Positioned where the York River meets the Atlantic Ocean, about 7 miles north of New Hampshire, York, Maine retains the look and flavor of an 18th-century village. Four small New England communities including Cape Neddick, York Harbor, York Village, and York Beach unite to form the beautiful and diverse town of York. From the old-time carousel and arcades of York Beach to the tranquil headwaters of the York River and the stately mansions of York Harbor, York truly is an ideal place to live or vacation--for all reasons and in all seasons. York boasts miles of sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and boating anchorages, all just an hour from Boston yet almost a world away. The York area has righteously earned its 2002 Money magazine title as "one of the 10 best places to vacation in North America", and invites you to spend a day, spend a week, or spend a lifetime!
Cape Neddick is located between York Beach and the town of Ogunquit, Maine. Cape Neddick is a residential community boasting the gorgeous Passaconaway Beach, antiques, shopping, and dining. Known for its rocky and scenic Shore Road, Cape Neddick is a highly desirable location with beautiful oceanfront, ocean view, and riverfront properties.
York Beach, a Victorian-era family resort with shops and restaurants, is comprised of Long Sands and Short Sands Beaches. Between the beaches is Nubble Point, home of the famous Nubble Lighthouse.
York Harbor, a sought-after vacation spot since the Civil War era, is a beautiful residential area featuring grand oceanfront homes, estates, and the splendid York Harbor Beach, as well as fine dining, a marina, fishing wharfs, and the Reading Room.
York Village, a charming downtown area, is the home of the Museums of Old York, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of historic York. Incorporated in 1652, many of York Village’s original homes and churches remain intact.
Experience the Maine seacoast
Sunbathe, swim, and surf at Long Sands Beach, over a mile of sandy beach with something for the entire family: raft rentals, umbrella rentals, bathhouse, surfing zone, and shops and food within walking distance. Take a surf lesson with Liquid Dreams Surf Shop during the summer months. Visit Short Sands in York Beach, a shorter stretch of sandy beach that offers a bathhouse, playground, summer evening concerts, shops, food, and even an amusement park. Relax at York Harbor Beach, a sheltered, sandy beach with a spectacular rocky shoreline backdrop. Some parking is available here, but most is permit required. Go tide-pooling at York's Cape Neddick Beach, a small beautiful beach with no facilities. (Photo above by George Barker Photography)
Wiggley Bridge: This almost-miniature suspension footbridge has been a York landmark since the 1930s. Recently refurbished, the bridge runs from the dam of Old Mill Road to the Steedman Woods nature preserve. Originally the site of an early mill on the York River, this is the perfect location for a scenic walk.
Nubble Lighthouse: York's best known landmark, The Nubble Lighthouse, is also called the Cape Neddick Lighthouse. One of the most photographed in the world, the Nubble Lighthouse is sure to take your breath away. The lighthouse made national news when, in 1977, the US Coast Guard selected its photograph to be taken on the Voyager II spacecraft, believing it to be the quintessential lighthouse in America.
York's Wild Kingdom: Located in York Beach, York's Wild Kingdom has something to offer every member of the family. Each year more than 200,000 people come to visit the largest zoo and amusement park in the area. Recognized for its rare species and endless family fun, York's Wild Kingdom offers a variety of rides, paddle boats, miniature golf course, a petting zoo, scenic picnic grounds, and a Haunted House.
Mount Agamenticus offers one of the largest undeveloped expanses of land in coastal New England, and is the perfect place for York County vacationers and locals to hike, mountain bike, horseback ride, and ATV, with over 10,000 acres of pristine nature at your fingertips. This rich and unique coastal forest supports the highest diversity of animal and plant species in all of Maine, and offers an abundance of vernal pools, rich biodiversity, and unique trail system.
Eat Lobster! Almost anywhere you go will have the world's best lobster. This is Maine, you know. The best lobster roll for your buck can be found at the Shore Road Market at the South end of Shore Road. Find more lobster at The Lobster In The Rough, The Cape Neddick Lobster Pound, Lobster Cove Restaurant, York Harbor Inn, Stage Neck Inn, and many more.
