Love this beach !! Clear water and you can bring your dog all day on a leash!! Bathrooms too ! Paid…read moreticket parking ! $2 and hour

I really wanted to take my 14-month-old yellow lab to the beach during Labor Day weekend, as I've…read morenever taken her to one before, but I was unsure which beaches allowed dogs. Not being able to find many places around Portland at first, I almost changed my mind until I saw a review written by Diana K about the nearby Bayview Beach. Parking was tough at Bayview due to the lack of clearly marked parking spaces. Not wanting to rush intruding into someone else's parking space in the surrounding neighborhood, we decided to drive down further, and stumbled upon this gem. While this beach had a similar issue, with limited parking, there are a couple of lots across the roads that's opened to the public; for a fee of course. The beach itself was really nice, despite the seaweeds washed up on the shore. The area is nice and peaceful, despite the ample amount of people at the beach at the time. There were a ton of dogs at the beach, both large and small. While dogs must be leashed from the month of July to August (9-5 pm), I believe they can be off leash all other times. Will definitely be coming back!

Great, family friendly beach in Kennebunkport! There was also a ton of sea glass and plenty of…read moreparking spaces around.

Nice family friendly beach in Kennebunk. Street parking only so to get a spot you really need to…read moreget here by 930ish during peak summer months. Coolers, umbrellas, boogie boards and surfing are allowed. Ven better, dogs are also permitted on the beach and it's packed with man's best friends just about every morning and early evening. From June 15 through Labor Day, dogs are only allowed on the beaches before 9AM and after 5PM. Dogs must be under voice control or on a leash. Plenty of beaches to choose from in the area and I think this is one of the better ones.

This may be one of my favorite areas in Wells next to the Estuarine. But def my fav beach. Plenty…read moreof space and tho popular not over crowded. There is town parking 1/3 mi from the beach at $5/hr or just ride your bike. We actually had a whale pod sighting today!

If you want a quieter beach than the madness of Ogunquit, then come to Drake's Island beach,…read morequieter, more locals and very laid back, I spent a whole day here by myself. Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit and York are all side-by-side seaside communities along the Maine coast and they all have their own beaches as well. It really depends on what you're looking for but if you want a locals-only beach then this would be it. Also if you plan on swimming and not just dipping in quickly, try to find a spot on the estuary side as opposed to the ocean side, the water is easily 20 degrees warmer on the estuary side. Parking here is at about $5 /30 minutes and paid by machine and credit card only.

I visited Old Orchard Beach in the off-season, so most of the shops, restaurants, and amusements…read morewere closed; but I actually found that to be part of the charm. Without the summer crowds, the beach felt quiet and serene. I could walk for miles along the sand with only the sound of the waves and the gulls for company. The pier was closed, but it was still nice to see it up close and I can imagine how lively it must get in the warmer months. A few local spots were still open and the locals I met were friendly and welcoming! The chilly air gave the town a calm, coastal feel that was really refreshing. If you're looking for the classic seaside excitement, definitely come back in the summer. But if you enjoy peaceful walks, ocean views, and a slower pace, Old Orchard Beach in the off-season has its own quiet beauty.

Old Orchard Beach is the perfect mix of relaxation and fun, whether you are visiting as a couple or…read morewith the whole family. The West Grand area is especially nice with clean bathrooms, easy access to the sand, and plenty to do nearby. Staying right on the beach at places like Ocean House or Beechwood is ideal. It is so much better than commuting in and out each day. There is something for everyone, big kids, little kids, and kids at heart. From the water to the boardwalk, you will never be bored. Just remember, like at any beach, keep a close eye on the little ones in the waves. If you are not staying overnight, be prepared for parking fees ranging from 20 to 40 dollars per day. But once your feet hit the sand, it is worth every penny. Old Orchard Beach has that classic seaside charm that makes you want to come back year after year like we do.

Ogunquit Beach is a wide stretch of soft white sand. The…read morehistoric downtown area is filled with charming local shops, great spots to eat, and classic New England buildings. Walking along the scenic Marginal Way cliff path gives you breathtaking views of the crashing waves below. It is a wonderful, lively destination for a relaxing getaway by the sea. The welcoming coastal vibe makes it a place you will want to visit over and over again.

One of my favorite beaches in the world! Love walking the entire stretch of the beach from Ogunquit…read moreto Wells, about 3.5 miles in each direction. Ogunquit beach has a very gradual slope which makes it perfect for long walks - you don't get the feeling that you are walking on a slant. It's absolutely gorgeous, with large sandy expanses, especially at low tide. There are often flocks of sandpipers, which I love to watch as they run so quickly over the sand and search for food. Ogunquit Beach is especially nice in the off season - the crowd spreads out over the area so you never feel as if people are on top of you like you might in the peak season. There is a parking lot that is free from November-March, and you can also easily walk to the beach from in town. Next to the parking lot there is a covered area with chairs and benches which are perfect for just relaxing by the ocean. There are also a couple of restaurants, a snack bar, a beach store, and an ice cream shop very close by.

The nicest beach that we visited in the Kennebunkport area. Clean and spacious. Parking is limited.read more

Beautiful and private (at least in late September). So happy to have randomly discovered!read more

Update Aug 2016... Voodoo Beach lives on. While slamming some brews and clam strips at Forbes I…read morefound some top secret paperwork. This chart detailed information regarding when the beach would be present and when it would go away. I can only assume that this was accidentally left behind by a member of the CIA, the FBI, the NOAA, or Trump/Pence 2016. There's no way OBummer could have published the government's schedule for the ocean; he's always on vacation (per Fox News). New for 2016 I've discovered the game of Cornholio played by America's youth. They throw sacks at each others' holes all day in an attempt to get points. I find this game confusing, frustrating, entertaining, and intoxicating. Game on Wayne! Game on Garth!

Perfect beach to getaway from crowds. Very relaxing for couples and small families! However,…read moreparking is VERY limited, which is something I've noticed in Maine.

It's seems like Mainers crave "secret beaches" more than ever before. With so many tourists in the…read moresummer time, the usual haunts can be overcrowded and offer limited parking and costly fees (because tourists are actually willing to wait in lines and fork over cash for an authentic coastal exeprience). Because going to the beach is sacred for me (I'm a mermaid, afterall) I am one of those locals looking for a spot where I can sun in splash in peace. I had heard of Laudholm Beach in passing, and decided one hot Friday to seek it out. Just a fortyish minute drive from Portland brought me to the Wells Reserve where you can access this beach after walking the Barrier Beach Trail (stay on it until it brings you out of the woods and over a wooden staircase). It's a dream come true: impressive and expansive views of sparkling Atlantic Ocean, piping plovers, waves, (comparatively) warm water, lobster boats, and limited people (and most of that small number are just here to walk the length of the beach before returning whence they came). There are quite a few rocks to navigate past at first, but that's what keeps most people at bay. You can pull up a patch of sand and spend hours uninterrupted here, or you can explore a bit and find mud flats and salt marshes that help protect various beach life (birds, fish, plants). Just be warned... at high tide there is little to no beach . Not an exaggeration. My walk back to the trail was partially in water (and back over those aforementioned rocks making it a bit dangerous...what's life without adventure though?!). Happy to know this place exists for when my other "secret" spots are overtaken by the loud, rude, non-mermaid believers.

We visited the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and decided to hike to this beach which lacks the crowds…read moregenerally found at Maine beaches. Unless your are private landowner near the beach, this is the only way to access the beach.