Over the past century, the seaside village of Ogunquit, Maine, has evolved without losing any of its rich history, culture and beauty.
Cape Cod-style homes outfitted with cedar shake shingles line the tightly-packed streets, and original wooden and stone buildings, including the Ogunquit library and the Ogunquit Heritage Center, preserve the rich history and story behind this region.
Credit: Tom Schlicter
From its Native American heritage to its 19th-century fishing history to the bustling tourist destination it is today, Ogunquit provides the perfect “home away from home” for any group touring in New England.
“Ogunquit has a little bit of everything, which is why people love this ‘beautiful place on the sea’ as we like to call it,” said Sarah Potter, president of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. “One of our key attributes is that it’s so walkable here. At 4 square miles, we’re one of the smallest towns in Maine — but it really allows us to pack in the hospitality and service that groups are looking for.”
Within a 10- to 15-minute walk, groups can access shops, accommodations, museums, art galleries and the beach. The 3½-mile, sheltered and sandy shores of Ogunquit Beach have become one of the premier destinations for a classic New England beach experience.
Art lovers will enjoy the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, which houses 3,000 pieces in its permanent collection, as well as the Barn Gallery, a nonprofit arts collective and performing arts space featuring local creatives. The town has also become well-known as one of the most inclusive and thriving destinations for LGBTQ travelers.
To get a better understanding of the region’s past, groups can visit the Ogunquit Heritage Museum, which highlights Native American history. Or take a ride on the trolley system to Perkins Cove, a historic fishing district perched on the cliffs of a barrier peninsula.
For quintessential New England coastal views, groups can walk along the popular Marginal Walk Way — a 1¼-mile-long cliff walk that begins at the base of Perkins Cove peninsula and winds past rocky shoreline and under shaded groves to Ogunquit Beach.
For more information contact the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce at 207-646-2939 or go to visitogunquit.org.
Article by Erica Zazo
