Charm, meet barefoot luxury…

Here are the details from our recent stay at The Dunes on the Waterfront in Maine. This hotel-style resort right on the water in Ogunquit, Maine just underwent an extensive renovation. The interiors are so well done with coastal cottage details and the grounds are full of seaside charm. The location, right on the tidal river overlooking the dunes and the ocean, is simply stunning. The Dunes is very family-friendly with lots of activities and amenities included.

Here are the highlights from our late July stay…

Our Cottage

We stayed in Seagrass Cottage right on the water. This cottage has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room with a fireplace and TV, a kitchenette with a coffee maker and fridge & freezer drawers, a screened porch, and an outdoor patio. One bedroom has a walk-out and ocean views with a queen bed, and the second bedroom has twin beds.

The interiors here are so beautiful. Elevated yet full of cottage charm. I love that they kept the original shutters on the cottages in classic green. Inside every detail is designed so thoughtfully. The cottages are turnkey and they even provide an ample basket of complimentary snacks and a stocked beverage fridge.

Coffee, tea, pastries and a newspaper are delivered to your cottage every morning of your stay. They hang your breakfast tote on a hook right outside your door at 8:30am as not to disturb your morning. We loved this service and enjoyed our breakfast on the porch every morning.

The sunrises here were just breathtaking. Nothing better than waking up to the sea breeze and hearing the waves crash.

Activities Included

Being right on the tidal river is such a great location for water sports. Canoes, kayaks, SUPs, and row boats are included in your stay. Complimentary bicycles are great for riding into town to shop or grab a bite to eat. The Dunes provides a complimentary shuttle into town if you prefer not to walk or bike. One thing we really loved was the complimentary cabana boat to and from the beach. The beach is just across the tidal river, and The Dunes can outfit you with everything you need for your beach day. Beach chairs, umbrellas, towels and cooler totes are available upon request. Also, the heated swimming pool, which I will share in this post, is a lovely place to enjoy.

The late afternoon and evenings are fantastic for enjoying the lawn. Lawn games are set-up daily. Perfect if you fancy a game of croquet, corn hole, or ladders. We loved the bonfire nights on the water. They deliver s’mores kits out to the fire pit for everyone to enjoy. It is a lovely way to end your day here.

The Pool

We opted to enjoy the heated pool on the cooler day of our stay. The pool has plenty of sun loungers, umbrellas, and tables. Pool floats, towels, and lemon water are set out for guests daily.

The Lodge

The Lodge is where you check-in for your stay and where you will get your bikes, paddles, and vests. The interiors are coastal chic with plenty of seating. They have a coffee bar with treats and champagne. There is a sitting area with a fireplace if you just want to relax with company.

The Surrounding Area

One thing I really appreciated about The Dunes is you can do as little or as much as you want to do. The property is so beautiful. Having the river and beach so accessible every day, we found ourselves not wanting to venture outside the property that much. We only stayed a couple of nights, so I could see if we booked a week or longer, we’d want to be out and about more.

Spending a lot of vacations up in Maine over the years, I know the area well and have a few recommendations if you want to explore during your time here.

Ogunquit has shopping and lots of restaurants to enjoy. I love getting breakfast at Mornings in Paris. The many beaches here are beautiful and the major draw of this area. Marginal Way is a great path along the sea to walk with amazing views.

If you are wanting to stay close, Perkins Cove is my pick. This is a charming little spot on the harbor with restaurants and shops. You can spend time on the water with a scenic cruise aboard Finest Kind or enjoy a lobster dinner at Barnacle Billy’s.

If you are into antiquing, there are so many antique shops along Route 1. You could spend hours exploring them from Ogunquit working your way up to Wells.

Nubble Lighthouse is really close in York, Maine. That’s one of our favorite lighthouses to visit.

Happy Travels!

xx Kristy

We’d like to thank The Dunes on the Waterfront for a lovely stay. All photography and opinions are mine. I take great care to research all the travel partners we work with to guarantee I am sharing the best places to stay for the discerning traveler.