Mainepedia
Planning Guide

Family Activities in Maine

From tide pool explorations to mini golf, Maine offers endless adventures for families with children. Your guide to kid-friendly fun across Maine.

Maine is a family destination without trying to be one. There are no major theme parks, no manufactured attractions competing for attention. Instead, families find beaches perfect for sandcastle building, trails sized for short legs, lobster that kids love to crack open, and lighthouses that spark imagination. Maine rewards curiosity at every turn.

Whether your children prefer splashing in waves or climbing mountains, exploring museums or digging for clams, Maine delivers experiences that create lasting memories.

Quick Guide by Age

Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2-5): Old Orchard Beach, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (fairy houses), Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor), Smiling Hill Farm

Elementary Age (Ages 6-11): Acadia National Park (Junior Ranger program), Funtown Splashtown, Maine Wildlife Park, Seashore Trolley Museum

Tweens & Teens (Ages 12+): Mountain biking at Sunday River, whale watching, sea kayaking, rock climbing at Acadia, ziplining

Beach Days

Best Family Beaches

Old Orchard Beach The classic family beach experience: seven miles of sand, a pier with amusement rides, arcades, and enough fried dough to fuel a full day of play.

  • Why kids love it: Rides, games, beach in one location
  • Best for: Ages 4-14
  • Parking: Paid lots and street parking
  • Tip: Arrive early; it gets crowded

Popham Beach State Park (Phippsburg) Wide sandy beach with gentle waves and fascinating tidal pools. At low tide, you can walk to Fox Island.

  • Why kids love it: Island exploration, calm water
  • Best for: All ages
  • Facilities: Restrooms, changing rooms
  • Tip: Check tide charts for island access

Reid State Park (Georgetown) Two beaches with warmer water (by Maine standards) and excellent facilities.

  • Why kids love it: Gentle waves, good wading
  • Best for: All ages
  • Facilities: Restrooms, snack bar
  • Tip: Mile Beach has warmer water

Crescent Beach State Park (Cape Elizabeth) Close to Portland with calm, family-friendly water.

  • Why kids love it: Sand, shells, accessible
  • Best for: All ages
  • Note: Fills up early on hot days

Sand Beach (Acadia) Small but spectacular beach between granite cliffs.

  • Why kids love it: Dramatic setting, tide pool access nearby
  • Best for: All ages (water is cold!)
  • Tip: Combine with Thunder Hole

Easy Family Hikes

Acadia National Park

Wonderland Trail (1.4 miles round trip) Flat, easy trail to the rocky shore. Perfect for young hikers.

Ship Harbor Trail (1.3 miles) Figure-eight trail with ocean views and forest walking.

Jordan Pond Path (3.5 miles loop) Flat walk around a crystal-clear pond. Stop at Jordan Pond House for popovers.

Great Head Trail (1.5 miles) Slightly more challenging with beach access and cliff views.

Elsewhere in Maine

Mackworth Island (Falmouth) 1.5-mile loop around an island with fairy houses along the path. Kids can add to them.

Bradbury Mountain State Park Half-mile to a summit with views. Achievable for most children over 5.

Mount Battie (Camden) 0.5 miles from auto road parking area to summit. Ocean views reward the effort.

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park (Freeport) Easy trails with osprey viewing platforms. Look for seals on offshore ledges.

Trail Tips for Families

  • Bring snacks (more than you think you need)
  • Pack layers—mountain weather changes fast
  • Set realistic distance goals
  • Make it a game—scavenger hunts, nature bingo
  • Let kids set the pace

Wildlife Encounters

Marine Animals

Seals Common along the coast. Look from:

  • Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
  • Various boat tours
  • Pemaquid Point rocks

Whales Boat tours from Bar Harbor and Boothbay Harbor offer whale watching with good success rates for minke, finback, and humpback whales.

Puffins Boat tours to nesting islands (Machias Seal Island, Eastern Egg Rock) are magical for bird-loving kids.

Land Animals

Moose Best seen in northern Maine at dawn and dusk. Moose watching is free but requires patience and an early start.

Wildlife Parks

  • Maine Wildlife Park (Gray): Native Maine animals in natural settings—moose, bear, deer, eagles. Highly recommended for families.
  • DEW Animal Kingdom (Mount Vernon): Exotic animals, petting zoo.

Tide Pool Exploration

Best Tide Pool Locations

Thunder Hole/Otter Point (Acadia) Extensive tide pools with sea stars, crabs, sea urchins, anemones.

Pemaquid Point Pools in the striated rocks teem with life.

Kettle Cove (Cape Elizabeth) Accessible pools near Portland.

Schoodic Point (Acadia) Excellent pools on the “quiet side.”

Tide Pool Tips

  • Check tide charts—go at low tide
  • Wear shoes with grip (rocks are slippery)
  • Look but don’t take—leave animals where you find them
  • Bring a field guide or ID app
  • Watch for incoming tide

Lighthouses

Kids love lighthouses—the towers, the history, the dramatic settings.

Best for Families

Portland Head Light (Cape Elizabeth) The iconic Maine lighthouse with grounds perfect for exploration, picnicking, and climbing rocks.

Pemaquid Point Light Climb the tower (summer only), explore the museum, investigate the tide pools in the dramatic rocks.

Owls Head Light Short walk to the tower with great views of Rockland Harbor.

