Children's Activities in Portland, Maine

Portland Cruises and Land Tours

• The Portland waterfront is home to a fleet of sightseeing boats, Maine-built windjammers and wooden schooners offering year-round cruises that explore the scenic islands of Casco Bay. Visitors can go whale watching or deep sea fishing. On Lucky Catch Cruises, kids get a chance to experience what it is like to be a Maine lobsterman. The 90-minute cruises run from the end of May to mid-October and tickets range from $15 to $25, as of 2009.

  Lucky Catch Cruises
  170 Commercial St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  (207) 761-0941
  luckycatch.com

  For land tours, children can hear amusing stories about the city's history and architectural wonders on the Greater Portland Landmarks walking tour. Tours are held daily from July to October and leave from Tommy's Park Info Kiosk at Exchange and Middle streets, as of 2009, and tickets are $10. Kids 16 and under are free.

  Greater Portland Landmarks
  93 High St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  (207) 774-5561
  portlandlandmarks.org

  For older children, there is the Wicked Walking Tour with ghost tales of the city's dark history of a witch's curse, pirate ships and haunted houses. Tours start at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at Bell Buoy Park on Commercial Street, (207) 730-0490; wickedwalkingtours.com. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 children.

Outdoor Adventures

• Portland is a recreational paradise, where children can bike, hike and kayak. A good biking destination is the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse on Fort Road, South Portland, the only caisson-style lighthouse accessible by land and available for touring. It is open to the public on Saturdays from June to October for a $5 donation, as of 2009. Call (207) 699-2676 or visit springpointlight.org. Kids must be 55 inches tall to enter the lighthouse.

  The Greater Portland area includes the Maine Wildlife Park, west of Casco Bay. The educational facility gives kids an up-close view of moose, bears, birds and other wildlife. It is open daily mid-April to mid-November from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 12, as of 2009.

  Maine Wildlife Park
  56 Game Farm Road
  Gray, ME 04039
  (207) 657-4977, ext. 1
  maine.gov/ifw/education/wildlifepark/index.htm

  In the summer, kids can go out to the ballgame. Portland is home to the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Games are played at Hadlock Field. Tickets range from $4 to $9.

  Hadlock Field
  271 Park Ave.
  Portland, ME 04103
  (207) 874-9300
  portland.seadogs.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t546

Rainy Day and Indoor Fun

• For fun indoor children activities, check out the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine. Kids can explore the many interactive exhibits and take part in the daily schedule of activities. Open year round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is $8, as of 2009.

  Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
  142 Free St.
  Portland, Maine 04101
  (207) 828-1234
  kitetails.com

  At the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, families can take a scenic ride along the waterfront in the comfort of a train car. In the museum, kids can explore cabooses, locomotive cars and other train memorabilia. Trains run year-round and the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Train tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 to 12. Museum admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children 3 to 12. Pricing and hours are current as of 2009.

  Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum
  58 Fore St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  (207) 828-0814
  mngrr.org

  From October to April, take in a hockey game. The Portland Pirates, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, play at the Cumberland County Civic Center, 94 Free St., 207-828-4665, www.portlandpirates.com. Tickets range from $10 to $17.

  Cumberland County Civic Center
  94 Free St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  (207) 828-4665
  portlandpirates.com