30+ ideas for summertime family fun in Portland, ME

I'm obviously a little biased, but Maine is such a special place to be in the summer, and such an awesome place to share with little ones.  The opportunities for fun and memory making are endless!  Whether you're local or taking a family vacation to the area, here are over thirty of our favorite activities to do in the Greater Portland area: 

Canoe through Scarborough Marsh 

Go for a duck boat ride 

Take the mailboat ride on Casco Bay Lines

Take the ferry over to Peaks Island, bring your bikes and ride around the island

Head over to Long Island and check out their beaches (hidden gems)

Visit the Maine Wildlife Park

On a cooler day ride the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Yarmouth Clam Festival is midsummer must

A visit to the Botanical Gardens in Boothbay

Day out with Thomas (multiple days in August) at the Boothbay Railway Village

A morning with bagels from Scratch Bakery and playing on Willard Beach in South Portland

A Sunday walk or ride around the Baxter Boulevard (so much fun with the street closed!)

A day with the animals at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray

A hike up Bradbury Mountain and lunch at Edna & Lucy's

Treats from the Cookie Jar and kite flying at Fort Williams

A day at Deering Oaks exploring the fun playground and running in the splashpad

A picnic, playground (with a cool pirate ship) and beach (at high tide) at Winslow Park in Freeport

Fridays on the Farm at Pineland (when its not too hot)

Shopping locally for our meals- we love visiting all the awesome Farmer's Markets

Spend a relaxing day at Ferry Beach in Scarborough

Explore Mackworth Island in Falmouth

Bug Light Summer Movie Series

Take in a Concert in the Park- in Yarmouth & Falmouth

Check out the LL Bean Summer Concert Series

Strawberry picking at Maxwells or Gilespies and making yummy treats

Enjoy Circus Smirkus at Merriconeag Waldorf School

Head to a drive in movie (if you can stay up that late) in Saco

Take in a game at the ballpark and watch a Sea Dogs game and inhale a seadogs biscuit

Get an ice cream at Red's Dairy Freeze

Take your little green thumbs to Garden Club with Farm to Table Kids

A day at Outlet Beach on Sabbath Day Lake and lunch or snacks from the amazing food from the snack shack

Go lobstering and if you don't have a lobsterman in the family, catch a ride with Captain Tom on Lucky Catch, it's a cool experience for the kids

On rainy days, we love the Yard at the Mill, the Children's Museum, Tumble Tikes, Maine Academy of Gymnastics, & the Rumpus Room 

On really hot days when you need to escape the heat, we love to get some skating in at Family Ice open skate in Falmouth!

Fun at Willard Beach

A lesson in lobstering from Dad

Pure joy at the Yarmouth Clam Festival

Collecting eggs at Friday on the Farm at Pineland

Gardening with Farmer Steph at a Farm to Table Kids Garden Club

This is a great list to hang on your fridge for ideas or share with folks visiting the area with kids.  I'd love to hear your favorite family friendly activities in the Greater Portland area; let's keep adding to the list! 

xoxo
Rebecca