several comfortable sitting areas.  And if you’re nosey, peek into the sleeping berths.

While at sea, experience their daily tradition of firing a cannon at sunset or try your hand at the helm – as long as the captain says it’s safe!  You might want to try before you have had your two cocktails (they’re included in the price, as are appetizers).

So here are my top five reasons to visit the Maine Stay Sunday through Thursday:

1. Other guests – because the “hurry up and relax” attitude is much less prevalent during the week, guests at the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages linger over breakfast, socialize at tea time, and generally enjoy one another’s company, which, after all is a great perk of staying in a Maine bed and breakfast.
2. Smaller crowds – locals flock to town on the weekends, as do day trippers, meaning that the shops, streets, and beaches are comparatively cleared out during the week. Looking to frolic in the surf?  There’s no better time than a late Sunday afternoon swim on the Kennebunk beaches – parking’s a breeze and the view’s as stunning as ever!
3. Restaurants – hate to wait?  Reservations are easy to come by, waits are shorter, and most offer mid-week dining deals.  (Check out On the Marsh’s Wednesday night prix fixe special.)  The same goes for outdoor activities like the Schooner Eleanor, kayak rentals, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
4. Personal attention – if you’re looking for some one-on-one time to make your Maine vacation extra special, don’t think twice about booking your reservation during the week.  The laid back atmosphere that permeates Sundays through Thursdays allows us to spend more time getting to know you, the guest, and how best to customize your stay.
5. Lodging –  not only are rates lower on weekday nights, but you’re more likely to snag that favorite room or suite!

So book your reservations today at the Maine Stay Inn, your favorite Maine bed and breakfast – see you soon!

• Geocaching 101 – for an intro to the exciting world of geocaching, a GPS-aided scavenger hunt, visit Laudholm Trust tomorrow, August 5 for a two hour class
• Presentation and Book signing at Kennebooks by author of Circus Ship, Chris Van Dusen (August 5)
• Screening of Vertigo on the lawn of the Breakwater, a Kennebunkport hotel (8p.m. August 5)
• Guided walk through the Salt Marshes at Laudholm Trust.  Make sure to have an early breakfast at your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast, because it starts at 9:30 a.m. on August 6!
• Art show opening at River Tree Center for the Arts in Lower Village.  Prepare yourself for some phenomenal mixed media!
• Three day organ and choral concert held at Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise begins on August 6
• Catch fireworks and a parade in Celebration of Eliot’s Bicentennial on August 7 (in Eliot, ME)
• Don’t miss “Jack and the Beanstalk” at the Ogunquit Playhouse (August 7 and 8 )
• Antique show at Kennebunk High School to benefit the Animal Welfare Society (August 7 and 8 )
• Garden Party at the Captain Lord Mansion on August 7 (benefit for the Kennebunkport Historical Society)
• Classical Music Concert at the Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk (August 7, 11, and 13 at 8p.m.)
• Air Force Band plays at Short Sands Beach in York, followed by fireworks! (August 8 )
• Orienteering and compass games at Laudholm Trust (August 8 )
• Guided walk at Laudholm Trust (August 9 and 10)
• Concert in the Park right on the river in Kennebunk – perfect for a picnic dinner! (August 11)
• Perseid Meteor Shower lecture and stargazing at Laudholm Trust (August 12)

Keep in mind that this is just a small sampling of all that is going on in Kennebunkport Maine this week.  But for more summer vacation ideas, give us a call at the Maine Stay Inn and we will help plan your Maine vacations!

A perfect summer sunset!

and more picturesque than ever; the ocean breeze blows gently; the sky’s colors reflect stunningly off the sea.  Instead of stopping at Gooch’s Beach (it is certainly the most convenient!) for a stroll, I ventured just a few more miles to Parson’s Beach, hoping that I might snag a coveted parking spot (just as an aside, the best way to visit this stretch of sand is on bikes – you’ll never have to worry about finding a spot!).  I was in luck!

A stroll along the shore revealed others enjoying their Maine vacations.  A young couple (honeymooning in Maine, perhaps?) snoozed under their umbrella. A family searched for critters in tidal pools.  And a group of friends shared abottle of wine and a picnic supper. A late afternoon snack at our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast meant dinner wasn’t quite on my mind, so I had a date with a good book.  Absolute perfection.

So the next time you’re visiting one of the Kennebunkport hotels, indulge at afternoon teatime, postpone dinner (or pack it to-go), and hit one of our beautiful beaches for a spectacular and relaxing summer night.

To beat the summer heat, visitors took tours of the historic church and browsed tables of pre-owned books and jewelry.  And while the close came too soon (3 p.m.), the afternoon was free for sunning at our Maine beaches!  This fair is gem, and this year was no exception.  Make sure to check it out next year on one of your Maine vacations!

I spotted this one from Parson’s Beach in Kennebunk, just over the bridge from Kennebunkport Maine and your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast – the Maine Stay Inn.

The theme changes each year, as does the cast, costuming, and music. The 2010 show brings “Wilderness Wonders: Outdoor Adventures Under the Big Top.”  So bring the whole family on your Maine Vacation for a one-of-a-kind experience with Circus Smirkus – because everyone needs a break from the sun!