Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Join Now!

It's easy and fast!

Already have access?

enjoy our services!

Username:

Password:

Log me in Automatically

Forgot your password?

Travel Information

Entertainment & Attractions

Latest News & Info

Attractions	Cinemas
Exhibitions	Activities
Festivals	Nightlife
Dining	Shopping

     Kennebunkport is an astoundingly picturesque town in York County, Maine, United States, with a population of 3,720 as of the 2000 census.

     The town centre is located along the Kennebunk River, approximately one half mile (1 km) from the mouth of the river on the ocean. Historically a fishing village, in recent decades the town has become a popular seaside tourist destination with a small district of souvenir shops, art galleries, seafood restaurants, hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Its reputation as a superb community comes from the numerous large seaside estates along Ocean Avenue and other coastal thoroughfares. The famous "Bush Compound" is located on Walker's Point, a peninsula visible from Ocean Avenue.

     In the summer months, many people from across the Northeast vacation in Kennebunkport, Kennebunk and nearby Goose Rocks Beach. The town is regarded as one of the most romantic vacation areas in the Northeast. During the fall, Kennebunkport is known as a favourite spot for enjoying the famous New England fall colours.

     We at Kennebunkport.com are proud to offer this site as the ultimate guide to the towns of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, their true natural wonders and their business community, which is always hard at work to welcome and please YOU, the visitors to The Kennebunks! Browse around and pay visit to them all and feel free to contact our staff with any inquiries at all.

     Kennebunk was first settled about 1620, the town developed as a trading and, later, shipbuilding and shipping centre with light manufacturing. It claims to be "the only village in the world so named" and has a population of 10,476 at the 2000 census. To the Abenaki Indians, Kennebunk meant "the long cut bank," presumably the long bank behind Kennebunk Beach.

     The town is a popular Summer tourist destination. Kennebunk contains fine examples of early architecture, the most noted of which is the Wedding Cake House, a Federal-style dwelling extensively decorated with scroll saw Gothic trim. This was added to the house for his wife of many years by George Washington Bourne late in his life, and not as legend has it by a ship captain for a young bride lost at sea.

     The Lafayette Elm was a tree which was planted to commemorate General Lafayette's 1825 visit to Kennebunk. It became famous for its age, size, and survival of the Dutch elm disease that destroyed the hundreds of the other elms that once lined Kennebunk's streets. The elm is featured on the town seal. The restored Kesslen Shoe Mill has been renamed the Lafayette Center. Kennebunk is home to two of the state's oldest banks -- Ocean Bank (1854) and Kennebunk Savings Bank (1871). Only Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution (1827) and Bangor Savings Bank (1852) are older. Summer Street was Maine's first Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Info

“Located 16 miles east-southeast of Alfred, 25 miles from Portland. Formerly known as Arundel. Visited during the summer as early as 1602 by fishermen. First permanent settlement made by Richard Vines in 1629. Brought under the control of Massachusetts and incorporated in 1653. Placed under the jurisdiction of Saco for a short time in 1688. Re-incorporated under the name of Arundel in 1717. Name changed February 19, 1821.”
1983-1984 Maine Register

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kennebunkport has a total area of 22.0 square miles (56.9 km²), of which, 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (6.19%) is water.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kennebunk has a total area of 35.5 square miles (92.0 km²), of which, 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.18%) is water. Kennebunk is drained by the Kennebunk River and Mousam River.

Travel Tips

There are a few ways to get in and out of Kennebunk:

* Interstate 95
* U.S. 1, which goes through the centre of Kennebunk as part of the main street.
* Route 9A
* Route 35

If you are driving, parking in Kennebunkport and the lower village of Kennebunk can be hard. Most of the bigger restaurants do have adequate parking for their guests. But for those passing through or shopping in town, there are few public (free) parking spots. Get into town early to claim one of those. The time limit for these public streetside slots is up to 2 hours. The parking police are very active, and one can expect a ticked if parking over the time limit.

If staying in a local hotel, inn or b&b, and unless presented with some health issue that precludes a little moderate walking, it would be advisable to park your vehicle and enjoy the strall. Distances around town are short, and the fresh air and stunning scenery will guarantee for an enjoyable time.

But, if you do need to park over 2 hours and and/or there are no free spots left, there are two public parking lots in Kennebunkport. The charge for the dowtown lot is $3/hour.

The location of these two lots are:

1. Downtown, behind Alisson's Restaurant on the right. This location is called the Dock Square Parking Lot.

2. North side of town, just north of the Nott House on Maine Avenue. To get there, go through Kennebunkport on Western Avenue, and turn left at the Nott House onto Maine Avenue. Within 1/4 mile, street signs for public parking on the left wil mark the spot known as the Municipal Lot.

One might also want to consider a carriage ride.

Visa

Being a place of exceptional beauty and tranquility, the Kennebunks attract visitors from around the world. If you plan a vacation in the USA, you and your family might need to obtain a US tourist visa. If you are not a citizen of one of the following 27 countries (below), which currently participate in the Visa Waiver Program, please follow this link for tourist visa requirements and relevant application forms.

Visa Waiver Program Participating Countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Attractions

Kennebunkport is known as the location of the summer home of former U.S. president George H. W. Bush, father of President George W. Bush. First built by Bush's grandfather George Herbert Walker, it has been a family home ever since, and has been owned by Bush since shortly after he became Vice President in the 1980's. During his presidency, Bush often invited world leaders, from Margaret Thatcher to Mikhail Gorbachev, to Kennebunkport. In 2007, his son George W. Bush invited the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (in June) and the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy (on August 11).

It is hard to find words to describe the natural splendor of the area and the countless scenic spots one could enjoy while walking the beaches or the quiet streets of town.

Shopping

Kennebunkport’s Dock Square is the commercial centre of town and is certainly worth an afternoon shopping adventure. You wll find unique boutiques offering one-of-a-kind wares, t-shirt shops and some great places to pick up a gift for family and friends. Be sure to visit the many local galleries as Kennebunkport has long been known as one of the region’s greatest artists' enclaves. If you would like to venture outside of town, a trip South on U.S. Route 1 will present you with a myriad of antiques and other shops. Freeport and Kittery are just 30 minutes away and this is where more shopping fun awaits you.

Nightlife

Well, define nightlife... There are a variety of restaurants and eating locations in the area. Overall Kennebunkport is a quiet, relaxing, family-oriented town, and is not meant for a single person who seeks to get "out on the town" per se.

Economy

Local economy is somewhat seasonal and is tourism based, peeking in the Spring and Summer months. The headquarters for the natural health-care product manufacturer Tom's of Maine is located in Kennebunk, which is also home to two of the state's oldest banks - Ocean Bank (1854) and Kennebunk Savings Bank (1871). Many residents commute for work to the nearby Portland, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Videos

The following are a few video clips taken by various vacationers in the area. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a moving picture must be worth a lot more. Enjoy and visit Kennebunkport soon.

Kennebunkport Beach