entertained: summer road trips!

I've always ALWAYS wanted to explore more New England like: New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. I love the architecture, scenery, the SEAFOOD! So when M and I realized that we both have 2 days off in a row (!) and a car to take us wherever we want, we went looking for a cool spot to visit.

And the winner is....................

Kennebunkport, Maine! Its famous for lobsters, cute cottages, and home to President Bush Sr. It is a charming town and it was everything I imagined New England to look like, lots of boats, a little fog, gray skies.

We got a little lost and wound up in Cape Porpoise and we stopped at the Cape Porpoise Kitchen where they were nice enough to direct us back and I picked up some wine too! We easily found our hotel, the Village Cove Inn.

It was a cute little inn just outside of town and right near the beach, and every room came with a little porch. Now that is total luxury for a New Yorker! We settled in right away and headed out to explore...

First stop, THE CLAM SHACK mmmmm...



It was AHHHHsome! We had a lobster roll (traditional Maine style with mayo) and a clam strip basket, crinkle fries (my fav-o-rite) and lemonade. We devoured it! Here are the remains of the meal



and me with a goober grin? I dunno... and M totally helped me! I so didn't eat it all by myself...

Next we decided we need some BEER! Yeah! So Federal Jack's, here we come! Here is the view from the balcony, from which we sampled many fine brews. It looked out into the harbor and across to downtown Kennebunkport.

We headed back into town for a little shopping. Usually I don't like to buy touristy crap..., but we decided to get a Christmas ornament from all the places we go to, starting with the first place we went as an engaged couple. I know, sooo cheesy, but when were are putting up our Christmas tree twenty years from now it will bring up great memories and funny stories. Hey, who knows, this might be a tradition y'all want to start, do you have any traditions? I would love to hear about them!

So after an ornament, a coffee, and some FUDGE we headed back to the Inn to rest up and have a glass on vino on the porch. It was so nice and simple and relaxing, I even contemplated relocating to Maine and growing something, and then I remembered I've killed everything I've tried to grow. Everything. Even an aloe plant once!!! OK perhaps I won't move just yet, but I'm already planning my next trip up! So we decided to check out Cape Porpoise for dinner because it is the area's working harbor and there are a bunch of seafood joints there. We went to Pier77 It was great! Super romantic, with live piano music and great seafood. Duh.

Kennebunkport isn't really a nightlife kind of town, so we happily and tiredly headed back to the Village Cove for an early night of peaceful sleep :)

Morning was misty and a little chilly, we enjoyed our breakfast (even more so because it was included with our room, gotta love free bagels) and took some coffee to go for a stroll through the neighborhood and down along the beach. I'm new to this morning person kinda lifestyle, hence the hair don't...

I absolutely love gray days, especially at the beach. I'm weird. I know ;) After our walk on the beach went walked around some more on Ocean Avenue and I spied a cool looking interiors store, called Spaces, what a GREAT name ;) they had some really cool stuff, I love everything shiny and sparkly, 'cause I'm a ferret... I'm gonna post about Spaces later!

After a little window shopping we walked across the street to Mabel's Lobster Claw, it was recommended by locals and we were told the Pres likes to dine there, so I figured if its good enough for the President of the United States, it would probably do just fine for me too. And all I have to say is, I loves me some chowder! It was perfect after a chilly stroll along the beach.

We had to pack up and head home after lunch. It was way to short of a trip but it was absolutely perfect and I loved every minute! I can't wait to come back.

And I just wanted to say a few things, about having fun everyday and creating memories and dealing with budgets and somehow making it all work. We are totally money crunched, like most of America right now, and we are starting to save for a wedding. So we don't have tons of cash laying around. But M and I are committed to living life to the fullest and if we want to do something or go somewhere, we do. Maybe we don't stay as long as we would like, or we bring healthy snacks from home so we don't get gross junk food, or we adjust plans as needed. I actually really wanted to go to Vermont first, but it was a big weekend in VT and all the hotels were extra pricey so we switch our plans and picked another great state.

So even if our little vacation was just an overnight thing, M and I will cherish that trip forever :)

So just go if ya wanna!!!

Y'all planned any fun trips big or small this summer???

xo Lea