The Maine Beach Vacation Most People Don't Know About
Old Orchard Beach has been a New England summer destination since the 1800s. It's a true beach town with seven miles of sandy beach, a wooden pier, an amusement park, and a downtown packed with arcades, fried food stands, and souvenir shops. It's loud, crowded, fun, and unapologetically touristy — Maine's beach vacation answer for families with kids.
What to Do
- Spend a day on the beach. The sand is fine, the water is cold, and the beach is wide enough at low tide to host pickup soccer games. Free public access.
- Hit Palace Playland. New England's only beachfront amusement park. Old-school rides, midway games, and fried dough.
- Walk the pier. The famous Old Orchard Beach pier extends 500 feet into the ocean, lined with shops and restaurants. Fireworks every Thursday in summer.
- Try sand sculpting. The annual Old Orchard Beach sand sculpture competition is one of the best in the country.
Where to Eat
This is fried food and beach food country — clam baskets, lobster rolls, fries, ice cream, fudge, French Canadian poutine. Old Orchard has a strong French-Canadian tourist tradition, so you'll see French signs and Quebec license plates everywhere. The food reflects that.
Why Go?
If you want a quiet, refined Maine experience, this isn't it. If you want to take your kids to a beach with rides, fried dough, and sand castles, Old Orchard is one of the best family beach destinations in New England. Bring sunscreen and a budget for arcade tokens.
Practical Tips
- Parking can be tough — arrive early or use one of the paid lots
- The water is cold even in August — most New Englanders accept this; out-of-staters often don't
- Combine with a visit to nearby Portland (15 minutes north) for a more upscale dinner
- Off-season (September) is much quieter and the weather is often perfect