DAY TRIP: OGUNQUIT, ME
When you want to make the most of a New England summer, but don’t know where to go, consider heading to Ogunquit, Maine. This town is just one hour by bus or two hours by train from Boston, on Maine’s southern coast. Ogunquit offers beach fun, coastal views, shopping, and dining opportunities. It is the perfect place to spend the day!
If you are coming to Ogunquit on a sunny summer day – trust me, so is everyone else. You of course do not have to worry about finding a parking spot if you are using public transportation. However, if you are driving into Ogunquit, you should show up early to nab a spot and hold on to it! Any time before 9am will give you plenty of spots to choose from, but once the morning marches on, it will become harder and harder to find a spot. Hutchin’s Parking Lot is a perfect place to park your car, and it is walking distance from all of the Ogunquit hot spots.
Once you’ve parked, make your way to The Greenery Café. Choose to sit down and have breakfast or perhaps grab a muffin at their market and bakery location, just a short walk down the road. Then stroll around downtown Ogunquit and stop into the shops. I particularly love Harbor Candy Shop for sweets, Good Vibes Collective and Ciao Candle Bar Boutique for clothing and other finds, and Abacus for a myriad of art offerings.
Then head to the beach! Towel and umbrella rentals are available, but if you want to forego the sun, sand, and water, perhaps consider sitting in the wooden Adirondack chairs that line the beach. A shady awning is provided, and it is quite peaceful! A few steps away is the Ogunquit Beach Lobster House.
Once you’ve had your fill of the beach, head to Marginal Way. This 1.25-mile paved pathway offers lovely views of the Atlantic Ocean, with plenty of benches along the coastline to stop and take in the view. The route connects the main Ogunquit village to Perkins Cove, an adorable spot with its own set of shops. My favorite shops are Maine Originals Clothing Co., Dock Square Clothiers, Perkins Cove Candies, and Perkin’s Cove Pottery Shop. I will say that they are not hard to miss – all of the shops are clustered in one spot!
view from Marginal Way
Then walk back along Marginal Way and grab dinner at The Crooked Pine before seeing a show at the Ogunquit Playhouse. The playhouse was first founded in 1933 in a downtown garage by Maude and Walter Hartwig. Then in 1937, the playhouse – the same one still used today – was built at 10 Main Street. Since the playhouse’s inception, there have been many stars who have dazzled the Ogunquit stage, including Betty White, Ethel Barrymore, and Bernadette Peters. If you are ending your time in Ogunquit without seeing a show, perhaps drive to Scoop Deck in Wells, Maine before you leave the area. Scoop Deck has been ranked one of the best ice cream shops in Maine! They have a ton of ice cream flavors to choose from, and I particularly appreciate their dairy free options!
outside the Ogunquit Playhouse
Enjoy Ogunquit!
