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Get Your Fall On With Apple Picking in Southern Maine

September 16, 2019 by mainestayinn Leave a Comment

Posted on: September 16, 2019

It seems like the summer has flown by, and it is hard to believe that it is already mid September, but that means that Apple Picking Season is here! We’re starting to see those classic paper baskets in the grocery stores, and now they are filled to the brim with the crops from local Maine orchards. No matter your age, there is something so enjoyable about picking apples, and something that really gets you excited about the fall season (even more so than pumpkin spice lattes!)

Even though Kennebunkport is a seaside community with glorious beaches, you don’t have to go far to get to soil that is great for farming, including growing apples! Nearby Spiller Farm has a younger orchard with a great variety of apples, which means that you can pick your own (or just shop their quaint farm store, though that isn’t as much fun) throughout the growing season. Their trees might be a little on the smaller side, but they offer so many types of apples you won’t even notice! Plus, their pumpkin wagon rides are not to be missed. Venture a little further inland to check out Giles Family Farm. Located in Alfred, Maine, their orchards are a little more mature, and you’ll find cider and cider doughnuts during their apple picking weekends. This weekend their Macintosh and Cortland apples were at the peak of ripeness and the weather today was ideal for an outdoor adventure!

Kelly Orchards was founded in 1982 and remains committed to the environment, using eco-friendly pesticides to keep you and mother earth happy. They are open through Thanksgiving and are a great spot to enjoy a fall apple picking experience. Libby & Sons also offers a full fall experience, with apples of countless variety, with harvests well into November. You can bring the whole family for the full fall experience, including donuts, kettle corn, and my personal favorite – caramel apples! You don’t have to venture far inland to find the classic New England orchards of your Instagram dreams – so plan your fall getaway to Kennebunkport Maine today!

Fall Foliage Season Coming to the Maine Coast

September 4, 2019 by mainestayinn Leave a Comment

Posted on: September 4, 2019

While Labor Day has barely passed, fall foliage is only weeks away, bringing with it glorious colors of autumn to the New England landscape. Here on the Maine coast, you’ll see glowing reds, oranges and golds to contrast the deep ocean hues, and that is one of the best things about fall here – the beautiful scenes and the ocean views! There are countless ways to enjoy the fall season, but one of the best is simply wandering the streets and coastlines of Kennebunkport and drinking in the glorious colors.

Since the big box stores are sending the message that Thanksgiving is practically here, we are clearly behind the 8 ball thinking about fall (because clearly the time to do that was, like, July 4th). In reality, though, the foliage colors peak sometime between the last week of September and Columbus Day Weekend. That said, some years the stunning scenery will last until the very end of October, and fading into November. But almost no matter what the weather brings, you will definitely see autumnal tones on the trees from September 20 through Halloween. That means that there is plenty of time to grab a pumpkin spice something, go apple picking, and take the perfect Instagram photo of the fall foliage. Speaking of fall foliage, there are so many routes for enjoying the fall colors – on foot, by bike, or in a car. The staff at the Maine Stay Inn is happy to help you map out your ideal route to maximize enjoyment of the seasonal views.

This fall, we are looking forward to leaf peeping (of course, right?) because we too like posting beautiful pictures on Instagram, but we are also hoping to take a foliage cruise on the water, because local sailboat rides like the Schooner Eleanor or the Pineapple Ketch offer a unique view of the foliage from the water. We are also particularly fond of hikes (not just in the fall, but honestly in any season!) and Mount Agamenticus is a favorite spot in the autumn. Why? The view is spectacular! In one spin you can see the fall foliage of Southern Maine towns of Wells, Kennebunkport, York and Ogunquit, the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, and all the way to Mount Washington, as long as the weather cooperates, of course! But hiking and sailboat rides are just two of the activities to enjoy during your fall foliage getaway, so what’s on your to-do list this fall when leaf peeping in Kennebunkport Maine?

5 Things Not To Miss This September in Maine

September 2, 2019 by mainestayinn Leave a Comment

Posted on: September 2, 2019

September is upon us – seriously, how did that happen?! – and there are so many amazing ways to enjoy this month in Maine. The beginning of the month feels like summer, and the end of the month boasts the colors of fall, making September basically a two-fer. So how do you take advantage of all the amazing things about summertime in Kennebunkport and an amazing fall foliage tour? Here’s our 5 favorite things to do to get the most out of your September getaway to Maine:

1. Schooners. Nothing says “summering” more than a glorious sailboat ride on the Atlantic.

A beautiful day aboard the Schooner Eleanor

September can be a little cooler than the middle of summer, especially come the end of the month, so just make sure to bring a sweatshirt or windbreaker. Schooner Eleanor has blankets, in case you forget your layers, but both of those are pretty much staples for any time between May and November. So don’t forget it when packing, okay? Anyhow, a sailboat ride along the coastline is also a spectacular way to enjoy the colors of fall – think about those Instagram-worthy shots of the coastline from the water. Stellar!

2. The Lighthouses. Okay, the Maine lighthouses are gorgeous literally 365 days a year, and they just scream “Maine.” But tours of the coastline means amazing opportunities to spend time on the water, and toward the end of the month, your pics will feature glowing colors, and getting from one to the next is basically a fall foliage tour all on its own. Goat Island Light, one of the state’s smallest lighthouses, which is located right in Kennebunkport Maine, is a spot not to be missed, and you can stop in to the nearby Cape Pier Chowder House for a quick lunch on the docks.

3. Local Farms. Who doesn’t love a trip to the farm? You support small businesses, local agriculture, and it’s so delicious! I might fail at growing anything but herbs, but thank goodness others have greener thumbs! September is sometimes the end of blueberry season, but it almost always means corn and apples. Who doesn’t love apple picking? Just over the border in Wells sits Spiller Farm, a great spot to pick early and late season apples, and their farm stand is super cute.So grab your basket, head to Pinterest for apple inspiration, and get picking!

4. Antiquing. This is another year round fave, but when the beach is calling your name, searching for that perfect piece even Joanna Gaines will envy usually falls a little lower on the list. But as the weather cools, there is something amazing about hunting for treasure (in furniture or accessory form, of course) the Southern Maine Antique Trail. It’s a real thing, I swear. From little to big and everything in between, the antique shops in the area are sure to have just what you were looking for (or didn’t know you were looking for).

5. Hikes and Nature Walks. Break out your sneakers and maybe some binoculars, because there is tons to see and enjoy on the trails of Southern Maine. For some altitude, head to Mount Agamenticus in York, or even day trip over to Mount Washington for some real mountainous terrain. Or stay a little closer to your home-away-from-home and try the miles of trails at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, the Kennebunk Land Trust and the Wells Reserve. You’d have to spend the entire month to traverse them all, but there is plenty to enjoy!

So even in an “in between” kind of month like September, when it might not be super beachy and might not be the epitome of autumn, there are so many things to enjoy!

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