Great spot for lake access. $7 per person to visit and a little cheaper for children. It is off the…read moreroad so it is pretty quite. Lots of sun and shady area. The only downside is not much beach to put chairs or blankets so it can get really busy. And more shady spots than sunny spots

We have now stayed twice in the cabins with family. Would highly recommend this experience. Just…read morelove Ranger Sue which is extremely nice however unlike what Angela feels about her from the above review..Sue is the park Ranger and you must follow the rules WHICH ARE POSTED EVERYWHERE Angela NO DOGS!!!! Even when the park is closed. And why on earth did you even enter the park when it was closed? No one else can but I guess some people feel more privileged than others!! The beach is extremely clean and well maintained. They have staff out and about all day to help answer any questions. Love this place but warning, it's fills up very fast. Donna P. S.

Nobody has updated this in years. So I'm here to share. We love this beach now. Since they removed…read morethe old pier, the beach and water are immaculately clean. It's rocky, so swimming shoes are a must. There's a big rock to sunbathe on. It disappears when the tide comes in. Plenty of green space for relaxing flying kites-throwing a football, trails for walking/biking, a big white gazebo with live music in summertime. Picnic tables and a porta potty. Pammy's Ice Cream Parlor is at the end of the road and is a MUST.

Went there today first of all their prices for their ice cream which is the only things that they…read moreserve are five bucks for a small scoop of ice cream to they charge you for bringing in a kayak or a paddleboard other beaches down! Their porta potties were so nasty and smell horrid but guess what the one that they have chained closed that says employees only was such a clean toilet! there's hardly any beach there they allow too much people on there at the time so you're overcrowded and the small little beach area that there is so they can make more money! This place I do not recommend back in the 80s when I used to go there it was a cool place to go and it was nice but now with the new owner she didn't even show up this morning until 9:05 AM when the place opens at nine and we were standing there waiting to get in

What's not to love about this beach? It's a very fun little spot that has a bit of everything for…read moreeveryone. Waterslides for both young and old. A diving board for those that love to jumps. Sand and grass areas for those that have a preference. While they do not have indoor plumping for a restroom they do have both porter potties and changing rooms. I cannot speak for the food as I have not tried it since it switched hands a few years back. The kids love to play in the steam area and see what they can. Overall whether you are looking for swimming, a nice picnic area, a place to launch your boat this is a terrific spot!

We visited Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary on a Saturday morning. It had snowed the week prior, and the…read morecouple days run up to our visit it had alternated between rain and snow, making conditions a combination of slushy/snowy and muddy. There were lots of other folks at the place, some jogging/exercising, others walking dogs, and we saw a number of people 'power walking' with sticks. Parking lot was about half full. We entered into the sanctuary and took the blue trail to the right. We ended up walking all of the trails during the course of our 2.5 hours in the sanctuary, visiting the Anthony Fireplace, Miller Fireplace, Gordon's Ledge, and multiple small semi-frozen ponds. We really enjoyed the elevation changes, the variety of trees, the plethora of mushrooms and fungi. If it had been a tad better weather we could have stayed longer. I would definitely recommend walking sticks if you want to walk/hike here in snow - they really helped us navigate some of the steeper more slippery parts of the trail. I would also guess this place is awesome all year round, and a place worth visiting as the seasons change. Lovely little spot for a walk and enough trail distance to spend an hour or more without backtracking.

If you've lived in L/A your whole life and have never traversed the 3.5 miles of trails, or have…read morepassed through the area and thought there was nothing of note to see, I would highly recommend taking a couple hours to explore this wonderful Sanctuary! This 370+ acre nature conservation/wildlife preserve boasts of having the highest point in Lewiston (as a matter of fact, on really clear days you can see Mt. Washington from the Ray Landry Memorial Bench), and also claims to have a tree roughly 250 years old near Anthony's Fireplace. Walk around the trails and you'll see Whale Rock (a giant rock that looks like a... you guessed it!... whale), handmade wooden bridges over small streams, old homesteads, and - if you're very quiet - an abundance of different birds and (of course) squirrels. In the summer, the Sanctuary is lush and green; in autumn, it's the perfect escape from the city to enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of foliage. So there you have it! Thorncrag is one of the most wonderful places in Androscoggin County for nature walks, jogging, hiking, picnics (remember to take your trash out, please!), cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Please be respectful and courteous of others who use the space: don't start fires or camp here, don't bring your bike or vehicle of any kind, dogs, horses, or alcohol (all of this is against the rules of the Sanctuary anyway)!

The Auburn Riverwalk has a lot of potential--it offers beautiful views of the Androscoggin River,…read morescenic spots to relax, and a path that connects Auburn and Lewiston with access to Bonney Park and Railroad Park. I really appreciate the city's effort to create a space that educates and encourages walking or running. That said, the maintenance could use some serious attention, and it's not a place I'd recommend visiting after dark. Unfortunately, the presence of sketchy activity at night makes it feel unsafe, which takes away from the overall experience. Great concept, but it needs more upkeep and security to really shine.

