Waldo Emerson Inn

Everything about our stay was perfect. First of all, the location is right between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. The rooms were clean and the bed was very comfortable. We were lucky and got one of the rooms with heated tile flooring in the bathroom, such a lovely touch. Evenings in the living room were comfortable, with a sweet treat available. The host was very friendly and cooked up a delicious breakfast. There are also great historical resources around the house to learn more about the area I could would recommend this place for anyone visiting this area.

We stayed here as a special treat at the end of our New England fall leaf tour. I phoned Amelia to inquire if the rooms available would be accessible without stairs and she was absolutely charming. We were last minute guests, but could not have been better accommodated. It was as if she'd been planning for us to stay for months. There were special touches for me, my partner, and my mother that made us feel like honored guests. The building has every modern convenience but still has all the charm of the eighteenth century. There are lots of comforting treats for guests and an honor bar. I loved the fact that guests were trusted. It made us feel even more welcome. They treated my mom like a princess moving a chair closer to the fireplace and bringing her a stool when she came down early. Breakfast was house made with quality ingredients and great conversation with Amelia and her husband. I hope to be able to visit again and maybe stay longer.

Waldo Emerson Inn is truly one of my favorite inns — the kind of place that wraps you in warmth and charm from the moment you arrive. The history of the inn alone is incredible, and you can feel it in every creaky floorboard and cozy corner. But what really makes it special is the heart behind it. Amelia, the owner and innkeeper, is absolutely wonderful. She’s warm, welcoming, and goes out of her way to make your stay unforgettable. The breakfasts she prepared each morning were delicious — the kind of homemade meals that make you want to linger at the table just a little longer. The inn itself is pure New England coziness. The beds are so comfortable, the atmosphere is peaceful, and there’s this unmistakable sense of being cared for. And yes… the chocolate chip cookies deserve their own star. 🥰 It’s those thoughtful touches that make this place shine. With its rich Revolutionary-era history, gracious hospitality, and cozy charm, Waldo Emerson Inn easily earns all five stars — and a special place in our hearts.

I planned our anniversary escape as we’ve never been to the Kennebunk / Kennebunkport area. An historic inn that is very well maintained - we enjoyed our stay. We stayed in the Lyman room which had a king bed, two comfortable chairs, and a bathroom. Second floor at the top of the main staircase; easy to come & go. For me, an early riser, it is the gorgeous common rooms that I enjoyed the most! An elegant “parlor”, and the room guests first enter from the parking lot. Both mornings, I quietly came down & got to explore the details of the tiled fireplaces, book titles, and colonial details like the crown molding and paneled doors. A lovely delicious breakfast is served 8:30 - 9:30 am each morning. Savory or sweet - we felt spoiled by the hospitality!! Clean rooms throughout the inn, ample parking, lovely garden & back yard. A serene escape, but close enough to Kennebunkport. Thank you!

The epitome of what a Maine bed and breakfast should be! We arrive to warm welcome, hot apple cider and cookies and a delightful second floor bedroom. Bed was comfortable and the breakfast with other travelers very good and nice company. Compliments to Amelia and Ron- you know how to run an Inn.

Amelia and Ron are truly exceptional hosts. My girlfriend and I decided to take a much-needed getaway, and we were both blown away by their kindness and the thoughtful attention to detail in every aspect of our stay. As two young women, we felt completely safe and comfortable throughout our visit. The location is ideal, perfectly situated between Kennebunkport and Kennebunk—just 2.4 miles in one direction and 1.2 miles in the other, making it perfect for morning runs, walks, or bike rides. Breakfast was absolutely delicious, and I especially appreciated how they accommodated my friend's dietary restrictions. The beds felt like clouds—honestly, one of the coziest places I’ve ever slept while traveling. From the moment we arrived, we felt right at home. The cookies at check-in were a sweet touch, and the little mason jars filled with ingredients for DIY s'mores were a fun surprise, especially when the fire was lit at night. Every detail, from the decor to the thoughtful amenities, made our stay truly unforgettable. I’ll definitely be returning on my next trip to the area. I’m incredibly grateful to Amelia and Ron for making us feel like part of the family.

My husband and I were guests at the charming Waldo Emerson Inn during our recent New England get-away. This historic inn was extremely cozy and comfortable, and the innkeepers, Amelia and Ron were so hospitable. Homemade chocolate chips cookies greeted us in the lobby each afternoon, and on cool evenings, S’Mores kits are set out for guests to take out to enjoy while sitting around the fire pit. Breakfast was delicious — and they took great care to creatively meet my special dietary needs. The beds were extremely comfortable, and the linens were sumptuous. Our stay was truly enjoyable, and we hope to visit the inn again on our next trip to Maine.

