A Visit to Kennebunkport and Flo's Hot Dogs

For our next couple of days, we decided to move closer to town and back into a B&B. Hartwell House had good reviews and a great location. Because they had overbooked, we ended up being upgraded to their suite. Hmmm...most times upgrades are great. This wasn't one of those times. It was spacious, but the decor was very heavy with lots and lots of material on the windows. We actually felt quite closed in, despite the amount of space we had. The staff couldn't have been nicer, and you ordered breakfast from a menu which was a nice choice, but we probably wouldn't stay there the next time.

We went back to Gypsy Sweethearts restaurant. The food is fantastic and we loved the patio for people watching. We left it a little too late to snag a table on the patio this time, and ended up upstairs waiting for a table to open up.

After another great dinner, we meandered down the street. The shops have a lot of cute displays, like these little guys toasting marshmallows over the "campfire."

The next morning, we decided to do a little touring and headed to Cape Neddick. Love these country roads...

Funny, for some reason they don't call it the Nubble Lighthouse, just Nubble Light...

It was built in 1879 and isn't accessible to the public.

But that didn't stop lots of tourists (like us!) from showing up and taking in the scenery.

In town, along Long Sands Beach...

It is well named, because the beach did go on for a long time! It wasn't as crowded...

As it was back in Ogunquit...

We went for dinner at a restaurant that has a great waterfront location, but just so-so food. This guy had a lot to say, but I think he was blind. People threw him food which he didn't bother with. Or maybe his tastes are a little more upscale!

We headed to Kennebunkport the next day to take a narrated trolley ride.

Another cute shopping area!

This would have been picture perfect with a bride and groom in it!

We've heard a few times that the number of tourists this year is really down. I guess this would be evidenced by the nearly empty streets.

It was just after July 4 so there were still lots of the red, white & blue flags...

The Colony Hotel has spectacular views and has been privately owned by the Boughton family since 1947.

The trolley pulled up to the front door so we could all gawk straight through the lobby to the views on the other side.

St. Ann's Church was built in 1887. The one ton bell was made in Belgium in 1882 and was part of a set intended for use at Yale University. The bell wasn't in harmony with the rest of the set, however, and it ended up in Kennebunkport.

The trolley wound its way along the shore with the water on one side...

And these spectacular "cottages" on the other.

These folks are trying for a little privacy...

We figured that this cottage was not being used, judging by the unkept gardens, but while we were stopped, someone walked up to the front door blowing that theory.

Here is the Bush compound, where George Bush and his ancestors have summered for over 100 years. The orignial home was built in 1903. George Bush, Sr.'s mother, Dorothy, was a Walker (of the Johnny Walker fame) before marrying a Bush, so the family is definitely old money.

Look! More blue hydrangeas...

Our next stop was the Franciscan Monastery, which is also a guest house.

A candelight Christmas Service is held here and between 2000-3000 people normally attend. That must be something to see...

By now the sunny skies were long gone and it was raining. That cleared the beach out, except for those wishing to surf.

How cute is this place! You just wanted to plunk yourself down in one of these chairs.

And with that our tour was over and we were back at the flowery trolley stop. It was a fun 45 minutes and it's always nice to learn something about the area.

One of our last stops before leaving for home was Flo's. We had heard about Flo's steamed hotdogs, and in searching for directions on-line, I came across the rules for ordering hot dogs at Flo's. It was too funny! Talk about the Soup Nazi! "Do not speak unless spoken to." Now we really had to go check it out.

A picture of Flo, who took no flak from anyone. "I'll tell you what you want on your hot dog!"

If this is Gail, she couldn't have been more charming. She is a one woman show--she takes the orders, the money, and makes the hot dogs. I assumed this was her daughter behind her, but she wasn't doing anything other than putting pop in the fridge. Gail has the routine down pat! Steamed hot dogs...oh, they were delicious!

On that note, it was time to head home. As always, we enjoyed Bar Harbour; Camden was a nice find; and we'd go back to Ogunquit anytime!

Trolley Time in Ogunquit, Maine

And it's off to Ogunquit.We saw many adorable and well-kept places along the way.

What? Established in 1980?? Oh, okay...it was established in 1641 as a village in nearby Wells, but separated in 1980.