Having been born and raised in Lewiston, I feel I have the right to criticize this city and this…read morepark. I know they are trying to make the area better, but I didn't feel comfortable along my run. A lot of the people I saw were getting into trouble which is not the purpose of a nature park. It doesn't help that a lot of the trail runs next to old, dilapidated buildings. It's a shame because a trail like this along the Androscoggin River and Great Falls is a great idea. The view of the bridges, crossing the train Trussell and meeting up with other parks is fantastic. It just falls short for me. I'd rather drive a bit to find a better park.

I've been coming to the Maine Wildlife Park since I was the size of the fingerlings in the hatchery…read morehere. That's a long time! My parents used to bring us all the time when we were young; I think because MWP really IS NOT a zoo (so don't come here with that expectation). It's more of a rehabilitation center or sanctuary than anything else, and I think my parents liked how educational, real, and local it felt. We came to see Maine's wildlife in their natural habitat recover from injury, or because they were formally raised in captivity by humans, or because they were orphaned for whatever reason. It's a safe place for ME's critters who can no longer survive in the wild. (PRO TIP: Ask the staff about the animals. They have a list of all their names and how long they've been residents; if you reeeeally pry, the staff also have favorites and it's fun to hear their stories about the animals' big personalities!) I've come back a few times as an adult, and I still appreciate it. It's a gentle, relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. I've seen bears, turtles, raccoons, deer, skunks, and - yes - even moose (though, again, set your expectations accordingly: they are notorious for NOT showing up for us spectators). I have, over the years, spent a stupid amount of money feeding the trout at the pond by the hatchery. There's a ton of information there about how Dry Mills is important to the preservation and continuation of our aquatic ecological balance (they release thousands and thousands of fish into the wild every year, it's incredible!). Maine Wildlife Park itself is worth the visit, but they also have events throughout their open season as well including archery classes, plant sales, fairy-themed days, and harvest parties (just check their website FMI).

Bottom line up front: this is a center for animals which can't be released back in the wild for a…read morevariety of reasons. This isn't a zoo. However, you can see almost all the different wildlife that can be found in Maine, most importantly moose. I don't know how much I've spent on moose safaris over the past few years to never see a moose. After a nominal fee, I finally got to see one up close. They're amazing. While there are areas that have seen better days, it's good to see they're investing in improving the facilities. Definitely worth visiting, especially if you come up empty handed after a moose tour.

This is a gem of a location. A little under a mile from viva fortuna resort, it is worth the trek…read more We ventured that way late afternoon and it was an easy, safe walk along the beach, except for one area that was a little bit of unstable sand and a rock scramble. One you arrive it is an amazingly calm, clear, warm shallow bay with a sandbar that extends far into the ocean. It's perfect for lounging in the water, playing with kids and just relaxing. It doesn't seem to get deeper than 2 feet in the entire stretch unless you venture quite a ways out. Pack a towel and some snacks and spend a few hours here further away from crowds for your own special experience.

A HUGE thank you to Deni for writing a review on this place. We had no idea it existed and…read moreseriously this place made our Memorial Day Weekend. It's super cool how a tiny path enters into an amazing park and offers placards of its' historical past. Our dog loved it and we loved the dog bag stations, trashcans, and super nice benches, picnic tables and look out spots. The bridge was AWESOME too. We found a great little cafe off the path called Forest Falls Cafe, which next time we will definitely eat at. There was enough shade for our dog and a nice breeze off the river. We'll be able to come back through the summer with him even on hotter days. There were a few families that passed us on bikes, a few others eating lunch at the picnic tables, and couples walking the paths. This place should be on Boston's Chronicle as a hidden gem or tank of gas episode. Wow, we LOVED it.

We entered the park by the William Rowe School on the aptly named School Street. Some of you may…read moreknow this area of ball field and tennis courts as the space used to set up the rides for the Yarmouth Clam Festivals and have eaten your fried dough here and then had a turn on the Zipper. There are signs that caution you to leash your pet and there are rules posted for your canine companion. Please be a good dog companion ambassador and follow the rules. This is a great park for the whole family. The paths are paved so they are accessible to all (there is a hill so you may want to help anyone in a wheelchair along that section). Be aware that the river has a really fast current and rapids so children, pets and anyone else not being safe can be swept away! If you are a dog owner and want to let your pal romp free of leash, there is a designated spot at picnic point where you can "unleash the beast" and let them play. There is also a sandy spot with access to the water for your pup to jump in and cool off which one of ours gladly took advantage of. The trail winds along the rapids and falls and there are signs of old industry and left over parts of buildings. There are informational signs along the way to read. There is a bike rack and picnic area (not in an off leash section) on the side of the park near the Yarmouth History Center as well as another trail head. There are open fields where your kids can play and you can play too! without being cramped in with too many other people. I wish there were maps of the area showing the intersecting trails as this park meanders through and between many neighborhoods. We met many other people walking these trails and everyone was friendly. While dogs are supposed to be leashed, we did encounter a few off leash, however, the owners did have voice control and we had no issues. The views are amazing, the history lessons insightful and this is a great space to spend time and hang out. *as a side note... we did find an "alligator" strategically placed which made me laugh out loud. If you walk this trail and see that red eyed monster too, let me know!*