Ogunquit Travel Guide
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Ogunquit is a bustling beachside town that's attracted vacationers and artists for more than a century. While notable for its abundant and elegant summer-resort architecture, Ogunquit is most famous for its 3 1/2-mile white-sand beach, backed by grassy dunes. The beach serves as the town's front porch, and most everyone drifts over there at least once a day when the sun is shining.
Ogunquit's fame as an art colony dates to around 1890, when Charles H. Woodbury arrived and declared the place an "artist's paradise." He was followed by artists Walt Kuhn, Elihu Vedder, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and Rudolph Dirks, the last of whom is best known for creating the "Katzenjammer Kids" comic strip.
In the latter decades of the 19th century, the town found quiet fame as a destination for gay travelers, at a time when one's sexual orientation was not publicly acknowledged. Ogunquit has retained its appeal for gays through the years; many local enterprises are run by gay entrepreneurs. The scene is very low-key compared to Provincetown, Massachusetts. It's more like an understated family resort, where a good many family members happen to be gay.
Despite its architectural gentility and overall civility, the town can feel overrun with tourists during the peak summer season, especially on weekends. The teeming crowds are part of the allure for some Ogunquit regulars. If you don't like crowds, you would probably do well to visit here in the off season.
