After a wonderful walk in Kennebunkport, we were on our way to our lunch destination. We decided we wanted a picnic on the top of Mt. Agamenticus.
This part of Route 1 was very familiar to us from past vacations with my parents. We went through the center of Kennebunk. Then, it was on to Wells.
There we stopped at a grocery store for our picnic supplies. Let me just mention Wells Beach. Even though we didn’t stop there on this trip, it’s a great place to spend the day. Sand, sun, and a few restaurants make it a nice destination.
Route 1 then winds its way through the town of Ogunquit. You know you’re there when the traffic comes to halt because of the streams of people crossing back and forth across the road. It’s one of the biggest tourist draws on this route.
Of course there’s good reason for this. I’ve been one of the people in the crowds a few times. In the past, we have parked our car near the center. Then we took the trolley to Perkins Cove. It’s a beautiful spot for pictures and restaurants. From there we would walk along the Marginal Way back to where the car was parked.
Marginal Way is a walking path along the ocean cliffs. The views are absolutely breathtaking. This is a place that shouldn’t be missed if you come to this area. But, as I said, having already walked it a number of times, we skipped it on this trip.
From there we drove on to the town of York. In the past we’ve spent time on York Beach. This is another fun family destination. But today, we took a right from Route 1, instead of a left. Up Mountain Road we went, following the snaking way up the side of the mountain.
Very quickly we arrived at the summit parking area on Mt. Agamenticus. The first thing that struck us was the views. There was 360 degrees of unobstructed sights to see. Then, we saw all the picnic tables scattered over the area. We knew we had made a good choice.
Our lunch consisted of tuna salad sandwiches and chips. The great views, cool breezes, and food all combined to make it a memorable time. The only complaint we had was over a dog. But, actually, it wasn’t the dog’s fault. He was friendly and wanted a bite of our food, not realizing that we didn’t feel like sharing. It was the owner that didn’t keep him on a leash that we were disgruntled with.
When we were finished our meal (the owner of the dog eventually took control of him) we started exploring the area. We saw all the way into New Hampshire. We could see the Ossippee and White Mountains. We saw all the way up and down the coast of Maine for many miles. It’s an amazing place. There were a few platforms to give you an even better view of some directions.
When we were done on the top of the mountain, we drove to York Harbor. There we walked on a causeway over a pond to see the Wiggley Bridge. It’s a small suspension bridge over the pond. While there, we watched some teens catching crabs. It was quite interesting.
We finished up our York adventure with a side trip to Cape Neddick. There we saw one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine – Nubble Light. It’s set on a hill across the water. The caretakers could only get to it by riding a wooden box that they had to pull across on a cable. I don’t know if I would be comfortable in it.
York definitely created a lot of memories for us. It was a well worth the time it took to seek out these sights, even though they’re a little bit off the beaten path. When we were finished, it was time to get back on the road…
Question: What do you like doing in the York area?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Taking the Long Way 