Family-Friendly Maine: The Ultimate Guide for Traveling with Kids

Maine is a playground for families. Between sandy beaches, hands-on museums, wildlife encounters, and endless ice cream shops, keeping kids entertained is easy. Here’s your complete guide to experiencing Maine with children of all ages.

Best Family Destinations by Age

For Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2-5)

Top Picks:

Old Orchard Beach - Gentle waves, amusement pier, arcades
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Fairy houses, children’s garden
Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor) - Three floors of hands-on exhibits
Smiling Hill Farm (Westbrook) - Barnyard animals, hayrides

Why: Enclosed spaces, short attention span activities, lots of stimulation

For Elementary Age (Ages 6-11)

Top Picks:

Acadia National Park - Junior Ranger program, easy hikes, Sand Beach
Funtown Splashtown USA - Water park + amusement park combo
Maine Wildlife Park (Gray) - See moose, bears, lynx up close
Seashore Trolley Museum (Kennebunkport) - Ride vintage trolleys

Why: Educational + fun, physical activity, memorable experiences

For Tweens & Teens (Ages 12+)

Top Picks:

Mountain biking at Sunday River or Sugarloaf
Whale watching from Bar Harbor
Sea kayaking tours
Rock climbing at Acadia
Ziplining at Take Flight Adventures

Why: Adventure, independence, “cool” factor

Must-Do Family Activities

Beach Days

Best Kid-Friendly Beaches:

Old Orchard Beach - Shallow, warm(ish), arcades, pier
Ogunquit Beach - Long, sandy, tide pools, easy access
Scarborough Beach - State park facilities, lifeguards
Sand Beach (Acadia) - Iconic, supervised, tide pools
Crescent Beach - Protected cove, playground nearby

Beach Tips with Kids:

Arrive early (9am) for parking and best spots
Bring shade (umbrella essential)
Pack snacks (beach food is pricey)
Check tide times (low tide = tide pools!)
Bring buckets and shovels (endless entertainment)

Lighthouse Tours

Most Kid-Friendly:

Portland Head Light (Fort Williams Park) - Playground on-site, grassy areas, ice cream nearby
Nubble Light (York) - Perfect photo op, small beach, gift shops
Marshall Point (Port Clyde) - Featured in Forrest Gump, easy walk
Bass Harbor Head Light (Acadia) - Short hike, dramatic views

Make it Fun: Create a lighthouse passport, check off each one visited

Wildlife Encounters

Maine Wildlife Park ($10 adults, $7 kids) - Guaranteed animal sightings
Whale Watching Tours - Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. (4-year age minimum typically)
Puffin Tours - Hardy Boat from New Harbor (May-August)
Moose Safari Tours - Rangeley or Greenville area (dawn/dusk)
Seal Watching - Many coastal boat tours

Hands-On Museums

Top Family Museums:

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (Portland) - Ages 0-10, camera obscura, interactive exhibits
Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor) - Maine’s largest children’s museum, 3 floors
Coastal Children’s Museum (Rockland) - Toddler-friendly, pretend play areas
Penobscot Marine Museum (Searsport) - Maritime history, kid programs
Telephone Museum (Ellsworth) - Quirky, hands-on, nostalgic

Outdoor Adventures

Easy Acadia Hikes:
- Jordan Pond Shore Trail (3.2 miles, flat)
- Ship Harbor Trail (1.3 miles, easy)
- Wonderland Trail (1.4 miles, easy)
Bike the Carriage Roads (Acadia) - 45 miles of car-free paths
Sebago Lake Kayaking - Calm waters, rentals available
Apple Picking (Fall) - Dozens of family orchards
Blueberry Picking (August) - U-pick farms statewide

Kid-Approved Food Stops

Lobster for Kids

Best Introduction to Lobster:

Lobster rolls (less intimidating than full lobster)
Mac and cheese with lobster
Lobster quesadillas
Kid menus at most lobster pounds

Kid-Friendly Lobster Spots:

Five Islands Lobster Co. - Outdoor picnic tables, simple menu
Barnacle Billy’s (Ogunquit) - Kid menu, crayons, ocean views
Lobster Shack at Two Lights (Cape Elizabeth) - Casual, scenic

Family Restaurants

Becky’s Diner (Portland) - Hearty portions, breakfast all day
Moody’s Diner (Waldoboro) - Classic diner, famous pies
Jordan’s Restaurant (Bar Harbor) - Blueberry everything
Red’s Eats (Wiscasset) - Iconic lobster rolls (expect a wait)
Amato’s (Statewide chain) - Italian sandwiches, kid-friendly

Ice Cream is Non-Negotiable

Must-Try Ice Cream Shops:

Gifford’s Ice Cream - Multiple locations, Maine-made since 1980
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream (Portland, Bar Harbor) - Unique flavors
Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium (Bar Harbor) - Lobster ice cream!
Annabelle’s (Portsmouth) - Homemade waffle cones
The Milk Truck (Stonington) - Farm-fresh, small batches

Family Accommodations

Hotels with Kid Appeal

Best Hotel Pools:

Hampton Inn Portland Airport - Indoor pool + hot tub
Holiday Inn Express South Portland - Pool + breakfast
Atlantic Oceanside (Bar Harbor) - Heated pool, ocean views
Sunday River Resort - Ski in/out, multiple pools