We LOVED our stay at Waldo Emerson! Our room was unique, the property was quiet, and Amelia was so friendly. We enjoyed breakfast each morning with other guests and the best coffee - a special blend from a coffee shop in Kennebunk. Amelia had tons of amenities available to us - bikes, a fire pit with s'more supplies, cash honor bar, sitting rooms, coolers, beach towels, beach parking passes, etc. The property was just a few minutes away from Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, with easy onsite parking. We cannot recommend Waldo Emerson enough!

An absolutely first class experience. The Inn is beautiful and charming, each guest room is large and comfortable. The Innkeepers made sure that we had everything we needed during our 3 night stay. All of their recommendations of places to visit, eat and shop were excellent. Breakfast each morning was delicious, substantial and thoughtfully prepared. Some of the other guests had some dietary restrictions that were met with enthusiasm and their meals looked amazing, as well. the downstairs sitting rooms were also quite comfortable and we enjoyed some time in the common spaces chatting with other guests and with the Innkeepers. Our stay was wonderful. I'd give them 10 stars if i could.

We had a beautiful, romantic week at the historic Waldo Emerson. Our hosts, Amelia and Ron, made us feel right at home and offered great local recomendations for meals, shopping, and sightseeing. I don't normally notice these things, but the sheets and balnkets were extra soft! And the whole place was absolutely clean and homey, with coffee and tea and great wine selections at the honor bar. The breakfasts were spectacular! We had parfaits, vegan options for the vegan guests, and bacon and beautiful frittatas for us omnivours. While a part of me just wanted to stay inside and read, the inn is situated within nice walking from Kennebunk and a little more ambitius walk to Kennebunkport. It's also a lovely short drive from Ogunquit. I'd never been to Maine before and these were the spots my spouse wanted to share with me! Can't wait to go back.

The Waldo Emerson Inn was absolutely beautiful. We had an amazing time. The owner Amelia was incredible nice and so accommodating. The breakfast each morning was very delicious. Michael was so knowledgeable and so sweet. The Inn was so amazing clean and beautiful. Our room was So stunning. The bed was so comfortable. It was a good size room. My husband and I had a amazingly time we highly recommend this Inn. It was an excellent relaxing vacation. Make reservations at the Waldo Emerson Inn you won't be disappointed.

Found this place on bedandbreakfast.com, and it was a great find. Very friendly owner and staff. Very welcoming. The place was immaculate and nicely decorated. Attention to detail: robes and chocolate in the room, candy bar, free coffee and tea, honor bar, yummy cookies, beach pass, beach chairs, umbrella, and bikes. Breakfast was delicious and everything was homemade. We got to meet other guests, which was pleasant. We recommend this place if you are in the area.

As part of the B&B Vets program, which gives veterans like myself, a free nights stay in a B&B, we were very gracious for there offer, which allows, us to get out of Boston, and relax for a night. Just as an aside, this is a National program, run on the night before Veterans day. Called to make reservation, and you could here a warm voice on the other side of the phone, which made you want to leave for the B&B right away. We were not surprised when we arrived at 9:00pm. We were told to call if we were going to be later than 9:30pm on the arrival. We called from the Maine rest stop, to say we would be on site at approx. 9:00, and Kathy was very appreciative. When we arrived, we were greeted by John, who gave us a quick tour, of the B&B, with all the history. We had not eaten, so he gave us a map, with a suggestion of a restaurant that was still open at this hour. Woke up in the morning, and had a great breakfast, with decent coffee. We bought some home made granola, which was part of the breakfast, and were on our way, after a couple of hugs from Kathy, and John. Would love to come back.

