April 29th, 2015 —
Dreaming of a classic New England seaside summer vacation? It doesn’t get more quintessentially Americana than Ogunquit, Maine, one of offMetro’s Best Family Getaways by the Beach.
As of May 22, C&J’s new seasonal nonstop service is making it even easier for car-free visitors to access this charming town. Daily service is scheduled through Labor Day, with continued weekend service through Columbus Day. You’ll travel from New York City’s Port Authority or Downtown Manhattan directly to the Ogunquit Visitor Welcome Center in a swift five hours and 30 minutes. Special intro fares are $160 roundtrip, and will increase to $170 on July 20.
On board, passengers will enjoy a high level of comfort, including complimentary snacks, newspapers, movies and Wi-Fi. Leather seats with individual power outlets, seatback audio and pillows and blankets should keep everyone comfy.
Once you arrive in Ogunquit, explore its restaurants, shops and art galleries. The pristine beaches and scenic harbor are gems. The paved Marginal Way footpath sits high atop dramatic cliffs, attracting all levels of hikers. Meander through bayberry bushes and sea roses while enjoying expansive views of the Atlantic.
Ogunquit has been an established artist colony for well over a century and the Ogunquit Museum of American Art is an excellent place to explore the town’s creative traditions. Theater lovers should catch a performance at the respected Ogunquit Playhouse.
There’s a wide range of hotels, from romantic inns to family-friendly motels with swimming pools. For more information and to reserve your seat, visit www.ridecj.com. For trip planning tips, go to www.ogunquit.org.
Photo credit: Brian Talbot
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram