WILD LIFE REFUGE, STATE PARKS, OUTDOOR WALKS

Ferry Beach State Park - 117 acres of beach and nature trails. Off Route 9 in Saco. 283-0067.

Scarborough Marsh Nature Center - Maine's largest salt marsh is best explored by canoe. Guided and self guided canoe tours. Abundant shorebird sightings. Nature center offers slide shows, exhibits. Rt. 9, Scarborough. 883-5100.

Gilsland Farm - Maine Audubon Sanctuary offering trails, field trips and a gift shop. North of Portland in Falmouth off Route 1. 781-2330.

Maine Wildlife Park - Moose, Bear, Deer, Cougars, Eagles and more. Nature Trail and Displays. Rt 26, 56 Game Farm Road, Gray, 657-4977

Wells National Estuarine Reserve at Laudholm Farm - 1600 scenic acres of research reserve including a 19^th century saltwater farm, Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge area, Laudholm Farm Visitors Center, exhibits, and seven miles of spectacular marsh walkways and trails along marshes, fields, and wetlands. Open year round. 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells. 646-1555.

Rachel Carson Wildlife Preserve - Open sunrise to sunset for bird watching and self-guided tours. Rt 9 Kennebunk/Wells Town line. 646-1555.

Marginal Way - Scenic Walk - Ogunquit one-mile path along coast. Ends in Perkins Cove.

MAINE LIGHTHOUSES

Cape Elizabeth Light/Two Lights State Park - Two lighthouses are perched atop the rocky shoreline. Off Rt. 77 in Cape Elizabeth.

Portland Headlight & Museum - Maine's oldest lighthouse. Commissioned by George Washington in 1791. Adjacent to Fort Williams Park. Large grounds with picnic facilities and museum on the premises. 1000 Shore Rd. (off Rt. 77) Cape Elizabeth. 799-2661.   

AREA ATTRACTIONS, RECREATION, HORSEBACK RIDING, BOWLING & MORE

Desert of Maine - Natural phenomenon, narrated tours, nature trails, museum. Open early May to mid October daily. 95 Desert Road, Freeport, 865-6962

Harris Farm Cross County Ski Center - 40 Km of groomed X-C trails and Snow shoeing.  Rentals and lunch available, ice skating pond.  Maple sugaring in March. 30 minutes from Old Orchard Beach just off Rt. 35. 252 Buzzell Rd Dayton, 499-2678

Happy Wheels Skate Center - Roller Skating Rink, Portland, 797-8207

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad - Ride along Portland's waterfront in an historic narrow gauge. Fun for all ages. 58 Fore Street, Portland. 828-0814. Directions Route 1N to I-295N to: Take Port Waterfront Exit. Bear right to 1A (Truck Route/Waterfront) to stop sign onto Commercial Street. Follow Commercial Street. Train is near end of street before it curves away from the water (after DiMillos Restaurant).

Mainely Tours - Daily excursions in Portland! Enjoy a fully narrated city tour (with a stop at The Lighthouse!), a 90-minute harbor cruise, plus shopping in the Old Port. 774-0808. 

Romanza Salon Day Spa and Wellness Center. Pine Point Road, Scarborough, 883-8338

Smiling Hill Farm X-country skiing and Snowshoeing in winter. Homemade ice cream. Westbrook, 775-4818

Twentieth Century Lanes & Sports Bar - Biddeford, 284-0980

Vacationland Bowling & Recreation Center - Rt 1 Saco, 284-7386

AREA SHOPPING  

Kittery Outlets - Just 50 minutes south of Old Orchard Beach. Over 120 outlets and the Kittery Trading Post with savings of 20-70% daily. This shopping mecca is often referred to as America's Maine Street for Outlet Shopping.  1-888-KITTERY.  Directions Route 5 to I-195 to I-95S. Pay turnpike toll booth in York and Option 1) Take exit 2 By Pass (Kittery/S.Berwick). Bear right off exit and stay in left lane following signs for Kittery. When you get to traffic circle go around and take right onto Route 1N. Bear right onto Route 1N following signs for Coastal Route to outlets. Option 2) Immediately after paying toll, take exit 7 (Yorks/Berwick). Take left off exit and go to traffic light. Take right on to route 1S. Follow route 1S for 4.5 miles.

L.L. Bean - World famous and open 24 hours, 365 days per year. 30 minutes north in Freeport. Freeport also offers over 100 outlet stores. 865-1212.  Freeport Outlet Directions Route 1N to I-295N which turns into I-95N. Take exit 20 or 22 (Downtown Freeport) and follow signs.

The Maine Mall - Over 135 stores including restaurants, theaters and more. 364 Maine Mall Road, So. Portland. 774-0303.  Directions Get on Route 1N to I-295N to Maine Mall Road exit or Route 1N to traffic light at Route 98/1N intersection. Take left at 2^nd set of Lights (Payne Road). Five miles to Maine Mall.

