The Kennebunks in Maine offer year-round surprises

KENNEBUNK, Maine - April 25, 2014 - PRLog -- New resort, 84 Main, now open

By Michael J. Frost

mfrost@selectbranson.com

Why visit Maine for your next vacation? Linda Johnson, Downtown Committee Director for the Town of Kennebunk, Maine, has many enticing answers to that question.

“I would say, why not? I was actually born and brought up in Nebraska, but in all honesty, after my first visit to Maine many years ago, I couldn’t find a house here quick enough,” Johnson said. “It’s a beautiful part of the country.”

This week marks the opening of 84 Main, a new Capital Resorts Group destination, in downtown Kennebunk. The resort is expected to attract Capital Resorts^TM owners and guests from all over the country to Kennebunk to visit this beautiful coastal destination and the neighboring towns of Kennebunkport and Arundel.

Johnson says a visit to Maine can offer the best of what vacations are all about – recreation and relaxation.

“It’s the best of everything, with beaches and mountains, to small towns, but close to large towns. Any part of Maine is like a completely different experience,” she said.

“Depending on what you’re looking for, there’s water, mountains, beaches, all kinds of shopping and events, and there’s still and quietness where you can relax. You can shop, you can dine, get a spa treatment, or visit an exercise facility, all within walking distance,” she added.

The Towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel, collectively known as The Kennebunks, is the most popular vacation destination area in the state of Maine.

The Town of Kennebunk is filled with its own unique charm that makes it a quaint setting, according to Johnson.

“Just on 84 Main Street, guests can find hair salons, pet grooming, shopping, dining, two museums, and walking tours – just out the front door,” she said.

The Brick Store Museumfunctions as the art and history center of the Kennebunks and the Southern Maine area. Dedicated to exhibiting educational and exhilarating stories through the scope of local people and places, the Museum keeps a schedule of rotating exhibitions in six galleries throughout the year, according to Johnson.

Museum in the Streets is a heritage discovery trail within the community, where the streets themselves become the museum. There is a series of 25 panels that makes up the tour, and it includes rare photographs, documents and records of Kennebunk's history, she said.

The Kennebunk beaches are especially popular. Wide, sandy beaches are the perfect place to walk, play in the surf, or enjoy the sight of the waves rolling into shore. The area’s string of beaches, some sandy, some rocky, stretch along the seaside connected by sidewalks – a favorite feature for walkers and joggers. You can drive to the beach and park, or you can take the trolley and leave your car behind, Johnson said.

While the area’s sandy beaches draw thousands of visitors in the warmer months – there are actually many reasons to visit the area throughout the year, during spring, fall and winter seasons, Johnson notes.

“In the winter season, there’s an ice skating rink in the middle of town. When you drive through in the winter, it truly looks like a Norman Rockwell painting,” she said.

Kennebunk is not only rich in beauty, but also bursting with tradition and history, Johnson said.

Originally an agricultural and shipbuilding settlement, Kennebunk has evolved into a favorite destination for travelers worldwide. From the Sea Captain's mansions to the flowing Mousam and Kennebunk rivers, Johnson said there is something in Kennebunk for everyone to experience and enjoy.

“The whole town is history. It’s the New England charm, with the sea captain houses and old villages. It’s where shipbuilding places used to be, with old hotels on the beach. We have a waterfall right in the middle of town,” she said.

Tourism is certainly a huge part of the local economy, but Johnson notes that Kennebunk is also very resident and business friendly. “Kennebunk certainly entertains visitors in every season and we welcome it all, but traditionally we’re still a small town with all the small town flavor,” she said.

Many guests who come to the area are actually seeking to be a part of that small-town charm – and all year-long, Johnson helps plan and organize seasonal community events that not only have become traditions for local residents, but are also drawing visitors and vacationers as well.

Currently, she is planning the 16^th Annual May Day event. “It just gets bigger and better every year. People call as early as January to make sure that this gets included into their publications,” she said.

Held the first Saturday in May, this event features family-friendly, fun activities throughout downtown Kennebunk. There’s a pancake breakfast, maypole dancing, basket making, crafters, food vendors, a parade and more.

The area hosts many special events throughout the year catering to every budget, age and interest, Johnson noted.

With the opening of 84 Main, Johnson said, “We can certainly offer those guests so much, with our beaches, downtown shopping, dining, and the general atmosphere of a small town. The whole town is so welcoming. I am very excited to see this resort open, and to see it become as customer friendly as it can be.”

Capital Resorts Group’s newest destination, 84 Main, opened on April 21st.  Located on Main Street in downtown Kennebunk, 84 Main features spacious one and two bedroom suites with separate living areas, hardwood floors, state-of-the-art kitchens and private balconies.

Inside the resort, guests will find the perfect combination of modern luxuries and homelike comforts.  Each suite will be characterized by Capital Resorts Group's premier Distinct Differences^SM program, an initiative that strives to set Capital Resorts™ apart from the rest.  Some features of the Distinct Differences^SM program include state-of-the-art smart TVs and sound systems, deluxe amenity collections, fine linens and an exclusive South American coffee blend.  84 Main will also highlight Maine's art history, with each room featuring paintings by famous artists who were inspired by the beauty of Maine.

As a Capital Resorts Club destination, 84 Main will attract Capital Resorts^TM owners and guests from all over the country to Kennebunk to visit this beautiful coastal destination.

Capital Resorts Group is a premier vacation ownership and full-service management company with resort destinations across the country.  Owners with Capital Resorts™ enjoy flexible, points-based travel to a variety of sought-after resort destinations, with each resort featuring luxury accommodations and "Distinctly Different" amenities and benefits. For more information about Capital Resorts Group, please visit www.capitalresortgroup.com.