When you hear”who “Vacation” What do you think? Sand, sea, lighthouses, lobster – lots of lobster! We just discovered a great family getaway in Kennebunkport that offers all of these things and is open year-round, which is a rarity in New England. This is it Goose Rocks Beach Housepart of Kennebunkport Resort Collection (KRC), a collection of luxury properties known for their exquisite style and service along with fine wines and cuisine. Located directly on the beach, the property offers plenty of space for families to spread out and enjoy the space in every season.
The beauty of Goose Rocks Beach House is that its collection of rental homes forms a large, beautiful home base on the ocean. In addition, you have access to KRC Tides Beach Club Hoteljust steps away, and Hidden pool, a sister property in a beautiful balsam fir forest, is five minutes down the road via the hotel shuttle. Tides Beach Club offers great food and live entertainment. Hidden Pond offers a wonderful array of activities for children, hiking trails, lawn games, evening s’mores around the campfire, and a great food restaurant Land and Heavenly Tree Resort. If you stay at Goose Rocks Beach House, you’ve hit the triple target: private beachfront living adjacent to great dining plus amenities and activities for kids and adults.
Family-friendly reviews and highlights of Goose Rocks Beach House
Access to Maine’s beautiful, majestic Goose Rocks Beach is the number one reason to stay at this historic property, which has been converted into three two-story private residences. Guests enjoy unrestricted beach access, stunning water views from a large second-floor deck, and the ability to cook their own meals using the full kitchen and Weber grill in each residence. Do you miss repairing the heart? Fear not, there’s a custom Peloton bike at your disposal, as well as beach trips for outdoor riding. When you want a break from cooking, walk by The Tides and eat local favorites like lobster rolls and seafood chowder at The Tides. Tides Beach Club Restaurant. When you’re ready to move from beach to forest, ask the concierge to book a shuttle to Hidden Pond to enjoy hiking trails, kids’ activities, hot swimming, a relaxing spa treatment, or evening bingo and s’mores.
Note: While Goose Rocks Beach House is open year-round, The Tides Beach Club and Hidden Pond are seasonal accommodations, only open in the spring, summer and fall.
Places of residence
The Goose Rocks Beach House residences are spacious, well-appointed and offer plenty of privacy. It’s perfect for families.
Our family of six stayed comfortably Blair, which offers approximately 1,500 square feet of interior space, a first-floor patio with deck chairs, and an ocean-facing deck with ample second-floor seating. The deck offers one of the best private views of Goose Rocks Beach and enchanting Timber Island, and is the perfect place to read a good book, watch the beachgoers, or have a family meal. The interior design offers two bedrooms connected by a hallway. One bedroom has a king-size bed, a spacious seating area, an elegant electric fireplace and a luxurious en suite bathroom with shower. The second has two twin beds and an adjoining bathroom with shower. Upstairs you will find a large ocean view living room with electric fireplace, sectional sofa, dining room table, full bathroom with bathtub, and full kitchen.
Each beach residence features upscale furnishings, Smart LED TVs, Bluetooth speakers, plush towels and robes, plush bedding, Frette bath linens, and decor by Jonathan Adler. Kitchens in all residences include a full refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher and small appliances such as a blender, toaster, hand blender and coffee maker. Guests have a private parking space directly behind the residence, and beach chairs, towels and beach tours are provided free of charge. There is a shared washer/dryer on the first floor as well.
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eat the food
Upon arrival, Goose Rocks Beach House guests will find a large coffee cake in their room to serve as a morning breakfast during their stay. Guests can also choose to have a continental breakfast at Tides Restaurant from 08:00 until 10:00 during the week, and a more extensive à la carte breakfast on weekends.
For lunch or dinner, visit The Tides Beach Club for hearty dishes like lobster ravioli, salmon filets, and grilled swordfish, “shareables” like steak skewers, bacon-wrapped scallops, a raw bar, and kids’ dishes like grilled chicken. Fish and chips, grilled cheese and other favorites.
