Two City Girls on the Hunt for the Perfect Lobster Roll
Late summer can get a little wild in NYC. Getting out of town for a few days is the only real way to keep your sanity. That’s why my best friend and I recently decided on a girlfriend getaway to Ogunquit. It was fabulous. Thought we’d share our adventures with you in hopes of helping you plan your own weekend escape to one of the coolest little seaside towns in all of Maine.
Day 1
Morning. Girlfriend getaway begins. Getting to Ogunquit is easy by car, bus, or rail. Because it was late-August we chose to take the stylish C&J Bus straight from NYC to Ogunquit. Bus was decked out with all the luxuries needed to make two NYC gals feel right at home (including snacks!). It runs seasonally between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Afternoon. The real fun begins. Surprisingly easy to catch an Uber from Ogunquit Welcome Center to our destination – The Dunes on the Waterfront. Cottages and guest rooms are postcard-worthy. But first things first, kicked back on our patio sipping red wine and basking in the fresh salt air (such a great break from the heat of the subway platforms). Seemed like a million miles from NYC.
Late Afternoon. Stopped back by the lobby to chat with the AMAZING staff. They went out of their way to show us how two city girls could really take in the town. More important, they gave us a couple of great places to find what we were really looking for – lobster rolls. Hopped on the Ogunquit Trolley right at the end of The Dunes driveway. Got off at Perkins Cove – a quaint little spot that’s home to lots of shops, restaurants, a fleet of lobster boats and yes … lobster rolls. Headed over to Barnacle Billy’s – a real Ogunquit landmark and home to Maine’s most famous rum punch. Hung out on the porch feeling the breeze and watching the lobster boats go by. Had our first lobster rolls. They were spectacular.
Late, late afternoon. Worked off lunch with a walk around the Cove. Checked out the shops. Bought a few souvenirs. Wandered over to one of Ogunquit’s most scenic landmarks … the Perkins Cove Drawbridge. Before heading back, made a stop at Jackie’s Too – a restaurant/bar located right at the edge of the water with a very friendly staff. Made our way to the patio and sat at the bar, enjoying the fabulous views and soothing sounds of water crashing against the rocks.
Early Evening. Grabbed the trolley back to Main Street and paid a visit to The Front Porch and Piano Bar for pre-dinner drinks. Sat by the piano and joined in a sing-along of 70’s and 80’s pop tunes. Made some new friends. Piano player even played New York, New York!
Evening. Totally pumped by our sing-along, hit the Treehouse Taqueria to top off the night with some chicken tacos and Skinny Margs by the firepit. Finished with a short walk back to The Dunes. Stopped off for some fudge and chocolate lobster lollipops along the way at The Harbor Candy Shop. Time to call it quits and rest up for our first full day on the town.
Day 2
Very Early Morning. Up by sunrise (unheard of for us) with a welcome cup of coffee to catch an amazing sunrise from our perch in one of The Dunes’ Adirondack chairs. Took an early-morning stroll around the beautifully landscaped grounds and perennial gardens. A little early for a dip in the heated pool though.
Morning. Visited The Greenery Cafe based on a recommendation from the staff for breakfast. Bacon, turkey, brie and tomato omelet was amazing. So was the veggie feta omelet my friend ordered.
Mid-Morning. Finally time to hit the beach. The Dunes was nice enough to provide us with a rowboat to travel across The Ogunquit River tidal basin to Ogunquit Beach. It was gorgeous and mostly empty when we got there. Totally relaxing and a great way to spend the morning.
Mid Afternoon. Took the trolley back to Perkins Cove and more lobster rolls. The Lobster Shack offered them served up in the true New England tradition with your choice of butter or mayo. Simply to die for. Next, took to The Marginal Way, a mile-long walk along the heights of the Ogunquit coastline. Lots of gorgeous views filled with plenty of Instagrammable moments. After catching our breath, took a short walk over to the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. A great way to get a taste of the town’s rich history and tradition.
Late Afternoon. By then we had worked up quite an appetite. Set our sights back on Main Street and nearby Brix & Brine. Before we could get there, a bright yellow door stopped us in our tracks. It was the entrance to The Van Ward Gallery. Curious, we popped in and discovered some gorgeous contemporary art. From there, it was next door to Brix & Brine and my fave – oysters and champagne. Also split an incredible shrimp scampi!
Evening. Then the rain came. Right after we finished our meal it began to downpour. Luckily Ogunquit Village Food Market was right next door so we grabbed a few essentials – wine, salami, cheese, crackers, and grapes before heading back to The Dunes. On the way, we just had to stop by the legendary Rococo Ice Cream. This place prides itself on unique flavors from around the world. Tried the Speculoos (Belgian spiced shortcrust biscuits) while my friend had the Goat Cheese Blackberry Chambord. I never wanted my cone to be empty. Armed with our survival supplies, it was back to The Dunes for a relaxing rainy evening filled with board games (Trivial Pursuit is the best) and books we got from the lobby.
Day 3
Morning. Bright skies again. Back to the beach to say goodbye with a relaxing stroll along the breakers. Enjoyed The Dunes’ free continental breakfast (added bonus, they had gluten-free options). Gathered up our things and stored them behind the desk and headed out to explore a few more of the quaint shops Ogunquit is so well known for.
Afternoon. Back to the Cove and a farewell lunch at M.C. Perkins. Dined on some incredible lobster mac and cheese and fish tacos. Grabbed a couple of lobster rolls for the ride before catching the 1:40 back to the city. Goodbye Ogunquit. We’ll be back.
Hope this helps. Maybe we’ll see you on our next visit. We’ll be the girls stuffing our faces on lobster rolls.