Location: Southern Coast of Maine < Maine < USA
Car: not necessary
Ogunquit was called 'beautiful place by the sea' by the Abenaki Indians, who were early inhabitants of this region. The town is 15 miles north of the New Hampshire border, with a 3-mile sandy beach stretching northward and more than a mile of picturesque rocky shore to the south. The Ogunquit River, a 2-mile tidewater river, parallels the beach and is separated from it by sand dunes. Shore Road leads to Bald Head Cliff, a perpendicular projection 100 feet high that extends 300 feet into the ocean. The sea pounding against the cliff sometimes sends spray 100 feet into the air. The 'Marginal Way' is a mile-long footpath to Perkins Cove, a working harbor with a footbridge spanning its entrance. Perkins Cove offers specialty shops, waterfront restaurants and art galleries as well as fishing, lobstering and whale-watching opportunities. Ogunquit is a popular summer resort, especially among artists. The Village Center has craft shops, theaters and parks lining its streets.