Blake Walsh

24 Best Things to Do in Ogunquit, ME

  • Published 2023/04/11

Ogunquit is a very famous town in Maine.

The town has so much to offer that it’s impossible to explore it in its entirety in just a single visit.

With countless activities to enjoy and so many places to visit, Ogunquit is a perfect destination for vacations.

The town can easily be regarded as the best beach town in New England.

However, apart from the beaches, Ogunquit also offers various cultural activities and festivals that can be enjoyed regardless of when you visit.

This town is also an excellent place for foodies, as it has a lot of beautiful and affordable cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops serving fresh and local food.

No amount of words is enough to do justice to the beauty and the richness of Ogunquit.

Once you visit this place, you will want to stay here forever.

Here are the best things to do in Ogunquit, Maine:

Go Back in Time at the Ogunquit Heritage Museum

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ogunquit Heritage Museum is housed inside a historical building from the 18th century.

This museum is open to visitors seasonally, specifically from June to October.

It’s the perfect place to enjoy beautiful artifacts and the town’s heritage, history, and architectural beauty.

The museum also has a collection of documents and artifacts that are of historical significance.

What makes this museum even more attractive is that it has the original flooring, panels, and fireplaces that were installed during its construction in the 18th century.

Quench Your Thirst for Art at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art

Exterior of Ogunquit Museum of American Art

John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is the only museum in Maine that is exclusively dedicated to the American art form.

It was opened to the public in the year 1953.

This museum has a collection of more than 1,600 artworks that include photographs, sculptures, paintings, artifacts, and many more.

Interior of Ogunquit Museum of American Art

John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The museum has permanent and rotating exhibitions that focus significantly on contemporary American art.

Most of its exhibitions are named after some famous artists.

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is definitely a must-visit place in Ogunquit for some art therapy.

Watch an Amazing Live Performance at the Ogunquit Playhouse

Exterior of Ogunquit Playhouse

B Lee Mannino, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This famous attraction, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was opened in 1933.

The Ogunquit Playhouse is known as a notable Straw Hat Circuit summer theater that is run by a non-profit organization.

It is famous for running some extraordinary and star-rated performances.

Far view of Ogunquit Playhouse

Kalki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The theater opens seasonally from May to October and entertains the town’s community with its mesmerizing performances.

The Ogunquit Playhouse also patrons local and regional artists and promotes their talent.

All the details about the performance schedule and pricing of shows can be found on the Ogunquit Playhouse’s official website.

Grab Coffee and Snacks at Backyard Coffeehouse and Eatery

Backyard Coffee House and Eatery is one of the most comfortable and beautiful cafes in the town of Ogunquit.

The coffee house has a rustic and vintage interior that features wooden tables and blackboard menus, which attracts a lot of visitors.

Backyard Coffee House and Eatery serves freshly brewed coffee with unique ingredients and traditional recipes.

They also serve sides and snacks such as bagels, salads, sandwiches, burgers, muffins, cakes, and scones, along with its premium coffees.

If you are in the town, you should definitely check this place out and enjoy their delicacies.

Explore the Beautiful Gardens at Beach Plum Farm

Signage of Beach Plum Farm

Arthur Villator / Shutterstock.com

Spread in an area of 22 acres, Beach Plum Farm is located on the north end of Ogunquit.

This farm has more than 50 separate gardens and parks that are open for public visits.

Most of these parks are used as gardens that have walking trails connected with a single loop.

The place is extremely delightful for summer visits, as all the gardens are loaded with beautiful fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other natural plants.

The farm has also installed tables where people can rest.

Beach Plum Farm is great for enjoying and spotting some coastal birds.

Overall, the place is a natural delight and a must-visit for a tranquil picnic.

Bite into Freshly Baked Pizza at Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza and Craft Beer

A beautiful wooden interior paired with a warm yellow glow is what you need to feel like your best.

Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza and Craft Beer is a place that offers just that and more.

To add to its beautiful and warm design, this place has a menu loaded with mouth-watering pizzas.

All the pizzas on the menu are made using hand-tossed dough and fresh ingredients.

Apart from the pizzas, the place is also a big hit for its craft beers that are made specially to suit the menu.

The place is definitely beautiful and worth visiting.

Have a Breakfast Date at Cove Cafe

Cove Cafe is a famous cafe that opens seasonally in the town of Ogunquit.

It has a very distinctive blue decor covered with windows.

