4 Reasons to Have a Beach Wedding

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Mark Nosowicz

Bride and groom kissing on the beach during sunset.

Choosing the perfect place to say ‘I do’ to the love of your life can seem daunting. You want your special day to be an intimate affair, but your guests need to have an exciting time as well. A beach wedding covers all your bases. The natural beauty of the sparkling sea as the backdrop to your wedding vows and the romantic glow of the setting sun to close the evening could convince anyone to choose a beach wedding destination.

Here are four reasons to have a beach wedding this upcoming summer.

1) A Bigger Guest List

A common issue with wedding planning is figuring out the guest list—who makes the cut and who must miss out. With a beach wedding, you are not committed to indoor seating limitations. With the pandemic still in full swing, there is plenty of space by the shore for guests to spread out and enjoy your special day safely.

2) Amazing Wedding Pictures

With a beach venue, you’ll get to enjoy gorgeous views, and your wedding photos and videos are bound to be stunning. Pictures taken during golden hour and sunset are always a hit, and the wide-open sky will enhance the amazing lighting.

3) Destination Wedding

If you’re not lucky enough to live by the sea, making your wedding a destination vacation for your friends and family is an amazing idea. You do not have to travel to a tropical paradise or leave the country to get a perfect beach wedding location. Maine is a wonderful place to plan your wedding and has hundreds of beaches for you to choose from.

4) Honeymoon Included

If you pick a beach destination for your wedding, there is no need to book an added extravagant honeymoon. A place like Sands by the Sea has the perfect seaside accommodations for you and your wedding guests. The York Beach area has endless activities and events for you and your partner to enjoy.

If you are currently planning a summer wedding for 2022, the enchanting allure of the Maine coastline and its many beaches is the perfect destination for you. Call (207)363-2211 to start planning your beach wedding in Maine!

What Do You Need to Know About Maine Before Traveling There?

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Mark Nosowicz

If you haven’t traveled to Maine, you certainly need to add it to your list of places to go. There are plenty of amazing foods to try, places to explore, and the most incredible breathtaking views. Before you eagerly start planning your next trip to Maine, allow us to help you learn a little more about the state before you go!

Here are a few interesting facts about Maine:

You Will Have the Best Lobster in Maine

If you’re a lobster lover, then you’ll love traveling to Maine. At almost every restaurant you try, you are likely to find delicious lobster dishes. From Lobster Tails to Lobster BLT’s, you will always be on the hunt for a new unique lobster dish to try.

Because you can find restaurants all over Maine that serve lobster, here is a list of four restaurants that you should try first!

Some of the Best Restaurants in the Country are in Maine

Portland, Maine, is one of the most restaurant-dense communities in the United States. Maine is known for its seafood, blueberries, apples, and maple syrup, so when you dine at our restaurants, you will find that our Chefs try and incorporate these ingredients as much as they can.

There Are Breathtaking Seaside Views

If you’re traveling to Maine, don’t forget to bring your camera. Maine’s scenic spots look like they should be straight from a painting, especially when you go by the water.

The fall is a very popular time to travel to Maine. Since the state is highly populated with trees, you will see their leaves transform into red, orange, and yellow shades. Thus, creating incredible eruptions of beautiful fall colors.

Everyone Loves to Be on The Water

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’ll recognize quickly that everyone loves being on the water. One of the most popular activities to do when you travel to Maine is whale watching. It’s easy to spot whales breaching in Maine’s oceans, so make sure you’re keeping an eye out!

Finding a Place to Stay When You Visit Maine

Now that we’ve shared a few things that you can expect when you travel to Maine, it’s time to start planning your trip.

Come stay with us at Sands by the Sea! Our beautiful motel is only minutes away from Maine’s best seafood and beautiful ocean views. Give us a call at (207) 363-2211 to learn more about planning your next stay.

4 Wonderful Reasons to Plan Your Wedding in Maine

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Mark Nosowicz

Due to COVID-19, we know that a lot of wedding planning had to be put on hold. If you’re recently engaged or are trying to plan a wedding for the near future, may we suggest researching wedding venues in Maine? Maine is flowing with natural beauty. It has breathtaking views and some of the most incredible foods you’ll ever taste.

From beaches to barns, there are many beautiful places to plan a wedding in Maine.

Here are our favorite reasons to get married in Maine:

Every Terrain You Desire

Maine has every possible landscape that you could imagine for your wedding. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor ceremony in the mountains or on the beach, Maine has it. When you travel to Maine for your wedding, you’ll have plenty of both ceremony and reception options in the mountains, rushing rivers, near meadows, barns/farms, nautical coasts, and the lake, old brick mills for an industrial look, etc.

Maine Has Delicious, Fresh Seafood

If you love seafood, you’re in luck! It seems like every local restaurant in Maine serves fresh seafood. The cold waters in the Gulf of Maine mean that they have delicious lobsters, shellfish, and fish. Imagine the look on your guest’s face when you serve them a dish with fresh lobster!

