Hidden Pond

Kennebunkport is famously the home of the Bush family compound. And is it any wonder they chose this place as their respite? Dockside lobster shacks; a 19th century lighthouse; misty shores to stroll…it’s a Norman Rockwell scene, incarnate. But if latter generations are seeking a modern version that’s highly Instagrammable to boot, Hidden Pond is it. The clean-lined retreat offers organic gardens, ripe for the plucking; kayak rentals in the nearby Kennebunkport Marina; a spa set high in the birch trees with locally sourced ingredients in their treatment; and so much more. But the cottages, bungalows and other room options are what you’ll be fantasizing about long after the vacay ends; even the Studio is spacious (at 422 square feet) and fitted with a gas fireplace, screened porch and exposed beam ceilings. We recommend indulging in the From Far Away Lodge, though: it sleeps five and was designed by Todd Snyder with Maine-inspired touches galore, from the Kennebunkport-made Sea Love candles to the L.L. Bean upholstery.

Tucked within a magical 60 acre birch and balsam forest with a treetop spa, two al fresco pools (one adults-only) and a locally beloved locavore restaurant.

A meh version of Maine. Exploits for guests here are transcendent, ranging from floral arranging in the potting shed to forest bathing with a guide trained in the ancient Japanese art.

You’re hankering for a summer camp feel without the summer camp aesthetic.

The log-lined walls at Earth, the hotel’s fiercely farm to table restaurant, foretell of foraged thrills to come—straight from the landscape out the windows. Tonight? A spring white asparagus soup with poached lobster and local barley risotto with truffle and crispy shallots.

Earth at Hidden Pond - open daily for dinner, offering farm-to-fork dining with simple, innovative fare