I recently took a vacation to Kennebunk, Maine, with my mom, sister Alice, and Alice’s dogs, Franny and Darla. I know everyone has their idea of the perfect vacation, and mine always includes an uncrowded beach, hopefully with some dogs.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Dog Treats. At Daily Dog Tag, we only work with brands that we know and trust. All photos by Alice G Patterson Photography.
The sound of the ocean is one of the most soothing sounds in the world to me.
One of the things I savor the most is the smell of the salt air. The sense of smell is so powerful and can flood our memories instantly.
I can only imagine what it is like for dogs with their highly sensitive noses.
We visited Mother’s Beach, which is open to dogs before 9 am and after 5 pm during the summer and all day from Labor Day to Memorial Day. (Check before visiting to be sure.)
Although neither of Alice’s dogs enjoys swimming, they seemed quite happy to take in the sights, sounds, and smells. They were quite thirsty at the end of our walks and up for a treat!
Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Dog Treats are one of Franny’s favorite treats! I’m not sure if is the aroma or the taste, but she always comes running for them. That can’t be said for every treat I’ve given her. While we were photographing these images, Franny started to drool uncharacteristically.
Vita Bone Biscuits smell really good and remind me of Sunday breakfasts of my youth: blueberry pancakes, maple syrup, and a side of bacon. Sourced and made in the United States, Artisan Inspired Vita Bone Biscuits never have corn, soy, by-products, or artificial flavors.
In addition to going to the beach, we visited the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, which is quite beautiful. It starts as a walk in the woods, but it has some great views of the marshes.
(Dogs need to be on a leash, Alice removed Franny’s in photoshop.)
Like most tourist towns, there are plenty of cute shops in the Kennebunk area. We were particularly delighted to discover Scalawags! It is one of the cutest boutiques I’ve ever seen. (It is also pet-friendly.)
Several restaurants in town offer a dog-friendly patio area, but we mostly ate in. Since we had a lovely rental home, we felt comfortable leaving the girls there when we went out. We treated ourselves to some delicious Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy ice cream in town. Of course, we gave Darla and Franny some treats too!
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About Alice G Patterson Photography: Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in meeting the photography needs of creative women entrepreneurs and dog portraits. She is available for travel.
This looks like such an amazing place and I love the beach, there is something special about the vastness of the sea, the smell and sound that is just so soothing. It looks like you had an amazing time and as always wonderful pics
Thanks so much, Ruth!
Lovely photos! I’ve actually driven through/past Kennebunk quite a few times but never stopped to spend any time there. I have some family and like to hike/camp in Maine, but further up then Kennebunk. Maine is such a pretty state, it’s one of the places on our short list of states we would consider moving too someday.
This was my first time going to Kennebunk. I usually go up to Acadia, but Kennebunk is pretty awesome too.
Treats make a day brighter. Ask Cookie 🙂 Though she turns her nose on anything that’s not meat. Somebody spoiled that girl too much. I wonder who that was.
Cookie is one lucky dog!
What a fluffy pooch! And these pictures turned out phenomenal! I also entered the giveaway! 🙂
Oh my goodness I am in love with your pom what a cutie! All yoru photography is amazing too. My dog loves to travel and go on adventures. Seems you guys had a blast in Maine! Hoping we can visit soon.
This would be my version of the perfect vacation/holiday! Spending time with my family and of course, my dogs, at such a beautiful and serene place. I bet the pups had a wonderful time – even if they didn’t go in the water – but it sure sounds like they enjoyed their treats 🙂 Your photos, as always, are stunning!
What a fantastic place! I was there once many years ago and this just brought back some great memories. Looks like fur kids had one awesome time!
Oh what a nice getaway! I’ve traveled to Maine once before however it was inland and not by the beach. Love the pics! The dogs look so happy too. Vita bone makes some great flavors….blueberry maple bacon makes me think of pancakes and bacon. Now I’m hungry!
The dogs are so adorable, and that looks like a really fun place to,visit! I’ve never been to Maine before but I’d really like to. What breed is the fluffy black one?
We love the seaside. It’s the best place for a visit and a walk. Your two pups are adorable here. Can’t you just feel the goodwill in those smiles!!
The first photo is my absolute favorite! It looks like the pooch has a huge smile on their face. I’m glad you had a lovely vacation.
I love your pictures! Your dogs look so cute and happy. I entered the giveaway too… paws crossed! I have two doodles that would love them!
How beautiful! So many of the sailors we meet in our travels end up in Maine for the summer. Hopefully we’ll get there someday as well.
Wow, the beach looks wonderful. My dogs do not swim but I am certain they would love to walk and enjoy the beach sand. Love the pictures. Looking at the pictures I can hear the waves and smell the ocean. Just Wonderful.
That was such a great vacation, and so glad you could come be there! My girls love those Vita-Bone Treats!
Looks like a great place to visit. I don’t take Buffy to the beach anymore since going in the water seems to give her ear infections. It’s now been two years without one!
Thanks for the tour of Kennebunk…so nice that it is dog-friendly. Treats on a trip make the days that much more pleasurable 🙂
I love the beach, but haven’t been there for a vacation in years! I’ve always wanted to visit the New England States, but have only been to Boston and that was for a conference so I was indoors most of the time.
If I were to win the giveaway, I’d give the treats to my mom’s dog, Bandit.
