Maine - Kids Trails

Acadia National Park
Hulls Cove Visitor Center off Route 3
Hulls Cove, ME  04644
Phone: 207-288-3338

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Located on the rugged coast of Maine, this park encompasses granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Visitors can hike Cadillac Mountain to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over Frenchman’s Bay; bike carriage roads over hillsides and along glassy lakes; join a ranger to learn about Acadia’s resources first-hand. The park is open year-round. Facilities include Hulls Cove Visitor Center, the Nature Center, Islesford Historical Center, Park Loop Road, two campgrounds, and several picnic areas. Hulls Cove Visitor Center hours: Mid-April through October, open daily; closed November 1 to mid-April. Winter Visitor Center/Park Headquarters is open year-round.

Seacoast Fun/Snow Park
Route 3
Trenton, ME  04062
Phone: 207-667-3573

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Outdoor recreation for three seasons: go-carts, miniature golf, water slide, slingshot trampoline, tented paintball arena.

Northern Maine Museum of Science at Folsom Hall at the University of Maine
South Main Street
Presque Island, ME  04769
Phone: 207-768-9482

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Seeded with the natural history collections of the university, this collection includes diverse exhibits on topics such as meteorology; coral reefs; minerals of Maine; Earth history; fossil fish; geological time; crystals; climate; Northern lights; Greek letters and mathematical symbols; infinity mirrors, a solar system model, and much more. Also nature trails and outdoor wooded areas. Open when campus is open; special tours can be arranged by phone.

Old Fort Western
16 Cony St.
Augusta, ME  04330
Phone: 207-626-2385

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Built in 1754, this National Historic Landmark is America's oldest surviving wooden fort. Visitors can tour the fort and its store, which contains hundreds of farming and forestry tools essential to the economic life of the settlement. Open 1 to 4 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day, and weekends or Sundays only Labor Day through January.

Pine Street State Arboretum
153 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME  04332
Phone: 207-621-0031

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This 224-acre arboretum has a five-mile, year-round trail system for hiking, jogging, bird watching, bicycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing on groomed winter trails. Visitors can have a picnic, take photos, look for birds. Pets are permitted on a leash. Trail maps available. Open daily, dawn to dusk.

Casco Bay Lines
56 Commercial St.
Portland, ME  04112
Phone: 207-774-7871

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This commuter ferry company also offers scenic cruises. Some examples are the Bailey Island Cruises past lighthouses, forts, turn-of-the-century summer colonies, and lobstermen at work; the Diamond Pass Run, which follows an inner bay route past the Victorian cottages on Little and Great Diamond Islands; and Sunrise On The Bay, for a peaceful dawn departure to observe seabirds, seals, and the local fishing fleet.

Children’s Museum of Maine
142 Free St.
Portland, ME  04101
Phone: 207-828-1234

Open: Labor Day-Memorial Day, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Memorial Day-Labor Day, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.; Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 24- 25, January 1, Easter, July 4.

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Interactive exhibits span four floors, and special programming is offered daily. Features and exhibits include Toddle Park, Tide Pool Touch Tank, a rock climbing wall, the Space Shuttle, and the Music Garden. Programs change frequently. Fun for all ages, best for children younger than 12.Cost: $6; under age 1, free

Children’s Theater of Maine
317 Marginal Way
Portland, ME  04101
Phone: 207-828-0617

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Live theater for adults and children. Season runs October through August. Call for schedule.

Desert of Maine
95 Desert Rd.
Freeport, ME  04032
Phone: 207-865-6962

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A glacier moved over this area 11,000 years ago and left sand and mineral deposits, forming the region known today as the Desert of Maine. Visitors will see living trees half covered in sand, wild flowers, and other flora. Narrated coach tours, walking tours, barn museum, gift shop. Open early May to mid-October.

Fort Williams Park
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
Phone: 207-799-2868

One of the most treasured sites of Cape Elizabeth, this 90-acre park is home to Portland Head Light and a place for tourism, recreation, and unlimited ocean views. Offers playing fields, tennis courts, beach, cross-country skiing, sledding, and skating. Special events such as Family Fun Day, the Labor Day Art Show, a 10k road race, and performances by the Portland Symphony Orchestra are scheduled yearly.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum
58 Fore St.
Portland, ME  04101
Phone: 207- 828-0814

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The whole family will enjoy a trip along Portland’s waterfront in a historic narrow gauge railway coach. Magnificent views of Portland's working waterfront aboard antique rail cars pulled by steam and diesel locomotives. Discover the unique two-foot gauge trains that linked rural Maine to the rest of the world.

The Museum at Portland Head Light
1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
Phone: 207-799-2661

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Situated along the spectacular shores of Fort Williams Park, the museum is contained within the former keeper’s quarters. The museum contains a number of lighthouse lenses and interpretative displays as well as a seasonal shop featuring lighthouse- and Maine-related gifts. Open daily Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Open weekends only Columbus Day to Christmas and mid-April to Memorial Day.

Black Beards USA
339 Odlin Rd.
Bangor, ME  04401
Phone: 207-945-0233

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A family fun park complete with batting cages, go-carts, adventure mini golf, rock climbing arcade, radio controlled boats and more.

Penobscot Adventures
Bingham, ME  04920
Phone: 877-356-9386

White water rafting, white water kayaking, rock climbing, paintball on the Penobscot or Saboomick rivers with a family-owned company.

