You NEED to check out our activities!

I get it:  you’re vacationing in a beach town so you go to the beach.  And, of course, you need to throw in some shopping, too.  But, when those activities have been checked off your list, why don’t you check out ‘my’ list?  Here at The Falls, I work hard to put together an activities schedule to please all ages, all interests and all abilities.  Are you a crafty type of person?  Well, how about creating a personalized bird house or picture frame?  Maybe you have little ones just starting to use scissors and glue?  A sunshine magnet or plastic sun catcher will keep them busy and happy!  Oh, I know, you like to be outdoors and active – sign up for my bike tour of Wells Beach, bike rental included.  One of my favorite tours is Mt. Agamenticus.  We can hike up or drive to the top, your choice!  Maybe you just want to spend quality time with your loved ones.  I make sure to have pool volleyball almost every day, and if it’s not on the schedule, just ask and we’ll set it up for you.  We also schedule outdoor fun activities like bubble blowing, badminton and you can even play bocce ball!  And, to finish off the fun week – ICE CREAM BINGO!  (need I say more?)  Hope to see you soon to enjoy some fun activities.  If you have any questions, feel free to call me anytime!  Our Resort number is #207-646-4600, just ask for Sue.  Enjoy the day!

In case the kids are ‘bored’…

Many thanks to Carol at the front desk here at The Falls at Ogunquit, who found this article for me this morning – thought you could use this information:

It was bound to happen eventually: You’re here on vacation, or just trying to enjoy some of Maine’s all-too-brief summer, and instead of beautiful blue skies and beach days you’re faced with pouring rain and no sun in sight.

The kids are bored, trapped indoors, and you simply don’t know where to turn. Fear not! While the weather outside may be frightful, there are plenty of kid-friendly indoor options that are simply delightful:

1) Catch a movie. Wells Flagship Cinema in the Hannaford Plaza has daily offerings and Smitty’s offers locations in both Sanford and Biddeford and has big tables and comfy chairs, as well as a full-service menu. FMI: www.smittyscinema.com or for Wells Flagship Cinema, (207) 216-9738.

2) Do some shopping. Grab an umbrella and head out to explore some of the wonderful shops the region has to offer. Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove and Main Street offer nice walking opportunities and cool shops like Animal Instincts. In Wells, check out Bo-Mar Hall on Route 1 for hours’ worth of browsing opportunities. Kennebunk’s Main Street has several shops, such as perennial favorites Marlows and Kennebunk Toy Co., to tempt you, or head down to Dock Square for retro toys at Daytrip Junior.

3) Take the kids to the Children’s Museum of Maine in Portland. There they’ll find two floors of hands-on displays that will thrill kids from toddlers to the 10+ set.  http://www.kitetails.org

4) Hit the arcade. Wells has two good ones: the Boardwalk Arcade at Wells Beach (http://www.boardwalkarcademaine.com) and a smaller one at Wonder Mountain on Route 1 (http://www.wondermountainfunpark.com). Grab a cup of quarters (and maybe some headphones) and head over for a few hours of fun.

5) History museums may not sound like much fun to kids, but Kennebunk’s Brick Store Museum has some pretty cool exhibits that offer a glimpse into the region’s past, including its shipbuilding history.  www.brickstoremuseum.org.

6) A short ride up the turnpike, Freeport has plenty to keep the kids busy (as well as cool shopping options for adults). The flagship L.L. Bean store is enough to keep anyone occupied for hours, and there you can check out the very cool locked-antlers moose display, pick out backpacks for school and even have lunch in the café. Just down the road on Route 1 in Yarmouth, the DeLorme Map Store has plenty of geography-related kids’ toys and educational items, but best of all is Eartha, the world’s largest globe, which holds pride of place in the main lobby. FMI: www.llbean.com and www.delorme.com/mapstore.

7) Sometimes, the best way to while away a rainy day is with a good book or two. Annie’s Book Stop in Wells and Kennebooks in Lower Village, Kennebunk, both are great places to pick up a new (or, in Annie’s case, both used and new) book. In keeping with the Maine theme, younger children will enjoy Robert McCloskey’s “Blueberries for Sal” and its companion book, “One Morning in Maine.” “Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney is also wonderful, as are “The Circus Ship” by Chris Van Dusen and anything illustrated by local artist Wade Zahares. Older kids will enjoy “Lost on a Mountain in Maine,” a classic by Donn Fendler. FMI: www.anniesbookstopwells.com and www.kennebooks.com.

8) Plan a culinary adventure. While nothing beats eating outdoors in Maine in the summer, there’s no reason you can’t experience the region’s fabulous food on dreary days. For kid-friendly fare, ask for a seat near the window overlooking the river and enjoy a meal at Federal Jack’s in Kennebunk’s Lower Village, where the kids’ menu features such items as corn dogs, washed down with Parrot Punch. Interested in checking out the local seafood? Grab a lobster roll and cup of delish chowder at Alisson’s in Dock Square. Want to satisfy a sweet tooth? Head indoors to Big Daddy’s ice cream shop on Route 1 in Wells (we recommend the banana chip) or visit the always-tempting Harbor Candy Shop on Ogunquit’s Main Street. Or check out taffy being made at The Goldenrod in Short Sands Beach, York, where it’s been a sweet summer treat since 1896.

9) The Kennebunk Free Library and Wells Public Library are wonderful rain or shine, but they are particularly cozy places to be when it’s miserable outside. In Kennebunk, kids will find everything from summer storytime to storytime yoga to drop-in gaming afternoons, crafts and movies.  www.kennebunklibrary.org and http://www.wells.lib.me.us.

Seacoastonline.com – Laura Dolce – July 4, 2013

 

The ocean sets me free…

There is something to be said for fresh, salty air – it’s calming, yet invigorating.  Whether the sun is shining or a storm is brewing, it’s always inviting.  At least it is for me.   Now, I love the mountains and the woods.  Hiking a quiet trail or sitting and enjoying mountain vistas is a source of pleasure.  But….I’ll always pick the ocean when asked to choose.  If you close your eyes, you can probably just picture the waves lapping the shore.   I can hear the sounds now!  Seagulls calling to each other, sailboats going by, the occasional seashell or rock left behind, these are the things that call my name.  Here in Ogunquit, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the coastline.  You can sit on a soft, sandy beach and dip your toes in the clear, cool water.  If you’d rather, walk along the paved path on the Marginal Way and sit at one of many benches to take in the scenery.  Maybe a boat ride is your choice.  If so, check out the many cruising options available in Perkins Cove.  As I sit and type this, I’m thinking I might just have to take some time and visit the water.  I could call it ‘research’ for my job…..Hope to see you soon, enjoy the day!  Sue