10 incredible family adventures to try in Maine
With miles of coastline and thousands of islands, lakes, and rivers, this New England state is an outdoor playground ideal for family exploration.
With 3,500 miles of coastline, 6,000 lakes and ponds, 17 million forested acres, and 14 peaks over 4,000 feet, Maine has lots of options for families to get active outdoors. Here are 10 experiences that reveal the New England state’s natural and wild wonders.
Road trip in Acadia National Park
The nation’s easternmost national park, Acadia is one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise. If your crew aren’t early risers, don’t worry. The view from atop Cadillac Mountain is stunning any time of day. A car trip along the Park Loop Road gets you there, weaving through the park’s forested interior, edging the rugged granite shoreline, passing lakes and ponds, then zigzagging up 1,350-foot-high Cadillac, the highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard. You’ll need a timed reservation to drive to the summit, so plan ahead. For the best experience, hit the road by 8 a.m. to be ahead of the crowds. Along the way, perhaps hike one of the many trails (Gorham Mountain Loop is a moderate family hike), and enjoy tea and popovers on the waterfront lawn of the Jordan Pond House. Acadia provides detailed information on park accessibility for those with cognitive, mobility, hearing, or vision challenges.
Find garden trolls in Boothbay
Sprawling over 300-plus acres, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens comprises specialty gardens, natural areas, and woodlands, where five Guardian of the Seeds trolls await discovery. These giant trolls, created by Thomas Dambo from recycled wood, inhabit the woodlands surrounding the gardens and guard 10 secret seeds. Find the trolls, and you’ll learn their stories about conservation and the importance of biodiversity. Ask for the troll map at the front desk. One troll is accessible, but the others are located in the woodlands. Allow 45 minutes to see one or two, more if you want to follow clues to the secret seeds. If there’s time, stroll the central gardens, especially the interactive, storybook-themed children’s and sensory gardens.
Catch lobsters in Casco Bay
Tom Martin of Lucky Catch Lobster Tours has been lobster fishing since 1984. He knows Casco Bay’s waters extensively and loves sharing them with visitors. He takes passengers out on cruises to see lighthouses, islands, forts, seals, and seabirds. They’re also invited to help pull, empty, and bait traps. On the 90-minute excursions, passengers learn everything they might want to know about lobsters. Any of the crustaceans caught can be bought for boat price and cooked at a nearby lobster shack for a nominal fee after docking.
See the wild things at the Maine Wildlife Park
Wheelchair-accessible Maine Wildlife Park is a state-operated refuge that provides a temporary or permanent home for orphaned or injured wildlife, including moose, black bear, bald eagle, bobcat, and cougar. In addition to seeing the animals, families can feed brook trout for a quarter at the fish hatchery, learn about the various Maine trees on the Tree Trail, and find hidden animal cutouts along the Game Trail. The park is located about 35 minutes’ drive north of Portland and 30 minutes west of Freeport.
Explore a Civil War fort
One of New England’s best preserved coastal fortifications, Fort Knox protected the Penobscot River Valley during the Civil and Spanish-American Wars—though the sprawling fort never actually saw battle. “The fort cost a million dollars during its life span, yet it never fired a shot in anger, nor was it shot upon. The best weapon you can buy is the one you never have to use,” quips park manager Dean Bennet. The fort is an architectural masterpiece, with granite walls, dry moats, spiral stairs, batteries, and magazines. Of note are two rare 15-inch Rodman cannons, which weigh a massive 49,000 pounds each. Wear good footwear and bring a flashlight to explore the rooms, halls, and underground passageways. After walking through history, head nearby to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which features a 42-floor observatory that provides visitors head-swiveling views from the coast to the mountains. Both attractions are about a half-hour south of Bangor.
Cruise aboard a “dive-in theater” in Bar Harbor
Join diver and Smithsonian marine ecologist Ed Monat, aka Diver Ed, and his boat-captain wife, Edna, aka Captain Evil, aboard the purpose-built Starfish Enterprise Dive-In Theater boat. You’ll cruise to a spot near the Porcupine Islands, where the boat anchors. Diver Ed dons scuba gear, and then kids push him—and his 3-inch-tall toy sidekick Mini Ed—overboard. Those on board watch their undersea adventures on a movie screen, while Captain Evil narrates. Diver Ed and Mini Ed return to the boat with sea critters they have found: starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, lobster. Everyone can examine the marine life before they’re returned to the sea. The boat departs from the College of the Atlantic Pier in Bar Harbor.
Go on a moose safari
Maine has more moose than any other state except Alaska. Most of the state’s 60,000-70,000 moose reside in northern Maine, and Greenville, where moose outnumber people three to one, is a good bet for seeing one. Despite standing up to 7 feet tall and averaging 800-1,100 pounds, moose can be hard to spot. Joining a moose safari led by a professional Maine guide increases the odds. Northwoods Outfitters in Greenville, about 2.5 hours north of Portland, offers tours by water via canoe or kayak or on land by van.
Island hop on a mail boat
The wheelchair-accessible Casco Bay Lines mail boat hopscotches five Casco Bay islands delivering passengers, mail, and freight. During the three-hour narrated cruise, the captain points out forts and lighthouses, and visitors will see lobstermen hauling traps out of the water. Look out for seals and seabirds as you spend the day getting a sense of island life by watching passengers and cargo loading and off-loading. Bring sunscreen, beverages, and snacks. Reasonable modifications are made for those with hearing, speech, or visual challenges.
Paddle a lazy river
The gentle Saco River weaves through the woodlands and farmlands of Fryeburg, 70 minutes northwest of Portland. “It’s not unusual to spy a bald eagle,” says Beth Griffin. She is a second-generation member of the Westburg family, owners of Saco River Canoe & Kayak, which has helped visitors explore this river for over 50 years. “If you want to enjoy the serenity of the river, come Monday through Thursday when it’s quieter,” she says. The river’s lazy current does most of the work, making it ideal for a two- to six-hour leisurely paddle with beach breaks for picnicking or swimming.
Pedal to lighthouses
The paved 1.6-mile Spring Point Shoreway edges the South Portland waterfront and delivers outstanding views of the Harbor and Casco Bay’s islands. Start at Portland Breakwater Light (nicknamed Bug Light) in Bug Light Park, which features a sculpture with interpretive signage commemorating where 236 World War II cargo-carrying Liberty Ships, which contributed to the World War II Allied victory, were built. The trail eases around a marina to Spring Point, where you can walk out a rocky breakwater to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse and scramble around the ruins of adjacent 1808 Fort Preble. Continue along the shorefront, passing Southern Maine Community College’s campus, to sandy Willard Beach, and dip your toes in Atlantic waters before returning. Lighthouse Bikes offers rental bicycles and guided tours.
(For more tips for what to do in Maine, see our Explorer’s Guide.)
