Ogunquit for Families

Ogunquit for Families: Check out places to stay, dine, beach, and activities in Ogunquit, Maine.

Back in my twenties, Ogunquit was my go-to hot spot.  It has great nightlife, dining, theater, and fabulous beach. Now, in my thirties with a couple little kids, "good beach" requirements have changed.  However, Ogunquit still is one of the top!  It's an inclusive, safe town with tons of awesome shops, family-friendly restaurants, and multiple great beaches.  I recently had a short stay with my kids and it did not disappoint.  Here's Ogunquit for families.

Stay

Although I live 40 minutes from Ogunquit Beach, I've actually stayed in town a half dozen times.  Bachelorette parties, girls trips, and family getaways has found me in multiple hotels, bed and breakfasts, and motels in town.  This time, I totally lucked out.  My friend has two new airbnbs that just went live (July 2022) and offered me a stay before she did!  Her properties are next to each other and a short, 15 minute walk from Footbridge Beach.  We stayed in her larger airbnb that had a kid room with two twin beds, a room with a queen, and in the basement - two futons and another room with a queen.  Her smaller property next door had a queen and a pullout couch in an apartment.  The houses are really cute and in a quiet neighborhood just off bustling Route 1.  The rental house came with an awesome beach cart to bring our stuff down as well as beach towels and mat.  We brought our own tubes to float the river (see photos below).

Our airbnb near Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit, Maine

Sun room at our airbnb in Ogunquit

Kids room at our airbnb in Ogunquit

My room in airbnb in Ogunquit

Beach

Ogunquit has awesome beaches.  This rental was near one of the most kid friendly.  Footbridge beach is named for the long footbridge that crosses, over the tidal Ogunquit River to an expansive sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean.  The first day, we spent on the sandy beach along the river side.  The kids liked floating on inner-tubes, catching little green crabs, and playing in the sand.  The next day, we crossed over to the ocean-side beach where the kids could jump the waves, build a sandcastle, and look for seashells.  We walked from our rental, but there is a public parking lot that is $4 an hour or $25 a day.  Get there early to find a spot!  The parking lot was empty at 8:30am.

Ogunquit also has the impressive large Ogunquit Beach, Main Beach, and North Beach.  Learn more about the various beaches on the town website!

Footbridge beach has a river beach as well as ocean beach with walkway connecting them

We enjoyed both beaches

You can float the tidal river at Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit

Dining

For our one night, I wanted the kids to feel like they really getaway.  I took them to Ogunquit Lobster Pound.  It is just one mile from the house rental, so definitely walkable.  However, we were burnt out from the beach and there's plenty of free parking at the restaurant.  We arrived around 5:45 pm which was still early enough to get in without a wait. The fun of this spot is its a working lobster pound, so if you order a whole lobster, you get to pick it out (live) and they will steam it on the spot.  Seafood not your thing? No problem.  They have wings, burgers, and more.  My son got a hot dog off the kid menu.  

A few other restaurants within walking distance of the airbnb are Beach Fire Bar & Grill, Angelina's, The Napoli's, and Egg & I.  

My daughter loved the experience of picking out her own live lobster at the Ogunquit Lobster Pound.  They have other food besides seafood as well.

While my trip was short, some of my other favorite dining experiences are:

Ice Cream: Scoop Deck Ice Cream   and Sweet Peas

Pizza: Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza and Beer

Deck Drinks and Fast Casual Seafood: Barnacle Billys 

There is also great fine dining, cocktail places, and nightlife in Ogunquit if you're out without the kids.

Other Things To Do

Ogunquit has a ton to do besides beaching.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Marginal Way - This is a cliff-side walk between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove.  Watch the crashing waves, smell the beach rose, and listen to the seabirds. (free)

Beach Plum Farm - Walk the short loop trail of Beach Plum Farm right on Route 1.  Kids can check out a discovery backpack for free and look for critters and plants. (free) It is the home of Great Works Regional Land Trust.  Learn more on their website.

Kayak or SUP - The Ogunquit river is a great place to float - whether it's a tube, SUP, or kayak.  Visit Liquid Dreams Surf Shop to get geared up.

Mini Golf - Take a break from the beach to visit Wonder Mountain Fun Park on Route 1.

Ogunquit Playhouse - See a Broadway-caliber show at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

The kids loved chilling in the house.  It had Roku.

I enjoyed my morning coffee in the sun room of our airbnb

Ogunquit for Families

Ogunquit is one of the best beaches and beach towns in southern Maine.  Many families plan their summers around their weekly trips here and for good reason.  Whether you're going to float the river, scarf lobster, sunbath, or have a rum punch, it's the place to plan your next family vacation.  For more video and photos of the trip, check out my instagram and follow along for other New England adventures, and beyond. 

We loved our 24 hour vacation to Ogunquit, Maine.

Here are some other blog posts you might enjoy:

Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine

Spring Family Weekend in the White Mountains

3 Family Friendly Nights in Acadia National Park

Enjoying the surf at Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit Maine