Day Tripping in Maine: The Marginal Way and Nubble Light

I love day trips, because if you can’t go on vacation, they still make it feel like you’re taking a little slice of the pie. And, when there are so many beautiful places just a short drive away, it’s hard to believe you didn’t take a plane to get there.

Ogunquit, Maine: This place lives up to its name, because Ogunquit literally means “beautiful place by the sea”. This colorful coastal town has shops, art, beaches, restaurants, and my favorite, The Marginal Way.

We stopped for a snack first, at Backyard Coffeehouse and Eatery on Main Street (which is also, on a side note, next to a public restroom and free two-hour parking). Laina had a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie and I got a vegan coconut strawberry scone - yum! The staff was friendly and it’s a convenient place to stop on your way into town. This is just one of the many charming, independently owned businesses here.

As we walked through the center of downtown, we saw couples enjoying brunch on outdoor patios and people sharing leisurely strolls - some in tee-shirts and shorts and others in dresses and sun hats. There is definitely an eclectic, yet low-key vibe here that’s hard to find elsewhere.

The Marginal Way is a narrow, paved footpath, approximately 1 1/4 miles long that travels along the coast. We walked amid avid joggers and speed walkers, but if you’re wanting to take your time, there are plenty of benches and rocks along the way. The kids rode in the stroller for most of the time as we took in the breathtaking rocky shoreline. There are also places to climb rocks and staircases that take you down to the water.

York, Maine: A perfect ending to our day was a picnic at Nubble Light, which got its name in 1874 when President Rutherford B. Hayes assigned $15,000 to a “nub” of land, for the purpose of constructing this lighthouse. This iconic landmark’s history and beauty is undeniable and it’s so much fun to just sit and take it all in.

Cars come and go here often so, although it is busy, it’s fairly easy to find a parking spot and a place to sit. We seagull watched, played on rocks, and spotted teams of scuba divers along the rocky shore.

Have you visited Ogunquit and York? What are your favorite spots?

For more information on these locations, please visit the links below:

https://www.backyardogunquit.com/

https://www.ogunquit.org/index.php

http://nubblelight.org/