I’ve been wanting to take a trip up north for quite some time and we finally jumped on the wagon to do just that this past LDW. To say I was thrilled to visit Maine is an understatement. It’s everything I had hoped it would be and more! And I was so glad to have gone this time of year where the water was crystal clear and frigid (without causing chills) to cool you off instantly from the heat we’ve been experiencing. I can’t wait to go back again.
Maine has many great seaside resort towns that are fun to visit and offer plenty to see and do. We drove to the southern coast where Old Orchard Beach is located. Known as one of Maine’s premier beach resort towns, Old Orchard Beach offers a wide range of activities, including shopping, mini golf, biking, amusement parks, and even weekly fireworks.
The most unexpected and fun thing about Old Orchard Beach was the Palace Playland. This beachfront amusement park is the only one in New England and one of the last remaining oceanfront amusement parks in the country, complete with a pier. My son had come here first a few weeks back with his gf and couldn’t wait to tell us all about it. When you have a family with teens or young adults these are some of the things we enjoy doing together. Glor was in her element but seriously, we all had a blast every single night. It was the best way to celebrate the ‘unofficial end of summer’ and begin all things fair season. Aside from rides, Palace Playland offers park foods, like my personal favorite, fried dough and candy apples, pizza, and of course everyone’s favorite, ice cream and gelato. There are also classic midway games, gift shops, and so much more.
The beach is one of the most popular attractions in the area. It stretches for 7 miles along the coast and is known for its soft sand and gentle surf, although while we visited the waves were insane. Here’s a little Maine fact for you: Did you know that Maine is known for its rocky coastline, but did you know that it has a longer coastline than California?
Old Orchard Beach is located in Saco Bay, and it’s a massive space that curves beautifully in a cove. While the beach itself can get overlooked because of all the other bells and whistles of the town, it’s constantly being named on best beach lists, both locally and nationally. Also, it can be packed to the gills on a beautiful summer day, especially near the world-famous pier. I’m glad we went when we did because apparently we just missed all the summer chaos.
In addition to the pier, there are plenty of other amenities near the beach at Old Orchard Beach. There are hotels, motels, and vacation rentals in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and shops. Unfortunately I had so much fun that I kept forgetting to stop and take pictures of all the areas we visited. The only time I could capture photos was at the beach because I was relaxed most of the time. Old Orchard Beach was a great place to visit and we had an amazing experience!
