38 Best Sights in The Southern Coast, Maine

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Surrounded 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.