Maine

Fall-ing for New England: Boston, MA and Kennebunkport, ME

Friends. We found fall. Not the kind of fall we experience in Southern California, i.e. “iced” pumpkin spice lattes, “light jacket” weather, and approximately ten total trees changing color (and you have to hunt for them).

No, the kind of fall that we’ve only seen in Hallmark movies. Trees with bright yellow, red, and orange leaves, apple picking farms, and crisp, cold air. We’ve officially been ruined by fall in New England. Here’s what we did in the hopes you can experience it one day too…


BOSTON

Now, we were only in Boston for a total of 18 hours, but we did it well (and we’ll be back). We stayed at the Beacon Hill Hotel, located in the picturesque neighborhood of Beacon Hill. We LOVED this spot. You’re surrounded by brick buildings with cute shops and quaint restaurants, plus the Beacon Hill Hotel makes you feel like a local. There’s only 13 rooms, so it has a quaint, homey feel.

We ate dinner just a few doors down at Figs, a thin crust pizza bistro that’s equally cozy as it is good. Order the Red Sox pizza and a glass of Octoberfest beer, and you’ll thank us later. Follow that up with a drink on the rooftop (bundle up!) at the Beacon Hill Hotel, and you’ve got the makings for a perfect night in the city!

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel (get the breakfast sandwich), then ventured out to explore the city!

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First stop: Acorn Street

This is Boston’s most photographed street, and it’s steps from the Beacon Hill Hotel. Get there early (like we did) and you’ll bypass the crowds!

Next up, Walk the Freedom Trail!

Now, we didn’t walk the entire Freedom Trail - but we did walk a good portion of it! Take it to Paul Revere’s House and do a self-guided tour inside. It’s well worth the $5 admission to see what life was like back in his day, as Paul Revere himself was an incredibly fascinating guy. (Who oddly really resembles Jack Black!)

Right down the street from Paul Revere’s house is Mike’s Pastry, world famous for their cannolis and decadent baked goods. We had no self control and ordered numerous things - and they were all amazing. Especially the cookies.

We closed out our 18 hour Boston sprint with coffee at George Howell. Not only do they have great branding (something we’re suckers for), but they have fantastic coffee. The baristas are well-trained and serious about what they serve, and the quality proves it. If you go in the fall, be sure to try the Hot Buttered Cider!

MAINE

Just two hours from Boston is Kennebunkport, Maine - our final destination. The drive to Kennebunkport is sprinkled with gorgeous scenery, cute seaside towns, and what seems like an endless amount of lobster shacks. It’s every bit as dreamy as it sounds!

We stopped at Bob’s Clam Hut in Kittery for a lobster roll, fish chowder, and their famous “Fishwhich”. All of which were mouth-wateringly good. If you’re a seafood lover, this is your heaven.

  • Because of our late start out of Boston, we got there around 2pm and there was no line. From what we hear, lunch can be crazy - so take note!

Next stop was our “home” for the next three nights, the Inn at English Meadows.

This charming B&B completely changed how we view B&B’s (more on that here). It was the perfect blend of cozy and luxurious, and the hospitality and attention to detail that the Innkeeper Elizabeth showed us was unparalleled. We had the “Carriage House Suite” which included a living room, kitchenette, private balcony and walk-in closets. It was like our own private casita - and we can’t imagine staying anywhere else!

We walked to dinner at Old Vines Wine Bar, a welcoming little wine bar that specializes in tapas, wine, and specialty cocktails. Three of our favorite things! If you go, make sure to order the meatballs!

We woke up early the next morning to explore the town of Kennebunkport, and we were so glad we did. We basically had the town to ourselves! We grabbed coffee at Mornings in Paris and Dock Square Coffee House (yolo!) and oo-ed and awe-ed over the picturesque buildings and town square. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast back at our inn, and headed out for a drive!

We were on a mission to find the best fall foilage - and we figured the best way to do so was to explore the old country roads. Sure enough, we were quickly surrounded by colorful trees and farms that looked like they were out of a storybook! We embraced not having a set schedule, and stopped numerous times for photos, leaf frolicking, and...apple picking!

Located on Bridgetown Road, Five Fields Farm is an apple picking dream. They hand you a bag, explain the different varietals, and point you to the fields. The trees are dripping with the juiciest, crunchiest apples we’ve ever had, and picking them was SO much fun. This is a must-do if you’re in Maine in the fall!

