Growing up in New England, Maine was always a popular summer destination. The beaches are beautiful, the seafood is plentiful, and the weather tends to be more mild. There are a lot of great destinations in Maine, but my family’s special place was always Ogunquit. It’s a charming town on the coast, not far from the New Hampshire border. It was a big deal the first time Rob joined us, and he was only invited for part of the time. Over the years, he’s come to love it as much as we do, and is just as excited to go back.
Many months ago, Rob and I booked a house in Maine for a week in August. It was dog-friendly, and big enough that my mom could join us for a few days too. Then coronavirus hit, and for a while it looked like this trip wasn’t going to happen. We were all healthy, which was obviously the most important, but living in NYC during a global pandemic has definitely taken a toll on my mental health. So, I was incredibly grateful when things improved here and Maine loosened their rules for New Yorkers. My mom decided not to join us, which was sad, but the right choice for her. Rob and I were able to visit all of our favorite places, and I was so impressed with how all of the restaurants and stores have adapted to keep people safe. It was great to be able to support these small businesses that mean so much to me, and I wanted to share them all here so you can bookmark this list for your next getaway.
Where to Stay
On either side of Ogunquit are York and Wells. We spend time in all of them when we’re there, and they all have great places to stay. When I was younger, we mostly stayed at a hotel called The Milestone in Ogunquit. When we wanted our own kitchen or more space, we ventured to the cottage communities like Beach Dreams. They have stricter rental rules, and often don’t allow dogs, so now when we bring Bones we rent a house. This year we stayed in a great little house in Wells with a backyard that was a total treat for our city dog! Also, if you’re looking for dog daycare or boarding, highly recommend York Bark & Play.
Beaches
Each of the three towns has their own public beach. There are different sections, and the one we’ve spent the most time at is Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit. York Beach and the main Ogunquit Beach tend to be more crowded, but have the benefits of nearby restaurants and bathrooms. This year, we were fortunate to have access to Moody Beach in Wells. There’s no public parking nearby, so it’s really only accessible if you’re in walking distance. Part of the beach is private for the waterfront houses, but (at least in these times) there was still plenty of space to relax. Highly recommend getting there if you can!
Shopping
Truthfully, I’ve never done a lot of shopping on these trips, but Ogunquit has an adorable downtown area with lots of great shops. You’re also only about 20 minutes from the Kittery Outlets, which are a fantastic combination of brand names and regional favorites. The Kittery Trading Post is a must-visit if you’ve never been! On your way back, stop at the Stonewall Kitchen Company Store for jams, mustards, kitchen gadgets and more.
Where to Eat
There are SO MANY amazing places to eat! For breakfast, our favorites are The Egg & I in Ogunquit (worth the wait), and Congdon’s Donuts in Wells (get the honey dip!). If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know about my obsession with The Scoop Deck ice cream. It’s some of the best I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot for me! There are so many flavors that you’ll have to go back at least twice!
For lunch and dinner, here are our go-tos:
- Brown’s Clam Shanty (Wells)
- Ogunquit Lobster Pound
- Fox’s Lobster House (York)
- Beach Lobster House (Ogunquit)
- Billy’s Chowder House (Wells)
- Cape Neddick Lobster Pound (York)
- Hobb’s Harborside (Wells)
I also shared on Instagram that I’m on a constant quest to find more fish chowder in Maine. The short story is that I loved clam chowder as a kid before I stopped eating shellfish, and I miss it. In recent years, more restaurants have started making non-shellfish chowder (usually with haddock), and I am always so excited when it’s on the menu! This year, I found it at Fox’s, Billy’s and Hobb’s. Billy’s is still my fave!
I’ve shared some outfits from Maine trips before, but never a travel diary, so let me know if you have any questions!
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