Old Orchard Beach Maine is about 5 hours from Saratoga. The trip there will take you through some spectacular countryside in Vermont and New Hampshire. You will follow meandering creeks and see beautiful mountains, valley and covered bridges. Fall foliage would no doubt be breathtaking.
But we went to Old Orchard Beach for Labor Day. The beach itself is quaint with its pier, food shops on the sidewalk and an amusement park — Palace Playland but like any beach its crowded.
But not crowded like you would think. Even though there were lots of people there was still room on the beach to spread a towel and soak up some sun — however much sun there could be in Maine.
The pier houses several stores and restaurants that offer great views of the ocean. The stores range from gift, souvenir stores to tattoo places. And the restaurant is expensive but offers a deck with an amazing view.
The food shops that line the sidewalk are usually crowded with people elbow to elbow trying to eat. The food ranges from hot dogs and sandwiches to pizza and seafood.
The amusement park was a lot larger than you would think, complete with the all the usual rides. Prices are $1.25 per individual ticket (and each ride requires -5 tickets) or an all day pass for $27.95 which seems to be the best deal. There is also an arcade with a nice variety of games to play and prizes to win, although big its very noisy.
Old Orchard Beach is definitely a tourist spot. Hotels and condos are all around the beach area as are campgrounds some within walking distance. Parking is at a premium, some lots charging as much as $15 to park. So I suggest finding a meter and filling it up. If you like crowds, hustle and bustle and lots of people watching then I would say Old Orchard Beach would be a good choice. But that’s not all you can find there….
Not far from the actual beach itself are a couple of state parks. One is Two Light State Park — although the lighthouses aren’t accessible, the rocky shore makes for a nice, easy climb to get right down to the water; and an opportunity for some great photos. Another state park that would be worth checking out is Crescent Beach State Park. This park offers a beach, picnic area, swimming and fishing. There is $6.50 charge per adult for non-Maine residents.
The Saco/Old Orchard Beach area is close to other spots that you can take as a day trip like Kennebunkport and Wells. Kennebunkport is known for Walker’s Point, the summer home of George Bush and his wife Barbara as well as a beautiful port and downtown. Wells offers the National Estuarine Research Reserve — a 1600 acre research reserve great for wildlife enthusiasts.
Maine is a diverse and beautiful state with beaches, rocky coastlines, forests and wildlife. It is one of my favorite vacation spots. So if you are looking for a place relatively close by (5 hours or so) and would like a lot of choices as far as activities then try Maine. Its still not too late to enjoy it.
Next time
Freeport Maine, home of L.L. Bean
