Kennebunkport 2013

Shawn and John celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary with a trip back to the Captain Jefferds Inn in Kennebunkport – the same place they had stayed last year. They were once again warmly welcomed and felt cozy and comfortable in their “Hideaway” room.

We drove up on Friday night after a soccer game, checked into the Inn, and walked off into town for a casual dinner and some great beer at Federal Jack’s. – our favorite bar since it was founded on the day of our marriage.

Unlike last year, the weather this time was perfect!  Warm and sunny was the order of the day on Saturday and we made the best of it with a long stroll on Goose Rocks Beach.

Then it was back to the Inn to borrow some bicycles. We took a leisurely ride down Gooch’s Beach and then found ourselves at Pedro’s for lunch. Just around the corner from the cruise ship-swollen throngs on Main Street, Pedro’s provided a relaxing patio lunch with friendly staff and great Mexican food.

We finished our bike ride at the mouth of the Kennebunk River on Arundel Beach watching the fishing boats returning to port and the kayakers and sailors playing in the afternoon sun.

A little time watching the Boston College football game at Alison’s Restaurant was followed by an incredible dinner at On The Marsh Bistro and a nightcap back at Federal Jack’s.

The Sunday morning fog was just burning off as we finished another three course breakfast at the Inn and started for home and reality.  We love the Kennebunkport area and know this won’t be our last visit! (More pictures here.)

Twenty Years and Counting

On September 26, Shawn and John reached their twentieth wedding anniversary. To celebrate, they chose the following weekend for a trip to Kennebunkport, as they’ve done for several anniversaries before. They drove up Friday afternoon and arrived at the cozy Florida Room of the Captain Jefferds Inn. They were greeted by a chilled bottle of wine with a lovely plate of cheese and fruit snacks.

While enjoying their welcome snack, Shawn was presented with some anniversary bling to add a little sparkle to the weekend!

From there, it was a visit to their favorite bar in town, Federal Jack’s, which just happens to have been founded on the same day they got married!  That was followed by dinner in The Hurricane‘s lounge and a night cap at the Kennebunkport Inn‘s piano bar.

The weather was gloomy on Saturday, but they still enjoyed a leisurely drive along the coast culminating with lunch at perennial favorite Gritty McDuff’s in Portland’s Old Port.

They arrived back in Kennebunkport in time for some shopping – including, of course, the obligatory stop at Shawn’s favorite candle shop.

The focal point of the weekend (except maybe the bling) would be Saturday night dinner at the White Barn Inn. An expensive splurge, the White Barn makes it worth it with beautiful decor, friendly staff, stellar service, and awesome food. They had a great meal!

A few more brews at Federal Jack’s capped the evening before another nice stay at the Inn. Sunday morning was another spectacular breakfast before the drive home and back to reality.

A big thanks to Grams for staying with the boys and a hearty cheers to the next twenty years!

Happy 18th Anniversary!

September 26th marked Shawn & John’s 18th wedding anniversary and, as they’ve done before, they marked the event with a weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine.

They drove up on Friday evening and checked into the Kennebunkport Inn, a place they’d often passed but never before stayed at.

The Inn provided comfortable lodging at a reasonable price and they enjoyed their stay there.

On Friday night, they dined at Kennebunk’s new 50 Local. The restaurant features fresh foods produced locally and Shawn and John had a nice seafood dinner. The buzz in the restaurant, however, centered around a corner table that hosted George and Barbara Bush along with the former Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, and his wife. There was a lot of gawking.

Saturday was an amazing late summer day. Temperatures in the eighties, morning clouds that burned off to reveal bright sun, and a nice breeze throughout the day couldn’t have been nicer. John and Shawn got out on their bicycles for a morning tour of the area including a stop in Cape Porpoise. They spent the afternoon browsing the shops of Kennebunkport before spending some time on the deck of the Arundel Wharf Restaurant enjoying the sun.

They later enjoyed a wonderful anniversary dinner at The White Barn Inn – a place they often talked about but never visited. Their fears of a pretentious, stuffy atmosphere proved unfounded as they were immediately made to feel comfortable and then pampered with wonderful service, outstanding food, and awesome wine pairings.

