This Maine Village Was Just Named One of the Best in the World

There’s just something about the word village that’s truly special.

While cities and towns get most of the attention, villages are the true heroes of civilization. If you think about it, every population center was once a village. However, only the very best manage to stay that way—the timeless regions that never grow too big and never lose their character, charm, or beauty.

Maine is Loaded with Beautiful and Historic Villages

Fortunately for us Mainers, we have a ton of wonderful villages to enjoy. Whether they're coastal gems or mountain retreats, the Pine Tree State’s villages all seem to have a high level of beauty and mystique.

Let’s segue that right into an article recently published by the folks over at Forbes. The magazine decided to take a close look at villages from across the globe to put together a list of some very special locations. In fact, Forbes listed 50 villages that they say are the very best in the world.

Amazingly, one of those listed came right from Maine—and it’s also the highest-ranked village from America, coming in at number 28. That village is Ogunquit.

What makes Ogunquit Such a Unique and Wonderful Village?

Located in the heart of Maine’s picturesque coastal York County, Ogunquit is an absolute gem. The village boasts natural beauty, vibrant culture, delicious restaurants, stunning beaches, and wonderful local shops and galleries. It’s quite literally a village that authors love to write about and movie directors dream of.

It’s also home to one of Maine’s most iconic landmarks: the Ogunquit Playhouse. This historic theater has welcomed many celebrities to its stage, including Jeff Bridges, Betty White, William Shatner, Bette Davis, and Carol Channing—just to name a few.

But Ogunquit is much more than the Playhouse. The beach is absolutely wonderful, as is the stunning coastal path known as Marginal Way. And the stretch of restaurants and shops along Route 1 is an absolute can’t-miss.

But enough from me—here’s a bit of what Forbes had to say about why Ogunquit was named America’s best village, and one of the best in the world:

“...morning mist lifts from Ogunquit Beach—revealing sand gleaming like polished shell, as Perkins Cove stirs with the scent of lobster bisque and the creak of dock lines: its footbridge swinging open for passing sailboats. Then, as evening settles, jazz spills from Jonathan’s Lounge—where saxophones croon standards and bossa nova—as locals linger over blueberry pie.”

Well, that reads like a dream, doesn’t it?

READ MORE: Legendary Maine State Park Named One of America's Best

What a great honor for Ogunquit to be included on this list—and to be America’s only representative. It’s a wonderful example of just how special a Maine village can be, especially one nestled along its iconic coast.

You can see Forbes’ entire list of villages here.