Since KRC is a collection of luxury properties known for its excellent cuisine, we recommend guests to visit other places KRC Restaurants Also in the area, including Rosella, a sustainable sushi establishment; Via Sofia by the Sea, a modern Italian osteria; Ocean, which serves upscale, sea-inspired cuisine with unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean; And Land, an award-winning farm-to-table restaurant on Hidden Pond. We can personally vouch for Earth Restaurant, which has been described as one of the best restaurants in New England and perhaps even the country. As the name suggests, Earth’s focus is local, seasonal and organic, and Chef Joe Shaver expertly transforms Maine’s vast bounty into a diverse menu of dishes featuring ingredients grown on the organic farm located at Hidden Pond, sourced from local farmers and caught from the ocean near. Handmade pastas, house-made meats, and dishes like halibut with lobster risotto, cauliflower Florentine, and cognac lobster sauce adorn the menu. Cocktails also take inspiration from the farm-to-table movement with fresh fruits and herbs from the garden. And for picky little ones, Earth offers a kids menu.
advice: Indulge in a four-course dinner menu to taste the best (and most) the land has to offer.
Amenities and activities
In the summer, guests can use kayaks and stand-up paddleboards at Goose Rocks Beach House’s L.L. Bean for an ocean adventure, and kids can attend a marine science camp at The Tides Beach Club on the beach. The concierge at Tides Beach Club can arrange Kennebunkport winter hikes, guided moonwalks, stargazing, whale watching, sailing trips, and picnics for guests as well.
Hidden Pond has 2 heated outdoor pools, one for families and one for adults only. The family pool is decorated with floats, floats and diving toys. Next to it, the campfire area has designated chairs, a sand area, sand toys for toddlers, tetherball, giant Jenga, and a nightly bonfire that starts at 5 p.m., with s’mores, and often a game of bingo or trivia led by resort staff. . Hidden Pond also has a number of well-marked hiking trails around the property. Our family’s personal favorite was the studio’s open art shed, decorated with every craft imaginable: tempera paint, glitter, kite making books, origami, felt fabric, pipe cleaners, colored pencils, watercolors, crayons and more. It is truly an artist’s paradise!
The schedule of activities offered by Hidden Pond is curated based on the season. During our visit in late September, the kids painted pumpkins, went for a walk through the woods and made adorable tie-dye shirts. When you check in at Goose Rocks Beach House, the front desk will provide you with a schedule of children’s activities for the week. KRC’s children’s programs are truly the star of the show at these facilities and allow for serious family memories to be made.
Local area
Goose Rocks Beach House is located in picturesque Kennebunkport on Maine’s southern coast, about an hour and a half north of Boston. Kennebunkport is a popular New England seaside town (and long-running summer retreat for the extended Bush clan) that generally leaves visitors mesmerized by its mix of boats, beaches, historic charm, old-fashioned ice cream parlors, and ultra-fresh lobster rolls.
While summer in Kennebunkport is beautiful, there’s a reason to visit during the off-season. As fall came, the crowds dispersed, the leaves began to turn into a symphony of orange, yellow and red, and the land became quiet and still. Named the #2 Christmas Town in America by HGTV, Kennebunkport goes above and beyond for its visitors during the holiday season. Watch Santa arrive on a lobster boat or take a ride on a beachfront holiday wagon during the Kennebunkport Festival Christmas introductionExplore miles of nature trails that provide the perfect setting for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or enjoying the snowfall.
Related Links:
Browse all Maine’s family-friendly destinations and accommodations at Ciao Bambino
Indulge in relaxed, eco-friendly luxury at Maine’s Hidden Pond Resort
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A lovely respite for busy families at Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha’s Vineyard
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Editor’s Note: Lauren was hosted by Goose Rocks Beach House for this property review. As always, our opinions are our own on the Ciao Bambino. Photos by Lauren Braunohler.