Maine's Miracle Mile
The Margin Between Land and Sea
This 1-1/4 length of payment, juxtaposing an endless expanse of rolling tides, and staggered rock, is what we know today as Marginal Way. Connecting the quaint collection of shops and shoreline at Perkins Cove, to the endless strip of hotels in Ogunquit, is a trail I've walked a thousand times. Perfectly paved and poised, the Marginal Way path winds through the trees and mansions lining Ogunquit's coast, all the while, keeping the ocean at the forefront of each and every picture.
Summarized best in this shot through a particularly gnarly tree and a thicket of bramble, the view of Perkins Cove, and the waters that surround it are truthfully just calming. Its colors in winter, are the same as anywhere else along the east coast, with nothing too incredibly out of this world, but what makes Marginal Way and the whole town of Ogunquit so special to me, is its natural display of texture. This was something shown best during my most recent visit to Marginal Way, with thin patches of snow and ice adorning the already etched rock formations along the shore.
The beauty of the environment on a perfect day is more than enough for the average visitor, and even though I've visited the walk along the water so much more during the summer, I would actually say that the best time to see it is during the winter. Although it limits your ability to walk along the water and climb on the endless supply of rock formations, there's something to be said for the beauty in the details. Sure, glistening rock formations unlike any other shoreline I've ever been to is cool on its own, but seeing each crevice of rock filled with its own unique snow and ice patches? That's even better! Texture, upon texture, once again is what makes Marginal Way a unique and memorable site. But it's not just what I think that matters, as it is with all my projects and stories, my goal is to get you out into the nature that surrounds you, and if I'm lucky, get you willing and eager to travel for it. So, do you like watching the calmer waters and mosses hide under the shadows of towering rocks from the path itself? Or is it better to clamber over the rocks you see around you and feel the crashing waves up close and personal? From personal experience, there's only one way to find out which is better. Do both.
With the entire path of Marginal Way being just barely over a mile, taking a moment to climb off of the paved pathway, and really get your hands dirty and shoes wet is something you just have to do. Unless you're like me and the other native New Englanders, you likely don't have family in this part of the country, and you won't find a place like this all that often. So when you find yourself in a position to do something different, I would always recommend you do it.
And while you're in town, I'd recommend making the drive just twenty minutes north to the town of York to see the famous Nubble Lighthouse. In all honesty, it's a parking lot with a lighthouse view, but while you're here, you're here, and it's certainly not a bad place for pictures. So don't wait, and make the drive up north to explore all that Ogunquit has to offer!
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