KHAMELEON MAGAZINE

Spring has sprung and what better way to get inspired for warmer weather than outside along a coast.  Our third stop of our 5-year anniversary trip was to an idyllic seaside town named Kennebunkport, Maine.  Kennebunkport (along with Kennebunk and Kennebunk Beach) was first settled in 17^th century by the Kennebunk family and historically boomed as a shipping and fishing village.  The boom went bust during the Civil War, but Kennebunkport has now become a seaside resort town due to its picturesque landscape and Colonial and Federal-style homes.  Heading to Kennebunkport from Salem, we drove on Highway 1 where we could explore Maine’s Lighthouse Trail.

We didn’t have the time to see all of Maine’s lighthouses, but we did see a few.  The lighthouse we visited before arriving in Kennebunkport was Cape Neddick Light, aka the “Nubble Light”.  The Nubble Light sits on small rocky island just 100 yards off the mainland.

• 

• 

Upon arriving to Kennebunkport, we first checked into our hotel.  We stayed at the Nonantum Resort which had beautiful water views and a Cape Cod style aesthetic.  Once we checked-in, we strolled to the central part of town called the Dock Square, where it was scattered with boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants. We shopped a bit and then we stopped into Alison’s Restaurant for a cocktail and appetizer before our dinner reservation at Earth on Hidden Pond.  At Alison’s we drank a Maine Blue-tini and slurped our first lobster bisque of the trip.  That lobster bisque was so good, it has surpassed any other soups I’ve ever ate, and the Blue-tini was a good complement to a warm soup.  Did you know that blueberries are Maine’s state fruit?

After a pitstop at Allison’s, we walked back to our hotel to get ready and head to dinner at Earth on Hidden Pond.  If there is one restaurant that Mike and I would say served us the best meal of our entire trip – Earth on Hidden Pond takes the crown.  Earth on Hidden Pond is a farm-to-fork eatery, and it’s one of the best restaurants I’ve ever dined at in my entire life.  Earth is a fine dining establishment so the prices of the entrees are more expensive, but the quality of the food is impeccable!  I ate swordfish for the first time and it was delicious!  The atmosphere was even inviting – it contained natural décor indoors with a dramatic glow of candlelight as you overlook the pond where there were intimate bonfires for guests.

After dinner we went back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep before driving to our next destination. The next morning, we stuffed our faces with a delightful hearty breakfast buffet at the hotel before hitting the road.  One place we wished we could have visited in Kennebunkport was the iconic Clam Shack, which supposedly serves the best lobster rolls.  Unfortunately, The Clam Shack was already closed for season in mid-October.

As we drove up the coast on Highway 1 before settling in Bar Harbor, we stopped at the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.  One unique thing about the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse was the lighthouse itself sits at the end of a granite breakwater that stretches 4,346 feet into Rockland Harbor.  If you visit that lighthouse, make sure you have sturdy or waterproof shoes because its long walk to see it and some waves may splash over the breakwater.

• 

• 

• 

If you have an interest in visiting all of Maine’s lighthouses, here is a good source for each lighthouse and their location.

Once we reached the coastal town of Bar Harbor, it was time for us to lace up our hiking boots for a trip to Acadia National Park.

WHAT TO WEAR:

As we entered into Maine, my wardrobe aesthetic changed slightly as it was prior in Massachusetts.  When I think of Maine, I imagine lighthouses, lobster and fishing villages, and rugged coasts.  With that inspiration, I packed fisherman sweaters and caps, rugged boots, and lots of layers.  My color theme for Maine was utilizing blues, yellows, whites, and grays.  For Kennebunkport, I wore a mustard-colored corduroy jacket over a white turtleneck and lighter washed denim.  I added my fisherman cap for a nautical touch.  The next day traveling from Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor, I wore a pair of overalls with a taupe turtleneck with a pair of rugged boots and my plaid jacket and cap.

STYLE TIP: When transitioning from one wardrobe color scheme to the next during a trip, pack layered pieces and accessories that can be worn multiple times and with a variety of colors.  Have you noticed most of trip’s wardrobe consists of neutral tops and then colored layering pieces, such as mustard or a plaid print?

If you like the scenic trip of coastal Maine, stayed tuned for my next blog post about Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park!