A fireplace, a historic farmhouse inn, a village lit for Christmas, and nowhere else we need to be.
Fri, Dec 11 · Sun, Dec 13
Kennebunkport's Christmas Prelude, voted the #2 Christmas Town in America by HGTV
Major's coming tooAn Auberge inn in a historic farmhouse setting in Kennebunk, Maine. Small, quiet, and very us at this time of year.
Gas fireplaces in the suites and cottages, so the fire is on the minute we walk in.
Included for two, both mornings. No hunting for coffee, no deciding anything before 10.
A soaking tub and rainfall shower for the cold December afternoons.
Massages, facials and a couples spa suite. A little time there is very much allowed.
We land right on Christmas Prelude weekend, when Kennebunkport turns the whole village into a holiday card.
We get to the inn early, before the streets close at 4, and drop the bags. Fire on, shoes off for a minute.
A family-friendly festival with live music from Women of Note and Sir Don, food vendors, ice carving, and more. The streets are closed to traffic from Dock Square in Kennebunkport all the way through Lower Village in Kennebunk, so the whole stretch is ours to walk.
The lighting of the tree in Dock Square officially begins the season.
The Prelude extravaganza, set off over the cove. We watch from the Mathew Lanigan Bridge, hot chocolate in hand.
Cold air, empty sand, and Major losing his mind over the ocean. The best way to start the day.
Major's favorite partIncluded, and earned.
Your favorite spot in town. You go browse the shop windows while I wait in line for your coffee and bring it to you.
A long-running fair of arts and crafts from local artisans, presented by Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation. A suggested $2 donation goes to the recreation scholarship fund.
The Dock Square shops all decorated for Christmas. Take your time. I'll carry the bags.
These overlap, so tap the one you want.
One or the other.
One last run on the sand before we head home.
EncoreThen we check out and head into town.
Pooches in their favorite holiday attire parade through Dock Square and onto Ocean Avenue. All decorated dogs and their humans are welcome to join, so Major gets to march. We meet by 10:45, and dogs stay leashed for the whole route. Registration is free.
Tap one to see it. The number is roughly how it compares in cost to the base room, the Original Farmhouse Queen.