Family Adventures

Getting out into nature in DownEast Acadia is an unbelievable experience at any age.

There are times during every vacation when everyone is ready to do something that is just plain old fun. Maybe hit the beach or spend some time in an arcade. The DownEast Acadia Region of Maine is an ideal destination for families because you will find all of these and more here.

Discover days filled with fun

Explore under rocks and make friends with a crab in a tidal pool. Spot speedy puffins in flight or watch lobstermen pull traps aboard a scenic nature cruise. Hop a ferry for a remote island adventure. Pull on oversized fisherman’s gear and run the Codfish Relay at Milbridge Days. There are countless ways to experience our connection to the sea.

Everyone loves swimming! Our favorite spots to get wet include the sandy beaches at Roque Bluffs, Crescent Beach, and Lamoine State Park. Hit pocket beaches like Wadsworth Cove in Castine and Naskeag Point in Brooklin. In Acadia National Park, swim in Echo Lake or dip a toe into the ocean at Sand Beach. Head inland to try Donnell Pond or Ellsworth’s Branch Lake.

Brace yourself for a spectacular boom from the depths of Thunder Hole or travel to the Bay of Fundy to experience dramatic tides in Eastport. Hop a boat to ride the Old Sow and marvel at its 25-foot tidal shift. Climb to the top of a glacial erratic—a massive boulder left behind by receding glaciers.

That is just the tip of the “glacier” for family activities. DownEast Institute, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Downeast Lakes Land Trust, Schoodic Institute, and Frenchman Bay Conservancy all offer great stuff for kids to do. Wabanaki Culture Centre in Calais has a touch tank filled with critters found in the Passamaquoddy Bay just perfect on a rainy day. When the sun shines enjoy a picnic at the adjacent Waterfront Walkway park. Many of the region’s theaters, arts centers, and libraries have regular summer activities for kids. Come end of the day, Ellsworth and Machias offer a regular schedule of Movies in the Park.

True Maine Family Experiences

Snack on a pint of wild Maine blueberries you raked yourself during harvest time in August.
Step back in time as you ride the Downeast Scenic Railroad or at a Shakespeare in the Park at Fort Knox.
Grab a scoop of “the best ice cream ever” in town before heading to your campsite to share stories around the fire beneath a spectacular night sky.
Ride along the carriage trails in Campobello or Acadia National Park.
Take a family-friendly hike along the trails at Quoddy Head State Park or across the bar at low tide in Bar Harbor.
Explore the granite passages of the Civil War-era Fort Knox.
Ride to the top of Penobscot Narrows Observatory for a 100-plus-mile 360 degree panoramic view.

Journey offshore on a whale watch cruise to glimpse humpbacks, finbacks, and minkes.
Learn about our wild lands at the Schoodic Institute, during a Junior National Park Ranger presentation.
Kids will love fishing on one of several ponds in the Grand Lakes area, where no license is required for kids under age 12.
Drive along the Schoodic National Scenic Byway keeping an eye out for the colorful Kids Quest signs for seven fun stops along the way.
Kids can climb aboard a small-scale lobster boat in Prospect Harbor, or learn about tides at Tidal Falls in Hancock.
Amuse the family with themed mini-golf, or a zip line and ropes course.
Climb aboard a real lobster boat and watch as the captain pulls traps and shares stories.

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Visitor Resources: Fort Knox Historic Site | Schoodic Kids Quest | Tide Chart