We loved our stay at the Waldon Emerson -- it was a very personal and lovely experience. John and Kathy really make you feel welcome, and the breakfasts are pretty darn good -- not too fancy (a good thing, IMO), but filled with fresh and tasty ingredients. There's always a big plate of fruit and the wonderful homemade granola. We stayed in the Yellow Room which was nice, although it had a very cramped restroom. Minor quibble, for certain. If I had one big wish it would have been for better AC in the room. We were apparently in Maine during some sort of heat wave, and I understand that's not real typical of the area, though, so I understand the little window unit. There's a small poodle in the house named Waldo who's really well behaved and adorable. I may or may not have, but definitely did smuggle him some bacon in the morning. Shhhhh. I would definitely stay here again if I came back to Maine -- my family practically took over the inn and we all had a great experience. Thanks so much to John and Kathy for being wonderful

I wish I could give more then 5 stars! My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of staying at the Waldo Emerson Inn this past weekend. I can't say enough good things about the inn, Hana (innkeeper) and her crew. The inn was beautiful and immaculate. They have done an amazing job renovating and restoring this lovely home. It has a very interesting history which Hana explained to us and showed us some of the cool original features that are still there. There are so many personal touches that really make this place truly special. Oh, and the FOOD! The breakfast they served was absolutely delicious! If you're looking for a wonderful place to stay in Maine, this is the place to go. The Waldo Emerson will be our number one choice for future visits. Thank you Hana and family for an amazing stay! Hope to see you all again soon!

John and Kathy were very good hosts. The Inn was nice and room was clean and comfortable. Convenient to Portland, ME, and Portsmouth, NH. We stayed three nights and enjoyed the experience.

We stayed two nights in the Waldo Emerson B&B with our hosts Kathy and John Daamen. What a wonderful experience. This historical building is the oldest original building in Kennebunk. Located on Summer Street and easy drive to the downtown area fo Kennebunk. Kathy and John were consumate hosts. We stayed in the "Library" on the first floor. John is up early cooking a unique Danish breakfast. The inn was part of the "underground railway" during the civil war. Their personal antiques and photos are everywhere in the several connected public rooms. This B&B is a must on your visit to Kennebunk. Their Quilt Shop adjoins the main building that has seven bedrooms. A delight!

We went in the off season, and I have to say, our stay was disappointing. We were informed that we were the only ones staying there, and since John and Kathy do not have a separate entrance and you walk through the kitchen to enter the B&B, there was very little privacy. My husband booked the yellow room since it's marketed as a room honeymooners often book - why??? The room is small, the bathroom is teeny, and the fireplace had no logs in it / near it. We were told to "ask for a log" if we wanted to use the fireplace, but when my husband went to find someone and ask for a log around 7 PM in the evening, no one was around. He tried again in a half hour, still no one. So much for that fire! Kathy explained that breakfast is served at 8:30 PM, which was fine with us as we get up early. It sounded like she / her husband wanted to sleep in, because the day before she was needling us to "sleep in" and suggesting doing breakfast later on. Basically, it was clear that we were not priority as the only guests... My "favorite" part is when we woke up to the smell of bacon, but no actual bacon was served for breakfast, not very hospitable. Finally, basic manners dictate no discussion of politics in social situations, but my husband got an earful from John at breakfast that he "doesn't want to pay for those illegals to come here" - awkward, considering that we are immigrants ourselves and of fairly liberal values. The place is very interesting for history buffs, and fairly clean, though I found some hair on my quilt that was definitely not mine or my husband's, luckily I am not a germaphobe. I've stayed at a number of truly outstanding B&B's, and this didn't come close.

Decided to stay the night for a quick retreat to get away from the city life and see what Kennebunk was all about. Having never stayed at a Bed and Breakfast before I was worried about all types of things. Truly like staying with family. Mrs. Daamen was extremely informative about the Kennebunk area. The Daamen's were wonderful. Ralph's Library was a lovely room. Temperature in the shower was quite difficult to control. That was the only very minor set back. Quite happy with our stay. Interesting people and a fantastic breakfast!

Absolutely adorable and charming B&B. It's very hard to find places like this. Extraordinarily eclectic. I highly recommend it. Katie

Innkeepers, Kathy and John are wonderful hosts. We stayed for 2 nights over President's Day weekend. We booked our room last-minute and so we got the room right next to the front door. At first, we were concerned for our privacy and the noise of the door opening and closing...but it was really quiet and it felt very private. We had a fireplace in the room, which we lit both nights. The breakfasts were excellent: lots of fresh fruit - the best granola - John was pulling a big batch out of the oven as we arrived. We bought a bag to take home (they ship it anywhere). The only quibble I have with breakfast is protein. Even if it's just a bowl of hard-boiled eggs, it keeps you going more than lots of carbs. They did give sausages one day and bacon the next, but eggs are cheap and easy. The recommendations Kathy made for dining out were very good. John and Kathy run a great, family-like B&B. Very clean, comfortable; very interesting history/house tour. All in all, we'll be back when in Kennebunk, next.