The Southern Coast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Southern Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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38 Recommendations
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21. Long Sands Beach
In the peak of summer, each day sees thousands of visitors along this swath of white sand, which stretches for more than a mile. They come to sunbathe, surf (in designated areas), play volleyball, and explore tide pools. You can rent umbrellas and rafts here, but you'll have to walk to nearby restaurants for a bite to eat. Dogs are allowed (however, between late May and late September, only before 8 am and after 6:30 pm). Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking (fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.
189 Long Beach Ave., York Beach, Maine, USA -
22. Marginal Way
This mile-plus-long, paved footpath hugs the shore of a rocky promontory just beyond Ogunquit's downtown. Thirty-nine benches along the easygoing path allow you to appreciate the open sea vistas. Expect heavy foot traffic, even in the off-season—which is the only time of the year that dogs are allowed.
Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit, Maine, 03907, USA -
23. Mount Agamenticus Summit Park
A park sits atop this humble summit of 692 feet, one of the highest points along the Atlantic seaboard. That may not seem like much, but if you choose to hike to the top, you will be rewarded with incredible views all the way to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. If you don't want to hoof it (though it's not very steep), there is parking at the top. If you bring your pup, make sure to keep them leashed.
21 Mt. Agamenticus Rd., Cape Neddick, Maine, 03902, USA207-361–1102Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; donations appreciated -
24. Ocean Park
BeachTen miles east of Biddeford lies Ocean Park, a vacation community founded in 1881 by Free Will Baptist leaders as a summer assembly with both religious and educational purposes, following the example of Chautauqua, New York. The 1881 Temple, in an unusual octagon shape, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the community hosts an impressive variety of cultural events, from concerts to sand-sculpture contests. There's even a public shuffleboard area for vacationers not interested in the neon carnival attractions in Old Orchard Beach just up the road. Get an old-fashioned raspberry-lime rickey at the Ocean Park Soda Fountain, at Furber Park.
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25. Ogunquit Beach
Perfect for just about every beach fan—sunbathers to beachcombers and bodysurfers—this 3-mile-long, sandy beach is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent seasonally. Dogs are welcome from September through March. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best For: sunset; swimming; walking.
Ogunquit, Maine, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Parking $35 a day (mid-Apr.–Oct.) -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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26. Old York Historical Society
Nine historic 18th- and 19th-century buildings, clustered on York Street and along Lindsay Road and the York River, highlight York's rich history, which dates from the early colonial period. Start your visit at the museum's visitor center in the Remick Barn at the corner of U.S. 1A and Lindsay Road. The Old Gaol (established 1656) was once the King's Prison for the Province of Maine; step inside for a look inside its dungeons, cells, and jailer's quarters. The 1731 Elizabeth Perkins House reflects the Victorian style of its last occupants, the prominent Perkins family.
3 Lindsay Rd., York Village, Maine, 03909, USA207-363–1756Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed Nov.–Memorial Day -
27. Perkins Cove
This neck of land off Shore Road in the lower part of Ogunquit village has a jumble of sea-weathered fish houses and buildings that were part of an art school. These have largely been transformed by the tide of tourism into shops and restaurants, including the classic Barnacle Billy's seafood spot. When you've had your fill of browsing, stroll out along the mile-long Marginal Way.
Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit, Maine, 03907, USA -
28. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
At the headquarters of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, which has 11 divisions from Kittery to Cape Elizabeth, is the Carson Trail, a 1-mile loop. The trail traverses a salt marsh and a white-pine forest where migrating birds and waterfowl of many varieties are regularly spotted, and it borders Branch Brook and the Merriland River.
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29. Round Turn Distilling
There's a reason why all the good craft cocktail bars in Maine stock Bimini Gin, the flagship spirit of this distillery, located in a 150-year-old textile mill on the Saco River. Learn more about the best small-batch gin in the Pine Tree State, and be sure to take a peek at the production area: the distillery uses steam to power its modern steel-and-copper still. Finish up in the well-designed bar for a gin tasting or cocktail and snacks, or pick up a bottle of house-made spirits to go.
