About the region
If you dream of classic Maine images and experiences, there’s a good chance that vision of Vacationland will match what you see in the state’s Beaches region.
You’ll find everything from lobsters to lighthouses here, in a salt-sprayed string of charming coastal villages. The only thing that may surprise you is the way Maine’s rocky coast dissolves into thirty spectacular miles of soft, white sand.
Just an hour or so from Boston, the Beaches region is positioned for the best of both worlds. Days can start with a solitary sunrise walk along the shore and include a drive to Beantown and back before night falls. But there’s so much to do here, those trips south may be few and far between.
Stroll the streets to window-shop in artsy Ogunquit, or treat yourself to fine dining and an upscale resort stay in Kennebunk. For more casual carousing, come join the party at Old Orchard Beach, where 7 miles of sand, an oceanfront amusement park, and nightly entertainment mean there’s always something going on.
For all the fun, you’ll discover there’s some serious history to be explored in the Beaches region too. You’ll find a naval museum in Kittery as well as forts built for wars that range from the Revolution to World War II. But modern life certainly doesn’t take a back seat in Biddeford, where the University of New England holds a top spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Colleges list.
Whether you want to stretch your mind, or just dig your toes into the sand, the Beaches offers every opportunity for both.
Towns & cities:
Biddeford & Saco | Eliot | Kennebunk & Kennebunkport | Kittery | Ogunquit | Old Orchard Beach | Sanford | South Berwick | Waterboro & Lake Arrowhead | Wells | York
