Happy holiday weekend, all! The work week commandeered a bit more of my time than expected (got to pay those bills, bills, bills) so the final installment of my Maine vacation got a wee bit delayed (it's travel-related, so that's apropos, no?) If you missed the first two vacays posts you can catch up here and here.
I was about four days into my trip when I realized that I was on the cusp of missing out on a critical Maine staple – lobster. Our family plans for the remainder of my stay didn't include seafood, so I took matters into my own hands by making a solo day trip to Kennebunkport, Maine. And it was exactly what I wanted and needed to end my time off jussssttttt right.
Kennebunkport is about a half hour drive from the Gannon Camp. The town's Lower Village is a highly trafficked area featuring a mix of artisan and touristy shops and, of course, lots and lots of restaurants with something I was desperately seeking…lobster. It's an area that is near and dear to my heart due to the amount of time I've spent there over the years with my family.
My afternoon of Eat, Shop, Love included…
I've been to Federal Jacks countless times. It's the birthplace of Shipyard Ale and has gorgeous views of the Kennebunk River. Some of my favorite K-Port memories include having lunch with my Mom outside on the restaurant's upper deck. She would have the Chinese chicken salad, and my nosh choice was typically the grilled crab and Havarti cheese sandwich (soooooooo good.) They also have absolutely stellar lobster bisque which they serve with chunks of lobster.
Guess what I had?
As you can imagine eating nearly an entire bowl of bisque was quite filling, so before getting the next round of lobster, I took my time to walk it off with a little shopping. I do tend to be a Kennebunk creature of habit, so I mostly went into the shops I know and love but checked out a few new ones along the way.
I usually correlate an “emporium” with cheap trinkets and t-shirts. That's not the case with the Docksquare Emporium. This little shop has super cute home goods – many Maine-themed. I wasn't in the market for a notepad but couldn't resist the rotary phone with “call me old-fashioned.” Puns FTW!
My mother LOVES black licorice Scottie Dogs. They aren't the most common candy, but I pressed my luck and went into the Sugar Shack to check. And you know what…no whammies! The shop had an entire black licorice section, so I brought a bunch of (edible) dogs home.
My family has never been one steeped in tradition. One memory that I have that always, always brings a smile to my face is Christmas Eve Day shopping with my Dad. From my mid-teens to mid-twenties, my father and I would take off to different areas on the Maine coast to find the perfect gift for my Mom. Abacus is in the heart of the Lower Village featuring unique jewelry and uncommon “objets de art.” I would carefully scour their glass cases for something that screamed “Mom.” Usually, a few pieces would make their presence known and we would walk out with nicely wrapped trinkets to put under the tree.
Hey, Dad! Now that you and Mom will be in Florida to snowbird let's go Christmas Eve Day shopping again. That's a non-tradition that needs to become a tradition. Again.
About an hour into my shopping, I could tell that I was ready for my second and final round of lobster. Enter…The Clam Shack. From the street, I could see that the line was nearly thirty people long. Typically, I have zero interest in waiting for anything. In this day and age, I succumb easily to instant gratification with my patience level being at an all-time low. But with The Clam Shack…it's either wait just like everyone else or miss out on something special. I chose the latter. And boy…was it worth it…
My trip home to Maine went by so incredibly fast. And it was everything that I wanted it to be – quality time spent with friends and my parents. And excellent eats. I'll see you soon, Maine!
What do you think about a lobster roll that is NOT served in a hot dog bun? Do you think it's still a “roll” or would you just call it a “sandwich”? I'm bread agnostic when it comes to a lobster roll.
Work Hard. Play Hard. Drink Chard.
Laurie