I’ve all the time liked visiting coastal Maine. This stunning space of New England options so many issues to do with youngsters and is a brief drive from my house west of Boston. In the summer time, it’s particularly enjoyable with a lot of vacationers visiting and a great deal of nice actions. Maine is unquestionably the most effective household summer time trip locations and it’s an excellent place to go to with the entire household.
This previous summer time, as one final getaway earlier than faculty began for the 12 months, we loaded up the automobile and headed to Ogunquit Maine, situated on the coast. Although I’d visited Ogunquit earlier than on a day journey, I by no means had the chance to spend an in a single day there.
We have been so impressed with the entire issues to do in Ogunquit Maine with youngsters, and completely plan to return once more for an extended go to. This fashionable spot is a implausible vacationer city, with nice vitality and a enjoyable vibe.
Disclosure: We obtained a complimentary evening keep on the Meadowmere Resort in Ogunquit. This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks (together with on the map). A purchase order/click on by way of one in every of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us at no further price to you. All opinions are my very own.
Things to Do in Ogunquit Maine With Kids
Marginal Way Ogunquit
We arrived at Ogunquit round lunchtime earlier than our room was prepared. We left our automobile and luggage on the resort and instantly headed right down to Marginal Way. This paved path runs throughout the Maine shoreline and is roughly a mile lengthy – spanning from Ogunquit Beach to Perkins Cove.
During our first enterprise on Marginal Way, we have been in a little bit of a rush seeking lunch. However, throughout our journey, we have been in a position to take one other method, a gradual stroll to discover the entire space on this brief stroll.
As you stroll on the mile-long path, you’ll see plenty of scenic vistas, benches, and cliffs. The walkway is wheelchair and stroller-accessible, however bikes aren’t allowed. Pets are solely allowed within the offseason. This is all as a result of the coastal stroll path will get very busy within the summers and can’t accommodate them.
While Marginal Way is an effective way to get from Perkins Cove to the seaside, I additionally suggest simply taking a pleasant stroll. Be positive to cease at the entire varied vantage factors as a result of it actually a fantastic place.
Perkins Cove
When I checked into our resort early, we have been seeking a captivating place for lunch. The entrance desk clerk at our resort despatched me on a stroll down Marginal Way to Perkins Cove, a small space of city with reward outlets, eating places serving recent Maine seafood, artwork galleries, ice cream outlets, and delightful views.
Much of this space of city is greatest accessed by foot, though there’s a public parking space. Things undoubtedly get busy on this space, nevertheless.
In addition to the outlets and cafes, Perkins Cove affords nice scenic spots proper on the harbor. There’s a pedestrian drawbridge that company can stroll over to get a fantastic vantage level of Perkins Cove.
Even if you happen to don’t wish to store within the space, I’d suggest consuming at one of many Perkins Cove eating places throughout your keep. It’s such a enjoyable space and the meals is scrumptious.
Ogunquit Beach
Many folks go to Ogunquit for the attractive Atlantic Ocean seaside and for good cause. It’s completely attractive. During low tide, the sand space is large, and there’s a superb quantity of room throughout excessive tide. Ogunquit Beach is the primary seaside within the space and is without doubt one of the hottest sights in Ogunquit.
If you’re visiting the seaside, there may be some parking accessible. Just take into account that the car parking zone is more likely to refill early. It’s greatest to stroll or take the trolley if you’re staying on the town.
You’ll have a couple of choices for seaside gear. You can convey your personal from house, which is essentially the most economical possibility. There are some outlets close to the seaside promoting gadgets, however they in all probability gained’t be the very best costs.
Beach gear leases are additionally accessible from unbiased corporations. These corporations will usually ship to you and supply weekly leases. There’s normally a good surf, so it’s possible you’ll take into account bringing boogie boards in case your youngsters have them.
Once you’re on the seaside, there are many facilities close by. Several eating places and snack outlets are inside strolling distance. The seaside additionally has out of doors showers and foot washes, in addition to indoor restrooms. There are some lined benches and chairs close to the doorway of the seaside if you happen to’d like to sit down off the sand and away from the solar.
In addition to Ogunquit Beach, there’s additionally one other sandy seaside within the space – Footbridge Beach. During this go to, we didn’t get the chance to journey north to that seaside however I undoubtedly wish to test it out subsequent time.
Ogunquit Trolley
Because parking and driving could be such a problem in Ogunquit, there’s the Ogunquit Trolley. This trolley makes quite a few stops throughout city, making it handy for households.
The trolley does solely take money for rides, and alter is given in trolley tokens. So, if you happen to plan to take the Ogunquit Trolley round city, you’ll in all probability wish to convey a lot of one-dollar payments for the rides. It’s at the moment $5 for adults and $3 for youths.
The trolley operates seasonally, so that you’ll wish to test the schedule earlier than ready for a journey.
Ogunquit Playhouse
The Ogunquit Playhouse, a summer time inventory theater providing dwell reveals, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Past choices have included Jersey Boys and Cabaret.
In addition to those summer time theater reveals, the Ogunquit Playhouse additionally has a kids’s theater program with extra kid-appropriate reveals.
Tickets could be bought upfront, and you can too guide a really moderately priced backstage theater tour to go together with your present tickets. Just convey alongside closed-toed footwear as flip-flops and sandals aren’t allowed backstage.
