Things to do in Ogunquit & Wells
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Ogunquit Beach
A sublime stretch of family-friendly coastline, Ogunquit Beach is only a five-minute walk along Beach St, east of US 1. Walking to the beach is a good idea in the summer, because the lot fills up early (and it costs around US$4 per hour to park). The 3-mile beach fronts Ogunquit Bay to the south; on the west side of the beach are the warmer waters of the tidal Ogunquit River.
Footbridge Beach, 2 miles to the north near Wells, is the northern extension of Ogunquit Beach. It's reached from US 1 by Ocean St and a footbridge across the Ogunquit River. Another way to access the beach is via Eldridge Rd in Wells - follow the sign for Moody Beach.
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Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge
Named after the famous environmentalist, the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge consists of 9000 acres of protected coastal areas. There are four trails scattered in the non-contiguous refuge, the most popular being the 1-mile interpretive Carson Trail that passes tidal creeks and salt marshes, and is a great spot for seeing migratory birds. It’s located off ME 9, at the northern edge of Wells.
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Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve has 1600 acres of protected coastal ecosystems, with 7 miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails past woodlands, fields, wetlands, beaches and dunes. Its diverse habitats make it a particularly intriguing place for birdwatchers. To get there, take US 1, 1.5 miles north of Wells and turn right onto Laudholm Rd.
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Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Beautifully set overlooking the shore, this museum, houses an exquisite collection of paintings, sculpture and photography made by American artists. Standouts are works by Reginald Marsh, Charles Demuth and Robert Henri; the museum also has two changing exhibitions each summer, which in the past have included works by Jamie Wyeth and Ansel Adams.
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Wells Auto Museum
Lover of a well-made touring car should pay a visit to this fanciful museum. Here you’ll find a collection of restored classic cars powered by steam, electricity and gasoline. There’s over 70 cars on hand, representing 45 different makes, including Rolls-Royce, Stutz, Cadillac, Packard, Pierce Arrow and Knox.
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Clay Hill Farm
This award-winning restaurant is set in an elegantly restored 18th-century farmhouse and serves new American cuisine. Rack of lamb with fennel salad, organic trout, roasted Cornish hen and sesame-crusted scallops are among the changing menu selections. It’s located 5 miles north of Ogunquit, off US 1.
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Arrows
One of the best restaurants in this part of Maine, Arrows features imaginative dishes such as herb-coated yellowfin tuna with Maine clams, potato pierogi and crispy prosciutto (that’s one dish). Arrows is 4 miles west of Ogunquit; reservations and jackets for men are recommended.
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Gypsy Sweethearts
In the heart of town, Gypsy Sweethearts serves unique dishes such as lobster quesadilla, cranberry-marinated pork tenderloin and sea scallops with tropical fruit compote. It’s set in a cozy dining room, with an outdoor deck for warm evenings.
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MC Perkins Cove
Beautiful food and beautiful people come together at this award-winning seaside restaurant. For the best deal, go straight to the bar menu: don't overlook the fish tacos or the Kobe beef burger with sweet potato fries.
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Bread & Roses
The kind of bakery that most small towns only dream about - the raspberry croissants are heavenly, the salads healthy, the panini sandwiches grilled to perfection. It's takeout, but there are café tables outside.
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Excursions in Maine
Excursions in Maine offers scenic half-day kayak tours ($60) as well as overnight trips with two days of paddling ($250). If you’re proficient, you can rent kayaks for $35 to 45 per day.
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Perkins Cove
Perkins Cove is a picturesque inlet dotted with sailboats and lobstering boats. A narrow pedestrian bridge spans the harbor and leads to a handful of attractive restaurants, art galleries and boutiques.
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Club Inside Out
Ogunquit’s biggest entertainment complex is a big ball of gay fun, comprising a dance club, a cocktail lounge and a rooftop café with a full menu. Check the website for upcoming events.
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Blue Water Inn
Nicely set along the water, this casual spot has a covered patio where you can enjoy lobster, blackened tuna and other seafood dishes. The sandwiches, salads and burgers are also quite popular.
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Front Porch
This kitschy fun piano bar attracts a mixed crowd to its many off-key singalongs, and is a dapper setting for a cocktail. There’s tasty seafood served in the new adjoining restaurant.
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Caffe Prego
Unmatched for people watching, Prego is a sleek and stylish café serving excellent cappuccinos, creamy gelato, pizzas and panini. Look for a table on the inviting front patio.
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Barnacle Billy's
For lobsters with a view, this landmark restaurant overlooking Perkins Cove is the one. The lobster prices depend on the weight you choose but expect to pay around $30 on average.
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Lobster Shack
If you want good seafood and aren't particular about the view, this reliable joint serves lobster in all its various incarnations from lobster stew to lobster in the shell.
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Beachfire
This new spot has an upstairs and a downstairs bar, a sizzling firepit out front, and live music (folk, jazz, R&B) on Friday and Saturday nights (no cover).
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Silverlining
Offers four two-hour sails daily on a 42ft Hinckley sloop (single-masted sailboat), cruising the tranquil and rocky shoreline near Ogunquit.
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Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse, which first opened in 1933, presents both showy Broadway musicals and children's theater each summer.
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Finestkind Scenic Cruises
Finestkind Scenic Cruises offers several boat cruises, including cool 50-minute voyages to pull up lobster traps.
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