• Nonantum Resort (one of the Kennebunkport hotels and home to restaurant 95 Ocean) offers live music on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights.  This week check out Don Campbell, Taste of Lace, and Tom Snow!
• Pier 77 Restaurant is home to live music 7 nights a week in the peak season and weekends throughout the year.
• Alisson’s Restaurant, a Dock Square staple, has live music every Wednesday night, starting at 8:30.
• Federal Jack’s Brew Pub, the largest Kennebunkport restaurant, has live music every Friday and Saturday, as well as Karaoke on Sunday and Thursday nights.  But don’t forget about Monday night Trivia!  It’s definitely quality entertainment.
• One Dock, the restaurant of the Kennebunkport Inn, hosts nightly entertainment through Labor Day Weekend.  Sometimes it’s even on their patio – perfect for people watching in Dock Square!
• Listen to live piano at On The Marsh Bistro on Fridays and Saturdays for the ultimate in romance.
• Fairs, Festivals, and Live Concerts – Throughout the summer, Kennebunkport comes alive with innumerable events featuring live music and entertainment.  Stay tuned for updates on these hidden gems!

With all that Kennebunkport has to offer, there’s no need to travel very far from your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast for an evening of entertainment, but should you feel so inclined, the towns of Wells, Ogunquit, York, and, of course, Portland, are just a short drive away.  See you in Kennebunkport, the perfect place for your Maine vacation!

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.

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!

On cooler evenings, enjoy in our dining room.

delectable treat, served with freshly brewed coffee or tea.  In warmer weather, we often provide a refreshingly cold

Our wraparound porch - perfect for dining by candlelight

beverage or ice cream sundaes.  To make your Maine getaway extra special, guests can order a fruit and cheese platter, freshly baked bread and homemade spread platter, or a homemade dessert, all of which can be delivered to their room or suite.  When requesting a dessert delivery (kindly give us at least three days’ notice), please indicate a chocolate or non-chocolate preference.  Desserts will always be a surprise – you may receive creme brulee, chocolate dipped fresh fruits, or blueberry cake with lemon buttercream frosting.  The possibilities are endless!  And, for a second summer, guests may choose to enjoy candlelit lobster dinner at the Maine Stay Inn!  Enjoy 1 1/2 pound lobsters on the wraparound porch or in our dining room at a private table. Fresh salad, steaming baked potatoes (pile on the butter and sour cream!), and a homemade dessert await guests.

We look forward to serving you this season, and every season, at the Maine Stay Inn, your Kennebunkport bed and breakfast.

The Maine Stay looks forward to welcoming you and your family to begin celebrating a glorious summer in Kennebunkport, Maine!

Get ready for fantastic performances this summer of:

• The Drowsy Chaperone (June 9-26) “A Musical Within A Comedy”
• Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music (June 30-July 24)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd. (July 28-August 14)
• Monty Python’s Spamalot (August 18-September 11)
• Chicago the Musical (September 15-October 24)

The unveiling of the 2010 Ogunquit Playhouse schedule marks the beginning of a fantastic summer season, so book your tickets and your reservations at the Maine Stay Inn today!

The Marginal Way - great for a walk or jog!

We at the Maine Stay Inn regularly suggest scenic runs or long beach walks to guests, but the fitness options available in the Kennebunks doesn’t stop there.  In fact, Kennebunkport is a virtual hub of fitness activities – which is a good thing, considering the incredible dining options that abound here as well!

For indoor gym fiends, you have to head outside of town to Kennebunk for two great fitness center options.  The Fitness Nut House, a rather traditional small-town gym, located on Route 1, offers the basics – treadmills and ellipticals, free weights and weight machines – as well as some great classes like Zumba, spinning and Pilates.  Personal training sessions are also available.  The Fitness Nut House is really more of a “home” because of its non-threatening, laid-back atmosphere and members that feel more like family than anything else.  One sweat session at the Nut House and you’re sure to make a new friend!  Almost directly behind the Fitness Nut House lies Quest Fitness, the mammoth new gym with all the bells and whistles.  You’re greeted by neon green walls and encouraging fitness oriented phrases on the walls and a well-staffed front desk.  They are as high tech as you get – weight machines with built-in computers to track your progress and monitor your form during exercises.  All treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes (no spinning here, sorry!) come with their own TVs, and most with individual iPod docking stations.  Great classes are offered here as well (definitely a good option for all you Yogis-in-training), but the biggest draw is most definitely the indoor pool – so even if it rains, you can go for a dip!  The facility is pristine, although I can’t be certain whether this is merely due to its newness or not.  Either way, there’s always custodial staff present and working – always a good sign!  Their lockers rooms are just as high tech, with individually programmable locks, powerful hand dryers, towel service, and a sauna.  But the best part is that, even without a door, you feel as though you have stepped into a spa, filled with soft music and sweet-smelling amenities.  Of course, though, you’ll pay for the difference – to the tune of $15 for an individual day pass or $49 for a family.

