Recent visit for the Flower Sculpting Show. They pair paintings with floral sculptures . I had…read morenever been. Admission was 15.00 and included a ballot to vote for our favorite. It was honestly hard to pick. There is lots of room in each room to really study the art despite the amount of people there. The view of the ocean as you walk in is its own beautiful painting. Outside they have beautiful gardens as well as the ocean view which had a nice breeze while we were there. There is a gift shop that had a nice sample of beautiful items. Plenty of parking with a complimentary post card. Saw kids also enjoying the art too . Plenty outside to see as well.

Beautiful museum with great collections and exhibits, breathtaking views, garden and sculptures…read more It's small and gorgeous. Last year was my first time here and I loved it. This year I went back with my children -- it's not huge and overwhelming and kids absolutely loved it. Ladies that work here were so kind and thoughtful to my kids -- they really help nurture young artists' minds. They even gave us little goodie bags with various arts supplies that my children loved. Wonderful little gem! Can't wait to return!

Odiorne Point State Park is a public recreation area that opened in Rye, New Hampshire in July…read more1972. It is administered by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. The park is located along the Atlantic seacoast in Rye, not far from Portsmouth. The area is the site of the Pannaway Plantation: the first European settlement in New Hampshire. Settled in 1622, the plantation was completely abandoned by the 1630s when the settlers moved to nearby Strawberry Banke. The land was settled in the mid-1660s by the Odiorne Family, whom the park is now named after. From 1942 to 1947, the park was the home of Fort Dearborn. The ruins of the deactivated World War II-era fort can still be seen today. Today the park is home to hiking trails, bike paths, a playground, picnic areas, pavilions, and a Seacoast Science Center which opened in 1992. My family and I visited Odiorne Point State Park this summer while we were heading to Maine for a summer getaway. We had some time to kill before we could check in to our AirBnb, so we decided to stop at the park. We had fun exploring the grounds and my two sons especially enjoyed playing on the nautical-themed playground. The highlight of the park is the Seacoast Science Center. There are all sorts of exhibits devoted to the conservation of marine and coastal environments. My two sons loved learning about whales, local shellfish populations, the local fishing industry, the fight against ocean pollution, and underwater exploration. There was even a cool gift shop where we picked up a few things. Whether you live in the area or you're just passing through like us, Odiorne Point State Park is a fun place for the whole family!

Located in Rye Nh at a state park on the ocean with a view of the harbor and you can walk along the…read morewalkway there's also a park for the kids to play in climbing, and swings the park is a good size and then you can walk over to the science center and enjoy there fun activities like learning about nature and the New England coast sharks whales and other wildlife species it's not that big but it's really nice to explore they have a old fort that you can climb on. The state park has a lot of trails and other fun stuff to explore worth a trip to go to but make sure that the weather is nice.

What a great experience for my kids (6 and 13). Read the website for details but there's something…read morefor all ages in this tiny little place. Both kids were engaged and Ellen did a great job of doing so at the proper level. Highly recommended

Great experience! Ellen, the Marine Biologist was outstanding! Our kids loved it and learned a ton…read more The touch tanks were their favorite as well as the Scavenger Hunt. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful knowledge and passion!

Pros: The Museums of Old York was the place I least wanted to visit, but ended up being one of my…read moremost enjoyable. Walking into history with informative displays. Expect to spend at least half a day exploring the different sites and attending tours. Cons: N/A

This museum is small, but the vehicles in the collection are rare and interesting. The building is…read morealso very well lit, so you can see and appreciate the details. The signs were very informative, and a museum employee shared additional tidbits while also giving us space to enjoy the collection on our own. I know a ton about the history of Porsches, but I actually learned something new from the signage on the 1955 Porsche 356, namely, that the car was marketed as the "Continental," because the importer believed that Americans felt more strongly about cars with names than numbers. Now I understand why the 356 A models were called the "Speedster." Museums are for education! My only suggestion for improvement is to have at least one sign explaining how co-founder Miles Prentice came to love collecting and restoring cars. To people who live in the community and know the background, it might seem like bragging, but to those of us from faraway places, it's education. We visited on a Monday in April, and I appreciated that the museum is open every day of the week, including the "off season."

One of us is a car guy. If you love cars, come and check out this place. It's a small museum but…read morefull of great classics. The staff here are also very friendly. Highly recommended!

Not an aquarium. I've seen more fish in my dentist's office…read more This was WAY better prior to its "renovation". There are 4 tanks of fish and a "touch tank." There is a "learning lab" with some shark things and crafts. This will entertain your kids (age 6 and under) for an hour at most. Not worth it for adults or anyone who has grown up on a coast. VERY small parking lot. Very disappointed

I really wanted to like the new renovations however I would not consider this place as an aquarium…read morebut more of an oceanarium. It is definitely a place of education and there are two touch/pet tanks but that's about it. I was hoping it would be like the one from what use to be home (Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach, CA) even that aquarium I would still consider it an oceanarium however it had sooooo much more to offer. Despite how crowded this place can get, you can easily do it all in under five minutes. (That's how small it is) If you really want to make the trip I would suggest going on the free days. Also, those baby moon jelly's will soon need a bigger tank!

Fantastic experience! The trolley ride was super affordable…read moreand absolutely adorable for a quick go around! The biggest bummer was that the green trolley we chose to ride on is unable to do the loop around so we were only able to go back and forth in a straight line unlike the yellow trolley which actually went in around its track to face forward again. The gift shop was super cute and the hot chocolate and candy canes were a great touch to stay warm!

