It's making me smile to read so many positive things about Maine, and especially York
. Thanks, everyone!
We spent every summer in York Beach, as my grandfather owned a cottage there. If you are looking for a great beach, try to stay on Long Sands Beach in York. It's about 2 miles of white sand beach on the open Atlantic shore. There's scenic Nubble Light at one end, and you can look out across the ocean to Boone Island and the Isles of Shoals (NH). There are many hotels right across the street from the beach... we used to rent cottages at a place called Sea Latch, where you'd walk from your cottage, across Rt 1A and onto the sand. Deluxe, and wonderful sunrises! Downtown York Beach is a little honky-tonk, but there are lots of gift stores, a couple of good places to eat, a bowling alley and games arcade, The Goldenrod (salt water taffy!!), and York's Wild Kingdom (amusement park, zoo-ish park). Just north of York (15 minute drive) is Ogunquit, with quaint shops, great art galleries, and the Ogunquit Playhouse, if you are interested in a little theater. York itself is an historic town, founded in 1624, with several restored colonial homes to visit and (I think) a haunted cemetery walking tour.. and is the home of Stonewall Kitchen. Just south of York is Kittery, home of the endless outlet mall, and south of that (maybe 10 minute drive) is Portsmouth, NH, a lovely little city with a LOT of history and culture, great restaurants, quaint bars, outdoor theater, etc.
This is a great place to vacation... if you are lay-on-the-beach types, you can do that all day, or you can shop, sightsee, tour, etc. There's something for everyone, and in August, the Atlantic Ocean is even tolerable!!