Ogunquit, Maine a Destination

On the cold Atlantic coast of Maine about an hour and a half north of Boston is a little town called Ogunquit.  The town is small in area and in population but filled with character. The main street of Ogunquit is aptly enough called Main St and is US Rt. 1. The only other major street in the town is called Coast Rd and runs along the coast. What these streets lack in imaginative names they make up for in charm and beauty. Ogunquit was once a village in the larger town of Wells but separated in the 1970's becoming a town in it's one right. Wells is a dry town and this was not working for Ogunquit and one of the first things they did upon establishing independence was grant liquor licences. The little center of town is now filled with restaurants and bars catering to a very diverse clientel.

In the late 1800's Ogunquit was "discovered" by artists and became a destination during the summer for many renowned artists of the day. One of the early residents was Charles Woodbury who open a studio and painting school on the coast road looking over the little inlet called Perkins Cove. He attracted both artists and wealthy summer residents to his school. Not far from his home on Woodbury Lane is the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. The museum is on a beautiful bit of land overlooking the sea and a stony cove surrounded by cliffs. The arts community is very very active and thriving. In 1933 Ogunquit Playhouse opened its door for the summer seasons. The playhouse brings in summer stock shows with Broadway and Hollywood performers. Actors like Montgomery Cliff, Totie Fields, Bette Davis, and Sally Struthers have performed summers in Ogunquit.

During the 1970's the gay community also "found" Ogunquit and it became a gay summer mecca on the scale of Fire Island and Provencetown. Today many of the bars, restaurants and resorts are gay owned and themed establishments.

Ogunquit is an Abenaki word meaning coast lagoon or beautiful place by the sea, depending on whom you ask. The summer days are usually warm and the water is cold but the beaches where the Ogunquit river enters the Atlantic are wide and sandy. Starting at the big beach and running along the cliffs above the water is a walk path called Marginal Way. This runs along the coast of most of the town and out to Perkins Cove. The cove was once a little fisherman's cove and is now filled with shops, galleries and restaurants catering to tourists. The side streets and lanes of Ogunquit are also filled with beautiful summer homes and some estates of the very rich which once made Ogunquit their summer residence.

The one problem with Ogunquit in the summer is tourists. The town has a love hate relationship with tourists. If it were not for the tourists there really would be no Oqunquit. It would be just another little Maine town with lovely views and a sagging economy. Fall is one of the best times to visit Ogunquit if you don't want to be shoulder to shoulder with tourists. The autumn is a beautiful season and well worth the wait. Winter is not the time for a visit. Almost all of the stops and restaurants are closed down for the season and the town itself is a ghost town.

Take the trip and make the visit!