Topping our list for easy Coastal getaways in the NorthEast, that are perfect for both Family time or couples time , is the quaint town of OGUNQUIT MAINE . Our family has been coming to this area for years & we continue to return with annually whether it be just us , us and the kiddos , us & several other relatives, OR a “more the merrier” type getaway with multiple friends and family all joining along!
So, our top favorite place to stay is definitely Anchorage by the Sea right in the heart of Ogunquit, within short walking distance to the towns quaint area Main Street with its shops & eateries. The absolute BEST thing about this location is by far, it’s property location which sits above & overlooks the Ocean. It has one of the larger “lawn” areas that borders right up to Marginal Way , the areas beautiful 1.25mile paved cliff walk overlooking the ocean and plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the panoramic views or climb down a staircase to the ocean and explore for a bit. This hotel location also stands out from several others because of their pool area featuring a beautiful outdoor pool design with plenty of space filled with lounge chairs & space for sunbathing, (Plus, it’s heated so is open for an extended season! Typically late April to Fall) as well as multiple outdoor hot tubs. Should the weather not be quite cooperative for outdoor swimming or sun bathing , they also have an indoor heated pool and sauna too! Prefer to stay put in relax mode while you’re away? They have their own on site restaurant that overlooks the pool area or the lawn/ocean depending on where you sit. It’s open for Breakfast, lunch & Dinner and also has a rooftop Bar with great ocean views! Our only compliant about it is they tend to close up early during the more off peak times of year , so late night drinks aren’t always available. Right outside the restaurant is a lawn/patio area with fire pit tables , gazebos and plenty of Adirondack or lounge chairs to curl up by and listen to the ocean. Regular rooms aren’t anything over the top, but are always very clean and well maintained , simple but pretty , and up to date coastal decor. It’s pricing is based on their prime location and beautiful spacious grounds that are lacking in many others in the area.
Now, if extra budget friendly is more your thing and you aren’t one to really stay/spend time at your hotel other than sleeping ,so don’t care much about property grounds or any “extra frills” then I recommend Studio East Motel for you! It’s location is extremely convenient, as you can walk right across the street to the Main shops, Village Market and restaurants. The property is very clean and the rooms decent sized. Some even have a small kitchenette space.They often offer room rates under $100/night and sometimes even run specials to get a 3rd or 4th night free if going midweek. It basically sits in a paved parking lot, no views, opposite the ocean side and has no pool or lawn area. However, most rooms have a couple chairs outside the doors (which are open to the outside) so you can enjoy some fresh air in the early morn & late evening w/a coffee or drink. It does also have one older & small hot tub on site for guests. The hot tub is supposed to be for adults only so keep that in mind if bringing the kiddos! Now…As for my favorite part… the Vaca-EATS!!! Ok, so unfortunately on our most recent trip, many of the places I’d set out to check out & review hadn’t yet opened for the season. Being a coastal beach town, some places choose to wait until mid May/Memorial Day weekend to open.Most will open by May (some even April), but there are still those who wait for later & for them, We were a couple weeks shy! BUT, that’s ok, I’m going to show some pics and links to the places we did enjoy and then I’ll list a few “honorable mentions” that we will definitely be visiting next time!
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First off, if you’re a fan of takeout , food to-go that can be enjoyed whenever you wish, whether down on the beach,back at your hotel , or just in between shop stops, THIS will be your Go-To stop. Village Food Market is a super cute little grocery market, cafe, grill & deli all-in-one! With grocery items , prepared foods & made to order kitchen foods all available in wide variety , it’s our most visited eatery for sure! Not only do they offer Gluten Free bread and wraps for their sandwiches , they carry many specialty foods to fit many dietary styles & even Gluten free baked goods if you’re in need of a sweet treat! Their website even offers an order online option, easy to customize your order to make it dairy and gluten free, add veggies, etc… and then just take a short stroll from your hotel to pick it right up. We use this option for breakfast most mornings since we can order early and grab our coffee while picking it up & the kids can sleep in and eat in bed!🤗 Also, it may seem like more of a market and cafe suited for breakfast, snacks and lunch, BUT, don’t be fooled, they actually cook up some really delicious Dinner specials as well! Order it to go & enjoy it back at the hotel on the lawn or patio area.👌
Top:Egg sandwich on GF roll w/Avocado, spinach & tomato.
