Kennebunkport, ME and the southern Maine area is full of special places! Check out the hightlights of our family day trip through this beautiful area!

It has been just over 18 years since I visited Kennebunkport, Maine for the first time.  Robb and I spent some time in this sweet town during our honeymoon!  What a delight to make it part of our family’s New England Fall Trip!

It was just as charming and quaint and beautiful as I remembered!

We even grabbed a quick picture by the former Captain Lord Mansion, the bed and breakfast where we stayed.  Our 13-year-old photographer did a pretty good job, even though no editing will make me look as young as I did in 2003!

We spent some time strolling through the downtown, checking out the beach, and browsing a few of the amazing antique shops that run through “Antique Alley” along Route 1.

Here are a few highlights from our family day trip through southern Maine and Kennebunkport!

Antique Browsing through Southern Maine

You may not believe me, but it’s true.  I purposely did not spend time researching antique places for any of our New England stops.  This trip was really all about our family and I didn’t want to find any “must stop” places and then be disappointed if it didn’t work out!

I decided that I would be perfectly happy if we happened upon any fun places to stop and even happier if it worked out to browse.  Some did and some didn’t.  But Southern Maine was full of them on a morning when we had time to stop!

Our kids are pretty used to a family day trip that includes an antiques stop or two.  For the most part, they enjoy it too!

Tip for antiquing with kids: My kids love to do an alphabet scavenger hunt.  They have to find something that starts with every letter of the alphabet and they have to go in order!

If you know me well, you know my favorite vintage things are almost always large in size, such as old signs, architectural salvage, and that type of thing.  There were so many pieces that I loved but couldn’t get home.  It was still super fun to browse!

I am always so interested to see antiques in different parts of the country.  So different than our Florida or even southern state antique stops!

One super fun find was this antique marmalade jar.  They can be super pricey online and I’ve never seen one in person that I was willing to pay the steep price for.  But this jar was tucked into a random little shop for only $12!  Score!

I’ll set it on my shelf or tuck a flower stem into and fondly remember our morning of browsing whatever little shops we came upon that family day trip!

You can find my favorite tips for vintage hunting and antiquing, no matter what part of the country, here!

Scenic Views on Our Family Day Trip

Maine, quite simply, is beautiful.  We enjoyed a drive along the coast in Kennebunkport, Maine, as well as some time climbing around the rocks that overlook Walker’s Point.

Harrison, especially, would have stayed here all day just climbing around and having fun.  They thought it was pretty awesome how different the beach is there compared to our Florida beaches!

No doubt, this is a great spot to get out, enjoy the coastal air, and get some great pictures too!  I was able to get some great pictures of the kids out of this stop and Payton even grabbed a snapshot of Robb and I too!

It was really beautiful to see the signs of fall all around, while still overlooking the ocean.  People who live along the New England coast may take that uniqueness for normal, but it was especially beautiful to me.

Of course, we had to collect a few of the beautiful, freshly fallen leaves!

Around the Town in Kennebunkport, Maine

It really is just the cutest downtown!  After exploring the coastal scenery, we drove back into the downtown and enjoyed an afternoon and evening of browsing the shops, enjoying the leisure time, and of course, enjoying some great food!

Not to be critical of our Florida pumpkin patches and displays, but they just can’t measure up to New England.  Let’s just say, it isn’t South Florida’s strength.  Haha!

Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to grab a family picture by this fun pumpkin display at the end of the downtown area!

Kennebunkport has adorable little shops and we all loaded up on some pullovers, hoodies, and souvenirs.

Travel Tip: We love to collect a Christmas ornament from places we travel.  It is so fun to pull them out at Christmas, one by one, and remember all the fun memories.  I choose them in neutral colors so that no matter the colors we want to use, they will always mix in!

The Best Food on our Family Day Trip

No family day trip is complete without some yummy food, right?!  We decided to forego the nice restaurants and eat at a little stop overlooking the boats.

We convinced two out of three kids to try the lobster and they loved it!  Clam chowder was a favorite for Harrison and is one of mine too.  It is safe to say that we thoroughly enjoyed our waterside, seafood dinner in Kennebunkport!

Addy decided that we should have ice cream in every state on our New England trip.  It took zero arm-twisting for her mom and dad!

We finished our evening in Kennebunkport with some yummy ice cream!  I loved the creative focal wall of this little stop and it made a great backdrop for documenting our ice cream.

Even if we were all a bit tired and tired of taking pictures at this point!  Ha!

Kennebunkport, you were a highlight of our New England fall vacation!  It was the perfect family day trip and we can’t wait to visit again!

For more fun stops on our fall road trip, check out these pictures from our trip to Woodstock, Vermont, “America’s Most Beautiful Town”.

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,

Looking for a budget-friendly family day trip in New England? We spent a gorgeous day in the beautiful Woodstock, Vermont area! Here are the highlights of our fun, family day!

Note: This post is not sponsored in anyway by the town of Woodstock or any businesses.  These are our true favorites and highlights of exploring the area!

I love to travel and thankfully, I married someone who loves exploring as much, or probably more than I even do!

It has always been important to us to show our kids as much of the beautiful country we live in as possible.

As they are getting a little older, it is so exciting to start taking some bucket list trips!

One of those trips is a New England tour in the fall!  As it turns out, we aren’t really “tour guide” kind of people, though, so we put together our own trip and one of the areas we decided to visit was the beautiful town of Woodstock, Vermont.

It’s no wonder that Woodstock, Vermont has been called the most beautiful town in America.  We quickly discovered why.

In fact, the whole area is just as picturesque as you’d imagine small-town Vermont to be in the early fall.