Casual Dining and Cafes: With numerous casual dining spots and cafes in York, you will never go hungry! Enjoy Harbor Views at the Dockside a classic New England seafood eatery with ocean views is on the grounds of a Victorian-era inn. Spending time at Long Sands Beach, stop in to the Stone's Throw for a new American menu with luxurious views of the beach! Visit The Central Bean and Bakery for fine pastries, a lunch menu, coffees, teas and more! Next door, The Central Restaurant and Bar is a hip dining experience with a mouthwatering dinner menu and specialty cocktails from the bar. Play horseshoes or bocce ball at The Lobster In The Rough. In the mood for a bagel? York Village's Bagel Basket is everything a bagel-lover and coffee drinker desires. Try one, or three (yes, they are that good) dogs at Flo's Hot Dogs, on Route One in York. Eat famous Shains of Maine ice cream at the Village Scoop, in the center of York Village, or try a cone from Dunnes ice cream, on the Nubble Peninsula.
Fine Dining: By partnering with local fisherman, farmers, distillers, and ranchers, the Cliff House in Cape Neddick combines the region’s distinctive culture and tradition with culinary innovation and sustainable practices for authentic and nuanced dining experiences. Upscale contemporary design meets with charming rustic elements at our signature restaurants – bright and inviting oceanfront dining destinations surrounded by view of Cape Neddick and the Atlantic Ocean. Other great fine dining options include The York Harbor Inn, with a menu that has been featured in Food and Wine Magazine, Gourmet, and Taste, and York Harbor's Stage Neck Inn, offering wonderful fine dining in an elegant or casual atmosphere. Many other excellent restaurants can be found nearby in Portsmouth, NH.Wiggley Bridge: This almost-miniature suspension footbridge has been a York landmark since the 1930s. Recently refurbished, the bridge runs from the dam of Old Mill Road to the Steedman Woods nature preserve. Originally the site of an early mill on the York River, this is the perfect location for a scenic walk.
Nubble Lighthouse: York's best known landmark, The Nubble Lighthouse, is also called the Cape Neddick Lighthouse. One of the most photographed in the world, the Nubble Lighthouse is sure to take your breath away. The lighthouse made national news when, in 1977, the US Coast Guard selected its photograph to be taken on the Voyager II spacecraft, believing it to be the quintessential lighthouse in America.
York's Wild Kingdom: Located in York Beach, York's Wild Kingdom has something to offer every member of the family. Each year more than 200,000 people come to visit the largest zoo and amusement park in the area. Recognized for its rare species and endless family fun, York's Wild Kingdom offers a variety of rides, paddle boats, miniature golf course, a petting zoo, scenic picnic grounds, and a Haunted House.
Festivals: The annual York Harvest Festival, in mid-October, provides arts and crafts, live entertainment, and a fantastic ox-roast. York Days is a week long summer celebration featuring a sand castle building contest, nightly music, co-ed softball tournament, youth golf tournament, craft fair, the popular Christmas-in-July lighting of the Nubble Lighthouse, and fireworks high above Short Sands Beach.
History is Alive: York, established in 1652, is rich in history and has retained and restored numerous buildings, galleries, and landmarks. The Museums of Old York, once the Old York Historical Society, offers thirty-seven period room settings and several galleries housed throughout nine historic museum buildings. Be captivated with showcases of early New England art, architecture, and decorative arts. The exhibits focus on the stories of southern Maine's men, women, and children and the world they created and lived in from the earliest settlement in the 1600s to the present day.
Arts and Entertainment: Many locally and even world renowned artists play at venues throughout The Yorks. York Beach's Inn On The Blues has a great entertainment lineup, and terrific casual dining.
The Gateway Farmer's Market, held weekly throughout the summer, provides a wonderful sampling of local produce, cheeses, breads, and more.
