Known as the ‘beautiful place by the sea’, Ogunquit is a quaint little town in York County, Maine. With just over 1,000 people, Ogunquit offers a tranquil nature-centered vacation. Visitors can enjoy the three miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails, ocean activities like kayaking, but can also enjoy the artsy feel of a former art colony.
The name Ogunquit, pronounced oh-gun-quit, means coastal lagoon in the native Abenaki Indian language. First settled in 1641, Ogunquit’s main industries were shipbuilding, timber and fishing. Today it is a favourite destination due to its natural beauty. Visitors can stroll along the coast or tackle the countless hiking and walking trails in and around Ogunquit. Perkins Cove, a tidewater basin, is infamous for its very unusual manually-operated footbridge.
Nature is not everything Ogunquit can offer. The area is known to attract great American artists and became an art colony in the 1890s. This has created a haven for art lovers and on any given day you can see artists plying their trade around Perkins Cove and other areas in Ogunquit. There are numerous art galleries and art museums in Ogunquit itself, but plenty more to visit and tour within a short driving distance from the town. Recently, Ogunquit has also become a favorite vacation spot for gays and lesbians, with many hotels and restaurants being run by gays and lesbians.
Highlights
Ogunquit Heritage Museum at the Winn House: is a restored cape-style house built in 1785; today it contains exhibits of Ogunquit’s cultural and maritime history, as well as showcasing colonial architecture in the area.** **
Ogunquit Museum of American Art: has a collection of over 1,500 works of 20th century American art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures and prints.
Ogunquit Beach: is a white sandy beach covering an area of 3.5 miles; Main Beach and Footbridge Beach were voted one of the top ten beaches in the US.
Perkins Cove: is a man-made tidal basin which can only be crossed with New England|England’s only foot drawbridge.
Ogunquit Playhouse: has been hosting summer theater since it opened in the 1930s.
Marginal Way: a 1 mile scenic cliff footpath, where one can enjoy great Atlantic views.
Trolley Ride: a great way to see Ogunquit is to use the old-style trolley, with stops covering all the main visitors’ areas the trolley is a favourite among locals and visitors alike.