Other Things to Do in Ogunquit Maine With Kids
Unfortunately, we solely had a brief period of time in Ogunquit, so there have been some issues that we weren’t in a position to do. We’ll undoubtedly must return both this fall or subsequent summer time as a result of there’s a lot extra that I wish to do in Ogunquit. These embrace:
- The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
- Footbridge Beach
- Finestkind Scenic Cruises
- Cape Neddick
- Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Road Trips From Ogunquit
Ogunquit Maine is so accessible from many different locations within the Northern New England/Maine space. If you’re staying in Ogunquit and wish to discover the native space, you may have a lot of choices:
Kittery, Maine is situated about half-hour away from Ogunquit. Kittery is most identified for its premium retailers, together with Under Armor, Lululemon, the Gap, and Crate and Barrel. We all the time cease in Kittery to buy at any time when we go to Maine.
Portland, Maine is about an hour away and is properly well worth the drive. This scenic city has a vibrant foodie scene in addition to nice outlets and issues to do. We particularly love Old Port Maine, the quaint, cobblestoned part of city.
Portsmouth, NH is a scenic waterfront city situated proper over the border in New Hampshire. It’s a few 50-minute drive from Ogunquit however affords outlets, eating places, and extra alongside the waterfront. There’s additionally Water Country Waterpark, which is situated in Portsmouth.
Ogunquit Maine Restaurants
There are so many scrumptious and enjoyable eating places in Ogunquit. You’ll wish to keep a number of days simply to go to as many eating places as attainable. Since we have been there for under a short while, we didn’t get to as many locations as I’d have preferred. But we liked each place we went to.
Barnacle Billy’s
This restaurant, situated in Perkins Cove, has two separate, adjoining buildings. One affords counter service, whereas the opposite has desk service.
On our first day in Ogunquit, we made our option to Perkins Cove and determined to eat on the desk service part of Barnacle Billy. It was busy, however there was no look ahead to the out of doors seats, which have been a little bit shady. We had no downside braving the slight wind to get pleasure from some attractive seats by the water.
Barnacle Billy’s affords a full bar menu in addition to seafood specialties like fried seafood, clam chowder, lobster rolls, and boiled lobster. There are additionally some non-seafood gadgets for these members of your loved ones who might not get pleasure from seafood.
Lobster Shack
On our second day in Ogunquit, we ate on the Lobster Shack. It’s additionally situated in Perkins Cove, however is just not instantly on the water. This restaurant is small and has restricted seating, so that you’ll wish to arrive early.
Guests stand exterior and wait till the individual forward of them has ordered earlier than getting into. This is as a result of the restaurant is so small. Order on the counter, after which your meals and drinks might be delivered to you.
My husband and I ordered the lobster roll and clam chowder particular, and it was completely scrumptious. Again, there have been choices apart from seafood for these in your group that don’t like seafood.
Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza and Craft Beer
We didn’t get the prospect to eat at this downtown Ogunquit hotspot, as a result of it was so busy and the wait was too lengthy. But it regarded nice – with scrumptious meals and plenty of out of doors seating.
During our keep, we additionally ate at Brix and Brine, an outside restaurant additionally situated in downtown Ogunquit. It has an excellent bar, a implausible oyster menu, and a rotating menu of seasonal dishes. We liked it, however I wouldn’t essentially suggest it for households with younger youngsters. My teenagers loved it however I wouldn’t have introduced them in the event that they have been younger.
Ogunquit Maine Hotels
You’ll discover a lot of lodging choices in Ogunquit Maine, together with resorts, inns, and trip rental properties. I’d suggest discovering a spot the place you possibly can park your automobile and stroll to the entire issues to do in Ogunquit.
We liked our keep on the Meadowmere Resort, which is situated between Perkins Cove and Ogunquit Beach. In addition to the implausible location, the resort additionally provided a lot of great kid-friendly facilities, together with an indoor pool, and out of doors pool, a small movie show, and an arcade.
We had a household suite on the resort, which included two separate rooms. It was excellent for our household of 4. You can see our evaluation of the Meadowmere Resort right here, and guide it right here.
See different resorts and lodging choices in Ogunquit on the map beneath (affiliate hyperlinks).
Ogunquit Maine Weather and When to Visit
As you’d anticipate by the New England location, Ogunquit will get all 4 seasons. The greatest months to go to are undoubtedly late June to early September, when you possibly can reap the benefits of the warmest temperatures.
The fall can have good temps within the 60s, and among the eating places will nonetheless be open, relying on whenever you go. Barnacle Billy’s, as an example, closes late October/early November. Traveling to Ogunquit within the fall could be an effective way to keep away from the massive summer time crowds, whereas nonetheless having fun with the eating places and actions.
Winter temps are chilly – sometimes freezing or decrease. You in all probability gained’t wish to do a lot strolling within the winter, and lots of the outlets and eating places might be closed.
The spring will also be a good time, particularly in late April and May when the eating places begin to open and the temps heat up. While you undoubtedly gained’t go swimming within the Atlantic, among the Ogunquit resorts have indoor swimming pools you could get pleasure from throughout your keep.
Getting Around Ogunquit Maine
If you’re driving into Ogunquit, there are a number of public parking heaps to depart your automobile. It’s a good suggestion to park after which stroll in all places. I undoubtedly don’t suggest driving across the city – particularly within the busy summer time months, as a result of parking is extraordinarily restricted and there are a great deal of pedestrians.
Passenger golf cart companies and the Ogunquit Trolley are each accessible for a payment. Walking round city can also be very straightforward and is normally your best choice. If you’re reserving a resort, I’d counsel in search of a location that’s inside strolling distance of the seaside, Marginal Way, and Perkins Cove.
For these not driving into city, you possibly can both fly into the Portland Maine airport or take the Amtrak Downeaster into Wells, Maine. Then you possibly can take a cab or journey share service into your Ogunquit resort. In season, the Ogunquit Trolley additionally travels to the practice station to choose up company.
Have you been to Ogunquit? What is your favourite factor to do there?
Read our Ogunquit Maine net story right here.
