By: Courtney Byrne

We just got back from a trip to Maine. It’s our second time visiting Maine and while we thought about exploring other parts of the state, we loved Kennebunkport so much the first time we decided to go back. We wouldn’t be there a full week, so we didn’t rent a house this time. I did a lot of research on family friendly hotels and resorts in Maine and was happy to see many of them were in Kennebunkport. We ended up visiting 2 of them on our trip! Today I am sharing details of the trip and my list of the best Maine resorts for families. 

Last time, in addition to renting a house, we spent a couple nights at Lodge on the Cove. It was a major highlight of the trip and my kids really wanted to go back. I was on board but also wanted to try something new: since we were already returning to Maine and returning to the same town. So we decided to do half the trip at Lodge on the Cove and half the trip at Hidden Pond. Both are part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, which I would highly recommend for family travel. 

Here’s our recap of favorite Maine resorts: 

Lodge on the Cove 

The Lodge on the Cove is a family friendly resort in Kennebunkport nestled on a wooded cove. It has hip, cool decor and makes you feel like you’re back in the “good old days” of summer. We visited 2 years ago and my kids have been asking to go back ever since. It’s such a special place for families and in the perfect location.

You can easily walk into town or use the bikes that the Lodge on the Cove provides. Speaking of bikes: last time we visited no one could ride a bike. This time the girls were cruising around the property on their own and Tommy found a small bike he could use like a balance bike.

We spent a lot of time enjoying the bikes! Since I knew they had bikes, I packed helmets (make sure to pack some!). 

I love the vibe for families at Lodge on the Cove: relax and enjoy time together. The Clubhouse is a cool spot on the property that’s filled with all the old time family fun you can image: pinball machines, Pac Man, quarter gum ball machines, a record player, board games and more. It’s not easy sharing a hotel room with 4 kids, so having a spot at a resort like The Clubhouse is a game changer. Some nights, Miles would go to sleep (Grammy stayed back with him) and I’d take the big kids to The Clubhouse for some Candy Land and S’mores. Outside The Clubhouse there is a campfire and all the supplies for S’mores provided nightly. This is one of our favorite parts! 

Another great part of Lodge on the Cove is the family pool. It has a giant 1st step in that makes for a fun spot for little ones to wade and splash, then plenty of pool beyond that for the bigger kids to swim. They have pool noodles, tunes, etc there for kids to enjoy and the pool area is connected to The Dory.

The Dory is the restaurant at Lodge on the Cove. Both last time and this time we enjoyed lunch and dinner there. The food is delicious and it’s so convenient being right by the pool and outdoor games. In addition to great food, The Dory also has a new range of milkshakes that are out of this world and big enough for a few family members to share! 

We loved this resort the first time we visited and loved it even more this time. The staff, the rooms, the activities, the food and the location make it a perfect family resort in Maine. We hope to go back again! For even more details on Lodge on the Cove, visit my recap from last time (click here). 

Hidden Pond 

After Lodge on the Cove, we made our way over to Hidden Pond for the rest of our time in Maine. It is a completely different family resort than Lodge on the Cove but equally as family friendly. The resort is made up of a collection of different cottages. So your family has their own house for the stay. For me, it was the best of both worlds when it comes to family travel: having a whole house vs hotel room but still being on a resort filled with amenities. Our cottage had a full kitchen, plenty of sleeping space for the 6 of us, an outdoor shower and our favorite: the screened in porch. 

Hidden Pond is located on 60 wooded acres. You’re in Kennebunkport (so plenty of awesome things to do!) but nestled away in a spot where your family can really relax and unwind. On the property there is so much for families.

When you check into your cottage you get a map of the property which my kids thought was so cool. The map shows you all the things you can do and see. Our first stop was at the bike hut where we found every size bike (here they have helmets to borrow if needed). Even mom and Grammy grabbed a bike! Next stop was to see The Farm. The Farm has flowers, vegetables and fruits growing.

All guests are invited to enjoy picking from the garden. I have 4 kids that wish we lived on a farm, so this was a huge treat. They loved that inside the garden shed they could borrow a vase for their flowers, clippers and water cans. After our visit to The Farm, our cottage looked lovely with all the fresh flowers the kids picked. Another spot we loved was the Artist’s Cabin. Here the kids painted pictures (more decor for our cottage!) and some days there are art classes with the Hidden Pond resident artist. 

Hidden Pond also has 2 pools to enjoy. There is a family pool and an adults only pool. At the family pool, like Lodge on the Cove, we found everything we needed for bringing kids to the pool: floats, toys, towels, even sunscreen. We spent hours at the pool and poolside where there are cabanas to relax in, a pin pong table and food and drinks. In this same spot there are nightly bonfires with s’mores. 

More on the food and drinks at Hidden Pond: There is a little hook next to the front door of each cottage. At 8am each morning you’ll find coffee and baked goods hanging from the hook. This was my favorite part! Without leaving the cottage, we could enjoy coffee and breakfast on the screened in porch in our pjs.

We stayed at the resort for dinner one night and tried Earth. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if it was kid friendly. It most definitely was and I am so glad we tried it because it was the best meal the entire trip! The food is all farm to table and the staff does a great job explaining where everything comes from and what’s in season. Make sure to save room for dessert because the homemade donuts and ice cream are amazing! 

 

There is so much to do on the Hidden Pond property for families but when you are ready to venture out, the resort even helps with that. Here’s a major perk of staying at this resort with kids: the shuttle to Goose Rocks Beach. I think Goose Rocks Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have visited on the East Coast. We visited this beach last time and the only trouble we had (not knowing the area) was finding a post to park and then carting all our stuff with the kids in tow. The experience was seamless this time around thanks to Hidden Pond!

We got ready for the beach and the shuttle picked us up at our cottage and dropped us right at The Tides Beach Club which is one of their sister resorts RIGHT on the beach. Then, as a guest of Hidden Pond we could enjoy all the amenities of The Tides Beach Club: chairs, umbrellas, towels, etc. There is also a bathroom if needed and an outdoor spot to rinse off after the beach. Plus, there is a spot to eat at The Tides if you’d like to enjoy lunch at the beach too. When we were ready to leave, the shuttle came back for us and dropped us right back at our cottage. It was the easiest beach day with 4 kids ever! 

Hidden Pond is a really wonderful place. It’s not like anywhere else we have vacationed as a family and somewhere I really hope we can return to someday. I tried to share the “vibe” via all of the photos I took, but it’s really a place you have to see to understand just how special it is for time with your family. 

More Resort Options

Both Lodge on the Cove and Hidden Pond are part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection. There are other great resorts by this group: Grand Hotel, Cottages at Cabot Cove, Boathouse and Kennebunkport Inn. There’s also a few great resorts for couples including The Tides Beach Club (mentioned above). Visit the Kennebunkport Resort Collection’s site for details on all of these properties. 

What are some of your favorite family resorts in Maine?

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