Looking to visit a place where every turn provides a picture perfect postcard view? Then the charming seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine is for you. Its meaning, “beautiful place by the sea” in Abenaki language, certainly describes this quaint Maine coastal town. Located just a five hour drive north of New York City , Ogunquit offers everything one would expect in a charming New England town:
- A beautiful, rocky coastline,
- Stunning water views and beaches,
- New England architecture and , of course, a few lighthouses! And last but certainly not least,
- The best “Lobstah” you’ll ever eat!
My husband and I just recently returned to Ogunquit for our wedding anniversary weekend. Our last visit was almost 30 years ago. And I have to say we fell in love all over again with this seaside delight.
So join us on our journey…
ARRIVAL — DAY 1
An early morning start and we were on our way. A planned mid-morning stop in Sturbridge, Massachussetts at one of our favorite road trip eateries, The Cracker Barrel , to refuel and our destination was just 2 hours away.
Check in at The Scotch HIll Inn
Our accommodation choice was the Scotch Hill Inn, one of the oldest Inns in Ogunquit.
Scotch Hill Inn,
Ogunquit, Maine
Offering lovely accommodations in a beautiful New England home, with a host of amenities, this Inn did not disappoint. Minutes away from both Ogunquit’s famous Marginal Way and Perkins Cove and just a five minute walk to Maine’s pristine beaches, it couldn’t get much better.
Our check in went smoothly and Innkeeper Anthony was wonderful — and quite the amazing chef! Thank you Anthony for those delicious gourmet breakfasts!
A Lobster Lunch!
Once checked in, it was time for lunch and — of course– lobster was on our minds! So it was off to the Lobster Shack in Perkins Cove for delicious lobster rolls. About a mile from our accommodations, a walk to the “cove” gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs after our drive and, more importantly, take in the beauty of this town.
Absolutely delicious! 
Exploring Perkins Cove
was next on our agenda after lunch. This area was founded in the late 1800’s by Mrs. Daniel Perkins and her fisherman husband, whose house overlooked the Cove.
Once a small fishing community, it is now a hub for tourists and residents. Through the years, the structures in Perkins Cove have evolved — from fishing shanties to artist homes and today, restaurants and shops. But the views remain the same. Absolutely breathtaking!
Perkins Cove 
Perkins Cove Footbridge 
Some “birdhouse”artistry in Perkins Cove
The famous Perkins Cove wooden footbridge spans the narrow entrance into the port. It also provides pedestrians with a “path” across the cove. And if you happen to be around when a boat needs the drawbridge open, you can assist by pressing a button to open it up!
A Walk on the “Marginal Way”
After filling our bellies with a delicious lunch and exploring a bit of Perkins Cove, it was time to walk off some of the “lobstah.” So we headed over to the Marginal Way to stroll and take in the most beautiful views.
Named for being a “margin” between land and sea, Marginal Way is a stunning 1 1/4 mile long walk from the entrance on Shore Road (between the Spar Hawk and the Anchorage) to Perkins Cove. And don’t worry — you don’t need to start at either end. There are other entrances throughout Shore Road that access this beautiful cliff side walk.
An Anniversary dinner
After an afternoon of exploring– and a lot of walking– we returned to our Inn to freshen up before dinner. An anniversary dinner at THAT PLACE didn’t disappoint. Delicious seafood and drinks!
My pink cosmpolitan 
Shrimp stuffed with crab meat! 
Hubby’s margarita
TIP: Make dinner reservations BEFORE you come to Ogunquit. Weekends get busy, especially in the summer, and you don’t want to be shut out of eating at one of your favorite choices.
An afternoon dinner stroll offered up some interesting sites — a resident’s rock wall consisting of stones and rocks painted with different phrases, a church converted into a store and the Perkins family graves.
A very unique rock wall 
A church converted into a store! 
Perkins family graves
A glass of wine on our Inn’s wraparound porch was the end to the perfect day.
DAY 2
A Gourmet Breakfast
Starting the day with one of Anthony’s gourmet breakfasts, we were energized to head out to the beach.
Ogunquit Beach
is three miles long and actually a sandy beach — no rocks in sight! This is because the entire land mass between Ogunquit’s tidal river and the Atlantic Ocean is made up of sand. And the sand is firmly packed so it’s easy to walk on.
Ogunquit Beach consists of three “sections” although it is really one continuous beach. The Main Beach is the southernmost portion and the downtown hot spot. This section is located at the mouth of the Ogunquit River, which empties out at low tide. This is where we took our walk.
At Main Beach, you will find a parking lot and public facilities. It’s not cheap to park (about $25 when we visited) and there is limited parking. Many visitors and locals walk here for that reason. You see families and couples walking along the road pulling their wagons of beach gear.
Can you tell where this beach is located with its paddle boarders and blue waters? Looks like a some Caribbean beach to me!
At the north end, the area known as Footbridge Beach also has parking and public facilities, as well as a pedestrian bridge across the river. .
Take note of the low and high tides since 3/4 of this beach disappears under water during high tide. And the water is cold! Just read the sign that was posted in the pic below. And the signs are in English and French. Close to Canada, AY?
Read about my top picks for unique beaches from my travels by heading over to this post:https://followmyyellowbrickroad.com/?paged=5&cat=30
Lunch
A quick takeout lunch of pizza eaten back our Inn and we were off to Perkins Cove to board…
An afternoon cruise
on FinestKind Cruises. This company offers a variety of cruises and I would highly recommend them. Click here to visit their website for more details: https://www.finestkindcruises.com/
We couldn’t have asked for a more picture perfect day. Warm temperatures, clear blue skies and calm waters –perfect to take in the beautiful coastline and a visit to Nubble Lighthouse.
On the way to the lighthouse, we passed:
- the many lobster pots placed in the water by fisherman to check on their catches later in the day,
- a view of the Cliff House Resort on top of Bald Head Cliff and,
- some cormorants on a rock enjoying the day!
Cliff House Resort 
Nubble Lighthouse 
Some cormarants taking in the sea air!
Views of the Nubble Lighthouse were beautiful. This lighthouse is still an active light station. Visitors, however, are not allowed to come on the island or enter the lighthouse. Built circa 1879, it is owned by the U.S. government, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and maintained by the Town of York. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Another way to view the lighthouse is to drive over to Sohier Park at the end of Nubble Road in York. However, cruising would be my choice.
On our return to shore, an unexpected sighting of whale breaching near our boat was a highlight.
Dinner
Our last dinner in beautiful Ogunquit was at Angelinas. Mussels over fettucini for me and the special seafood over pappardelle for hubby. Delicious!
Goodbye
A sad goodbye to Ogunquit on Sunday morning. But we hope to return soon — and this time, we will not wait another thirty years!