Ogunquit Maine??

[JESW]

We'll be heading up there for the first time next week for three nights. (me, DH , DS8 & DD4) Any suggestions on what we can do? We might try stopping at Canobie Lake Park on the way up if the weather is ok. We are also looking for a place for good sea food. Any good mini golf places? We might hit the outlets in Kittery on the way home.

TIA!

Jill

 

[luvflorida]

Hi from Kennebunk, Maine! We live about 8 miles north of Ogunquit. Ogunquit is a beautiful little town, as are most of the towns in Maine. Of course, I might be a little biased! You asked about mini-golf. There is a terrific mini-golf place in Moody, which is the next town up from Ogunquit. It's called Wonder Mountain and actually has two separate courses- Nautical Nightmare and Mountain Mania. They're both 18 holes and are themed nicely, waterfalls, caves, etc.

Canobie Lake is okay, but I think it's gotten a little run-down. If you want to travel a little bit north, I would suggest Funtown in Saco, Maine. It's about a 40 minute drive from Ogunquit, but well worth it. It's a very clean, family friendly theme park, and has a lot of rides and attractions for the ages of your kids. They also have live entertainment for the first time this year. The group of four guys and four girls, (ages 16-25), put on three musical revue type show a day, (except Mondays), and they are fantastic. Oh yeah, my daughter is part of this terrific group. Really, tho, it's a great theme park, and I think it's better than Canobie Lake Park.

Oh yeah, good seafood is easy to find in Southern Maine. Mike's Clam Shack in Wells is a good place to try. You can eat inside or dine outside.

And, if you want to catch some really good professional theatre, be sure to check out the Ogunquit Playhouse.

 

[RUDisney]

We just got back from Ogunquit 2 weeks ago. We go for a week each July. We just love it there. Where are you staying?

Make a reservation right now for Hurricane's in Perkins Cove. It is fine dining at it's best, but hard, if not impossible, to get in if you don't have prior reservations. We also really liked Five-O on Shore Rd. in downtown Ogunquit. Stay clear of Joe Allens. It just opened and since there are other Joe Allens in NYC, LA, Miami, Paris, we thought we'd try it out. Bobby Flay got his start at Joe Allens in NYC. We were very disappointed. Mediocre food, at best, flavorless and expensive.

We love the atmosphere of the Ogunquit Lobster Pound for lobsters. The "executioner's pit" is outside. Once you're seated, if you want lobsters or steamer clams, you go outside to pick and order them. While you're waiting to be seated, there are adirondack chairs to sit in under the trees and everyone is usually very friendly.

We went to the Wonder Mountain mini-golf this time around. They had boys setup around the areas with "free bug spray" because mosquitoes are very bad this year. It was fun, even with the little blood-sucking critters and the spray helped.

If you want to know anything else, let me know and we can PM about it, too. One place that I love in Kittery is Stonewall Kitchens. The plant and visitor's store is there and you can sample before you buy. My favorite thing there is the Maple Chipotle Grilling Sauce.

The outlets in Kittery are really good, too.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

We used to spend a couple of weeks each summer in Maine, when I was growing up. We used to get the absolute best fried seafood from the Shack in Kennebunkport. It might just be a little hut, but the food is amazing.

We used to stay one week in Wells and the other week on Southport Island, near Boothbay Harbour.

 

[MickeysMommy]

My family has been going to York Beach Maine for over 40 years. We go the last full week in June every year. There are some really good seafood places down near the outlets but the seafood is great all over Maine - it's where it's the best! Take a ride up to Kennebunkport and stroll through the village...Perkins Cove is right down the road from Ogunquit. York and York Beach is right after Kittery. You are going to love it there. It's so relaxing ~ this is our relaxing vacation as opposed to WDW

 

[JESW]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies already - I can always count on the DIS! (I've written them all down)

We are staying at a place called Gorge's Grant Hotel and it's on the main drag. I picked it (on-line) because they had trolley service to the beach and downtown and I thought the kids would like that. It also has an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast - always good to have something like that so we don't have to drag the kids out first thing to eat.

I will remember to bring bug spray - thanks for the heads up!

Looking forward to some good seafood!

Jill

 

[RUDisney]

The Gorges Grant is a sister property to the one we stayed at, The Juniper Hill Inn. We have also stayed at the other sister, the Milestone. They are really lovely properties, and the GG seems like it is the nicest of the three, although we haven't stayed there (yet.)

