This Is The Friendliest Small Town in Maine
Some places you visit once. Others welcome you back before you’ve left. Ogunquit sits on Maine’s southern coast 35 miles south of Portland, and families return for decades to the same cottages and the same stretch of beach. The Marginal Way still climbs the cliffs. The Ogunquit Playhouse still draws Broadway-caliber casts to its summer stage. Here’s why so many people call Ogunquit the friendliest place in Maine.
The Marginal Way
The Marginal Way is a 1.25-mile coastal path that runs along the cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean. More than just a walkway, it’s a place to chat with strangers and share the views as purple asters bloom along the path’s edges. Early risers stroll with coffee in hand as the sun lifts over the ocean, while others pause on benches to watch waves crash against the rocks below. The Marginal Way doesn’t just connect points in Ogunquit. It connects people.
Perkins Cove
At the southern end of the path lies Perkins Cove, a working harbor with a small drawbridge at its entrance. Lobster boats fill the water and the bridge marks the channel for them. If you time it right, you can watch fishermen weigh their catch on the public scale. The cove is lined with shops, art galleries, and boutiques.
The Perkins Cove Bookshop sells beach reading and local titles. The Laughing Gull stocks ocean-themed souvenirs and gifts. Shop owners chat easily with visitors, offering recommendations or asking where you’re from.
Coastal Dining
Barnacle Billy’s sits on the water in Perkins Cove and serves Maine staples like lobster, clam chowder, and cold drinks on a warm evening. Families gather here after a day at the beach. The setting and the menu have stayed the same for decades, and that’s part of the appeal.
Mornings in Ogunquit often begin at The Greenery Cafe, a breakfast spot with a loyal following. The smell of fresh coffee and homemade pastries drifts onto the street. It’s not unusual to see the same faces each morning during a week-long stay, whether families, couples, or solo travelers who quickly fall into a routine.
A Day at the Beach
Ogunquit Beach is often called one of the finest in New England. Wide soft sand stretches for miles, with room for sandcastles, beach games, or quiet reading. The gentle slope into the water makes it appealing for families. The tidal river gives kids another spot to explore.
Arts by the Sea
Ogunquit has long been a destination for the arts. The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last summer theaters from the straw-hat circuit. Since the 1930s, it has hosted Broadway-caliber productions and drawn talent and audiences from across the country. A night there feels like a big event but keeps an intimacy that mirrors the town itself. Theatergoers spill out into the evening air after the show, recounting their favorite parts.
Galleries like the Maine Art Collective and various studios are scattered throughout Ogunquit, a legacy of its history as an artist colony. Painters, photographers, and craftspeople still find inspiration in the coastline and shifting light. Visitors are welcomed into these spaces and sometimes meet the artists themselves.
Festivals
Tourist season brings a calendar of festivals. OgunquitFest in the fall features the High-Heel Dash, a car show, trick-or-treating, and a costume parade. From outdoor concerts and art shows to classic New England celebrations, the calendar stays full all summer.
Christmas by the Sea, held every December, is a 40-year tradition with a tree lighting, a parade, a beach bonfire, and fireworks. Lobster gets its own celebration each May at the Ogunquit Lobster Bite Challenge, where chefs compete for the title of Best Lobster Bite in Town.
A Friendly Place to Return To
What sets Ogunquit apart is its generational pull. Families come back for decades to the same cottages, the same stretch of beach, even the same tables at their favorite restaurants. Children grow up and bring their own children, passing down not just a destination but a tradition. Ogunquit offers continuity and familiarity in a way few places do.
That sense of familiarity extends to the town itself. Ogunquit doesn’t try to reinvent itself each season. It just does what it does best, with a welcoming atmosphere, the coastline, and a pace of life that encourages connection. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, there’s a feeling that you’ve been here before, and that you’ll be back.
Ogunquit’s reputation as the friendliest place in Maine isn’t built on any single attraction, no matter how beloved. It’s built on the accumulation of small moments. These are the experiences that stay with you long after you’ve left, and the reason so many people find themselves returning year after year.
