Wanna get away?

Kennebunkport, Maine

YES!!!  2011 has been an incredible year for the two of us so far, and one that has been packed with change on what seems like a daily basis.  While we have had many many fun experiences since moving to Fayetteville, we had yet to have any real time to simply relax and enjoy a nice break.

So, we booked a trip to one of our favorite 'familiar' spots.  Many of you may know that we were fortunate enough to have our engagement take place in Kennebunkport, Maine.  It is, for us, a very special place.  It is a place that is beautiful, relaxing, serene, and filled with many memories...and also endless amounts of lobster, clam chowder, crab, and clams.  To get there, we flew into Boston and actually spent the first night at the Spriggs' house.  They were out of town, but kind enough to let us stay for a night and enjoy what the south bay area of Boston had to offer.  In return we somehow managed to get their car towed (seemed like a fair trade?).

On the way up to Kennebunkport, on the recommendation of Nicki's Dad (who operates as a professional tour guide for the east coast) we stopped in Rockport, Massachusetts.  To say the view was amazing would be a dramatic understatement.  We ate lunch at a spot called My Place by The Sea - and the name was a pretty reasonable descriptor.

 

 

Our place in Kennebunkport was a secluded bed and breakfast called the Old Fort Inn.  It was tucked away enough that we were outside of the 'town' but still close enough to enjoy all the amenities Kennebunkport had to offer.  We were actually only a two minute walk from one of the most beautiful churches in the world.  St. Ann's is an Episcopal church (note:  it is where the Bush family attends church) located on the ocean with an outdoor setting that is absolutely breathtaking.  The Bush summer home was just a few blocks away as well.

Town Directory

The Old Fort Inn - Poolside

      

St. Ann's Episcopal Church

Outside Chapel

Because Kennebunkport is an extremely bike friendly town, Nicki and I couldn't think of a better way to spend our first morning there getting around.  Thinking it would be a flat and easy ride, we hopped on two 'beach cruisers' provided from our place.  Well, instead we ended up on an impromptu road ride climbing category 3 hills (not really, but it felt like it) on our sweet Tommy Bahama beach cruisers.  We did finally make it via the scenic route into town and actually had an awesome morning drinking coffee and relaxing at a breakfast spot.


   

Enjoying some 'fried clams' from the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport

One of the day trips we took was to a town in New Hampshire called Wolfeborough.  It is the town where Nicki's grandparents (Dale's parents) had a home when she was growing-up.  Throughout my time in the Freygang family I've heard countless stories of the home, and the memories they made in Wolfeborough.  We were only an hour away, so we made a beautiful drive so I could see it first hand.  As you will see below - Nicki even talked me in to going back to her grandparents' house and walking around even though the homeowners were not home.  Yes, we did knock on the door.

A Freygang Favorite

This is the infamous hardware store where Dale (Nicki's dad) got his start towards being the next Bob Vila.

This is the boat dock behind the lake house Nicki's grandparents used to own

View from the deck

 

Needless to say, the trip in its entirety was exactly what we needed.  I returned to Fayetteville after our time in Maine and Nicki continued her week by heading to Columbus for a wedding and a Miami housemate reunion.

Life has been crazy since we got back from our trip - but I guess that is what happens when you take a vacation.  Fall has begun and we are looking forward to Saturdays spent tailgating and experiencing all that Razorback football has to offer.  Even better, we have many visitors coming this Fall - and as Nicki and I have both stated over the last few weeks - now that we are almost six months removed from leaving Cincinnati, we continue to miss our friends and family but love little things like vacations, weddings and reunions to make the distance not seem so far.