The trolleys are wonderful in Ogunquit. You can park your car and never have to move it again until you leave, if that's what you want. It's $1.50 per trip for adults and kids under 10 travel for free with an adult.

 

[antkim]

I used to live in Ogunquit in the summer. You'll love it there. I don't think there is a nicer beach around this area. Gorges Grant is a nice hotel right on Rte.1. There is a breakfast/lunch spot right next door called The Egg and I. Long lines can form there though. The Lobster Pound that RUDisney mentioned is also almost directly across the street from the hotel. Perkins Cove is great to walk around. Hurricanes is a "must" for if your looking for gourmet dining. It is pricey though-well worth it if you are up for it. There's a great seafood restaurant in Wells called Billy's Chowder House. This is a VERY popular restaurant so plan to go early unless you don't mind a wait. There is a bar and also some areas to sit and wait near the main entrance. To get there you would go Rte.1 North about 2 or 3 miles. You will come to a set of lights with a plaza on your right(shop n save ,ames etc) at the next set of lights take a right(there is a miniature golfing place on left). You will see Billy's about 1/4 mile down on your left. This is my DH's FAVORITE restaurant! I forgot to mention Johnny Orweed's in Perkins Cove. Not the BEST but better than some other basic restaurants in the cove. Barnacle Billy's tends to be expensive for what you get although they have the best Rum Punches-be careful though-they are strong! Jackies has been nothing short of awful the last few times I have been-I would stay away from there-you pay to be on the water not for the food! There is a beautiful walk(1 mile) called the Marginal Way that runs from almost the center of town to Perkins Cove all along the rocky coast. One important thing about the trolley-YOU NEED EXACT CHANGE! They will not make change for you which is just ridiculous! It's 1.50 per adult-I think the 8 year old would be free and I know the 4 year old is. From your hotel if you take the trolley heading south you will go right to the beach. If you don't want to get off at the beach you can stay on and it will take you to Perkins Cove. From there is goes back to the beach and then back up rte.1 north towards your hotel and so on.... Have fun and hope I've helped! PM me if you have any more ?'s!!
Kim

 

[RUDisney]

I agree with Kim, Jackie's is awful.

The trolley gave us change 2 weeks ago. They just give it as tokens for other rides... not a problem for us. They didn't used to do this, but we were pleasantly surprised this time.

If I was going to take the trolley to the beach, I wouldn't go to the Main Beach, in downtown, I'd take the trolley north to Footbridge Beach. It is a much quieter beach than the Main Beach, although there are no snack shacks right there, so bring your own snacks. The trolley stops right at this beach, too.

 

[mickeyfan1]

We went there every summer when I was a child, I have not been back in at least 15 years, maybe more.

I can't add any hints, except you have to have a lobster roll, and a fresh lobster. If you get to Kennebunk, you may be able to see the Bush enclave on the point in Keenebunk Port.

Have a wonderful time, I hope the water is warm enough to jump in.

 

[antkim]

RUDisney-Jackies is the WORST! Have you ever heard the story about "Jackie" herself? She's worse than her restaurant! She also just bought Einsteins in the center of town. I forget what the new name is. You either got lucky with your trolley driver or the people on my trolley were very unlucky!! 3 different times on 1 ride I saw people having problems! One boy (12ish) stood there waiting for his change and the driver just ignored him. I felt so bad for him. Another group actually had to get off and get change at the beach store to ride while the last couple almost had to get off exept a nice man standing next to them(it was packed) gave them their fare! I stayed at Juniper Hill last year(we don't have a house there anymore) and really liked it. I agree that GG seems to be the nicest of the 3 resorts. I remember when it was built back in the late 80's. I agree that the Footbridge is a much quieter area of the beach! I was just thinking about the stores,etc. for the kids when I mentioned the main beach. JESW if you want to go to the Footbridge you will need to pick up the trolley across the street from the hotel so you will be heading north instead of south. It will stop right in the parking lot.

 

[RUDisney]

Ah, come on, you have to tell the real Jackie story. I never heard it. All it took was once, several years ago, to make my DH and I know that we'd never go back to Jackies again. Sort of like Joe Allens. I'd need to hear a ton of rave reviews from people before I'd ever try that restaurant again.