Treworgy Family Orchard
Route 222
Levant, ME  04456
Phone: 207-884-8354

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Apple orchard; corn maze; petting zoo with a llama, goats, sheep, turkeys, chickens, horses, and a donkey; hay rides; organic vegetables; pick-your-own flowers; gift shop and more.

Maine Maritime Museum
243 Washington St.
Bath, ME  04530
Phone: 207-443-1316

Open: Daily, 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days

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From the beginning of the Civil War to the turn of the century, Bath was the one of the nation's most important seaports and ship-building cities. The Maine Maritime Museum tells the story of Maine’s ship and boat building history with multiple rooms of exhibits, all contained beside a 19th century shipyard on the Kennebec River. Cost: Adults, $10; seniors, $9; children under age 17, $7; same household, $30. Admission is good for two consecutive days’ attendance

Maine State Aquarium
194 McKown Point Road
West Boothbay Harbor, ME  04575
Phone: 207-633-9542

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The design of this museum resembles the rocky coast of Maine. Interactive displays encourage discovery learning. The aquarium is home to extraordinary lobsters of all sizes and colors. Colorful marine life can be seen in the Downeast tank. At center stage is an 850-gallon tank for sharks and skates, where kids and parents can pet a live shark. At the elevated touch tank, visitors can feel the spiny skin of a sea urchin.

The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad
212 Depot St.
Unity  04988
Phone: 207-948-5500

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This 33-mile railroad line is one of the oldest continuously operating railroads in the United States. Scenic excursion trips leave from the historic depot in Unity at noon on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, following a turntable demonstration at 11:30 a.m.

Funtown Splashtown USA
Route 1
Saco, ME  04072
Phone: 207-284-5139

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The park is the home of Maine's only wooden roller coaster, Excalibur; the vertical thrill ride, Dragon's Descent; the log flume ride, Thunder Falls; the Pirate's Paradise; AquaPlay; and many kiddie rides. Huge selection of games, gift shops, and family fun activities.

Palace Playland
1 Old Orchard St.
Old Orchard Beach, ME  04064
Phone: 207-934 2001

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Family amusement park on the beach with dozens of rides and attractions. The 24,000-square-foot video arcade contains more than 200 games like Skeeball, coupon skill games, and coin-operated video. The park also offers midway games, gift shops, old-fashioned photos, a palm reader, and more. Free admission to the park. Many ticket options for rides and amusements.

Rugosa Coastal Cruises
95 Ocean Ave. from the dock of the Nonantum Hotel
Kennebunkport, ME  04046
Phone: 207-967-5595

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Coastal cruises and scenic lobster tours aboard the lobstering vessel Rugosa. Two-hour trips along the Maine coast, passing the Goat Island Light. Real lobstermen haul up traps and show kids and adults a close-up view of the captured lobster. All lobsters are returned to the water.

Seashore Trolley Museum
195 Log Cabin Road
Arundel, ME  04046
Phone: 207-967-2712

Open: May 27-October 10, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; May6-May 21 and October 14-29, Saturday and Sunday.

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This electric railway museum has a collection of more than 250 transit vehicles, most of them trolleys, from all over the United States, Canada, and other countries. Museum admission includes unlimited streetcar rides, access to the museum grounds and exhibit buildings, and use of picnic areas.Cost: Adults, &8; seniors, $6; children, age 6-16, $5.50.

Wells National Estuarine Reserve at Laudholm Farm
342 Laudholm Farm Road
Wells, ME  04090
Phone: 207-646-1555

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Seven miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails provide access to woodlands, fields, wetlands, beach, and dunes. Spectacular views and diverse habitats make the reserve an especially popular destination for nature photographers and birdwatchers. The Visitor Center, located in a 19th-century farmhouse, has exhibits, videos, brochures, trail maps, and a gift shop. Open year round.

York’s Wild Kingdom
Route 1
York Beach, ME  03910
Phone: 207-363-4911

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With exotic animals from around the world, this zoo and amusement park is recognized for its rare species and knowledgeable curators. The park offers family rides, paddle boats, 18 holes of miniature golf, a petting zoo, picnic grounds, and a haunted house. Educational programs take place throughout the day. Kids should not miss the new Butterfly Kingdom.

Big Adventure Center
12 North Road
Bethel, ME  04217
Phone: 207-824-0929

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Family entertainment center near Sunday River Ski Center. Offers a large an extensive laser-tag arena, indoor rock climbing, bowling, arcade, miniature golf and two water slides. Open year round.

Maine Wildlife Park
Route 26
Gray, ME  04039
Phone: 207-657-4977

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The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray is a great place to view and learn more about wildlife. The 200-acre park has moose, black bear, lynx, mountain lions, wild turkeys, bald eagles, owls, a show fish pool and more on display. Offerings include a visitor center, fish hatchery, nature store, tree trial, game trail, wetlands trail, gardens, animal feeding, and story hour. Open mid-April through Veteran's Day

Seacoast Fun/Snow Park
932 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302)
Windham, ME  04062
Phone: 207-892-5952

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Outdoor recreation for three seasons: go-carts, miniature golf, golf driving range, Skymax, bumper boats, Trampoline Thing, arcade, and more. Winter offerings include snow tubing and snow boarding.