Ogunquit, Maine Vacations
Retaining much of the charm that it had over a
century ago, when artists were captured by a stunning coastline, the
tiny fishing village of Ogunquit,
Maine...
...is one of the most
popular vacation resorts in southern Maine, and New England!
It is easy to see why...
Known to the native Abenaki Indian Tribe as
"beautiful
place by the sea"...
...this quaint seaside town has a picture perfect
working
harbor, a cliff side walkway bordering the Atlantic Ocean, an
expansive
sandy beach...
...dozens of boutiques, art galleries, shops and
restaurants, and more than its share of world class hotels, motels,
inns and
bed and breakfasts.
Add to that all of the fun
activities and
events
in Ogunquit, Maine...
...and this tourist favorite (nestled between York
Beach
and Wells
Beach)...
...becomes a great family Maine
vacation spot and couples getaway.
Things to do Ogunquit, Maine, Tourist Attractions
You will not run short on activities in Ogunquit,
and things to do. You may want to let your day begin, just as many
locals do,
with an exhilarating walk along Ogunquit's most
popular walking path, Marginal
Way.
The Marginal Way in Ogunquit is a 1-1/4 mile
winding footpath...
...from Ogunquit
Beach to Perkins
Cove (or vice
versa) that weaves its way along stunning vistas of the
Atlantic Ocean.
With 30 memorial benches on Marginal Way,
there is no need to hurry. And from the number of photographs
and paintings that depict the marvelous views from Marginal Way, it
appears that
others have lingered en route, as well.
The starting and end points of Marginal Way
encompass two popular Ogunquit
tourist attractions. The tiny Ogunquit Perkins
Cove Harbor...
 ...one of the most
photographed
locations in southern Maine, is filled with
lobster boats and fishing vessels, and adorned with a hand operated,
pedestrian only drawbridge.
The backdrop to the scenic harbor is a quaint
fishing village, with a mixture of
art galleries, jewelry stores,
craft shops, boutiques, candy shops and restaurants.
At the opposite end of the Marginal Way footpath,
is
one of the
biggest reasons people vacation in Ogunquit, Maine - to enjoy the 3-1/2
mile Ogunquit Beach.
With a wide open expanse of soft white sand, the
beach in
Ogunquit is one of the most popular Maine beaches for families.
To sunbathe away from beach crowds...
...you may want to
try the nearby Footbridge
Beach, accessed by way of Ocean Street. This
lesser known and smaller area is a lovely spot that was named in 2007,
by Boston Magazine,
as
the #1 Beach in New England.
What are some of the other best things to do in Ogunquit,
Maine?
It is nearly impossible to surround yourself by
this much water and not be part of it.
You can test your sea legs on the Finestkind.
Ogunquit scenic cruise boat tours aboard the
36-foot Finestkind I (the fleet's newest), the
38-foot Finestkind II, and the 44-foot Finestkind III...
...offer a variety
of sightseeing and lobster boat tours. A Scenic Breakfast
Cruise, the Nubble Lighthouse
Cruise, the Lobstering Trip...
 ...and
a late afternoon or evening sunset
cruise, take passengers past the best scenery along the Ogunquit,
Maine shoreline.
If you would like to go deep sea fishing
in Ogunquit, Bunny Clark
Deep Sea Fishing charters provides half-day and full-day
adventures to some of the best fishing grounds in the Gulf of Maine.
Sailing in Ogunquit aboard the Silver
Lining, a 42-foot sloop, or the 34-foot The Gift, whales,
dolphins, seals, cormorants and local lobster fishermen, are likely to
be part of the scenery.
Whale watching cruises, lobster boat cruises,
kayak excursions and kayak rentals are also plentiful In nearby Wells,
Kennebunkport,
Cape Neddick and York.
Back on land, the Ogunquit Trolley is
a perfect
way to get around town.
Although Ogunquit is small enough to be covered on
foot, the 8 Molly Trolley's in Ogunquit make a day of shopping,
sightseeing and
eating that much easier.
And trust me...
Once you have seen the Ogunquit Village
boutiques filled with clothing, jewelry and Maine made works of art, a
few shopping bags will be inevitable!
For a break from the crowds or sun, great
places to visit in Ogunquit are...
...the Ogunquit
Heritage Museum, at the Captain James Winn House...
...the Ogunquit
Museum of American Art, AND an Ogunquit "must see"...
...the Ogunquit
Memorial Library on Shore Road. A beautiful
landmark, the Ogunquit Library is on the National Register of Historic
Places. These attractions are also well suited for your list
of the best things to do in Ogunquit on rainy days!
 For
Broadway theatre in Ogunquit, "America's foremost summer
theatre"...
...John Lane's Ogunquit
Playhouse, has a schedule of plays each season that are
highly rated by audiences young and old.
When you have exhausted the things to do in
Ogunquit, Maine...
...the Laudholm
Farm Reserve in Wells provides 2,200 acres of protected
land with 7 miles of trails leading through open meadows and woods to
barrier beaches.
In York, Mount
Agamenticus offers 10,000 acres of land with trails for
hikers, bikers, equestrians and ATV riders.
Within driving distance of Ogunquit, Portland
(Maine's largest city)
is an excellent day trip, as is the Kittery
Outlet Mall and Freeport,
Maine shopping.
And if your kids need more entertainment, not far away is Old
Orchard Beach,
with plenty of amusement park nostalgia from years gone by.
Although a number of Ogunquit,
Maine attractions are seasonal...
...year-round, the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce,
together with local businesses,
sponsor fun Ogunquit, Maine activities
and events.