The cafe has been serving fresh, home-cooked meals to diners since 2001.

Cove Cafe is incredibly famous for its breakfast and boasts an extensive menu filled with healthy dishes.

They offer items like fried eggs, lobster frittata, crab cakes, lobster Benedict, and many more.

You should also try their omelets, as they have 15 varieties on the menu.

If you are visiting the town anytime from May to October, you should definitely not miss the opportunity to dine at this place.

Admire the Woodcut Prints at Black Bear Fine Arts Studio and Gallery

Also known as Don Gorvett Piscataqua Fine Arts Studio & Gallery, Black Beer Fine Art Gallery exhibits the beautiful work of famous artist Don Gorvett.

The gallery also features works from other artists, varying from paintings to photographs.

It also offers souvenirs that you can buy as gifts from your trip to Ogunquit for your loved ones.

The gallery is quite pretty and offers a great insight into beautiful woodcut prints.

Shop for Gifts and Snacks at H & M Crumpets’ and Harbor Candy Shop

H & M Crumpets’ is a famous boutique that sells personalized items.

This little boutique is different from the famous clothing brand with the same name.

H & M Crumpets’ denotes the names of its owners’ three dogs: Homer, Max, and Crumpet.

The store sells personal care items like soaps, lotions, air fresheners, candles, and more.

Most of the items in this boutique are produced by local artisans, providing them a market for their products.

You should definitely stop by this place and buy some really cute gifts for your loved ones.

H & M Crumpets’ has a sister store, Harbor Candy Shop, which sells a variety of gourmet chocolates and candles.

It also serves delicious chocolates in different flavors like fruit and nut, creamy, and vegan chocolate.

In addition, Harbor Candy Shop serves tasty fudges, cakes, and other dessert items made with chocolate.

You can also select other goodies from the shop and put together a gift box as per your preferences.

Visit the Marginal Way and Admire Views of the Atlantic Ocean

People walking along Marginal Way

Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Marginal Way is the best place to enjoy the most splendid views of the Atlantic Ocean from Ogunquit.

It is more of a walking trail that extends over 1.25 miles.

These walking trails allow you to walk along the Atlantic Ocean and admire its enormous waves, along with scenes of Ogunquit.

A bench at Marginal Way overlooking the ocean

Nature Lovin’ Geek / Shutterstock.com

It is slightly elevated but is still perfect for walking and cycling.

The place has some benches as well to ensure its visitors’ comfort.

View of the ocean from Marginal Way

marvellousworld / Shutterstock.com

Treat Yourself to Fresh Lobster at The Lobster Shack

Shop sign of The Lobster Shack

Tom Nettleton / Shutterstock.com

Established in 1980, The Lobster Shack is a very famous and amazing family-owned business that offers the most delicious lobster and seafood in town.

This place is located in a quaint brown building on Perkins Cove Road.

Some of the classics at The Lobster Shack are their clam chowder, lobster rolls, lobster dinners, and steamers.

What makes this place different from other restaurants is that all the lobsters are always freshly caught and stored in tanks of ocean water in order to ensure the best flavor possible.

Take a Walk by the Water at Perkins Cove

Daytime view of the Perkins cove bridge

Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Perkins Cove is a beautiful open area that allows visitors to have a great time walking around the shoreline, especially during the summer season.

The place is full of boats and is just spectacular.

The lifted Perkins Cove bridge with a sailboat passing under

Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com

It also has a small bridge known as the Perkins Cove Draw Bridge, which allows lifting a sailboat.

The area is also surrounded by a lot of cafes and places that are absolutely picture-perfect.

Wooden chairs overlooking the boats at Perkins Cove

Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Go on a Sailing Tour and Explore Ogunquit’s Surrounding Waters

The coasts of the beautiful town of Ogunquit are covered with views that are not only breathtaking but will surely live in your memories forever.

These views can be best enjoyed from the water.

Ogunquit has various service providers that offer scenic cruises on the town’s surrounding waters, allowing tourists to enjoy the sights of the lighthouses, beautiful harbors, and the coasts all at once.

Finestkind Cruises is one such service provider.

You can choose from a variety of boats and a list of tours depending on your preferences.

While on tour, you can also enjoy cricket shows and cocktails, which are served during the sunset.

Another such service provider is Silverlining Sailing Cruises.

This boat tour agency provides you with all the equipment and guidance required for a successful sailing experience.

