Maine Coast Road Trip With Kids: What to See & Where to Eat
Considering a trip to Maine? Check out our favorite attractions and restaurant along the Maine coast.
Spectacular beaches are a given, so we are not listing them in this post. You can find great beach spots in any of the towns below (or very close by).
Click here to see the ULTIMATE List of Things to Do with Kids in Maine from trekking with alpacas to mini-golf to zoos & amusement parks and more!
Table of Contents
York
What to See & Do
Nubble Light
You don’t need to drive far into Maine to see your first picture perfect lighthouse.
Fun fact: the image of Nubble lighthouse is one 116 pictures chosen by NASA to explain our world to aliens (should they intercept the Voyager spacecraft).
See more info on Nubble Light here.
York's Wild Kingdom
New England’s only zoo and amusement park.
Don’t miss a chance to see the white tiger. Other animal exhibits are: marmosets, monkeys, parrots, butterflies, goats, and more.
We love coming here to feed the adorable deer.
See more info on animals, admission, and hours of operations here.
Where to Eat
Cape Neddick Lobster Pound
A restaurant off the beaten path, overlooking the Cape Neddick Harbor and Tidal River. Here you can find a variety of dishes featuring… (you guessed it) lobster.
See the menu here.
Ogunquit
What to See & Do
Perkins Cove & Marginal Way
Explore shops and restaurants in this quaint fishing village before embarking on a beautiful seaside walk. Marginal Way is about a mile paved footpath along the seacoast.
Where to Eat
Barnacle Billy's
Perkin’s Cove staple for almost 60 (!) years. Enjoy lunch and famous Barnacle Billy’s Rum Punch on a sundeck overlooking the harbor.
See the restaurant info and Perkin’s Cove live cam here.
Wells
What to See & Do
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1966 to protect valuable salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds.
Besides obvious wildlife viewing you can also enjoy fishing, shellfishing, and kayaking here.
See more info here.
Where to Eat
Billy's Chowder House
One of the oldest waterfront restaurants in Wells, Billy’s Chowder House is a casual seafood restaurant overlooking the Rachel Carson Wildlife Preserve.
Their award-winning clam chowder is a must try.
See the full menu here.
Congdons After Dark
You can find a variety of food options in this food truck park to please everyone in your travel party.
P.S. It is not really “after dark”. The operating hours are 4 pm to 8pm.
See the upcoming truck lineup here.
Kennebunkport
What to See & Do
Walker's Point
Walker’s Point is a scenic driver along the rocky coast. However, the fantastic views are not the maine attraction of this drive. Walker’s Point is a home of George H. W. Bush’s (41st President of USA) summer estate.
Where to Eat
Federal Jack's
This waterfront pub is the birthplace of Shipyard Brewing Company’s award-winning line of handcrafted ales. The restaurant was built on the site where Kennebunk’s historic 19th century shipyards built schooners. Hence the name of the brewing company. Federal Jack’s was named for one of the most famous ships built on this site in 1908.
The the menu and more info on the brewing company here.
Old Orchard Beach
What to See & Do
Palace Playland
This New England’s only beachfront amusement park has been operating for over 100 years. You can find over 28 rides and attractions and one of the largest New England arcade here.
See the park’s info here.
Where to Eat
Pier French Fries
These fries from counter-serve steps away from the beach are our must-have anytime we visit Old Orchard Beach.
See Pier French Fries current hours of operation here.
Cape Elizabeth
What to See & Do
Portland Headlight & Fort Williams Park
Our favorite place in Maine, Fort Williams is home to the most photographed lighthouse in Maine – Portland Headlight. But the lighthouse is not the only park’s attraction. You can find the remains of Battery Keyes and Goddard Mansion and a beautifully landscaped Children’s Garden.
See the park’s info here.
Where to Eat
Sea Glass
Located in Inn by the Sea, Sea Glass is offering an exceptional menu and spectacular ocean views.
See the restaurant menu here.
South Portland
What to See & Do
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
If you have older kids with some energy to burn, climb the breakwater rocks to this sparkplug lighthouse.
See the lighthouse info here.
Where to Eat
North Bistro 43
Just a few minutes from Sping Point lighthouse and steps from the marina, this restaurant is changing its menus every four weeks to keep your pallet guessing.
See the current menu here.
Portland
What to See & Do
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
Now that you enjoyed a walk along the shore (Marginal Way in Ogunquit) and a scenic drive (Walker’s Point), how about a leisurely train ride along the Eastern Promenade of Casco Bay? The ride lasts approximately 35 minutes and travels 1.5 miles (3 miles round trip).
See more info here.
Where to Eat
Where not to eat?
Portland was named Restaurant City of the Year by Bon Appetite in 2018. You can’t go wrong picking a restaurant here.
See our Portland DIY food tour #1 and DIY food tour #2 for some suggestions. Or follow us on Instagram for more inspiration as we love discovering new dining establishments in Portland.
Bonus Side Trip: Peak's Island
This island in Casco Bay is considered to be one of Portland’s neighborhoods, but it takes a 17-minute ferry ride to get there from Old Port.
Peak’s Islands attractions include rocky and sandy beaches, the Fifth Maine Museum, art galleries, and the world’s only Umbrella Museum.
Look for harbor seals on your way to the island.
See island info here.
See ferry schedule here.
Freeport
What to See & Do
L.L. Bean Flagship Store
More than just a store, this shopping center offers exciting courses, trips, and tours, plus free clinics, outings and fun events for your whole family.
See the list of upcoming events here.
Tip: check out L.L. Bean outlet just a few minutes walk from the flagship store for some great bargains.
Where to Eat
Linda Bean's Topside Tavern
Owned by Linda Bean, the granddaughter of the “the” L.L. Bean, this three-story tavern is conveniently located across the street from the flagship store.
We love the “firepit” tables here.
See the tavern’s info and menu here.
Bonus Side Trip: Gray
Want to see moose, but rather avoid driving the back roads on Maine waiting for a chance encounter? Check out Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.
The park is home to over 30 species of Maine wildlife: lynx, cougar, deer, bear, and more.
See the park’s info here.
Boothbay Harbor
What to See & Do
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are the largest botanical garden in New England (295 acres). You can spend hours exploring the beautiful landscapes while learning about native plants of Maine and other plant suited to northern coastal conditions.
See the garden’s hours operations and other visitors info here.
Where to Eat
Bet's Famous Fish Fry
The name says it all. If you are looking for freshest haddock and hand cut fries, look no further! This shack is one of the top rated places to eat in Boothbay.