Mardi Gras, Patriots Day Celebration,
AIDS Walk Weekend, Capriccio, OgunquitFest, Ogunquit Halloween
Celebrations, and Christmas by the Sea...
...make this area a popular Maine
vacation spot,
not only for summer vacations, but also for off-season visits in the
fall, winter and spring.
Motels Hotels Ogunquit, Maine, Inns and
B&B's
There is a wide variety of lodging in
Ogunquit,
Maine. From spectacular Ogunquit beach
accommodations, to quaint Ogunquit
Village bed and breakfasts, to a Perkins Cove motel, you are sure to
find a great place to stay.
A favorite Ogunquit resort, the Beachmere Inn, has
several properties, each of them in a unique setting. The
main
house...
...The Victorian (originally built in the late
1800's as a
private residence), sits majestically on a sprawling oceanside lawn.
All with a character of their own, the six
Beachmere properties are located nearby the best
Ogunquit attractions.
Ideal for oceanfront Ogunquit weddings, the
Beachmere hotel also offers guests...
...complimentary continental
breakfast, a hot tub,
sauna, massage rooms, and an exercise room.
"The sea's spectacular beauty is the focal point"
at the Ogunquit Anchorage
by the Sea. Guests in each of the properties
accommodations can enjoy the heated indoor and
outdoor pools, whirlpool, sauna, Jacuzzis, and a poolside grill
and bar.
The Anchorage Hotel in Ogunquit also has an
on-site restaurant, open seasonally.
Spread over nearly five oceanfront acres - where
the Atlantic Ocean intersects with the Ogunquit River - is the Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort.
Four separate buildings "styled in traditional New
England clapboard architecture" provide 87 guest rooms, many with
beautiful water views and most with a private balcony or patio.
Connected to Perkins Cove Village by way of the
pedestrian only drawbridge...
...the Riverside
Motel overlooks Ogunquit River and Perkins Cove.
Varying room types are available,
including water view, cove view, and ocean view rooms.
Family suites, luxury suites, resort rooms,
and honeymoon suites can be reserved at the Meadowmere in
Ogunquit, within walking distance to Ogunquit Beach.
With over 6,200 square feet, the Meadowmere
Fitness Center and Spa is the ideal place to unwind.
A five minute walk to the beach, and less than
half
a block from the Ogunquit Village shops, restaurants and nightclubs, is
the
1800's Cape Cod style Moon
Over Maine Bed and Breakfast.
Rick and Mark
welcome you with a host of guest amenities and seven tastefully
decorated rooms, all named after our planets.
The list of lodging for Ogunquit, Maine goes on
and
on....
Whether you are looking for a
cheap Ogunquit motel, pampered luxury, or affordable places in between,
expect to find Ogunquit lodging accommodations to suit you.
But keep in mind...
...Ogunquit, Maine is one of the
most popular Maine vacation areas. Sometimes rooms
book well before
the high season (June through early September), holiday
weekends, and special events in Ogunquit.
Ogunquit, Maine Restaurants and Dining
Award winning restaurants
in Ogunquit, Maine are as easy to find as are casual
dining
restaurants, and places to get a quick snack.
Having been named 14th in "America's Top 50
Restaurants 2006" by Gourmet Magazine, and recipient of
the James Beard Best Chefs of the Northeast 2010...
...it is no wonder that Mark Gaier and Clark
Frasier have such a long list of accolades for their Arrows Restaurant,
an Ogunquit, Maine fine-dining favorite.
 Also
voted as "One of America's 10 Most Romantic Restaurants"
by Bon Appetit,
Arrows in Ogunquit is a perfect place for celebrating a special
occasion.
Previously voted "Best Italian Restaurant in
Ogunquit", "Best Wine Bar" and named one of the "Top 20 Restaurants on
the Seacoast" by Portsmouth
Magazine, for two years in a row, Ogunquit's
Angelina's
Ristorante...
...is a favorite places for fine Italian
dining. Patrons enjoy the main dining room, a wine room, the lounge,
and the garden terrace.
Overlooking Perkins Cove, Barnacle Billy's and
Barnacle
Billy's Etc. sit side by side. Combined, their
menus feature lots of Maine lobster and other locally caught seafood,
along with plenty of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and dinners for the
landlubber.
Located just down the road "Where the Marginal Way
begins and ends"...
...Jackie's
Too
in Perkins Cove serves lobster, mussels, haddock,
scallops and shrimp, along with their award-winning clam chowder.
On the menu also, In Jackie's Too casual dining atmosphere,
are steaks, chicken and pastas.
Enjoy lighter fare on Main Street at Pizza Napoli, which
offers a full range of Italian selections, including "authentic thin
crust brick oven pizza"...
...or further along Main Street at Tapas and Tini's,
with a menu of Tapas, Ensaladas, Emparedados Frecos, Nuestros
Panes Llanos, and Entradas.
And certainly not to be missed while visiting Ogunquit, Maine are some
of the
best places to get lobster
rolls and lobster
dinner.
With names like Footbridge Lobster, Ogunquit
Lobster Pound Restaurant...
...Perkins
Cove Lobster Shack, and the Beach Plum Lobster Farm, you will know -
without a doubt - that
you are eating in Maine!
As you travel between Ogunquit Center and Perkins
Cove, breakfast,
lunch and dinner (and tasty temptations in between times) are only
steps away. You will likely pass...
...the Cove Cafe, Omelette Factory, Cafe Prego,
Wild Blueberry Cafe, Jonathan's Restaurant, Front Porch Restaurant,
Katie's on Shore Road, Post Road Tavern...
...and many other great Ogunquit,
Maine
restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, and pubs.
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