Wonderful day spent at the Seashore Trolley Museum We…read moreenjoyed the indoor dioramas in the newly renovated building. I could have stayed in there all day, if I was the only one in the room. So much detail to each display. It can get a little crowded, which can make it difficult to see all of the detail without feeling rushed or in the way. There are some exhibits upstairs as well, don't forget that section. The gift shop was fun to browse while waiting for our trolley boarding time. I was able to purchase a great souvenir t-shirt - great quality. They had a few snacks and beverages for sale as well. The volunteers were very busy helping and directing people while we were there. The boarding area was spacious with things to look and some engineers standing by to load people onto the trolley. They provided a nice history narrative as the trolley meandered through the property. We were excited as our tour included a stop in the pumpkin patch. We were able to pick one pumpkin per person/ticket. After the tour you have the ability to walk around the campus to the MANY displays and vehicles. We were able to also walk into the the repair garage and see the mechanics and artists working to restore some of the older trolley/train cars. We loved our time there and would definitely return with friends and family. Thank you to all of the hardworking team and volunteers for preserving the history.

St. Anthony's Franciscan Monastery is such a blessing from God and a blessing to our family! A…read morefriend recommended this place and finally I had a chance to visit. A few times now! Beautiful grounds to take a beautiful walk along the coast. Along your walk there are several beautiful prayer stations to stop and reflect. You can even do some off trail type hiking through the forest. Jim in the gift shop is so kind. Such a blessing to be friends with a fellow Catholic. You will be greeted with a big smile and a warm heart! Lots of amazing blessings in the shop to look through. Mass in the chapel was awesome. Lots of cool, tribal, looking art of Mary and Joseph. I really loved this! Lots of places to pray and meditate in the chapel area. Don't forget to ask for a blessing from one of the Franciscans! Thank you St. Anthony's Franciscan Monastery for all you do. Thank you for your service to your community and most importantly to God We appreciate your example!

Beautiful and peaceful place to take a stroll. Lovely little paths and religious vignettes all…read morearound. We visited the week after the Kennebunkport Prelude and there was a beautiful nativity scene set up. Gift shop was very nice too.

The Barn Gallery in Ogunquit is a beautiful, spacious, well lit space exhibiting quality works in a…read moremaze of a large gallery, several smaller exhibit halls plus an outdoor sculpture garden. A good stop to see an abundance of local artists' works.

This art gallery is unique in that it has a small outdoor sculpture garden as part of its…read moreexhibition space in addition to its roomy indoor galleries. While the outdoor space itself is a little rough-hewn, the displayed pieces are often intriguing, well-made, and beautiful. The Barn focuses on local artists and artisans, mostly from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and has a juried art competition during the summer months. We are often quite impressed with the quality of the works exhibited. (All of the works are available for purchase.) The staff is knowledgeable and friendly -- there is no pressure to buy -- and the Barn in fact feels more like a museum than a retail gallery (it is a non-profit), except there is no permanent collection. We always feel welcome to visit and browse without any obligation to purchase. The Barn also hosts many workshops and seminars by local artists -- perfect for a quiet summer's eve!

It's a History to Me…read more Founded in 1822, the Maine Historical Society's sole purpose is to preserve the history of Maine thru rotating exhibits that include historical photos and artifacts. The Good: *Free admission to the Longfellow Garden (May - Oct) during normal hours of operation *Wadsworth-Longfellow House is a separate part of the museum, with a separate fee ($18/GA). We didn't do this, so I can't comment if it's worth it. *Admission is reasonable at $12/adults *Reciprocity program with other museums, if you're a member ($25-75/year). *Located in beautiful Downtown Portland The Meh: *Not the world's biggest museum, as you can probably see the whole thing in 1-2hrs, depending on how much you read the placards for each item/display. The Ugly: *Location is in Downtown Portland, which is great, but you'll most likely have to deal with paying for parking at one of the garages. Pro Tip: If the garage DOESN'T advertise their pricing on the outside, then skip it on and move onto the next one that does. Evidently these predatory parking garages are a big thing here in DT Portland. Conclusion: Nice place to visit if you're in Portland and looking for a little culture.

The Maine Historical Society says on their website: "Connecting and documenting the Maine…read moreexperience" and "dedicates itself to making history relevant and accessible" and I could not agree more! We live locally and have been checking out the rotating exhibits over the past 10 or so years-all unique, informative rich, fascinating topics, amazing artifacts. You can look online to see what's going on/get tickets for specified time and can also buy in person there. Easily found on Congress Street in Portland, accessible all one level (no stairs), gift shop excellently curated for the history buffs and admission is affordable. At the time of our visit the 3 smaller exhibits included: "Mainers and their pets", "Maines untold history of Vegetarianism" and "Maine sheet music"- all was well worth the price of admission! This is also the place to tour the historic Wadsworth-Longfellow house. Only downside is parking- they do not have a dedicated parking lot so it's on-street parking. Congress has some, but it's a busy area so we tend to park on surrounding streets in the region from Congress St down to Commercial street side of Congress St and there is also a parking garage nearby. Walkable area location-shops and restaurants also fun to stop in to support local too. Highly recommended- here's to preserving history, learning where we've been to better understand where we are now and where we're headed in the future!