Bottom: Avocado toast on GF roll w/ spinach & roasted red pepper spread.
Almost their entire menu is Gluten-free with the exception of maybe 3 or so items. Staff is very well versed in gluten containing foods and even their fried foods are ALL GLUTEN FREE!! Ok, so fried Pickles may not count as a “healthfood” technically, BUT, when on vacation a small splurge is worth it! Being Gluten free, fried/breaded food is something I don’t find often, so when I do, I enjoy me some!😋 I just always make sure to add in as much plantbased veggie goodness as possible! Plenty of healthy options from burgers on GF , veggie burgers, sandwiches, salads , BBQ and more. Hubby & I enjoy sharing some GF apps & then some loaded nachos (GF) topped with GF chicken & veggies, gauc’ (we ask for no cheese or sour cream) & a nice drizzle of one of their various GF bbq sauces.👌 (Want it all vegan? Just skip the meat and ask for extra beans!)
Another place our fam enjoyed was
Nikanos Mediterranean Bar & Grille . If you’re a fan of Mediterranean style foods , this is a great lil’ spot. We sat outdoors since it was a nice evening, but even their indoors has an outdoor feel with its large doors that can be opened all the way up. We chose to eat sort of “family style” opting to order multiple smaller plates to share like the hummus/dip trio , eggplant spread, olive platter, and chicken & veggie skewers w/ vegan lemon tahini dip. Menu items are labeled GF and/or dairy free. The dips do come with regular pita chips and toast, but I was able to request cucumber spears for us GF people who prefer less grain & more veggies!
Not a wide variety of GFCF Healthified foods, they do offer a Gluten-free pizza crust option which you can load up with delicious veggie toppings and simply omit the cheese. It’s my go-to order at pizza places and you’d be surprised how delicious it tastes without the cheese when you have good toppings. They do also have Gluten-free wraps available during lunch hours for some sandwich options.
As for a couple of places I had been looking forward to visiting, but we’re unfortunately not open for the season just yet…
Loveshack juicery 💗 I can tell from the menu that this is definitely my sort of place! Healthy REAL fruit & greens & healthy ingredients for smoothies, juices and smoothie bowls! Next time… I’ll be there!!
Other honorable mentions that appeared to have multipl
GFCF/Vegan & healthier menu options :
Heading out of Ogunquit & into Kittery ME , a MUST for a little sweet-treat , you have to STOP IN AT
Lovebirds Donuts . It’s a MUST!! Ok, Donuts aren’t exactly a healthfood & these are sugar containing dessert foods, BUT, the facility is 100% VEGAN … AND offers a great selection of Gluten-free Donut flavors which changes often , for delicious variety!!! GFCF donuts that taste just like the real-deal is an Awesome find for us!! My oldest daughter & I always get a box full! It’s our FAV💗
If you’re like me & enjoy some retail therapy, Kittery has
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Another quaint town that’s worth driving to (about 20 or so min from Ogunquit) is Kennebunkport ME. Find yourself a parking place (street parking or public lots are available all around the main town center) & you’re set for the day, to roam & shop the many boutique stores, souvenir shops and visit the cafes, ice cream stops & tons of dining options! Kennebunkport actually has a great variety of restaurants that offer GFCF, healthy fare, but we didn’t get a chance to visit them this trip. We did however find my new FAV pit stop there,
Fia Fia 💗💗💗 A healthy food lovers paradise!! Superfood lattes, fresh made smoothies (with true REAL fruit, greens, veggies… not fake sugar laden mixes!) .Açaí bowls , Avo toast & so much more!!! A MUST STOP.
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Kennebunkport also has multiple ice cream places that offer Vegan flavors as well! While there , Ben & Jerry’s was the only one open, but you’ll find others as you stroll the streets later in the season!
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And that’s that! We return to this location often, so future blog posts will come with more shoutouts & ideas of where to go, stay, dine & play! Hope you check it out sometime! It makes a great long weekend, or short few day ,midweek vaca.
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~UniquelyBusyMom~
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