13 Best Family & Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor Maine

Sometimes, it’s challenging to keep children occupied during family outings and vacations. Fortunately, there are numerous family & kid-friendly things to do in Boothbay Harbor Maine. From outdoor adventures to indoor learning, fun is around every corner in this unique region. To make your trip go smoothly, consider creating an itinerary with these best things to do on family vacation in Boothbay Harbor Maine.

best family and kid-friendly things to do in Boothbay Harbor Maine
photo from Maine Magazine on Facebook

Best Boothbay Harbor Parks, Gardens, and Beaches for Families

If there’s one thing that’s abundant in Boothbay Harbor, it’s nature. If you’re looking for “hiking near me that’s kid-friendly,” you won’t have to go far to find it. Take a look at these outdoor family-friendly things to do.

Barrett’s Park

With a peaceful environment for relaxing, picnicking and fishing, Barrett’s Park is small but not crowded. It has two rocky beaches for families to play in the water with a backdrop of beautiful natural coastline. The park has a couple of small trails too.

Beaches and Hiking in Boothbay Region Land Trust Preserves

Once you’ve discovered the preserves operated by Boothbay Region Land Trust, you won’t need to look any further for “kid-friendly hiking near me”. Across its 26 nature preserves, BRLT has more than 35 miles of hiking trails. Also, there are a few that have beaches for families to enjoy. For instance, Damariscove Island Preserve and Spectacle Island Preserve have rocky beaches and tidal pools.

On top of that, Oak Point Farm is a 32-acre preserve that hosts activities throughout the year. It has hiking trails and a freshwater pond with turtles, frogs, beavers, ducks, and more. Additionally, there’s a large field that’s perfect for flying kites, playing sports, and having picnics. These features make the BRLT preserves some of the best free things to do with children in Boothbay Harbor.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a family and kid-friendly place in Boothbay Harbor Maine
photo from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens on Facebook

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Stretching across almost 300 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is an exciting place for kids. The gardens traverse miles of waterfront and trails, and the Highlights Tour is a great way to take in the natural foliage and wildlife. One of the most fun things to do with younger children is the Botany of Butterflies Tour. It allows them to explore the Butterfly House and surrounding gardens.

Also, CMBG holds family and children’s activities in the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden. Regular storytime, puppet show, and chicken feeding activities are available. The kids get to investigate the pond and butterflies, too. There’s even a Fairy Friday event during the summer which involves bubbles, arts, and crafts.

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Kid-Friendly Places for Shows, Museums, and Activities

While Boothbay Harbor is a prime location for exploring parks and gardens, there are many other kid-friendly activities. In fact, there are theater shows, museums, mini-golf, and swimming opportunities. These five places offer the best experiences in the area.

Carousel Music Theater

Established since 1982, Carousel Music Theater is one of the top unique family-friendly things to do in Boothbay Harbor Maine. On a seasonal basis, it offers shows with cabaret-singing waiters who serve a three-course dinner. The cast performs songs from the 1940s to the 1970s before changing into costume for the main show.

Maine State Aquarium

With hands-on activities, the Maine State Aquarium is certainly one of the best kid-friendly places in Boothbay Harbor. In particular, it has a Tidepool Touch Tank with sea scallops, urchins, cucumbers, and other creatures. It also has a Shark and Skate Touch Tank. A behind-the-scenes tour is available, too.

the Maine Aquarium is one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Boothbay Harbor Maine
photo from Facebook user Paulette A

Boothbay Railway Village

Featuring a host of children’s activities and events, Boothbay Railway Village is an outdoor museum of a recreated 1850s to 1950s Maine village. Covering over 30 acres, it has more than two dozen reconstructed and historic buildings, some of which house antique automobiles. The most fun part for the family, though, is taking a ride on the vintage steam train, which departs the station at the top of every hour.

Dolphin Mini Golf

Voted one of the best courses for mini-golf in the country, Dolphin Mini Golf is one of the more traditional things to do with children on vacation. However, it has much more than well-maintained gardens, pools, and streams. Also, it has an ice cream hut, arcade, and covered bridge that houses a shell museum.

Family-Friendly Things to Do on Boothbay Harbor

Among the many things to do on family vacation in Boothbay Harbor are boat tours and lobstering experiences. Best of all, they are great for people of all ages.

Cap’n Fish’s Cruises

Still offering the original whale watch tour in Boothbay Harbor, Cap’n Fish’s Cruises could be the most exciting kid-friendly activity for your family. The whale watch is a 3.5-hour excursion during which your children could see humpback whales, minke whales, and other marine wildlife. Cap’n Fishes has many other tours too.

best boat tours for families with kids in Boothbay Harbor Maine
photo from Cap’n Fish’s Cruises on Facebook

Lobstering With Captain Clive Farrin

For an educational yet fun experience for children, contact Captain Clive Farrin to go lobstering. You and your family will board the Sea Swallow fishing vessel for a one-hour, traditional hands-on lobstering adventure. The captain’s grandson often helps on the tours as well.

Balmy Days Cruises

Balmy Days Cruises offers a variety of tours with family-friendly things to do. Its Harbor Tour includes one hour of sightseeing on The Novelty mail boat. The Lighthouse Tour of Burnt Island includes 2.5 hours on the 5-acre island for exploring and hiking. The Monhegan Island Trip includes nearly four hours on the island to enjoy cafes, art galleries, shops, hiking trails, and the lighthouse.

Cabbage Island Clambakes

Combining a scenic sail with a traditional clambake, Cabbage Island Clambakes is fun for all ages. After you board the Bennie Alice, you’ll sail to Cabbage Island for the meal, which is made over open fires. Afterward, your kids can roam the wooded trails or play badminton, horseshoes, and volleyball.

More Fun Things to Do for Family Vacations in Boothbay Harbor

There are more kid-friendly activities in the area than those that are within Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay. The two most interesting things to do with children are Monkey C Monkey Do and the Maine Maritime Museum.

In Wiscasset, Monkey C Monkey Do is an aerial adventure park with a giant swing, five ropes courses with obstacles and eight zip lines. Children need to be at least 4 years old to enjoy this outdoor experience.

best family friendly things to do near Boothbay Harbor Maine
photo from Monkey C Monkey Do on Facebook

In Bath, the Maine Maritime Museum is a popular kid-friendly activity. Its galleries feature exhibits and interactive activities about maritime culture and heritage in Maine. For instance, there’s an immersive lighthouse experience and a walkable shipyard. The museum even offers daily cruises to see lighthouses and Navy vessels under construction. On top of that, you can board and learn about the 1906 Schooner Mary E, which has been restored.

Best Family-Friendly Hotel in Boothbay Harbor

When you’re planning a family vacation, you need a hotel that accommodates children well. Flagship Inn & Suites is here to oblige and is near all of the above kid-friendly things to do in Boothbay Harbor. We’re also close to many events and festivals in and near Boothbay Harbor that are suitable for all ages. Best of all, we like to offer special pricing and deals throughout the year to make your family vacation more affordable.

best family and kid-friendly hotel in Boothbay Harbor Maine