Update Aug 2016... Voodoo Beach lives on. While slamming some brews and clam strips at Forbes I…read morefound some top secret paperwork. This chart detailed information regarding when the beach would be present and when it would go away. I can only assume that this was accidentally left behind by a member of the CIA, the FBI, the NOAA, or Trump/Pence 2016. There's no way OBummer could have published the government's schedule for the ocean; he's always on vacation (per Fox News). New for 2016 I've discovered the game of Cornholio played by America's youth. They throw sacks at each others' holes all day in an attempt to get points. I find this game confusing, frustrating, entertaining, and intoxicating. Game on Wayne! Game on Garth!

Perfect beach to getaway from crowds. Very relaxing for couples and small families! However,…read moreparking is VERY limited, which is something I've noticed in Maine.

This may be one of my favorite areas in Wells next to the Estuarine. But def my fav beach. Plenty…read moreof space and tho popular not over crowded. There is town parking 1/3 mi from the beach at $5/hr or just ride your bike. We actually had a whale pod sighting today!

If you want a quieter beach than the madness of Ogunquit, then come to Drake's Island beach,…read morequieter, more locals and very laid back, I spent a whole day here by myself. Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit and York are all side-by-side seaside communities along the Maine coast and they all have their own beaches as well. It really depends on what you're looking for but if you want a locals-only beach then this would be it. Also if you plan on swimming and not just dipping in quickly, try to find a spot on the estuary side as opposed to the ocean side, the water is easily 20 degrees warmer on the estuary side. Parking here is at about $5 /30 minutes and paid by machine and credit card only.

Parking $7/hour or $45 the whole day! Would recommend to come early because parking was getting…read morepacked. We came at 9am on a Sunday and it was already pretty busy. Once you cross the bridge, the beach is very close. The sand is nice and the water is cold. The bathrooms were tight but it's at the front by parking. If you go at noon during a busy summer season, be prepared to wait. Wish there was food vendors for some snacks. So make sure to bring your own drinks/food. There is a lobster shack at the end of the road but looks like a hassle to walk to.

I thought I swore off beaches for good during these COVID months. But things looked good when we…read morefirst went to one in late June and everyone did their part to distance themselves significantly. Let's just say, folks kept at least 12' from the person next to them, in front of them, behind them, etc so my mood was further lifted. In keeping with the summer vibe, I didn't want to leave Maine without stepping foot at a beach. But I also wanted our beach outing to be a healthy one and more importantly- safe without people hovering all over me. Ogunquit Beach was our initial visit- but the parking lot was jam-packed so was the sand area. We took off and a short drive later, came here. $25 to park and masks required walking on ramps. Folks in front of us kept a noticeable distance- but there were folks behind us and next to us who weren't nearly distant enough for me to make me want to stay more than the 45 minutes we were here. But I will say, there are restrooms, outdoor showers, beach is well kept, and the water....oh man....the water looked like sapphire. Under (real) normal circumstances, I would've had my fill of beach time, then head out for Lobsters. Just one of those was achieved.

It's seems like Mainers crave "secret beaches" more than ever before. With so many tourists in the…read moresummer time, the usual haunts can be overcrowded and offer limited parking and costly fees (because tourists are actually willing to wait in lines and fork over cash for an authentic coastal exeprience). Because going to the beach is sacred for me (I'm a mermaid, afterall) I am one of those locals looking for a spot where I can sun in splash in peace. I had heard of Laudholm Beach in passing, and decided one hot Friday to seek it out. Just a fortyish minute drive from Portland brought me to the Wells Reserve where you can access this beach after walking the Barrier Beach Trail (stay on it until it brings you out of the woods and over a wooden staircase). It's a dream come true: impressive and expansive views of sparkling Atlantic Ocean, piping plovers, waves, (comparatively) warm water, lobster boats, and limited people (and most of that small number are just here to walk the length of the beach before returning whence they came). There are quite a few rocks to navigate past at first, but that's what keeps most people at bay. You can pull up a patch of sand and spend hours uninterrupted here, or you can explore a bit and find mud flats and salt marshes that help protect various beach life (birds, fish, plants). Just be warned... at high tide there is little to no beach . Not an exaggeration. My walk back to the trail was partially in water (and back over those aforementioned rocks making it a bit dangerous...what's life without adventure though?!). Happy to know this place exists for when my other "secret" spots are overtaken by the loud, rude, non-mermaid believers.