They offer sailing tours for people of all ages and are very safe.

You should definitely consider taking this sailing tour if you are interested in enjoying the mesmerizing sunset over the horizon of the sea.

Another unique way to enjoy the waters by Ogunquit is by getting in touch with World Within Sea Kayaking.

The service providers have all the equipment tourists need to enjoy the water, from kayaks to paddleboards.

However, World Within Sea Kayaking is open only during high tide cycles, which makes it a very seasonal service.

The tickets and details of all these places can be found on their respective websites.

These are different kinds of experiences, and you should definitely try at least one of them when you’re in Ogunquit.

Bring Your Pooch to Ogunquit Dog Park

Ogunquit Dog Park is both a bark park and a nature trail, famous for bigger breeds or for any dog who loves to explore.

Filled with wooded trails that have rugged terrains, this is a haven for dogs who love to sniff and immerse themselves in nature.

Owners will love Ogunquit Dog Park as well for its rustic scenery and atmosphere, best experienced during winters when the place gets clad in snow.

Plenty of locals visit here, so Ogunquit Dog Park is also a great place to meet new friends along the way.

You can access this dog park along Spring Hill Road.

Have Breakfast at The Greenery Cafe

The Greenery Cafe is a nice location to kickstart your adventure in Ogunquit, as it’s conveniently found along Main Street.

Their specialties here are baked goods and breakfast items such as omelets, pancakes, and hashes.

One of their more exciting dishes is their lobster eggs benedict, something that’ll really rile up your taste buds first thing in the morning!

With a bright and welcoming ambiance, The Greenery Cafe is also a nice spot to read a book or spend some quiet time.

Don’t miss out on this chic cafe if you’re all in on exploring the local food icons in Ogunquit.

Enjoy the Sandy Shoreline of Footbridge Beach

Long footbridge of Footbridge Beach

Littlelexie / Shutterstock.com

Footbridge Beach is a great alternative if you want to experience the ocean in a more secluded way, as it’s not as famous as other landmarks in Ogunquit.

Known for its sandy beaches and views, Footbridge Beach is a scenic place to do photography as you’ll have sweeping views of the Atlantic.

One of the best things about this beach is that it’s a huge shoreline, so you can easily spend hours trekking the length of it.

Plenty of flora and fauna can be found as well, adding an exciting dimension for outdoor lovers.

Footbridge Beach can be accessed along Ocean Street where its parking lot is also located.

Beach slippers at Footbridge Beach

Elevated Comfort / Shutterstock.com

Shop for Gifts at Uniques and Antiques

Uniques and Antiques is a quaint gift shop located along Perkins Cove Road, near the beaches of Ogunquit.

While small, Uniques and Antiques makes up for it by its adorable items that feature accessories, home decors, and other knick knacks.

The staff and ownership here do a good job of curating their products, and you can best see this during Halloween and Christmas Season.

Tons of unique and quirky decor pop up during this time of the year, making this a can’t-miss if your holiday setup still isn’t complete.

A great place to shop or do some treasure hunting, Uniques and Antiques is a solid addition to any kind of itinerary in Ogunquit.

Go Drinking at BeachFire Bar and Grille

If you’re looking for a rustic vibe while chugging a stone cold beer, Beachfire Bar and Grille is one of the best at delivering such an experience.

This restaurant and bar is famous for having a fire pit in its location where customers can just hang out and enjoy the heat over a nice cold drink.

While its ambiance is amazing, BeachFire Bar and Grille also has stellar food.

Some of their bestsellers here are their smoked chicken wings, pulled pork, and mouthwatering brisket.

They even serve seafood here and gluten-free options, making it an ideal place for large groups with varying diets.

Found along Main Street, visit this awesome restaurant for an exciting dinner experience.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Snap Photos of the Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Daytime view of Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Stefan Hillebrand, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most beautiful and architecturally prominent lighthouses, the Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse was built in the year 1879.

It is located in the neighboring town of York, just 15 minutes away from Ogunquit.

The lighthouse was originally constructed with an attached house with a red roof and a few outbuildings.

Aerial view of Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com

It is made of iron and bricks and has a height of 41 feet.

This lighthouse is still in use at present and offers some really beautiful views of the rocky coast of the Atlantic.

The property is not open to visitors, but the views of the lighthouse can be enjoyed from the nearby Sohier Park.

