Ogunquit
Facts
Centuries ago, three miles of sparkling white sand beach and natural dunes attracted the Algonquin Indians to a seaside area snuggled between the towns now known as York and Wells in southern Maine. The Algonquians named this area "Ogunquit," which means "beautiful place by the sea."
Ogunquit is a small artsy village best known for its beautiful long white sandy beach and its long history of welcoming families, gays and lesbians. There's even a gay and lesbian section of the beach - about 200 yards north of the village.
The town has two distinct areas: the village and Perkins Cove. Most of the gay nightlife takes place in the village, where the gay B&Bs are. The nightlife during the summer months is lively, with entertainment, dancing, and piano bars. Ogunquit is considered a family vacation town, and the atmosphere here is low-key compared to the gay scene in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Although Ogunquit is best known for its three miles of white sand beach, it has even more to offer. Perkins Cove, its picturesque little working harbor, is home to charter fishing boats, sight-seeing cruise boats, and whale watching boats, as well as a jumble of shops, restaurants and eateries, and art galleries. The busy little village is a Mecca for people watchers.
The Marginal Way is a century-old oceanside footpath that begins on Shore Road behind the Sparhawk Hotel and hugs the coastline for over a mile to just south of the Village Center, curving around a little peninsula and opening up to stunning vistas of sand so white you'd almost think you were in the Caribbean. Sit on one of the benches set along the walkway and enjoy the sight and sound of crashing surf against the rocky shore and the fragrance of sea roses which line the path.
There are two main access points to Ogunquit's beaches, each with parking, but parking spaces can be difficult if not impossible to find in the summer season. The main beach is accessible from Beach Street in the center of downtown Ogunquit near the intersection of Main Street (US Route 1) and Shore Road. Turn onto Beach Street and go over the bridge which crosses the Ogunquit River. The beach parking lots are on the other side of the bridge. Footbridge Beach, two miles north of the village, is located off Ocean Street. Each entrance is serviced by the trolley from May to mid-October. Walking and the trolley are definitely the best ways to get around Ogunquit, which becomes jammed with cars on warm summer days. The trolley can take you from your hotel to the beach or shops, for a tour around the town, or all the way to Wells, where it connects to the Wells trolley system and seven more miles of beach.
The Hideaway Inn
"A little piece of heaven"
65 Main Street
Ogunquit, Maine 03907
Telephone: 207.646.3787
Reservations: 617.913.0464
Fax: 617.524.3132
Contact Us: hideawayinnogunquit@gmail.com