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30. Sayward-Wheeler House
Built in 1718, this waterfront home was remodeled in the 1760s by Jonathan Sayward, a local merchant who had prospered in the West Indies trade. By 1860, his descendants had opened the house to the public to share the story of their Colonial ancestors. Accessible only by guided tour (first and third Saturday, June through mid-October, 11–4 with the last tour at 3), the house reveals the decor of a prosperous New England family and the stories of the free and enslaved people who lived here at the outset of the Revolutionary War. The parlor—considered one of the country's best-preserved Colonial interiors, with a tall clock and mahogany Chippendale-style chairs—looks pretty much as it did when Sayward lived here.
9 Barrell La. Ext., York Harbor, Maine, 03911, USA207-384–2454Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed mid-Oct.–June -
31. Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
You can explore this Maine Audubon Society–run nature center on foot or by canoe and on your own or as part of a guided walk or paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent and come with a life jacket and map. The salt marsh is Maine's largest and is an excellent place for bird-watching and peaceful paddling along its winding ways. The center has a discovery room for kids, programs for all ages ranging from basket making to astronomy, and a good gift shop. Tours include birding walks.
92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough, Maine, 04074, USA207-883–5100Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Center closed Labor Day--Memorial Day. Trails open year-round -
32. Seashore Trolley Museum
This fun, visitor-favorite museum is an homage to transport from years past. Get an up-close look at trolleys from major metropolitan areas worldwide—from Boston to Budapest, New York to Nagasaki, and San Francisco to Sydney—beautifully restored and displayed (and, sometimes, operational). Best of all, you can take a nearly 4-mile ride on the tracks of the former Atlantic Shore Line Railway, with a stop along the way at the museum restoration shop, where trolleys are transformed from junk into gems. The outdoor museum is self-guided.
195 Log Cabin Rd., Kennebunkport, Maine, 04046, USA207-967–2800Sight Details
Rate Includes: $13, Closed weekdays in May and Mon. and Tues. June 1–Oct. 31. Closed Nov.–Apr. except 1st 2 weekends in Dec. -
33. Short Sands Beach
Rocky cliffs bookend this ¼-mile sandy beach. It's amid Ellis Park, which has a playground, basketball courts, a paved walkway, and free concerts in summer. Leashed pets are allowed, though, dog-walking hours are limited between late May and late September. Shops, restaurants, and other attractions are all nearby. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking (fee); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.
Ocean Ave., York Harbor, Maine, USA -
34. Tributary Brewing Company
There's nothing like a cold brew on a hot summer's day. Here you can enjoy your suds on the sunny patio or in the cool, navy-blue, industrial-style tasting room. The knowledgeable staff can guide you through the selection of the offerings brewed on site, whether you want to sample several in flight or just have one 12-ounce pour. You're welcome to bring your own food, perhaps even something from the nearby Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier.
10 Shapleigh Rd., Kittery, Maine, 03904, USA207-703–0093Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
35. Wells Beach
The northern end of a 2-mile stretch of golden sand, Wells Beach is popular with families and surfers, who line up in the swells and suit up on the boardwalk near the arcade and snack shop. The beach's northern tip is a bit quieter, with a long rock jetty perfect for strolling. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; walking.
Atlantic Ave., Wells, Maine, 04090, USA -
36. Wood Island Lighthouse
The 42-foot stone lighthouse and attached two-story keeper’s house are on the 32-acre, uninhabited Wood Island off the coast of Biddeford. The island is closed to the public except for two-hour guided tours hosted by Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse. Tours are offered several times a week in July and August and on Maine Lighthouse Day in September, and reservations can be made starting in June. Boats leave from Vine’s Boat Landing in Biddeford Pool. Note that people wearing flip-flops will not be allowed to board.
20 Yates St., Maine, 04006, USA207-200–4552Sight Details
Rate Includes: $35, Closed Oct.–June -
37. York Harbor Beach
This small, somewhat secluded stretch with gentle surf is favored by locals, particularly families. It's near a shady park, the Cliff Walk, restaurants, and other attractions. Between late May and late September leashed dogs are allowed only before 8 am and after 6:30 pm. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.
York St., York Harbor, Maine, 03911, USA -
38. York's Wild Kingdom
Zoo/AquariumSurrounded by forest, this popular zoo has more than 50 species of exotic animals, including lions, kangaroos, ring-tail lemurs, zebras, and numerous monkeys. There's a nostalgic charm to the amusement park, which includes bumper cars, food, and games, and a Ferris wheel with an ocean view, and offers discounts for kids under 10.
1 Animal Park Rd., off U.S. 1, York Beach, Maine, 03910, USA207-363–4911Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $12
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