Visible stars over Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Mike Ver Sprill / Shutterstock.com

Have Coffee and Carpe Diem Coffee at Bread and Roses Bakery

Bread and Roses Bakery is a lovely bakery located in Wells, which is less than a 10-minute drive away from Ogunquit.

The bakery is famous for serving everything from croissants to freshly baked pizzas.

It is also famous for its Carpe Diem Coffee, which you must try, especially if you consider yourself a coffee lover.

Bread and Roses Bakery is well-known for its goods, which are always baked fresh in their own kitchen using local ingredients.

The bakery’s must-try menu items include their freshly baked cakes, artisan bread loaves, fruit tarts, pies, cream rolls, and other desserts.

Bread and Roses Bakery also ships its products so that visitors can enjoy the delicacies even in their home cities.

Soak up the Sun at Ogunquit Beach

Welcome sign of Ogunquit Beach

Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Ogunquit Beach is an incredibly picturesque 3.5 miles of pristine white sand beach that lies along the coast of Maine.

It’s no wonder that Ogunquit Beach was ranked among “The Top 10 Beaches in the U.S.”

It’s easily accessible from downtown Ogunquit via Beach Street and offers several things for guests to enjoy.

Ogunquit Beach provides visitors with ample amenities including beach chair & umbrella rentals, restrooms as well as food vendors with indoor seating.

People enjoying the sun at Ogunquit Beach

Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Ogunquit Beach is an astonishing sight to see, and the optimal time to visit is during the least high tide.

The beach stretches for miles due to sandbars that create low tide conditions.

And that’s what makes this beach so iconic—the countless large sandbars make it perfect for walking across while taking in gorgeous views of the sparkling seaside ocean.

Be sure to keep a close eye out for those miserable-looking seagulls hanging out in the parking lot, though.

The waters of Ogunquit Beach

Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Get Yourself Some Specially Designed Socks

Founded in 2008, Abacus treats you to a wonderful collection of highly innovative and artistic pieces.

Their collection of crafted pieces is fun and surprising.

In addition to the store’s great product variation, it also sells specially designed socks.

It’s a must-visit spot if you’re looking for beautiful items artfully arranged in a galley-type setting full of natural light.

From original lamps to wood jewelry boxes to spiritiles to an amazing selection of artisan jewelry, there’s something here that anyone would appreciate.

They even have vintage clocks that look like they’ve been around since the beginning of time.

There are attentive staff members here who are knowledgeable and can help you fulfill any needs you may have.

Whether you make a purchase or not, you will come away with something special to remember for years to come.

Visit Lobster Point Lighthouse

Daytime view of Lobster Point Lighthouse

ETustianPhotography / Shutterstock.com

Built in 1948, Lobster Point Lighthouse is located along Ogunquit, Maine’s “Marginal Way” nature preserve & shoreline walk with paved paths.

One can reach the lighthouse through Stearns Road.

Visiting this lighthouse means you’ll get some nice exercise and a stroll through a rose garden, all while inhaling the refreshing scent of the ocean.

The lamp of Lobster Point Lighthouse

ETustianPhotography / Shutterstock.com

This lighthouse is located right on the shore and offers some amazing views, especially during sunrise and sunset.

Those who enjoy a little adventure can climb on top of the rocks surrounding it.

Check Out Ogunquit Events and Festivals

Ogunquit has something for everyone all year round!

The spring always brings a joyful Patriots Day weekend celebration.

Named the best event to celebrate patriotism by Down East Magazine, this festive weekend highlights concerts, local food and wine tastings, children’s games and crafts, and historical re-enactments.

The summer can be a lot of fun, with the ability to relax by the beach and then experience stunning fireworks displays for Independence Day.

By the fall, you should check out OgunquitFest.

It’s Ogunquit’s celebration of all things autumnal with an enjoyable weekend full of fall-themed activities, including haunted houses and pumpkin carving.

Ogunquit also offers visitors winter holiday festivities such as caroling, a visit from Santa, ice-skating, tree decorating, town tree lighting, and more.

Final Thoughts

Maine’s Ogunquit actually translates to “beautiful place by the sea” in the Abenaki Indian language.

Ogunquit is among one of the Southern Maine Coast’s prettiest places, with white sandy beaches, striking rocky cliffs, and charming architecture that can be explored.

The small but vibrant coastal town combines a historic area and fun-filled seaside village into one fantastic destination.

Add some kick to your vacation itinerary with these fresh things to do in Ogunquit, ME!

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