Outdoor Activities in Ogunquit and York

Get out and enjoy the great outdoors! That’s what you do in Maine and there are plenty of ways–both by land and sea–to do it.

The beach is always a good place to start and Ogunquit Beach, a three-and-a-half-mile stretch of unspoiled sandy seduction–will help you to understand why Ogunquit draws big crowds. Seawater temps only top out at about 68 degrees early August (if you’re lucky) but not many people seem to care. You can always roll around in the warm sand afterward, the perfect primer for another dip in the surf.

York offers good beaches as well, all within walking distance to many great eateries, food shacks, bars and other colorful places of entertainment. Long Sands Beach has almost two miles of beautiful sand and swimming – hence the name! Short Sands Beach is great for kids because they have a playground right on the beach and also Fun-O-Rama Arcade where you can play all kinds of games. Lots of shops and restaurants, too! York Harbor Beach is great, but has limited and permit-only parking. From there, you can walk over to Hartley Mason Park and enjoy the stunning ocean views from this four-acre seaside estate. Hop on the York Trolley to easily take it all in. Pick up your fun beach toys and accessories at The Beach Funatic, just a few skips away from Short Sands Beach.

Want to get really active? Hit the trail by hiking or biking the East Coast Greenway that connects Kittery to Casco Bay. Find out more at the Eastern Trail Alliance.

Nature and the preservation of it abounds in Maine. Consider donating to the Marginal Way Preservation Fund and The York Land Trust to help preserve Maine’s natural beauty for generations to come.

Great Works Regional Land Trust offers all kinds of special events and nature programs in addition to a network of trails, all excellent for hiking. Wells Reserve at Laudholm showcases an abundance of ways to bring you closer to nature, including easy to moderate trails open year-round for hiking, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. They also host all kinds of events, such as an evening of surf music and film, in conjunction with organizations such as Grain Surfboards and the Surfrider Foundation.

Back in Ogunquit, trace the Atlantic coastline from Perkins Cove to just beyond the town center along a path known as the Marginal Way for some amazing ocean views. The mile-long trail passes by tidal pools and inlets brimming with all kinds of marine life and busy birds, all of which are fun to watch.

For big wildlife, go to York’s Wild Kingdom, a zoo and amusement park near York Beach. Or, you can go play golf at one of York’s many golf courses.

For wind-swept ocean vistas punctuated with an historic lighthouse, go to Sohier Park in York and gaze out upon Nubble Light, a sweetheart of a beacon perched upon an island. It’s not open to the public, however, you can enjoy a good view of it from Sohier Park where there’s also a gift shop and restrooms. Finish off your seafood dinner from Fox’s Lobster House on the Nubble with tasty ice cream from Dunne’s Ice Cream!

Now what about venturing out on the water? That’s a must in these parts and one of the best places to turn for power boat rentals and other boat services is York Harbor Marine. It’s also fun to grab a bite or beverage on their dock and watch the boats from The Deck at Dockside!

Since it’s Maine, there’s also lots of great kayaking, lobstering and fishing to be enjoyed out on the water. And then at the end of it all, there’s a huge catch of food–including lotsa lob-stah–to be savored. Oh yeah