I love walking this trail. It's very easy for my mom who uses a cane now but still loves to hike…read more They have handicapped parking for her as well. It looks different every season so it's worth doing it multiple times. I've even gone in February with the snow falling. Definitely make this place part of your Maine roadtrip!

Had a lovely walk here on a cool August morning with seven of us plus a sweet Frenchie, Chester…read more Shady trees, and nice views. Totally recommend!

I stopped in late one afternoon at the Wells Reserve - right after visiting the Rachel Carson…read moreNational Wildlife Refuge - which is essentially next door to the Wells Reserve. It was close to 5:00 pm when I arrived - a cold, overcast, gloomy, rainy late October day. As with the Rachel Carson NWR - the visitor center here was also closed for the season. So I walked about the grounds a bit. I discovered an ancient, rudimentary, prototype Stargate on the grounds - out in the middle of a field. Appeared to be made of some sort of stone. #WellsReserveAtLaudholm

This place is a spectacular Nature hike taking you through some amazing trails to the Estuarine and…read moresalt marshes. Great trails and wood plank walks make this a easy and enjoyable experience for all

This was amazing. I'm so glad we decided to go down the coast and take this walk. We decided to go…read moreat sunrise. Although there was overcast, it was still a beautiful walk. I imagined the people who walked this jetty every single day and I was jealous. We didn't tour the lighthouse but we've seen plenty of lighthouses. We've never seen one out a mile though. Don't miss this gem! Be sure to use the bathroom before coming here as we did not see any portapods. Also, wear shoes with hood support. We saw a few wearing flip flops; so t know how they did it. I wouldn't take the risk of tripping.

The ending to a perfect day in Maine? Watching the sunset from a jetty of course!…read more After spending the day exploring coastal areas in southern Maine, we decided to walk the jetty near Wells Harbor/York Beach. We didn't know what to expect when we discovered this spot - so when you come know that there are two jetty's. One you can access from the elongated, sandy parking area on Foster Ln (which was free to use and deserted when we came in early November); and, one you can access from a bigger, concrete parking area at the end of Atlantic Ave (beyond Sage Fishing Charters - it's pay to park here, but I don't know if that's just during the height of the summer season). These jetty's are long (I read somewhere that they're over a mile) stone breakwaters that stretch out relatively far from land into the Atlantic. It's beautiful to walk down and back as you get stunning views of Wells Harbor, the beach on either side, and great for bird watching too (we were captivated by some sanderlings!). It's important to be mindful when walking on jetty's though - these big boulders have crevices between them, so "mind the gap"; if the ocean is rough, you might also get soaked from waves crashing against them! Absolutely worth seeing, especially in the shoulder season when it's got that much more serene, humble feeling to it!

Cold clear and…read morequiet Wonderbrook Park is a eighty acre tract of land that is a combination of two donations. One by the Wellman family in 1994 and the Murphy family in 1997. The park is now part of the Kennebunk Land Trust. The park has one main trail that sort of wanders around through the woods. I've actually only been here in the winter but of course it is open all year long. I imagine it gets really buggy in the spring and has a whole different feel and look during the warmer months. Unfortunately the small parking lot isn't plowed in the snowy season and parking can be iffy. Dogs are allowed as long as they are well behaved and the owners clean up and mountain bikes are also permitted to use the trails although it can get very muddy and narrow in here so the biking can be technical. Lots of lovely old trees and ferns, in the winter the entire place is dead quiet, peaceful and eerie. I've never seen another person here but I suspect that in the warmer months it gets lots of use. It does get icy and difficult in the winter but in heavy snow it would be a nice place to snow shoe or cross country ski as long as the skier is really good at turning and stopping. Wonderbrook is a cool and peaceful little park that offers a lot of different things to do throughout the year. A nice park to find some quiet and solitude.