But there’s still more for us fitness fanatics – think kayaking or canoeing on the Kennebunk river, open ocean kayaking, or learn-to sail classes.  For those blessed with hand-eye coordination, there are public tennis courts and private tennis clubs throughout the Kennebunks.

As for golf, there are many great options.  The Maine Stay Inn recommends The Old Marsh Country Club, a rather new course in Wells.  It has been rated as one of the nation’s best new courses and often offers special clinics and packages to our guests.  Webhannet is also a fantastic course in Kennebunk Beach with tidal water hazards and a snack bar. But let’s not forget the Bush Family’s course – the Cape Arundel Golf Course.

For those on bikes, the options are nearly endless.  A short family ride might take you past the Kennebunk beaches or out to Parson’s Beach or neighboring Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge.  For a longer ride, head out to Goose Rocks Beach, but be forewarned, there are no restrooms out there!  Adventurous riders might choose to explore north from Goose Rocks Beach to Biddeford Pool, another spectacular Maine beach with limited parking (not to mention it requires a town of Biddeford pass).  Experienced road riders should head south from the Maine Stay and check out Wells and York beaches or Ogunquit.  But no bikes allowed on the Marginal Way – foot traffic only!

So while in Southern Maine at the Maine Stay Inn enjoying amazing food and incredible sights, make sure to take part in some of the amazing fitness activities that are just part of what makes Kennebunkport an incredible place to vacation or escape the stresses of everyday life.

The Maine Stay Inn, of course, makes it our business to make your vacation better than you imagined.  Kennebunkport is wonderful, but a stay at the Maine Stay Inn and Cottages it the key to making your Maine Summer Vacation perfect.  So this summer, from June 1 through September 15, the Maine Stay Inn will offer complimentary passes to the Kennebunk Beaches with any two or more night stay.  That means you can enjoy the glories of Southern Maine’s incredible beaches at no cost to you!

First off, it’s easy to get to.  Kennebunkport is just 86 miles from Boston and 35 miles from Portland.  That mean’s it’s accessible to everyone.  There’s no worrying about ferry schedules (hello, Martha’s Vineyard!) or twisting mountainous roads (can you say “White Mountains?”).  You can leave Boston after work and get to the Maine Stay before dinner. Or fly into Portland (possibly the world’s most navigable airport) and bite into our famous chocolate chip cookies in under 40 minutes.

Second, dining options abound.  If you’re a regular Maine Stay Inn blog reader, you know how much I love good food!  Kennebunkport offers amazing options for all kinds of eaters of all ages, and most within easy walking distance of the Maine Stay.  That means that you don’t have to venture far from the inn or beach for a wonderful meal.

Which brings me to reason number three – the beaches.  The beaches of the Kennebunks are fantastic.  I mean truly spectacular.  And there are so many options!  If you visit with kids, head to the Kennebunk beaches for easy access and minimal schlepping of beach toys.  For avid runners and walkers, the small beaches and coves along Ocean Avenue are not to be missed.  Those bringing or renting bicycles should head to Parson’s beach, a treasure with impossible parking.  And couples looking for peace and quiet along the shore should hit up Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport.

An explanation of the appeal of Kennebunkport would not be complete without mentioning the incredible shops of Dock Square, the spectacular galleries dotted throughout town, or the plethora of outdoor activities, like kayaking and canoeing, running and biking, whale watching and sailing, and golf.  But the part I have most trouble explaining is Kennebunkport’s charm.  This town is so quaint and endearing, with just the right amount of history and architectural appeal, but also the pop of spectacular sands and edible creations.

My words just don’t do Kennebunkport justice, so come to the Maine Stay Inn to see all that Kennebunkport has to offer and find out why Kennebunkport is the perfect summer vacation destination.

• The best rooms go first (how many innkeepers have their best booking room available for Valentine’s Weekend on the Saturday before?).  And “best” can mean most expensive, but always means the room that packs the best value (maybe it’s the only room with its own porch in the summer, but the smallest room with a jacuzzi and fireplace in the winter; or maybe it just got renovated and the new pictures aren’t online yet).  And at a time when everyone is traveling smarter, those best value rooms are a must!
• When you book early and over the phone, innkeepers have the opportunity to get to know you and your needs.  That’s because when you’re booking a summer reservation in March, they have the time to talk to you and figure out which room or suite is going to suit you perfectly.  Not to mention that that “perfect” room is probably available.  Booking early means you won’t have to compromise on the amenities that are essential to giving you the best vacation possible.  Not to mention, they may feel more inclined to throw in something special for that anniversary, birthday, or honeymoon celebration.
• Booking repeatedly at one place makes you special.  You become a guest that we look forward to sharing our renovations with, that we think about when telling stories about favorite guests, and a guest that we check in with throughout the year. But as a repeat guest, you get the inside scoop on special packages, promotions, and steep discounts throughout the year.  Don’t delete our newsletter now, you hear?

So while it may seem passe, pick up the phone for your next reservation, talk to the innkeepers, and let us make sure that your next getaway is absolutely perfect.  And call early to make sure that you get the best bang for your buck and best experience imaginable in Kennebunkport.  Because at the Maine Stay Inn we strive to make your getaway exceed all your expectations!