Seaside New England town settled centuries ago
A seaside New England destination home to historic lighthouses and a riverfront town square, Kennebunkport is a storybook setting come to life. Originally settled in the 17th century, this town has seen centuries' worth of development. What was once a prominent shipbuilding settlement has since transformed into a popular coastal enclave where even former presidents have vacation properties. “Kennebunkport definitely started out as a tourist town with lots of resorts, restaurants and lobster, but now it’s become a year-round place to visit,” says Laura Ross, a town resident and real estate broker with Kennebunk Beach Realty who grew up spending her summers in Kennebunkport. “There’s a mix between year-round residents, seasonal residents and summer visitors here.” Kennebunkport has an overall CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4. Students are zoned for Maine Regional School Unit 21, which receives an overall A-minus rating from Niche and has schools that have been nationally recognized for academic excellence. The Kennebunkport River flows inland from the ocean and divides Kennebunkport from the similarly named town of Kennebunk. “The vibe here is just nice and relaxing, and the people are friendly,” Ross says.
Goose Rocks Beach is a popular summer spot
Approximately 6 miles from Kennebunkport is Goose Rocks Beach, which Ross says is a popular beach for residents and visitors. “There’s also Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, which people in Kennebunkport go to,” Ross says. The town is home to several smaller, rockier beaches convenient to locals, including Arundel Beach and Colony Beach. Blowing Cave Park is a scenic spot along Sandy Cove located across the cove from Walker’s Point, the Bush family’s vacation property that belonged to former President George H.W. Bush. “Walker’s Point is a big focal point here that people like to drive past – it’s just off Ocean Avenue, and it’s beautiful,” Ross says. Heaven Swap Park, a dog-friendly nature preserve, sits adjacent to Walker’s Point. Farther inland is where golf enthusiasts can check out Cape Arundel Golf Club, where several presidents, including Bush, and dozens of celebrity golfers have been members. “The golf club is popular, but it is private. They do take some public non-members on certain days of the week, and it’s a lovely course,” Ross says.
Local restaurants and art galleries in Dock Square
At the heart of Kennebunkport is Dock Square, a shopping and dining area full of boutiques and local eateries. Ross says that while some restaurants are open all year, others close up shop in the wintertime, typically in mid-January. Alisson’s Restaurant, which Ross says is one of the most popular seasonal spots in town, has served seafood favorites since 1973. Ross notes that Dock Square is also home to several souvenir shops and higher-end art galleries. “Kennebunkport is a very artsy place; we have a lot of artists come up here to paint,” she says. Dock Square is connected to the Mathew J. Lanigan Bridge, which crosses over the Kennebunkport River and connects to Kennebunk.
Only 2 miles from the town center is Cape Porpoise, another popular area for locals and visitors. “There are some lovely restaurants down there, very picturesque, and they do fishing tours out of the Cape Porpoise Harbor,” Ross says. “There’s also a nice pier down there; it’s not as busy as Dock Square. Cape Porpoise also has Nunan’s Lobster Hut – it’s a wonderful, family-owned business with picnic benches inside, and people just stuff their faces with lobster and blueberry pie.”
Thousands pour into town for Christmas Prelude celebration
“In the beginning of December we have Christmas Prelude,” Ross says. “Everything is decked out beyond, beyond Christmas; we have a tree lighting ceremony down in Dock Square, we have parades and a dog parade – the whole town swells, we’ll have 40,000-plus people here.” Other events during the annual Christmas Prelude include caroling, craft fairs, Santa meet-and-greets and fireworks displays; HGTV ranked Kennebunkport as the No. 2 Christmas Town in America. “It’s very festive, and it really sets the mood for Christmas,” Ross says. “Events typically start the first weekend in December, and everything is booked well in advance. After Christmas Prelude is when things start to die down, and seasonal residents close up their houses for winter and head south.”
Homes reflect New England architectural influence
Some of the more common housing styles in this area include Colonial-influenced residences and classic Cape Cod dwellings. Single-family homes in and around the Dock Square area typically sell between $1 and $3 million, but residents can find a handful of homes farther away from the town center that start around $700,000. Stately waterfront properties cost well into the millions, with prices starting around $2 million and climbing up to more than $8 million. “There’s a lot of grand-sized homes, particularly along Ocean Avenue; lots of beautiful, stately summer cottages, many of which have been winterized,” Ross says. “But there are also newer developments going up, and it’s a big mix of real estate here.”
Kennebunk High is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School
Maine Regional School Unit 21 serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Kennebunkport and the neighboring towns of Arundel and Kennebunk. The district was ranked No. 1 on Niche’s 2024 “Best School Districts in York County” list. Young learners can kickstart their education at Kennebunkport Consolidated School, a B-plus-rated primary institution that’s been designated a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Students might then head to the A-rated Middle School of the Kennebunks, ranked the best middle in York County, and later attend Kennebunk High School, which receives a B-plus rating and was ranked one of the top ten public high schools in Maine by Niche. Kennebunk High has also been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School and offers several advanced academic programs for students, including early college courses, a STEM Scholar program and an International Baccalaureate Diploma program.
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Tippett
