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An Off-Season Visit to Ogunquit, Maine

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Donna Urso

Visit Ogunquit, ME

Do you need to get away this weekend?  Try a weekend in Maine.

Early November is a great time of year for a weekend getaway in New England.  

This year, for the second time, we spent a couple of days in the lovely seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine.  At just 120 miles from Providence, Rhode Island and 75 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, Ogunquit is easily accessible by car for New Englanders.

The route from Providence, RI to Ogunquit, ME
An Easy Drive to Ogunquit, Maine

Off season, Ogunquit is a quiet little town with a quaint main street.  That makes it perfect for an afternoon stroll.

Main Street, Ogunquit, ME
A Quaint Main Street

Where to Stay When Visiting Ogunquit, Maine

Be aware that many of the town's hotels and restaurants close during the fall and winter, but you'll still have plenty of wonderful options.   

We stayed at the Juniper Hill Inn, a well-priced, clean and friendly hotel located on Main Street in Ogunquit.  It is a short walk from the beach which makes it a winner in my book.  The staff at the hotel id friendly and will be happy to help you select a restaurant for your dinner from among the many excellent options.

The Juniper Inn
The Juniper Hill Inn

Off Season Things to Do in Ogunquit

Be sure to walk the Marginal Way, a cliff-walk that meanders along the rocky Maine coastline for a little over a mile.   The round-trip walk along the Marginal Way to and from our hotel was exactly three miles along an asphalt covered pathway.  

It is an energizing way to start your day and the gorgeous views will delight.

The Marginal Way is a three mile walk.
The Marginal Way

If you are a fan of casual breakfast eateries you'll want to be sure to make time for breakfast at the Omelet Factory.  It is a small, bustling breakfast restaurant where the staff is friendly, the jelly is homemade, and the omelets are generous.  

If there are seats free at the counter, choose them to get a bird's eye view of your breakfast being cooked while chatting with the cooks.

You can spend your afternoon shopping in the local boutiques and antique stores, or take a short drive to nearby York.  There you can visit the Stonewall Kitchen where you can shop and sample their specialty foods or eat in their wonderful café.

Of course I had to pick up some of their specialty ingredients for cooking.

Visit Stonewall Kitchen
Shopping at Stonewall Kitchen
If you are feeling adventurous, an hour drive will take you to Freeport where you can shop outlet stores until you drop.  Freeport's Main Street is lined with one store after another.   Among them, you'll find the flagship LL Bean store, a must not miss location when visiting Maine.

LL Bean's flagship store
The Flagship LL Bean Store
Even though fall is off season, there is plenty to do in Maine in November.  You'll find the accommodation prices to be reasonable, the food delicious, and the locals friendly and welcoming.    

Before you go...Never miss a Just One Donna post by signing up to receive posts in your email or your favorite RSS feed.  Links are in the sidebar.

Enjoy!

Comments

  1. Mary Sullivan FrasierNovember 14, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Ah, Ogunquit! Hubby and I were just there in September and have been going there for over 25 years now. We've stayed at several places over the years, but for the last 5 we've been staying at The Beachmere Inn.

    Have you been to a shop called Spoiled Rotten on Beach Street? (I'm a little bit addicted. LOL) We always stock up at Stonewall Kitchen too.

    Lovely photos! Made me want to go back there right away!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donna UrsoNovember 14, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Mrs B, I'll have to check out both the Beachmere Inn and Spoiled Rotten. I'm sure i'll be going back. It really is a lovely getaway place.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 16, 2011 at 5:34 AM

    That looks beautiful! The Marginal Way, will have to check that out for next summer, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2023 at 9:32 PM

    So if you go in September or October are he restaurants open? I saw a comment that said many restaurants were closed in the fall

    ReplyDelete
  5. Donna UrsoJanuary 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM

    This trip was in early November. It's always good to to check with local restaurants before you go. Things have changed since this post was originally published.

    ReplyDelete

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