Marshall Point Light The “Forrest Gump lighthouse” with a walkway that delights kids.

Nubble Light (York) Can’t go on the island, but the viewing area and playground make it family-friendly.

Museums for Kids

Portland Area

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (Portland) Three floors of interactive exhibits designed for ages 0-10. Touch everything.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad (Portland) Ride a vintage train along the waterfront. Short but memorable.

Coastal Maine

Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor) Hands-on science, nature, and culture exhibits for children.

Penobscot Narrows Observatory (Prospect) Elevator ride to the top of a bridge tower. 420 feet up with panoramic views.

Maine State Aquarium (West Boothbay Harbor) Touch tanks with local marine life. Small but engaging.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay) The children’s garden features a treehouse, fairy village, and interactive elements.

Elsewhere

Owl’s Head Transportation Museum Vintage cars, planes, and engines. Special event weekends feature vehicles in action.

Maine State Museum (Augusta) Natural history, Maine history, and the giant “Made in Maine” exhibit. Free admission.

Amusement Parks and Fun Centers

Old Orchard Beach Pier

Rides, games, and carnival atmosphere. The classic Maine beach experience.

  • Roller coasters, spinning rides, kiddie rides
  • Games of chance
  • Fried dough, pizza, ice cream
  • Open seasonally

Funtown Splashtown USA (Saco)

Maine’s largest amusement park with dry rides and a water park.

  • Excalibur wooden roller coaster
  • Water slides and lazy river
  • Kiddie areas
  • Open seasonally

Palace Playland (Old Orchard Beach)

Beachfront amusement park with classic rides.

  • Ferris wheel and carousel
  • Galaxy roller coaster
  • Bumper cars and spinning rides
  • Open seasonally

York’s Wild Kingdom (York Beach)

Zoo and amusement park combination.

  • Animals from around the world
  • Amusement rides
  • Petting zoo
  • Mini golf

Mini Golf

Maine has excellent mini golf courses:

Lighthouse Mini Golf (Kennebunkport) Nautical themed with views of Goose Rocks Beach.

Pirates Cove (Multiple locations) Pirate-themed courses in Wells, Windham, and elsewhere.

Wonder Mountain Fun Park (Wells) Mini golf plus batting cages and laser tag.

Cape Arundel Golf Club Mini Golf (Kennebunkport) Challenging course for older kids.

Boat Rides

Ferries

Casco Bay Lines (Portland) Ride to Peaks Island for a day of exploration. Kids love the boat ride as much as the destination.

Isle au Haut Ferry (Stonington) Adventure to a remote island in Acadia.

Vinalhaven/North Haven Ferries Longer rides to island communities.

Excursions

Windjammer cruises Several ships offer day sails appropriate for families.

Lobster boat tours Watch lobster hauling in action. Available from many harbors.

Whale watching Half-day trips from Bar Harbor and Boothbay Harbor.

Rainy Day Activities

Indoor Options

  • Bowling: Bayside Bowl (Portland), candlepin alleys statewide
  • Arcades: Fun-O-Rama (York Beach), Arcadia (Portland)
  • Movies: Nickelodeon (Portland) and theaters statewide
  • Libraries: Maine libraries often have children’s programs

Museums

See museum section above—all work well on rainy days.

Ice Cream Stops

No family Maine trip is complete without ice cream:

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream (Bar Harbor, Portland) Inventive flavors, exceptional quality.

Red’s Dairy Freeze (South Portland) Classic 1950s soft serve.

Round Top (Damariscotta) Historic Route 1 stand since 1924.

Gifford’s (Multiple locations) Maine’s homegrown ice cream company.

Lobster Experiences

For Kids

Many kids are surprisingly enthusiastic about eating lobster. To make it an adventure:

  • Let them watch lobster boats in the harbor
  • Visit a lobster pound to see the tanks
  • Try a lobster roll if whole lobster seems intimidating
  • Crack a lobster together—it’s messy and fun

Best Family Lobster Spots

Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier (Kittery) BYOB, picnic tables on the water.

Five Islands Lobster (Georgetown) Scenic setting, casual atmosphere.

Thurston’s Lobster Pound (Bernard) Deck over the water, working waterfront.

Planning Tips

Ages and Stages

Toddlers (1-3):

  • Beaches with calm water
  • Mackworth Island fairy houses
  • Children’s Museum
  • Short ferry rides

Young Children (4-7):

  • Easy hikes
  • Tide pools
  • Mini golf
  • Lighthouses with climbing
  • Wildlife parks

Older Children (8-12):

  • Mountain hikes
  • Whale watching
  • Kayaking
  • Amusement parks
  • Lobster boat tours

Teenagers:

  • Challenging hikes
  • Surfing lessons
  • Sea kayaking
  • Portland Old Port exploration

Practical Matters

  • Book lodging with kitchens to save on restaurant costs
  • Pack snacks—Maine roads can have long stretches between services
  • Sunscreen is essential—Maine sun is strong near water
  • Bug spray for inland activities
  • Layers—weather changes, especially near the coast

Maine doesn’t try to entertain children—it invites them to explore. The beaches, trails, lighthouses, and harbors that make Maine special for adults captivate children too. A kid splashing in the waves at Popham Beach or finding their first sea star in a tide pool at Thunder Hole is having an authentic Maine experience—the same experience that brings families back year after year.

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