Why I Look Forward to Summer in York County Every Single Year

There’s a moment every June — usually when I’m driving down Route 1 through Kennebunk with the windows down, the smell of the ocean just barely in the air — where I think: this is it. This is the thing people move here for.

I’ve lived and worked in York County for years, and I still feel it every summer. The energy shifts. The farm stands open. The lobster pound lines form. The whole coastline wakes up, and honestly? It never gets old.

As a real estate broker in Southern Maine, I spend a lot of time helping people imagine what life here actually looks like — and summer is the easiest time to show them. But you don’t have to be considering a move to enjoy all of it. If you live here, this one’s for you. And if you’re visiting? Welcome. You’re going to want to stay.

Here’s my personal, local-approved summer bucket list for coastal Maine — no tourist traps, just the real stuff.

Spend a Morning at Ogunquit Beach

If you’ve never walked Ogunquit Beach at low tide, that needs to change this summer. It’s consistently rated one of the best beaches in the country, and for good reason — miles of white sand, gentle surf, and views that honestly don’t look real.

Go in the morning before it fills up. Grab a coffee in the village first, walk the Marginal Way (the cliff-side path that connects Ogunquit to Perkins Cove), and then head down to the beach. It’s one of those mornings you’ll talk about all winter.

What to know: Parking fills up fast in July and August. Get there by 8:30 if you want to beat the crowds. Perkins Cove is worth strolling through — local galleries, lobster boats, good food.

Eat a Lobster Roll — the Right Way

This is non-negotiable. But here’s the thing: not all lobster rolls are created equal, and anyone who lives here will tell you that.

My current favorites in York County: Cape Neddick Lobster Pound in York, The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport (worth every minute of the line), and Barnacle Billy’s in Ogunquit for waterfront dining.

The warm, buttered roll or the cold, mayo-dressed version? I’m a warm butter person, but that’s a conversation I’m happy to have with you.

Explore Kennebunkport’s Dock Square

Kennebunkport’s Dock Square is one of those places that looks like a movie set — in the best way. Independent shops, galleries, ice cream, restaurants, and the kind of foot traffic that’s actually fun to be in the middle of during summer.

It’s walkable, it’s charming, and it’s the kind of place you can spend two hours without realizing it. If you’re there on a weekend, the Kennebunk Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings through the season and is absolutely worth adding to the itinerary.

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Catch a Sunset from the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

This one surprises people who haven’t been. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge spans the Wells-Kennebunk area, and it’s one of the most peaceful, beautiful places in York County — salt marshes, tidal rivers, herons, and a quietness that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Walk the one-mile loop trail off Route 9 in Wells. Go late afternoon, let the light hit the marsh, and watch the birds do their thing. It’s free, it’s accessible, and it’s genuinely gorgeous. Locals know about it; tourists usually skip it. You won’t regret going.

Get a Table at a Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Southern Maine’s food scene has grown up significantly over the past decade, and summer is when it really shines. Chefs here source locally — farms, fishermen, foraged ingredients — and the result is food that genuinely reflects this place.

Worth seeking out: Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit (they grow a huge portion of what they serve), and the rotating seasonal menus at many spots throughout Wells and York. Reservations fill fast — book ahead.

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Visit York Village and Cape Neddick

York is one of those towns that makes you understand why people put down roots in Maine. The historic district in York Village has the oldest surviving gaol (jail) in the country, a handful of museum properties, and a pace that feels genuinely unhurried.

Drive out to Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick. Stand at the overlook. Take the picture — because yes, it’s that pretty. This is one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England, and seeing it in person reminds you why.

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Hit a Local Farm Stand

Farm stands are a summer ritual in York County, and a good one will become a weekly stop fast. Fresh corn, heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, herbs, cut flowers — it’s the kind of grocery shopping that feels like an event.

Look for stands along Route 1 through Wells and Kennebunk, and check out Hannaford Farm Stand and a few of the smaller family operations that pop up seasonally. Follow them on Instagram to know when they open — they tend to go early and run out of the good stuff fast.

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Spend an Afternoon in Wells

Wells doesn’t always get the spotlight that Kennebunkport and Ogunquit do, but it should. Wells Beach is beautiful and slightly less crowded. Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm is a stunning nature preserve with trails that wind through coastal fields and down to the water. And the local shops and restaurants along Post Road have real personality.

If you’re exploring Southern Maine and skipping Wells, you’re missing something.

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Go Kayaking or Paddleboarding on the Kennebunk River

Renting a kayak or SUP and paddling the Kennebunk River is one of those summer experiences that locals do at least a few times every season. You’ll pass under the bridges in Kennebunkport, paddle out toward the harbor, see the water from a completely different angle.

Rentals are available locally — ask around or check with shops in Kennebunkport. Calm mornings are ideal; the river is protected enough that it’s generally manageable even for beginners.

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End the Summer with a Lobster Bake

There’s no better way to close out summer on the Maine coast than a proper lobster bake — whether that’s at a local restaurant, a friends’ backyard, or a beach gathering. Lobster, corn, steamers, cold beer. The whole thing.

If you’ve just moved to the area and don’t have a backyard crew yet — you will. That’s the thing about coastal Maine. People gather. It doesn’t take long to feel like you belong here.

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Thinking About Making This More Than a Summer Visit?

If you’ve spent any time on the Maine coast and found yourself thinking I could actually see myself living here, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common things I hear — and it’s usually said standing on a beach, or after a particularly good lobster roll.

Southern Maine is a place people fall for fast. If you’re curious about what it actually looks like to buy a home here — the communities, the price points, the lifestyle — I’d love to talk. There’s no pressure, no pitch. Just a conversation.

👉 Check out Moving to Maine: The Ultimate York County Relocation Guide for an honest look at what life here actually looks like.

👉 Or read Best Towns in Southern Maine for Families to explore which community might be the right fit for you.

And if you’re just here for the summer — soak it up. This place is worth every minute.

— Erin