Suite Hotels (More Space):

Homewood Suites (Portland) - Full kitchens, free breakfast
Residence Inn (Scarborough) - Separate bedrooms, sofa beds
Hampton Inn Downtown Portland - Some suites, walkable location

Family-Friendly Camping

Best Campgrounds for Families:

Sebago Lake State Park - Beach, playground, boat rentals
Camden Hills State Park - Hiking access, oceanviews
Acadia National Park Campgrounds - Near attractions, ranger programs
Pineland Farms Campground (New Gloucester) - Farm animals, trails, pool

Camping with Kids Tips:

Book sites with bathhouses nearby (toddlers!)
Bring extra flashlights and glow sticks
S’mores supplies are mandatory
Practice setting up tent at home first

Vacation Rentals

Why Choose a Rental:

Full kitchen (save money on meals)
Washer/dryer (inevitable beach towel loads)
Multiple bedrooms (everyone gets better sleep)
Living room (rainy day backup)

Best Rental Locations:

Portland (walkable city base)
Bar Harbor (Acadia access)
Boothbay Harbor (coastal charm)
Rangeley (lakes region)

Sample Family Itineraries

3-Day Portland Family Weekend

Day 1: Children’s Museum (morning), Old Port lunch, Fort Williams + lighthouse, Wil lard Beach Day 2: Duck tour boat ride, Becky’s Diner breakfast, Casco Bay Islands ferry, ice cream on Peaks Island Day 3: Maine Wildlife Park (Gray), apple picking (fall) or beach (summer)

Budget: $800-1200 for family of 4 (mid-range hotel, mix of restaurants)

5-Day Acadia Family Adventure

Day 1: Arrive, settle in, easy Thunder Hole walk, Bar Harbor town Day 2: Cadillac Mountain sunrise, Jordan Pond hike + popovers, Sand Beach Day 3: Bike carriage roads, Schoodic Peninsula drive Day 4: Whale watching tour, Bar Harbor exploring Day 5: Ship Harbor trail, departure

Budget: $1500-2200 for family of 4 (camping or budget hotel)

Week-Long Coastal Road Trip

Days 1-2: Old Orchard Beach (beach + amusement park) Days 3-4: Portland (museums, lighthouses, islands) Day 5: Boothbay Harbor (boat tours, coastal gardens) Days 6-7: Acadia National Park + Bar Harbor

Budget: $2000-3500 for family of 4 (mix of camping and motels)

Rainy Day Backup Plans

When weather doesn’t cooperate (and it won’t always):

Movie Theater - Nordica Theatre (Portland), Reel Pizza (Bar Harbor)
Bowling - Plenty of alleys statewide
Indoor Pools - Hotel pool days
Museums - See lists above
Aquariums - Maine State Aquarium (Boothbay Harbor)
Trampoline Parks - Sky Zone (multiple locations)
Shopping - L.L.Bean flagship (Freeport) with kids’ play area

Packing List for Families

Essentials:

Rain jackets (one per person, non-negotiable)
Layers (mornings are chilly even in summer)
Water bottles (refillable)
Sunscreen + bug spray
First aid kit
Entertainment for car rides (downloads, audiobooks)
Beach toys and sand toys
Hiking backpack with snacks

Nice to Have:

Binoculars (wildlife spotting)
Field guide to Maine wildlife
Reusable bag for shells/beach treasures
Outdoor games (frisbee, soccer ball)
Kids’ cameras (disposable or digital)

Money-Saving Tips for Families

Cook Breakfast - Save $50-80/day eating hotel breakfast or grocery store supplies
Pack Lunches - Picnic at beaches and trails
Free Beaches - All Maine beaches are free (only parking fees)
State Park Annual Pass - $70 for unlimited entry (saves $ with 3+ visits)
Off-Season Travel - June or September = 30-50% savings
Camping - $30-40/night vs. $200+ for hotel
Free Activities Focus - Hiking, beaches, lighthouses, playgrounds

Safety Tips

Beach Safety:

Watch for riptides (rare but possible)
Cold water (even in August): hypothermia risk
Jellyfish (usually harmless moon jellies)
Rocks can be slippery when wet

Wildlife Safety:

Never approach moose (dangerous!)
Keep distance from seals (they bite)
Black bears: rare along coast, follow precautions inland
Ticks: check for ticks after hiking (Lyme disease risk)

General:

Car seats required for all children under 8 years and under 55 lbs
Life jackets for ALL kids on boats (no exceptions)
Sunscreen application every 2 hours (Maine sun is strong!)
Keep kids hydrated (ocean + sun + activity = dehydration)

Final Tips from Parent Travelers

Lower Your Expectations - Not everything will go perfectly, embrace it
Build in Downtime - Don’t overschedule, kids need processing time
Let Kids Choose - Give them 1-2 activity choices per day
Embrace Spontaneity - Best memories often unplanned
Take Photos - You’ll forget details, capture moments
Ice Cream Cures All - When in doubt, ice cream break
Early to Rise - Beat crowds, see wildlife, get best parking
Leave No Trace - Teach kids to respect nature and leave it better

Maine is incredibly family-friendly. The combination of outdoor adventure, educational experiences, and endless ice cream creates memories that last a lifetime. Don’t stress about perfection—just show up, explore, and let Maine work its magic on your family.