The leaves were just starting to turn and the air was crisp enough to let us know fall had begun, but not too cold to be to enjoy the beautiful outdoors without bundling up!  Literally, perfect weather in a perfect place!

Lodging in Woodstock, Vermont

A unique experience!

The regular hotels in the area were not unreasonably priced, but definitely a little higher than we’d hoped.  Certainly, there is no lack of stunning places to stay, if budget is not a concern.

When I came across a pair of vintage airstreams, nestled out in the Vermont woods, however…it was too good to pass up!  Plus, it was super cost-effective for our family!

Travel tip with kids: Check out the Air Bnb options in the area!

I really value unique experiences and we certainly won’t lack memories from this fun stay!  While the compost restroom was definitely unique, we were never uncomfortable.  *It does help that no bears showed up on any nighttime restroom trips!

We were able to visit first thing in the morning, explore a bit, then take out for a day in the Woodstock, Vermont area.  The next morning, the kids did even more exploring before we headed off on the next adventure!

The owners had the vintage airstream trailers stocked with extra blankets, fun games, and little space heaters that kept us toasty and cozy!

Our kids had the best time exploring the woods, gathering leaves and pretty pinecones (which we brought home and styled in a bowl!)  It was truly a lovely location and so much fun!

Hiking Opportunity Around Quechee Gorge

Great picture opportunities too!

We had a lot of territory to cover for the day, but we were so glad we made a stop by the Quechee Gorge.  While we didn’t do the full hike, we walked around a bit and of course snapped a few pictures.

The kids also loved the souvenirs at the little shop.  They had the best selection of keychains, magnets, and water bottle stickers of anywhere we visited in Vermont!

Travel tip with kids: Allot them a certain amount ot their sounvenir money per day or per attraction!  Our kids decided to try and get a keychain in each state we visited.  Perfect because they can use them on the backpacks and they are budget-friendly, fun reminders of the places we stopped!

Vermont Antique Mall, Quechee, Vermont

Of course, we made an impromptu stop!

You didn’t actually think we’d drive past a place this cute without stopping, did you?!  Robb and the kids grabbed some maple sugar snacks and toured the toy museum.

They set the timer for me to make a quick stroll this this antique mall.  What a great stop!

I needed a lot more time and a much larger suitcase!

I had to leave behind this incredible antique French basket because it was too wide for our suitcase (yes, we actually measured because I loved it so much!).

I did pick up this cute set of bells for a great price and they will be especially fun to style in our Christmas decor each year.

Taftsville Covered Bridge, Woodstock, Vermont

There are four picturesque covered bridges around Woodstock!

Of course, at the first sighting of a covered bridge, we pulled over for a few quick pictures.  And we weren’t the only ones!  There was a steady line of cars pulling through to take pictures of this sweet place!

We only stopped and took pictures by two of the covered bridges, but if we ever go back, we know we need at least two days around this beautiful town!

Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, Vermont

Perfect family fun and delicious too!

Sugarbush Farm was a favorite stop for all of us!  It was a great place to spend a couple of hours, have a great Vermont-style experience, and learn a little bit too!

We started off with enjoying samples of cheese and 4 different flavors of maple syrup, all made right there on the family farm.  The Sugarbush Farm is a multi-generational operation and truly a family business.

I knew next to nothing about the maple syrup process and my kids definitely didn’t either!  The lady was so nice to explain the different colors of syrup and how they change based on what point in the season the syrup was collected!

Next, we took a walk through the woods, following the sap lines and reading the information posted about the syrup process.  I loved learning that they still use horses and sleighs for part of the gathering!

The kids got to try their hand at carrying a bucket with the weight of the syrup and trudge through the uneven snow (simulated with the tires).  They all decided that the sap line was a great invention!

We visited the adorable little chapel on Sugarbush Farm and watched a video presentation about the ins and outs of the family business!  I have a much greater appreciation for delicious maple syrup when I use it on my waffles!

We enjoyed snapping a few more pictures of the gorgeous scenery and of course, left with some souvenirs!  We brought some syrup and cheese back to Florida with us!  Yum!

Picture Perfect Town of Woodstock, Vermont

We see why it’s been called the most beautiful town in America!

We enjoyed strolling the downtown streets and stopping in at the unique shops.  The kids loved the bookshop and I loved seeing all the fall displays and window boxes!

Of course, we had to get ice cream!  Woodstock Scoops has the BEST homemade ice cream and maple sugar sprinkles. Yum!  I’m still kicking myself for not purchasing sprinkles to bring home!

We also scheduled a photographer and had a mini-photo shoot by the covered bridge in downtown Woodstock, Vermont.  You’ll have to wait until our Christmas card is ready, but here is a quick snapshot I took while the photographer was getting ready!

Have I mentioned that Woodstock, Vermont is the most picturesque little town?!  Every corner is a photography opportunity.  I finally just had to stop myself and remember to enjoy the moment!

Woodstock, Vermont also had a dream for sale.  Look at this old pharmacy building, original signs still there, just waiting for a loving owner!  I hope to visit again and I hope someone turns this into the cutest shop on the street!  It had me dreaming for a few minutes, I’m not going to lie!

Woodstock, Vermont…you were so kind to our family!  What a beautiful day, full of moments that I will keep tucked in my heart.  While I felt blessed to be strolling the streets of what looks like a Hallmark movie, I felt most blessed to enjoy it with the people I love the very most!

Woodstock, Vermont…you were so kind to our family!  What a beautiful day, full of moments that I will keep tucked in my heart.  While I felt blessed to be strolling the streets of what looks like a Hallmark movie, I felt most blessed to enjoy it with the people I love the very most!

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,