Ogunquit: Atlantic Coast, Art and Theater

Ogunquit appeals to travelers who want to experience the coast and culture in the same destination. Three miles of white sand and Atlantic waters define Ogunquit Beach; on the rocky Atlantic shore, Perkins Cove has a harbor for working and recreational boats. There is also a paved cliff walk, an art museum with a sculpture garden, and the Ogunquit Playhouse. These different sides of Ogunquit offer several focal points for planning your trip: the beach, a path along the water, or exhibitions and performing arts.

Beach and Coastal Walk

Ogunquit Beach stretches for three miles of white sand and Atlantic waters, from Main Beach through Footbridge to North Beach. Visitors can walk, sunbathe, swim, surf, fly kites, or do yoga there. The beach is also a protected habitat for endangered piping plovers. This makes both activities by the water and the protection of this habitat part of what makes the beach special.

The Marginal Way offers a different perspective on the coast. The paved cliff walk is 1.25 miles long, begins near Shore Road, and leads to Perkins Cove. There are 39 benches along the coastal path. Those who plan the walk as a separate activity can choose a route along the cliffs rather than a stay on the sandy beach. This makes it possible to distinguish two different coastal experiences in Ogunquit.

Art in the Museum and Outdoors

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art (OMAA) presents modern and contemporary art in changing exhibitions. It also has a permanent collection of more than 3,000 works. The coastal grounds include a three-acre sculpture garden with 18 small gardens. Art lovers can therefore enjoy exhibitions, sculptures, and garden areas as different aspects of a museum visit.

The museum offers self-guided and guided tours of its exhibitions and sculpture grounds. Free school visits are also available. When planning a day of culture, you can choose between exploring on your own and taking a guided tour; school visits are a separate offering.

Theater and the September Festival

The Ogunquit Playhouse also shapes the town’s cultural scene. The theater welcomes more than 100,000 guests each season. It was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1995. Its local historical significance is associated with the performing arts, as well as community planning and development. Those interested in theater and the history of a cultural venue will find two distinct facets here: its productions and the building’s historical context.

Another artistic highlight is the annual Plein Air Painting Festival in September. It takes place in Perkins Cove, along the Marginal Way, and in Ogunquit, and features 100 regional artists creating oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings. With its set month and several named locations, the festival adds an annual art experience to the coastal and cultural offerings described above.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home in Ogunquit, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your trip. Beach activities, the paved path along the cliffs, art in the museum, and theater appeal to different interests. Perkins Cove brings its harbor for working and recreational boats into the picture; sailing trips, lobster-catching experiences, and offshore charters are also associated with the area.

More places to explore: Buxton, Saco, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Biddeford, South Berwick, Old Orchard Beach, York.

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