OMG, these dogs are so adorable!! We’re heading to Maine this Summer as well, it’s great to know there is at least one dog friendly beach, even though the hours are restricted. I’m glad you were able to get a dog friendly rental as well, those can be so hard to find in beach areas. I can’t wait for our trip to Maine, I’ve been dying to go. We’ll be bringing along our VitaBone treats too, my dogs love them. Great giveaway. Tweeting & Pinning to my pet travel board.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Great armchair traveler post! I almost feel as if I was there, sand and surf between my toes! Growing up on the beaches of Long Island sound and the Jersey shore, I love beaches and salty ocean air!
What beautiful photos!
Scalawags looks like an amazing store! I could get lost browsing in there! I love the photo of the stacked street signs! Now…which way to go?!
Being a big breakfast fan, especially blueberry pancakes, I can smell those treats from here! Mmmmm!
Beaches, dogs, treats, and photography? All of my favorite things! ☺️
Beautiful place to visit. I like the Oregon Coast because dogs are welcome to run on the beach all the time! It’s Mr. N’s favorite.
That sounds amazing!
What a fun trip! And such cute pups 🙂
LOOK AT THOSE HAPPY PUPPIES! I love Maine and I hope I can take my puppers there some day!
I hope you can take them there too!
Lately, we’ve been doing a lot of stay-cations with day trips to the White Mountains, Maine, etc. We do love Kennebunk and York, Maine!
Day trips are great too!
My dogs would love those treats! Yours are so precious, these are beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kennebunk up in Maine looks BEAUTIFUL! I wanna go! 🙂 I love the pics by the coast. And of course doggie-related posts will always entice me to click. And your dogs look precious, too, by the way.
CUTE PUPS! How fun to go on vacation with man’s best friend. I really need to do some research so I can take my Shiba with us on our next trip!
I love the beach myself, and one of my favorite beaches is Emerald Isle, NC. I could literally walk the beach for hours, at dawn and dusk. Heavenly. I love that you had a pet friendly house too, so that your sister’s dogs could go. I love having my dogs with me.
I don’t really have a favorite vacation spot because I rarely take go-away vacations, but I’d love the freedom to explore someday.
Love taking our dog backpacking anywhere in Montana and Western Washington
What a fun trip, the dogs look so happy. My dog says she would love to try those treats.
We currently have three dogs and three cats (with my daughter’s boyfriend’s two cats also staying with us, so there are five cats). I actually had five dogs for a while (lost two from medical issues and one from age), so traveling with or without them isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Most of the time we just do staycations, although I’d love to take my dogs up to northern Wisconsin, where we used to vacation with my childhood family and beagle, Pixie
Your photos are so great!! I just got back from a trip to Maine that I sadly couldn’t bring my dog to due to where I was staying. I treasured my time there so much, but next time I’m going to find a place that allows dogs so he can experience it, too!
My favorite vacation spot is the mountains of Colorado. I can bring my dog and hike the great trails with fantastic views.
We love going to TN because I am able to bring the 3 Frenchies along for the trip!
What a fun trip! I love a good beach!!! I am a Californian, but took my entire family to Maine for the Maine Lobster Festival a few years ago. It was such a wonderful experience. Next time I will have to visit this area.
i have not been on a vacation in years, so i guess my best that i have been to would be Louisville, ky for the horse shows and seeing the wonderful stables, bluegrass country
Hawaii is my favorite vacation spot.
We love a trip to a new beach, especially one that’s uncrowded, which at this time of the year is rare. It looks like you had a great, fun trip!
Oh what fun! Looks like the dogs had a great time (you, too). I love the canine smiles on their faces, and I could almost smell the salt sea air.
Thanks Amy, we had so much fun!
Main is on my list to visit with my dog and a vacation home sounds like the best idea – where specifically is this beach and what vacation home rental company did you use?
Kennebunk is close to my house . I don’t go down there too much because I hate the summer traffic. There are some super cute shops and awesome restaurants down there. You can’t beat the beach! The pictures are great. The puppers look very happy.
More and more states and different places are getting more dog friendly. Nice to see this happening
We have a home by the beach and my dogs love it. Will have to check out those treats for training.
My husband and I both love dogs and the state of Maine, so this is definitely a destination we should visit. Please tell Alice her pooches are precious!
How cute your fur babies are!! I use to love taking my pooch to the dog beach park. So much fun
What a wonderfully dog friendly place. My Sal used to love the sea side but we never made it that often, I think now she’s coming on 18 it might be a bit too much for her though.
Getting away to the beach sounds like such a great idea and your photos were inviting. I love to go away with the dogs and this area looks like a nice place to spend a vacation.
def a great time! a wonderful place to bring all your furry pets too and looks like such a great time together!
I have never heard of these treats before but I know my dog would love them. I love that little black furball. He cracks me up.
I have to make sure to add this location to our Spring bucket list. I love visiting different places in Maine with my family.
Franny and Darla are both so precious. Their beach adventure looks like so much fun and I’m sure the treats were well deserved!
I’m definitely going to try these. Our puppy is picky when it comes to treats, but I bet she’d really like these.
I love dogs on a beach, too. We always laugh when we see a dog who loves the water, jumping in and out and swimming in the sea. Good times.
I love traveling with my Sophie pup and would love to ravel to Maine one day. Thanks for this trip guide!
Awww, your pooches are so cute. I hear great things about that area up north of me. I’d love to go there some day.
I would love to take my pups to Kennebunk! I didn’t realize it was so dog-friendly- the only time I’ve been there I was traveling solo without the pups. Looks like they’ll have to tag along next time and we can see some of these sites!