Families will enjoy a lighthouse tour
Enjoy a lighthouse tour at West Quoddy Head. ©Jerry Monkman

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.

Tide pooling off Seawall
Tide pooling off Seawall
Family Biking on Easy Gravel Path
Gravel trails are good for a family bike ride.

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

Planning Tools

To help you plan your trip we provide  information on drive time and distances to and around the region. Plus info on other commercial transportation options.

Once you arrive in DownEast Acadia, you will want to access local sources of visitor information, state laws, recreation rules, and road conditions.

To help you pack or plan your day, check out the current weather in the region or learn about year-round averages of temperature and precipitation.

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