Three rounds of dessert left them stuffed – but not too stuffed to prevent a return to one of their favorite hangouts, Federal Jack’s – always an awesome spot for a brew, particularly on a perfect night!

Sunday morning was cooler and cloudier – perhaps fitting for a departure from the idyllic weekend getaway and a return to obligations and responsibilities. Still, they had a blast and look forward to many more anniversary celebrations and returns to Kennebunkport!

17th Anniversary

Only a few weeks after their actual September 26th anniversary, Shawn and John left the boys with Grams and made a trip “Downeast” to celebrate seventeen years of wedded bliss!

We departed Friday morning for a leisurely drive up the Atlantic coast. Being a bit late in the season and a bit early on a workday, the summer crowds were absent even as the fall leaves lingered in splendor. After a quick stop at a New Hampshire Harley dealer to do a little scouting for next year (!), we enjoyed the scenic drive into Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. There we had a relaxing lunch at Jackie’s Too restaurant overlooking the sunny ocean.

Resuming our northward journey, we soon arrived at the English Meadows Inn in Kennebunk only to be greeted loudly and warmly by Tigger, the Inn’s watch-cat, and almost as warmly (though he didn’t want to be picked up) by the Innkeeper, Bruce.

Bruce made us feel right at home and we quickly settled into the fantastic Tack Room as our home for the weekend before setting out to enjoy the waning sun as we walked into Kennebunkport village…

Greeted by the Bartley’s lobstah, we strolled the Dock Square shops and checked out some restaurant menus before we found a stool at Federal Jack’s (founded in 1992, the same year as our marriage) for $2 Happy Hour drafts and some laughs with the locals.

Our next stop, on our Innkeeper’s fine recommendation, was the Bandaloop restaurant where we feasted on local seafood and enjoyed the funky atmosphere. Our loft perch allowed us to spy on the bar and first floor dining activities while we enjoyed a virtually private and extremely enjoyable meal.  (The skillet steamed muscles were to die for!)

After a quick stop at the sedate and elderly piano bar at the Kennbunkport Inn and one more at the bright and active Alisson’s, we finished the evening sipping champagne (compliments of our Innkeeper!) by the fire in our virtually private carriage house. Ahhhh.

Saturday was a dark and rainy day, not very conducive for strolling. So, after John enjoyed a fine breakfast of Italian French toast at the Inn and Shawn grabbed a little more sleep, we decided on a drive up the coast, past Walker’s Point, and on to Portland’s Old Port district.  We browsed a few pottery shops and found some dry cover and warm chowder at Gritty McDuff’s.

We made it back to Kennebunk just in time to score some prime seating back at Federal Jack’s to watch Boston College beat Notre Dame – almost. We shook off the loss and made our way down the street to The Hurricane where we enjoyed another tremendous meal! We started with house-smoked tuna pastrami that was dreamy and followed with local cod and monkish entrées that will keep us coming back!

Ongoing recovery from the night before’s excesses made this a relatively early evening ending by the cozy fire back in our room.

Sunday dawned bright and the Tack Room’s many windows welcomed the sun! We both enjoyed another great breakfast in the Inn’s tea room before bidding Tigger and Bruce farewell and heading out for a stroll on the beach and then, reluctantly,  the ride home.

We had a blast. Looking forward to our next anniversary celebration at Kennebunkport almost makes it seem worth staying married for another year!!  😉

15 Years and Counting

On September 26th, Shawn and John celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.  The day itself passed with little fanfare. The following weekend, however, they left the boys behind with Grams and took off to the Kennebunks for a weekend of fun!!

(Even though they left the camera behind and returned with but a few cellphone images…) They spent Friday night galavanting about town. They spent a fair amount of time, as they’d done five years earlier, visiting a local brewpub that, like their marriage, had been established in 1992.

Saturday was spent bicycling from Walkers Point to Parsons Beach with many stops in-between. The weather couldn’t have been better and the light post-season crowds were accommodating but sufficiently festive. Their day ended with sunset beers on the water and a most enjoyable meal at The Hurricane restaurant.

When they returned home Sunday, via the scenic route with a long stop for brunch, the kids and the pets welcomed home a relaxed and rejuvenated couple, ready for another 15 years, or more.