We decided to stay in a hotel this time as the breakfasts at the B&B were doing us in. This place, not far from downtown, was reasonably priced and had good reviews.

Am loving the blue hydrangeas everywhere! We might have just missed the roses, but the hydrangeas are in full bloom.

Hmmm...it appeared that this was a family motel (read lots of kids). But it was actually very quiet and very clean.

These chairs looked inviting, not that we actually ever went and sat in them.

We took a drive through town and ended up in Perkins Cove. I didn't realize until I saw a video on YouTube that anyone is allowed to press the button on the drawbridge to open it so that a boat can go through.

The view from the bridge towards the Atlantic Ocean.

And looking the other way into the harbour (or as we heard often, the "ha-bah").

The Marginal Way is about a 1.5 mile walk along the shore. It's not strenuous and has lovely views.

You can get on the path in several places...

And enjoy beautiful views...

In some places you're very close to the water...

Or you can be walking on a shady path through the trees...

Many of these benches are in remembrance of or a tribute to someone...

You'll see lots of places that entice you to walk on the rocks...

And then you walk by people's houses (or cottages!)...

Can't walk out too much farther on these rocks!

This cottage, with its lone tree, had a spectacular view...

These are lifeguards! I can't imagine swimming here, but people must...

Hmmm...when I see people out on these rocks, I immediately think of Peggy's Cove and how someone will get swept off the rocks by an unexpected wave. I am turning into Nervous Nellie!

And then the walk ended at the back of this hotel with its beautiful flowers. It was fantastic!

It's a gardener's delight here...tremendous effort goes into making it picture perfect.

We were a bit outside of town, but Ogunquit has this fantastic trolley system which went right by our motel. You paid $1.50 each time you got on and you could take it as far around the hour-long loop as you liked. It became our transportation system, as it was hard to find a place to park and it was also very expensive. Also, if you wanted a glass of wine at dinner, it took the "who's driving" out of the equation.

OMG! Grease!!! We walked by this little theatre...okay, wait...we couldn't even see the theatre. But it said "Tonight at 8:00" so we decided to investigate.

Hmmm...so this was the theatre. The opening on the left was the way to the washroom where you also ran into the actors/actresses backstage during the break. This was either going to be a train wreck or a hidden gem!

No, this wasn't the ticket booth!

Good ol' Rydell High!

We arrived at about 7:50 for the show. This wasn't looking too good. So far, it was just us! But in the end there was an enthusiastic audience of 14, and because it was so small, we sounded like many more. The show was actually very good and lots of fun! Most of the actors were university students just trying to an acting job for the summer.Well worth the $19...

Ahhh...Salt Air Way...so cute...

Beautiful homes right near Perkins Cove...

This was the patio near one of the restaurants. The restaurants with outdoor seating definitely do a better business, but we had fabulous meals wherever we went.

This was a favourite stop on a couple of mornings. Breaking New Grounds is a coffee shop in Perkins Cove...

With outdoor seating...

Inquisitive birds...

And fabulous views! It was easy to sit there for an hour enjoying your coffee and watching the waves.

We didn't spend too much time in the shops as it was really warm. I did threaten to go into the candy store many times, but never did make it!

The trolley stop at the end of the line in Perkins Cove. This was as far as the trolley would go before it began the trip back around the loop. Some of the drivers were so nice, and one in particular was sooo crabby. You would have to love people to do this job. Even in the short time we were there, they answered the same questions from the tourists over and over again, and you would be doing the same hour drive and announcing the same stops over and over again.

The crowded Ogunquit Beach...

It was nice that they had benches under cover where you could sit...

We drove by this house so many times and it looked so adorable. It's actually a business called Spoiled Rotten. Must get in there next time!

And to top off our eating extravaganza...one afternoon we felt liking having a good ol' breakfast, which led us here.

Oh! I hadn't watched this show but I had heard about it.

This was a small line up compared to what we saw when we drove by at other times. Of course, it was 3:00 in the afternoon!

Yum! Eggs and hash browns...notice the very artful placement of the knife!

And yummy homemade beans and a tea biscuit that weighed a pound! We didn't need dinner that night!

We enjoyed Ogunquit so much that we decided to stay a few more days. Now that we have the lay of the land, we decided to move closer to town...