We slowly meandered back to Kennebunkport, where we relaxed at our inn before going out for the night. We had drinks at a local favorite, The Pilot House, and then dinner at the newest (and coolest) restaurant in town, The Boathouse. We’re still dreaming about their lobster mac n’ cheese!

Our final day in Kennebunkport was spent exploring. We stopped at Snug Harbor Farm to pet their mini horses and walk around their stunning farm. And then we made our way to Ogunquit, where we walked the famous Marginal Way path along the ocean.

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Conveniently, it led us straight to Barnacle Billy’s, where we had the best Lobster Roll of our trip! (Make sure you order the rum punch, too.) We sat along the water and watched the sailboats pass through. The view, the weather, the lobster roll… it all was too good to be true!

The rest of our day was spent shopping in Kennebunkport and enjoying a leisurely happy hour at Stripers Waterside Restaurant. It was the perfect way to close out a perfect (and too short!) trip to New England. We can’t wait to return.

*Do you have a favorite spot that we missed? Leave us a comment and let us know - we’re looking for reasons to return! ;)

B&B’s Are Cool Again: How the Inn at English Meadows Shifted Our Perspective

Have you heard the news? B&B’s are making a comeback.

What for so long has been considered “outdated” and “old school” is being reinvented. For awhile it seemed as though millennials (ourselves included) had moved away from traditional B&B’s - as boutique hotels, larger chains where we can use our points and “status”, all-inclusives, and even Airbnb’s had taken the lead… But friends, the tide is beginning to turn.

We just returned from a stay at The Inn at English Meadows, a charming B&B in the seaside town of Kennebunk, Maine. From the friendly Innkeeper, to the attention to detail, to the seemingly endless amenities… this experience has completely changed the way we view B&B’s. Here’s why:

1. The Experience

Now, this is the first time we’ve ever stayed in a B&B together. We’ve always had this perception that it would feel like we’re sleeping in a stranger's home, and that just sounded weird. We were SO FAR OFF.

We checked in with Elizabeth, the innkeeper, who offered us some cookies and a tour of the property. It was something out of a movie. Fireplaces crackling, freshly baked cookies, cozy sitting rooms, and lush grounds complete with comfy places to sit and relax. We could’ve easily spent our entire trip at the Inn - and never need to leave!

Elizabeth was amazingly attentive - making sure that our every need was met. Restaurant recommendations? She sent us to the best spots in town. Best drive to find fall foliage? Done. Looking for lighthouses? Here’s a list of the closest ones to town. She was like our private concierge, and we truly wouldn’t have done and seen all that we had if it wasn’t for her!

We often stay at hotels that include breakfast. Which typically means it’s a standard continental buffet, nothing fancy. Not at The Inn at English Meadows! Included with your stay is a 3 course breakfast - and it all looks (and tastes!) as though Martha Stewart herself made it just for you! Fresh baked scones, scrambled eggs with goat cheese and asparagus, pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon butter… these were honestly our favorite meals of the entire trip! Oh, and did we mention we dined in their garden patio? It was a dream!

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2. The Amenities

The Inn at English Meadows has 13 rooms - all of which are beautifully decorated. They feature Vera Wang and FRETTE bedding, flat screen TV’s, fluffy towels and robes, Malin+Goetz toiletries (our favorite!), and so much more. These rooms have more amenities than most nice hotels would!

There were multiple mini fridges around the home, stocked with water bottles and seltzer water for guests to enjoy. They had a station for hot coffee and tea, available 24/7, and had freshly baked cookies for guests to enjoy every afternoon. If guests were in the mood for a cocktail or a glass of wine, Elizabeth and her team were happy to serve. Like we said earlier - our every need was met here!

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3. The Affordability

When you factor in all of the amenities (three course breakfast, coffee and tea, cookies, etc.), a B&B like the Inn At English Meadows can be extremely affordable. There aren’t any added “resort fees”, and all of the little added costs like water bottles are taken care of! That may sound little - but those things add up over time. Add to that the convenience of having it all at your disposal, and it’s truly an amazing value!

Have we convinced you to try a B&B yet? We hope so. And we hope you’ll start with the Inn At English Meadows… we can’t wait to return!