Summer in New England wouldn’t be the same without a daytrip to Kennebunkport, Maine, a coastal town in the southern part of the state. If you need a good excuse, here are 3 good reasons to visit:

1. To devour a Maine lobster roll (market price may cause contemplation but, hey, why not indulge?),

2. To spend an hour or so lounging on the beach, and

3. To stroll the charming downtown with a quintessential New England charm.

Plan on an easy 3-hour roundtrip drive from North of Boston to arrive at this enchanting seaside summer destination filled with picturesque landscapes and endless people-watching opportunities.

The full flavor of summertime is easily accessible with a lunch stop at the bar inside or patio seating outside the waterfront hotel, Tides Beach Club, to indulge in a plate of local-harvested oysters (if they have the Damariscotta, Maine oysters, you’re in luck!), best paired with a bottle of Chablis. This French wine pairs perfectly with the next course… lobster roll and fries. You decide how you want your lobster served – hot or cold? That’s the toughest decision of the day.

Continue the laid back vibe with time spent across the street on the powdery white sand at Goose Rocks Beach. The beach is clean, the water pristine, and you can bring a kayak in here if you so choose. A splashy walk along the shoreline is a prescription for bliss. Need proof of its existence? Click HERE to view the beach from a webcam.

Once lunch is digested, head to the nearby Dock Square, the downtown area that starts on Spring Street. Grab a parking space in the lot ($4/hour) or on the street if your parking karma is at peak, and spend the next hour or so peeking inside shops that sell anything from wine and cheese to incense and candles to tea towels with cutesy Maine sayings, and spicy hot sauces, lobster-centric dishware, and much more. And then stop for an ice cream cone at Rococo Ice Cream Shop, where the Goat Cheese Blackberry Chambord will leave your tastebuds smitten and craving a return trip to Kennebunkport, if only for a double scoop more.

Charlene Peters is a travel writer specializing in food, wine, and wellness. To enjoy her book of travel essays with recipes to connect a destination, order "Travel Makes Me Hungry: Tales of Tastes & Indigenous Recipes to Share," available on Amazon.