We just got back from our month in Maine so today I wanted to share with you all of my favorite things to visit/do in the York area. Maine is by far my happy place and there is so much to do there with my family. I always have a hard time adjusting to reality when we get back home so this blog post made me nostalgic but also already excited to go back next summer.
Stonewall Kitchen is a must have if you are visiting Southern Maine. They have the prettiest gardens and you can go inside and sample all of their yummy jams and spreads. They have a cafe there that serves breakfast and lunch and every Saturday there is a farmer’s market.
The Cliff House is located in Ogunquit and has one of the most gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you will find delicious oceanfront restaurants and bars, beautiful landscaping, pathways, gardens and resort lawns and two outdoor swimming pools (open seasonally) – resort pool (ages 13+) and a family pool (all ages).
The Goldenrod restaurant, soda fountain, and candy store established in the heart of Short Sands Beach in York in 1896 has been making summer vacations extra-sweet for generations. It’s a true old fashion candy store where you can go watch them hand make taffy and get any type of candy you could imagine. It is by far my kids favorite stop in Maine and they also have a restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Always a fun stop when we get to Maine is The Nubble Lighthouse. In colonial days mariner traffic was important to the commerce of the area. Knowing that Maine’s rocky coast was very dangerous to those mariners and their livelihood, the Citizens petitioned the United States Government for a lighthouse.
In 1874 President Rutherford B. Hayes appropriated the sum of $15,000 to build a lighthouse on this “Nub” of land. On July 1, 1879 construction was completed on what, at the time, was known as the Knubble Lighthouse with a 4th order light began to protect our men and women on the sea. Today people think it is haunted but it’s fun to go walk around the cliffs and there are local volunteers that will give you the history and any information you want to know about the lighthouse.
The Wiggly bridge is always a fun stop. It used to be really wiggly when I was a kid which probably was pretty dangerous (ha) but they recently redid it and now its just a little wiggly. My kids love to run up and down it and there are trails to walk along in the woods. It’s a great place to take kids or walk your dog and you always see the prettiest sunsets there.
We always make a stop at When Pigs Fly Bakery. They make the best artisan breads, pretzels, cookies and pizzas. You can go to the bakery section to sample breads or eat a delicious pizza in their restaurant. My kids love going here and I dream of their bread after our time in Maine is over.
I always tell my friends that my favorite meal in the world are lobsters off the boat in Maine. You literally drive up to the dock and they are coming off the boat. You can buy soft or hard shell and they will cook them for you. All you have to do is call a few hours before and pick them up. Stop at a local farm stand, pick up some fresh corn and you have the best dinner.
The Marginal Way is the longest stretch of ocean walkway on the East Coast. I think the pathway is around 3 miles with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. On a nice day, when you need a break from the beach, this is a nice way to tire out the kids and enjoy nature. You will see beautiful views and beautiful homes along the way.
