Maine with kids – Lonely Planet

Maine comes by the nickname “Vacationland” honestly – the large, scenic New England state only has about 1.4 million residents, but welcomes more than 15 million visitors per year, most seeking a mix of outdoor adventures and top-notch seafood, like lobster rolls and oysters.

Everyone enjoys Maine’s enviable mix of picturesque beaches, pine tree forests and charming small cities with working waterfronts and intriguing museums – including the kids.

Is Maine good for kids?

Childhood summers are made in Maine, eating fried clams and splashing in the lake. Even kids who typically only interact with video screens find it hard to resist the charms of Maine’s pristine natural beauty and abundant wildlife, from the chance to spot rare but awesome behemoths, like whales and moose, to minuscule yet marvelous crabs and sea snails, found in the biodiverse tide pools that form in the hollows of craggy oceanside cliffs.

Though some of Maine’s cities can be challenging to walk around with strollers – hello, cobblestones and hills of Portland! – the state practically runs on family-friendly tourism, so don’t be shy about traveling with wee ones. Maine welcomes families readily, with many top attractions offering helpful amenities, such as bathrooms with changing tables at beaches and campgrounds with playgrounds.

You’ll find advanced hiking trails and plenty of excursions to engage confident teenagers, like summiting Mt Katahdin, the northernmost end of the Appalachian Trail, as well as accessible paths with jaw-dropping views, from wheelchair- and stroller-friendly paved sections of Acadia National Park to gently rolling hills with sturdy fences along the sheer cliff and famous Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth.

Where is best in Maine for kids

With 3500 miles of coast along the Atlantic Ocean and many more lakes inland, Maine offers countless beaches. Be warned that the ocean water stays cold even in the heat of summer, though, so be sure to pack rash guards that offer some warmth in addition to sun protection.

For building sandcastles and splashing in relatively calm waters, Short Sands Beach in York or Higgins Beach in Scarborough are