What to do when you get here — An insider’s guide to interests and attractions in the area surrounding The Cliff House Resort & Spa.

Explore the Shore: Ogunquit Beach Buggy and Beyond

Here is a whole new way to explore the south coast from York to Kennebunk: it’s the Shoreline Explorer. The service is sponsored in part by The Cliff House. I was starting to feel nostalgic for the hotel trolley but the innkeeper assured me that this service of six trolleys is more frequent than the hotel trolley which took guests to Ogunquit town center and the beach. Plus, visitors can come up to lunch or for spa treatments.

With the new Shore Road Shuttle, you can choose to go north or south and connect with the existing trolleys in York and Ogunquit. I jumped on outside the Pavilion and rode into Ogunquit with two Cliff House guests, Dolores and David Bagish.

They liked the idea of taking the trolley to go to lunch in Perkins Cove. For them the issues were conservation of gas, less auto emission and no parking hassles or fees! The fare is $1 each way. And Dolores and I discovered we are from the same neck of the woods!

Once in Ogunquit, I hopped on the Ogunquit Trolley ... I think it was the Holly Trolley. They arrive every few minutes. I suggest exact change for the fare of $1.50 as change is only given in tokens. When a couple with a $20 bill learned this, they hopped right off to find change. We rode to Ogunquit Beach.

This beach is a great place to people-watch while catching a few rays. The cars pull up close to the trolley stop and drop off and pick up! Sometimes there is barely space to walk between the towels, but no one minds. It is one handsome beach, with a sand bar and tidal pool at low tide.

The driver pulled onto Route One and began calling out the names of the motels. He was from Long Island, New York, and I expected him to say, Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay ... Montauk. Our next stop was not Long Beach but Footbridge Beach. I will return there by trolley as I didn’t see any parking area.

We continued up to the trolley stop across from the Wells Chamber of Commerce. In a matter of minutes, the shuttle to Kennebunk pulled up. But I decided to save the ride for another day. I took the Molly Trolley back to Ogunquit.

Have you ever seen a blue lobster? How about a blue lobster kite? I was told by the driver that a school principal owns several big inflatable kites. He buys them in Italy and flies them over Ogunquit Beach. I’m not sure how he stays on the ground! There was music playing near the driver, and she was singing along, “On my way back, Baby...” The trolley pulled into the parking area adjacent to the police station and fire department. A policeman was carrying a box of plants and putting them in the trunk of a car. I have no photo to prove it - but I saw it with my own eyes. I asked the driver how she could cope with crossing the “Oh-my-God Intersection” where Route 1, Shore Road and Beach Street intersect. She said, “Oh you mean ‘Malfunction Junction?’ It’s not so bad when everyone takes turns.” A man and his son got on, drenched in father-son cologne. It began to affect my balance - such heady stuff. A conversation floated forward from a couple behind me. “She actually found a million dollars in the closet of the house she bought... began to give generously to her nieces and that one odd nephew... she even built a wing on her church...” Summertime voices filled Molly Trolley. Once back in the Cove I took the Shore Road Shuttle back to The Cliff House. I covered quite a few miles - and didn’t drive one of them.

When I arrived back at The Cliff House, I headed directly to my guest room, grabbed my new book and stepped out on my balcony. Ah, the serenity of it! This is when spirits soar.

PS: Want a guide book showing all the things to do and see in Ogunquit? Get one at www.ogunquit.org or use the one in your guestroom when you get here.