Sights Of Winter In Maine: The Dunes Like You’ve Never Seen It
Like many hotels in Maine, we open our doors as spring starts to bloom and we close them right before that autumn breeze grows too brisk for two layers. Ogunquit is certainly a seasonal spot, so if winter in Maine is less familiar to you than its T-shirt weather counterparts, you’re not alone. There’s no need to long for a look at the wintry sights of Ogunquit, though — just grab a cup of cocoa for this virtual walkthrough of winter in Maine (no parka required!).
What’s Winter In Maine Like?
Not to drop a bombshell right off the bat, but — it’s a lot colder. From the beginning of December to mid-March, the sunny Ogunquit you know and love is replaced with consistent clouds and chilly days that average well below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Our location along the southern Maine coast does keep us a little warmer and drier than other sections of the Pine Tree State, however. Our average annual snowfall is 52 inches — nearly two feet less than Bar Harbor, where the average is 73 inches per year.
It may be hard to imagine an Ogunquit that isn’t hustling and bustling with self-proclaimed Maine-iacs, but come wintertime, downtown slows to a hush-hush. Most of our favorite restaurants close their doors when we do, with just a handful of eateries staying open for the locals.
Winter Storms In Ogunquit
Seeing a blizzard blow through southern Maine isn’t exactly like spotting Bigfoot, but we’ve been lucky here at The Dunes — our cottages have managed to dodge severe damage from winter storms. In fact, it wasn’t until recent years that noteworthy winters rolled in. Winter Storm Stella toppled two of our trees in 2017, but the aftermath merely meant some off-season cleanup duty for our maintenance crew and a small shift in gardening plans for Celeste.
We also witnessed a series of winter white-outs in 2015. Three snowstorms struck our spot by the sea during the last week of January, ending with Winter Storm Juno, which turned the skies a dark gray to match the unruly waves on Perkins Cove. Don’t take our word for it, though — Ogunquit Barometer took their video cameras to the coastline to get up-close and personal with Juno.
Keeping Busy At The Dunes
Main Street may slow to a crawl during the cold months, but don’t think we’re just twiddling our thumbs and watching winter waves at The Dunes. As soon as we close our doors, we throw our thinking caps on and ask, “how can we step it up for next season?” From planning new flower varieties for our gardens to renovating cottages and guestrooms, winter means hard work on our end to make the Ogunquit experience even better.
(Oh, and counting down the days to warm breezes and the colorful blooms of spring in Ogunquit… naturally.)