We visited the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and decided to hike to this beach which lacks the crowds…read moregenerally found at Maine beaches. Unless your are private landowner near the beach, this is the only way to access the beach.

Ogunquit Beach is a wide stretch of soft white sand. The…read morehistoric downtown area is filled with charming local shops, great spots to eat, and classic New England buildings. Walking along the scenic Marginal Way cliff path gives you breathtaking views of the crashing waves below. It is a wonderful, lively destination for a relaxing getaway by the sea. The welcoming coastal vibe makes it a place you will want to visit over and over again.

One of my favorite beaches in the world! Love walking the entire stretch of the beach from Ogunquit…read moreto Wells, about 3.5 miles in each direction. Ogunquit beach has a very gradual slope which makes it perfect for long walks - you don't get the feeling that you are walking on a slant. It's absolutely gorgeous, with large sandy expanses, especially at low tide. There are often flocks of sandpipers, which I love to watch as they run so quickly over the sand and search for food. Ogunquit Beach is especially nice in the off season - the crowd spreads out over the area so you never feel as if people are on top of you like you might in the peak season. There is a parking lot that is free from November-March, and you can also easily walk to the beach from in town. Next to the parking lot there is a covered area with chairs and benches which are perfect for just relaxing by the ocean. There are also a couple of restaurants, a snack bar, a beach store, and an ice cream shop very close by.

Mother's Beach in Kennebunk is a small, quiet, and sandy spot that is wonderful for a peaceful day…read moreby the water. The calm waves and gentle slope make it an ideal place to relax and enjoy the coastal views. It has a cozy neighborhood feel and is located right near a nice playground for kids. This lovely little beach is a hidden gem for anyone looking to escape the busier crowds.

This is a beautiful beach, parking can be tough though. Otherwise the beach is great for walks and…read morea short swim!

This was amazing. I'm so glad we decided to go down the coast and take this walk. We decided to go…read moreat sunrise. Although there was overcast, it was still a beautiful walk. I imagined the people who walked this jetty every single day and I was jealous. We didn't tour the lighthouse but we've seen plenty of lighthouses. We've never seen one out a mile though. Don't miss this gem! Be sure to use the bathroom before coming here as we did not see any portapods. Also, wear shoes with hood support. We saw a few wearing flip flops; so t know how they did it. I wouldn't take the risk of tripping.

The ending to a perfect day in Maine? Watching the sunset from a jetty of course!…read more After spending the day exploring coastal areas in southern Maine, we decided to walk the jetty near Wells Harbor/York Beach. We didn't know what to expect when we discovered this spot - so when you come know that there are two jetty's. One you can access from the elongated, sandy parking area on Foster Ln (which was free to use and deserted when we came in early November); and, one you can access from a bigger, concrete parking area at the end of Atlantic Ave (beyond Sage Fishing Charters - it's pay to park here, but I don't know if that's just during the height of the summer season). These jetty's are long (I read somewhere that they're over a mile) stone breakwaters that stretch out relatively far from land into the Atlantic. It's beautiful to walk down and back as you get stunning views of Wells Harbor, the beach on either side, and great for bird watching too (we were captivated by some sanderlings!). It's important to be mindful when walking on jetty's though - these big boulders have crevices between them, so "mind the gap"; if the ocean is rough, you might also get soaked from waves crashing against them! Absolutely worth seeing, especially in the shoulder season when it's got that much more serene, humble feeling to it!

Great, family friendly beach in Kennebunkport! There was also a ton of sea glass and plenty of…read moreparking spaces around.

Nice family friendly beach in Kennebunk. Street parking only so to get a spot you really need to…read moreget here by 930ish during peak summer months. Coolers, umbrellas, boogie boards and surfing are allowed. Ven better, dogs are also permitted on the beach and it's packed with man's best friends just about every morning and early evening. From June 15 through Labor Day, dogs are only allowed on the beaches before 9AM and after 5PM. Dogs must be under voice control or on a leash. Plenty of beaches to choose from in the area and I think this is one of the better ones.

The nicest beach that we visited in the Kennebunkport area. Clean and spacious. Parking is limited.read more

Beautiful and private (at least in late September). So happy to have randomly discovered!read more