When it comes to traveling, I’ve found that there are few things more satisfying than finding great day trip locations that are only an hour or two away from home. After visiting the town of York, Maine this past weekend, I am confident that this is a place you can’t miss out on for a quick vacation if you’re located in the Greater Boston area (and even if you aren’t, Maine is definitely worth a trip at some point!) Here’s a brief summary of my time in York and a glimpse of its various charms.

When I arrived in York with my boyfriend, the sun was setting (the most depressing part of August besides the blistering heat is the realization that the sun is setting earlier and earlier!) We were pretty hungry for dinner, but we were treated to a sunset so captivating that it convinced us to linger outside for a few additional minutes. How incredible is the view above? There is nothing quite like seeing the setting sun cast its colors all over the ocean.

The sunset in the photo above is right near York’s Long Sands Beach. When the tide comes in around late afternoon, Long Sands Beach is swallowed almost entirely! This phenomenon prompted my mom to comment that there wasn’t much of a beach when my parents first arrived, but the tricky tide soon receded and revealed a beautiful beach streaked with red algae. (The tide was especially deceitful for me, my boyfriend, and my friend the next day—more on that later!) Another interesting fact about Long Sands Beach is that the houses near the beach are always built across the road to prevent homeowners from being able to claim sections of the beach as private property. This differentiates York from places like Nantucket, where homeowners whose houses are on the beach can claim that their property extends all the way to the water’s edge.

This is no surprise at all, but we decided to head to a local lobster restaurant for dinner. The Cape Neddick Lobster Pound is an absolutely fabulous option if you have a hankering for lobster (and if you’re in Maine over the summer, I would hope that you do!) I personally opted for the “Lazy Man’s Lobster,” which is a dish with pre-prepared lobster meat, but if you feel like throwing on a bib and going to work on the traditional boiled lobster yourself, it’s a lot of fun! A couple of other great lobster restaurants in the area are Lobster in the Rough and Lobster Cove.

The next morning, my friend arrived with some delicious donuts in tow. Lovebirds Donuts is right on the way to York if you’re driving there from the Boston area, and I couldn’t recommend stopping there more. They have some fantastic flavors like Whoopie Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Monkey Muffin. The flavors change seasonally, though, so be sure to check out the menu online.

Anyway, enough about food for now. Another terrific beach near York is Ogunquit Beach (about a 15-minute drive), and one of the attractions associated with the beach is the Marginal Way. It’s a paved path that meanders approximately 1.25 miles between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove, treating pedestrians to sweeping views of the ocean. Though it’s a bit narrow, we had a lovely walk and managed to pause in a couple of alcoves that were specially designed for ocean viewing. Plus, the path is dotted with benches if you need a rest.

One thing to keep in mind is that the beaches in York and surrounding areas get a bit crowded in the summertime, so they may not be the safest place to go in the midst of a pandemic. My friend, boyfriend and I opted to hang out on a small sandbar near Ogunquit Beach, which seemed to be a fantastic option until the tide suddenly began to swallow it up and we had to evacuate. At least the water temperature in Maine is somewhat swimmable in August (around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.) If you get cold easily, though, you might want to swim in a wetsuit instead of a bathing suit.

York and Ogunquit both have quaint Main Streets with the quintessential gift shops and casual restaurants that abound in Northeastern seaside towns. Keep an eye out for the spectacular signage that pops up in different places! The locals’ wit is sure to put a smile on your face.

Upon our return from the beach (with only mild sunburns), we spent most of the afternoon and early evening relaxing with that fantastic ocean view. I came across one of the best little reading chairs in my life, which is perfectly positioned to draw readers’ eyes back and forth between the ocean and the page. I’ll admit that not much reading was done given that I embarked on this mini-vacation with the unrealistic goal of doing reading for my senior thesis, but it’s wonderful to discover cozy reading corners nonetheless.

We didn’t get to these with our limited time in the area, but a couple of other fun attractions to check out in and around York are the picturesque Cape Neddick Lighthouse and the hiker’s paradise of Mount Agamenticus. York is also home to Stonewall Kitchen’s flagship store! If stocking up on cooking ingredients and delicious dessert recipes sounds like fun to you, don’t miss out on this warehouse of culinary delights.

Even though travel opportunities are limited right now, York is a great place to visit for a quick getaway as the summer is winding down. If you’re from the Boston area, don’t hesitate to contact me with other day trip ideas!