Remember the summer when you were a child, and your family went on vacation? Remember how you dreamed about what you wanted to do to make your vacation perfect? First, there had to be things to do-lots of things, like miniature golf, games, amusements, and rides. Then, there had to be food - the type of food that you wanted, like pizza, fried dough, cotton candy, caramel popcorn. And there had to be a beach - a big, broad stretch of sand where you could build castles, run with a kite, or just sit and soak in the sun’s warmth.

Do you remember those thoughts and dreams? That vacation still exists at Old Orchard Beach and is waiting for your children and the child still inside of you.

It’s almost impossible not to have fun at Old Orchard Beach. The low surf makes this a favorite spot for swimming, sunbathing, and making new friends. When the kids get hungry they can explore the boardwalk for pizza, french fries, hot dogs and cheeseburgers, or you can choose from the many family-style restaurants around town. Try your luck at the video games, jump on a ride, treat yourself to an ice cream or a frosty cool soda. Thrills, chills and frills-take your pick or do it all.

Catering to tourists and families is a way of life in Old Orchard Beach. The beach, the arcades and amusement rides, nightly entertainment, golf, fishing, auto races and harness racing are just a few favorite activities in the Old Orchard Beach area. Old Orchard’s Pier is the center of the recreational offerings. Extending nearly 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the Pier features shops, eateries, and games of skill.

During the summer, there are special events, festivals, fairs, concerts, street dances, and fireworks to entertain all.

Old Orchard Beach is easy to reach by plane, train or automobile. The Downeaster - Amtrak train service stops in Old Orchard Beach seasonally (Memorial Day – Labor Day) and Interstate Highways are just minutes from the beach. By air, we are serviced by the Portland Jetport, 13 miles north. Boston’s Logan and Manchester (NH) International Airports are less than 2 hours away.

You’ll also find that Old Orchard Beach is ideally situated if your interests go beyond a lazy day at the beach. The Route One corridor just west of town is a beehive of activity with two water parks, an amusement park, restaurants and shops. Twelve miles to our north is the popular Maine Mall with a vast array of stores, shops and restaurants. The historic Old Port, with its cobblestone streets adjacent to Portland Harbor, is a dining, entertainment and boutique shopping delight.

Old Orchard Beach is surrounded by the idyllic seaside communities of Ocean Park, Pine Point and Camp Ellis. The cities of Biddeford, Saco and Scarborough are our immediate neighbors, offering a variety of services and shopping. New England’s largest salt marsh is off Route 9 in neighboring Scarborough with guided walks and canoe tours.

Less than 30 minutes north is the bustling factory outlet town of Freeport, home of the famous L.L. Bean store, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Further north Maine’s rocky coast beckons with such popular destinations as Boothbay, Camden, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

Be sure to visit our Things-To-Do and Calendar of Events sections to help acquaint yourself with what is going on during your visit.