Ogunquit, Maine named one of the top 2024 vacation spots in the world: Here's why

OGUNQUIT, Maine — If you live in Ogunquit and are looking to visit the world’s best getaway this year, then you won’t have to travel far, according to Real Simple magazine.

According to the New York-based publication, you’re already there.

In a list that includes London, the Greek Islands, and Tokyo, Real Simple named Ogunquit, Maine, the home of Marginal Way, Perkins Cove, and the Ogunquit Playhouse, as the number-one vacation destination of 2024.

“If you don’t want to venture out of North America, this New England town in Maine offers a peaceful charm,” staff writer Erica Lamberg said in her recent article.

The piece notes the town’s “scenic sandy beaches, sprawling rocky cliffs, and tree-lined streets,” and recommends the Dunes on the Waterfront at 518 Main Street, for those “looking for a place to stay.”

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Alice Pearce, the executive director of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce, called the community a “gem, blessed with natural resources.”

“The town is very charming and has that small-town appeal,” Pearce said.

Pearce also noted the town’s ordinances, which keep Ogunquit’s business community franchise-free and allows it to flourish with so many locally owned shops, restaurants, and other venues.

“It’s hard to find that kind of authenticity,” Pearce added. “That quality really resonates with people and makes them feel welcome.”

In addition to Ogunquit, London, the Greek Islands, and Tokyo, U.S. national parks, Alaska, Northern Lights destinations, and Old Quebec City also made the list.

Ogunquit is often regarded as a high-ranking travel destination. For the fourth year in a row, for example, Tripadvisor, an online travel agency, ranked Ogunquit Beach as among the 25 best beach destinations in the country in 2023, as part of its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards.

“The only beach on that list in New England!” the Chamber noted on its website.

And, according to the Chamber, “the fun doesn’t stop when the days get shorter.” In 2023, Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Ogunquit second on its list of the top 25 Christmas towns in the United States. Every December, Ogunquit holds its annual Christmas by the Sea celebration, which includes concerts, parades, tree-lightings, and more.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ogunquit, Maine named one of the top 2024 vacation spots in the world