Things to Do in Kennebunkport, Maine

As the home of the summer White House for President George H. W. Bush and a frequent summer vacation stop for his son President George W. Bush, Kennebunkport, Maine became one of the most famous small towns in America. At times, it was the most important little town in the world.

With both Bush presidencies in the past, the world media has packed up and moved on. Kennebunkport has once again become a picturesque little seaside village that caters to upscale visitors - the kind of people Maine natives say are "from away."

Whether you are looking to splurge on a luxurious summer vacation or can manage only a budget-friendly getaway weekend, there are plenty of things to do in this quintessential New England fishing port on the Maine coast.

You're on the right track

Visitors have been coming to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport for more than 70 years. With over 250 cars in its collection, the museum is the oldest and largest electric railway museum in the world. It all began with a single car - the #31 from the nearby Biddeford & Saco line. Purchased when the cities switched to buses, it was sold to trolley enthusiasts on the condition that it had to be taken out of town so as not to remind bus riders of the electric car system. The museum sits by the side of what was, in the early 1900s, the Atlantic Shore Line Railway, and is open daily from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

Get away from it all

Just five miles from the shopping and dining in the heart of Dock Square at the center of Kennebunkport is the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The 7,600-acre park was established 45 years ago to protect valuable Maine salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds. It was named for Rachel Carson, the pioneering environmentalist and author of influential book "Silent Spring." The one-mile Carson Trail travels the edge of a marsh, offering scenic views and up-close access.

Hail to the chief

There are a number of historic homes in and around Kennebunkport. Commander-in-chief among these, you might say, is the Bush family compound at Walker Point on Ocean Avenue. Summer home to two presidents, the nine-bedroom New England shingle-style home was built in 1903 by the first President Bush's grandfather and remains the extended family's traditional gathering place. National and world leaders visited here for formal occasions and private get-togethers. The George and Barbara Bush are still frequently seen around town in Kennebunkport during their summer stays.

Nice day for a white wedding

Contrary to legend, the ornate Wedding Cake House across the river in the town of Kennebunk was not presented to a bride as a gift. George W. Bourne, a wealthy local shipbuilder, built the house in 1825 and moved in with his new wife. But Mr. and Mrs. Bourne did not begin to add the decorative Gothic trim to the house until after a fire damaged the structure almost 30 years later. The warm yellow brick home with its hand-carved white "frosting" is one of the most-photographed buildings in Maine.

Lay in the sand

The Kennebunkport area has a number of scenic Maine beaches. The soft sand of Goose Rocks Beach is just north of town, not far from the Bush compound at Walkers Point. Gooch's Beach is a lovely crescent of sand between the mouth of the Kennebunk River and several smaller beaches to its south. Parking permits for these town beaches are available at the respective town halls and police stations.