We're taking a family vacation to Wells, ME in a couple weeks, and I always like to be prepared in case it rains and we can't be at the beach. I've been poking around online, but I'm not finding a lot of indoor back-up plans (we wouldn't want to drive more than 1/2 an hour or so). Does anyone live there or visit and know of any "hidden gems?" For now on my list I have the public library, the couple of YMCAs in the area and that's it. Anyplace with an indoor pool or someplace they can run around? My kids are 5 and almost 3.
(I do have a lot of outdoor stuff, including the zoo and spashparks, as well as a few playgrounds. But if you know of fantastic playgrounds near there, I'd love that info too!)
Thanks for the help!
It is more like 40 minutes, but there is a great children's museum in Portland as well.
Check out this website for links to the greater Portland area. We are heading farther north in Maine this summer and I had bookmarked it for things to do along the way. http://www.visitportland.com/kids.aspx
There is a movie theatre in the Hannaford's Shopping plaza off Post Road. York Beach has a large playground near the beach and there is an amusement park and zoo there as well. Many of the hotel/cottage places have indoor pools. We just came from there and it rained one day. Kittery outlets are a good rainy day activity for adults...maybe something in Kittery can be researched for kids indoor??
There is the lovely shoreline and walks and loads of amusements not far away too:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=wells+me&um=1...
No matter where you are......there are always museums.......and great kids place........if you aren't a member of AAA, you might become one or find someone who is and ask them to get you some travel books and such......they have alot of information in them and are very helpful.
Get on line and just look up Wells, ME......go to the travel guide or the chamber of commerce and see what it says for traveling there......you will usually find a bunch of info there too...
Good luck and have fun.
I am told the Bellevue Hotel allows non guests to use their pool for $3 pp/day. They also list a few things to do on their site http://www.bellevuebythesea.com/attractions.html
Also Ogunquit Beach is so close...there is quite a bit to do up there. Check out that area. It is only about 10-15 minutes away.
If a 1/2 hour ride is your maximum radius you are going to be able to do a ton - that will take you as South as Portsmouth NH (a few more minutes into Dover for the Children's Museum perfect for you kids age - all inside activities http://www.childrens-museum.org/cmnh/). I am not as farmiliar with the area North of Wells so I can't comment on activities in that direction.
Have fun!
i'm looking forward to seeing the answers to your question - we have a place in wells - and will be there for two weeks later this month. what i can think of is the movie theater. i guess it depends on how hard its raining. you can walk around downtown kennebunk or perkins cover in a drizzle or visit all the antique stores on rte 1. you could have a big lobster lunch - or go to the Maine diner, check out Old Orchard, go to the outlets in Kittery. there's a trolley museum, a lighthouse musuem and a car museum nearby. some of the mini golf places have indoor arcades. bring puzzles and games and dvds just in case. on rte 9A there's a playground - it's pretty big. keep an eye out for churches that are having pancake breakfasts and bingo nights. if you don't mind, let me know if you hear anything different. thanks.
anyway, stay positive - maybe it won't rain at all : ) and have a great vacation!