The Old Port - Portland's Historic District offers over 158 shops, 65 restaurants, 28 galleries, and numerous pubs. All located in a charming five block area lined with cobblestone streets on Portlands historic waterfront. 400 Congress St., Portland. 772-6828.  Directions Route 1N to I-295N to: Option 1: Take Exit 4 (Port Waterfront Exit). Bear right to 1A (Truck Route/Waterfront) to stop sign onto Commercial Street. Follow Commercial Street into Old Port. Option 2: Take Exit 7(Franklin Arterial). Go to your 4th set of traffic lights. Take right onto Congress Street. Take 3rd left (Exchange Street).

Saco Valley Shopping Center - 12 stores, 2 banks and a restaurant. Free parking. Just off Route 1, Saco. 

Antique Shops and Auctions All along Rt 1 in Kennebunk, Wells, Ogunquit, York & Kittery.

Lighthouse Depot Largest collection of lighthouse gifts in the world. Route 1, Wells, 646-0608. Get on Route 1 South thru Saco, Biddeford and Kennebunk. Depot is on right soon after crossing into Wells.  

ENTERTAINMENT

Live Bands and Karaoke: Pier Patio Pub, Village Inn Restaurant & Brew Pub, PICS Pizza and Surf 6.

Fireworks Display by the Old Orchard Beach Pier Every Thursday at 9:30pm from late June thru Labor Day.

Weekly Concerts in Town Square Free Shows by the Pier every Monday and Tuesday night at 7pm in season.

Salvation Army Pavilion Amphitheater - Outdoor amphitheater featuring live entertainment throughout the summer for the entire family. Church Street, P.O. Box 285, Old Orchard Beach, 934-2024

Comedy Connection - Americas top professional stand-up comedians. 6 Custom House Wharf, In the Old Port. Portland, 774-5554

Southworth Planetarium - Shows for children and adults including laser concerts. Off I-295 Forest Ave. North to 96 Falmouth St., University of Southern Maines Science Building. Portland, 780-4249

Portland Symphony Orchestra - Concerts year round. Special events. 30 Myrtle St., Portland. 773-8191

Portland Concert Association - Dance, opera, musical theater, jazz, & more. 1-800-639-2707

Portland Opera Repertory Theatre - Grand Opera in Portlands magnificent Merrill Auditorium. 767-0773

Cumberland County Civic Center - Music Concerts, Sporting Events Etc.

Children's Theater of Maine - Live theater for adults and children. 25A Forest Ave., Portland. 874-0371

Portland Public Library - Story telling and entertainment for children. 5 Monument Sq., Portland. 871-1707

SUMMER THEATRE & THEATRE

City Theater - Theatrical productions. 205 Main Street, Biddeford. 282-0849. 

Arundel Barn Playhouse Summer Theatre, Just off Route 1, Arundel, Tuesday Saturdays in Season, 985-5552 Take Route 1 South thru Saco and Biddeford and into Arundel. Go left at the light (just prior to Blue Moon Diner) - Playhouse will be 200 yards on your left.

MaineStage Shakespeare Theater - Kennebunk. Free, outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s plays in Lafayette Park in the heart downtown Kennebunk. In this our inaugural season we will be performing Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet and a special kid friendly version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in alternating repertory.

Ogunquit Playhouse Stock Summer Theatre, Rt 1 Ogunquit, 646-5511. Take Route 1 South thru Saco, Biddeford, Arundel, Kennebunk, Wells and Ogunquit. Playhouse is on left in Ogunquit just prior to York Town Line.

Saco River Grange - Salmon Falls Road, Bar Mills. Just off Rt 117. 929-6472  

ARTS, MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

Old Orchard Beach Historical Society - Features historical memorabilia on the Old Orchard Beach area since the 17th Century. Top of Old Orchard Street, Old Orchard Beach. 934-9319.

Saco Museum - Paintings, decorative art, tools, period furniture, etc. from 18th century to present. 371 Main St., Saco. 282-3031. 

Maine Maritime Museum - Historic shipyard site and maritime history building on Kennebec River. 243 Washington St., Bath. 443-1316. 

Willowbrook at Newfield - Restored 19th Century Village with 36 buildings and 11,000 artifacts including 1894 carousel. Off Rt. 11 on Main St., Newfield. 793-2784. 

PORTLAND:

Portland Museum of Art - Maines largest and oldest art museum. Designed by world renowned I.M. Pei. Features fine and decorative art from the 18^th century to present. 7 Congress St, Portland, 773-2787.

Portland Observatory - Not a lighthouse, it is the last maritime signal tower in the US. Built in 1807 as a communication tower for the harbor. Guided tours and exhibits. 774-5561

Childrens Museum of Maine - Exhibits. Toddler Park, Cave & Farm, Interactive Science Exhibits, Space Shuttle, Camera-Obscura-Theater. Fun for all ages. 142 Free Street, Portland. 828-1234. 

Wadsworth-Longfellow House - Boyhood home of the famed 19th Century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Seasonal. 485 Congress St., Portland. 774-1822. 

The Arts District Portland - cultural community along Congress Street Portland, 772-6828