Maine is Home to Wonderful Beer, Wine, and Spirits

Maine is home to many of your favorite breweries, including the very well-known Shipyard Brewing Company and Maine Beer Company. Maine is home to over 100 breweries, so there is always an opportunity to grab an amazing beer. Besides their breweries, Maine is also home to 20 wineries and close to 20 distilleries. When you host your wedding in Maine, you can incorporate all local alcohol for your guests to enjoy.

Your Guests Will Love Traveling to Maine

Whether you have guests who love to explore different cities or those that prefer to be outdoors, there are a ton of things for your guests to enjoy. There never seems to be a dull moment when you travel to Maine, and there is a lot you can do with all age groups. If you’re looking to plan a destination wedding, do yourself a favor and plan your wedding in Maine.

Stay at Sands by the Sea Motel

When you get the opportunity to safely travel to Maine, stay at Sands by the Sea. You are guaranteed to be only minutes away from Maine’s best seafood, beautiful ocean view, and a refreshing outdoor pool. We are nestled on one of Southern Maine’s most beautiful stretches of coastline. You and your guests will love this beach getaway.

Give us a call at (207) 363-2211 to start planning your stay!

Top Things to Do in York Beach, Maine

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Tate

York Beach, Maine, should be your next vacation destination! It’s one of the oldest towns in the United States, it offers a quaint, noncommercial atmosphere with cozy inns, delicious restaurants, wonderful family amusements and stunning natural scenery.

Here are the top things to do in York Beach, Maine:

Amusements

If your children keep saying ‘I’m bored!’ it might be time to swing into York’s Wild Animal Kingdom or Fun-O-Rama. York’s Wild Animal Kingdom is a family aimed zoo and amusement park located in York Beach, Maine. With over 250 rides and games, Fun-O-Rama is also a great option for families. This awesome amusement park is located right on Short Sands, so what are you waiting for?

Visit the lighthouses

You’ll find two historic lighthouses in York Beach. Chances are the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick will look familiar to you, even if you’ve never visited the area before. That’s because its gleaming white walls and crisp red trim, set against a stunning blue sea, have made it the subject of countless postcards and paintings. The Nubble Lighthouse is still the most photographed lighthouse in America. The Boon Island Lighthouse, visible in the distance six miles offshore, is the state’s tallest at 137 feet.

York Beach Lighthouses

Hit the beach

The York Beach area has a number of beaches to enjoy. Some are sandy, but others are rocky, so bring sturdy shoes! Families will love Long Sands Beach and Cape Neddick Beach is known for its tide pools. York Harbor Beach is off the beaten path and is one of the most scenic in the area. The best beach of all? Short Sands Beach! It’s the only beach in York that is centrally located and has tons of dry sand (unlike all the other beaches) and it’s walkable to most of the greatest things to do in York ME, including the Nubble Lighthouse.

It’s an excellent beach to look for sea glass and spend quality time with your loved ones. If you’re really lucky you could witness a 250-year-old schooner shipwreck that unearths itself from under the sand from time to time after a storm. Short Sands Beach is close to the shops and places to eat, plus you can jaunt across the street and visit us here at the Sands by the Sea Motel!

Try some delicious local food

One of the things you absolutely must do when you visit York, Maine is to stop by the York Beach Bucket, a beachy, modern-day general store and pizzeria. At this must-stop location, you’ll find authentic handmade dough and fresh, made in house pizza sauce. Top off your pizza or sandwich with a cold beer or a refreshing glass of wine while watching people stroll by on the patio. The York Beach Bucket also offers a wide variety of deli meats, breads, dairy products, espresso, gelato, beer & wine, sundries and more!

What to do in York Maine

Looking for something sweet after your yummy meal at York Beach Bucket? If the Gelato just isn’t your thing, then head over to The Goldenrod for salt water taffy and homemade ice cream. This Short Sands must-stop location has been in business for over 150 years and it’s a real draw for kids and adults alike.

Visit Old York

Get your history fix with a guided tour through Old York buildings and check out the Museums of Old York and the Virginia Weare Parsons Education Center, which features an 18^th century one-room schoolhouse complete with period graffiti an old jail, historical cemeteries and so much more.

Get your steps in at Mt. Agamenticus

Looking to exercise, bond with your loved ones, see beautiful views of the summit and just breathe a bit? Check out Mt. Agamenticus, which is located right in York, Maine. There are many hiking and mountain biking trails on the mountain and at 692 feet above sea level, you’ll be able to see the skyscrapers of Boston to the south on a clear day.

Things to do in York Beach, ME

If you’re planning a visit to York Beach, Maine, book a room at the Sands by the Sea Motel. Nestled on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in southern Maine, we’re the perfect home base for your next Maine getaway! Call 207-363-2211 or contact us online today!