Wonderbrook Park is tucked in the back of a neighborhood but has the ability to park about 10 cars,…read moreno more than that. It does not have bathroom facilities. There are two walking/hiking paths that are decent in length but unfortunately I cannot tell you how long because it was not marked anywhere. Our guess is about 2.5 miles? The walking paths are defined but you need to watch out because there are a lot of roots, rocks and branches. Overall the hike was great exercise through the woods but there weren't any notable views worth stopping and taking a long look at. It was also surprising that we did not see all that much wildlife. We very rarely saw a squirrel or a chipmunk which was sort of unusual. I'm glad we went and we would visit again but if you are going for more than just exercise (views, animal life, easy walk) this one may not be for you. Oh and be sure to bring your bug spray. You really don't need sun block because it is in the woods.

The nicest beach that we visited in the Kennebunkport area. Clean and spacious. Parking is limited.read more

Beautiful and private (at least in late September). So happy to have randomly discovered!read more

There's a headquarters building for the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (where you can park) with…read morea beautifully manicured "backyard"/garden area where they host events for NPOs and private gatherings. You'll definitely want to come check this spot on on your own, though because Emmons Preserve has it all: - A story book trail for children (follow a children's book along an easy to navigate path that includes tunnels and a hut made entirely from weaved together branches and tree limbs, faces on trees, fairy houses, log benches to sit upon, etc.) - Long bridges over the Batson River (the reflection of the leaves in the glassy surface of the water was stunning!) - Vernal pools, wetlands, wide open fields, dense forests - Informative signs about the area (including the wildlife and trees, the fire of 1947, the logging industry, and QR codes to help you identify bird calls) - Plenty of well manicured trails - I saw lots of runners on the Learning Trail; on the other side of the property, you can venture into the woods up the Batson River Trail to Jeremy's Trail which connects to Jenne's Loop. These offer more views of the river and an unexpected scenic, bubbling, babbling, absolutely lovely little waterfall. Another spot you could hideaway at with a good book or a picnic (carry in, carry out!!!). Fill up that cup with a big dose of nature therapy, my friends. Forest bathing is important.

The very last…read more The first lighthouse was established on Goat Island back in 1822 or so. Because of fierce storms and questionable and shoddy construction the lighthouse quickly deteriorated and it soon became obvious that another one was needed. The new lighthouse was finished in 1859 and was a much better effort than the first one. Made of brick it stands 38 feet tall and can be seen over twelve miles out at sea. It originally had a fourth order Fresnel Lens that was replaced. The lighthouse still stands out on Goat Island, guarding the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor. It can be seen at a distance from various places around the tip of Cape Porpoise but is not open to the public. This light has the distinction of being the very last manned lighthouse in Maine and wasn't automated until 1990. A cool little lighthouse that continues to quietly do it's job of guiding ships and saving lives..

Bring your binoculars for a view of the lighthouse just across the water. The drive to the…read morelighthouse at Porpoise Cove is picturesque. It's a lovely spot to take in nature and quiet. There is a placard with info about the island light. It was very quiet when I visited (January) and I enjoyed the peace and beauty as well as seeing the lighthouse in the distance. Great views. There was a restaurant right there, but I believe only opened seasonally. The working pier is lined with lobster traps and it would be cool to visit when they bring the haul in!

Mother's Beach in Kennebunk is a small, quiet, and sandy spot that is wonderful for a peaceful day…read moreby the water. The calm waves and gentle slope make it an ideal place to relax and enjoy the coastal views. It has a cozy neighborhood feel and is located right near a nice playground for kids. This lovely little beach is a hidden gem for anyone looking to escape the busier crowds.

This is a beautiful beach, parking can be tough though. Otherwise the beach is great for walks and…read morea short swim!

This was not a planned destination. In fact I didn't even know it existed. We were driving by and…read moresaw all of the beautiful purple flowers (Northern Blazing Star). We just had to stop. Walked around for an hour or so, enjoying the quiet, the birds, and the flowers. Wow!!! I've told several friends about it already.