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.

We went during the week so I am not sure about the crowd on the weekends. We had a great time and…read morestaff is super friendly. We will definitely come back.

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.

There are multiple improvements this year. The park is newly paved from the main road to the beach…read morearea. There are new entry booths far from the main road effectively ending the back up in the main road. I highly recommend the state park pass.

We've camped all over the state of Maine, but keep coming back to this campground right in our…read morebackyard. It's priced at a premium over other Maine state parks, $10 more per night, but worth every penny. And I much prefer it to the campsites that cost three times as much that have cable hook ups and far too many conveniences. Nice balance between modern conveniences and good old fashioned family fun.

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!

Goose Rocks Beach is beautiful. This is the second time that we have stayed in this area…read more My family and I rented a home for a few days within walking distance of the beach. The beach was immaculately clean, and I was happy that in early June, we were allowed to bring the dogs on the beach all day (as long as they were leashed).

My absolute happy place…read more Beautiful water and sand. When it's low tide, you can walk forever! The inlet allows for some waves, but the tides allow for a family friendly experience. Very walkable beach. When tide is low you can walk to Timber Point. Limited parking so you'd have to walk or ride your bike!

We have rented kayaks from Sebago Trails for quite a few years. They deliver to our cottage and…read morealways bring great kayaks and deliver and pick up on time. Wonderful people who always go the extra mile! Highly recommend!

Having done this twice now, I won't come back a third time. The novelty wore off upon our second…read moreouting, but I still think it's absolutely worth doing at least once! Some things still hold true a year later: 1. Scheduling, paying for, and signing the waiver for your adventure online is unbelievably easy. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or canoes for 2, 3, or 4 hours at a time (embarking between 9a and 3p. You can add a lesson before your rental, a cell phone dry bag, a dog life jacket, and a large dry bag all for an additional nominal fee. You can launch from Sebago Trails (side note: they have a really neat - and super secure - docking system/apparatus for you to get in and out of your vessel safely) or pick-up and take-away (something we haven't done, but - contrary to what I said above - *is* something we'd come back here for if that was an option for us)! 2. There's plenty of parking! Unfortunately: a) One of our kayaks was broken (which they told us about, but still put one of us in), and in the end we had to turn around after a little bit of paddling to swap it out. The kayaks aren't all the same brand or style, either, so where I was in something super sleek (that moved quickly through the water), my partner was in something much bulkier (that took a lot more work to paddle). b) The staff was so friendly and welcoming the first time! The second time, not so much. So, for us anyway, it's a bit hit or miss there. The SPTC map: a) The first time we came we kayaked Panther Run (a really mellow, lazy river inlet), portaged across the Mill Street Dam, kayaked all the way up Panther Pond, and ended at Hawthorne Beach where we swam and enjoyed snacks. It was a workout, but we saw so much wildlife and hardly saw other people. Such a peaceful, lowkey, lovely way to spend a day! b) The second time we came there had been no rain most of the summer. And that changed the Panther Run experience entirely (as there was barely any water): we got stuck on the sand so often, that we decided to turn around and head out into Sebago Lake instead (another route that STPC offers if you're not renting and taking away). We kayaked up to Hot Tub Island (which is this man made ring of stones) for lunch but it - and the knee deep water around it - was absolutely covered in and full of bird poop. So we kayaked over to Raymond Beach which was the other spot STPC suggested, but it was so crowded we had nowhere to pull up. In the end it was a nice day bobbing in the water - we saw lots of fish, baby ducks, turtles, and an enormous barn owl! - but not for $90.

How did I not know about this place?? Fabulous. Quiet. feel sorry for the neighbors if too many…read morepeople go there.

I am not the kind of mermaid who needs to drive her car right onto the beach. I'm not into…read moretailgating. I'm not into opening the back of my vehicle to blast music and create a Daytona-esque feel. That's just me. If any of those things are appealing, then come to Stover's Cove especially on the weekend. I'm not sure this place is much of a secret. When we came it was FILLED with giant trucks (many from Massachusetts) that had emptied out contents like canopy tents, beach furniture of all kinds, eight foot tables for buffets and beer pong, corn hole, SUP, kayaks, you name it. We found what we thought was a quiet area all the way at the end of the gravelly hook-shaped land (nothing here is sandy, so don't expect a traditional beach) but were almost immediately surrounded - people a few feet to our left, right, and behind. This is a cove, so remember there are no open ocean views or waves of any kind (unless they're coming from jetskiers) which is great for the ecosystems of the salt marshes. It's very still, very warm ocean water with views of homes, trees, Harpswell Sound, and the cribstone bridge. The ocean floor is more mushy then rocky or compact. Obviously this is all nitpicky and totally preferential, but Maine is filled with so many glorious swimming and sunbathing spots, that it's really all about finding what makes you happy. Is this a free place to swim? Yes. Is parking abundant (and also free)? Yes. Is it great for kiddos who maybe are a bit nervous about swimming or the ocean? Yes. Is it suitable if you have mobility issues? Yes. Also, they permit fireworks on July 3rd, 4th, 5th and December 31st and January 1st. Definitely check it out, but be careful of driving in. Your undercarriage thanks you.

This is a fantastic public campground ($25/nt) and beach ($5/day). The water at the lake is clean,…read morewarm (in the summer), and the beach is well cared for. There are watercraft available for rental ($20/hr). The campground is professionally managed with DNCR staff ready to help. Firewood is sold on site (no outside firewood permitted) at $7/bundle. The patrons for the most part are kind and respectful (sadly, not all). Reserve online and come and enjoy this gem!

We loved it here! Absolutely gorgeous beach. We did not camp but spend several days here. You can…read morepay to leave and re-enter the beach area. The beach has a picnic area and trees so you don't have to be in the sun the entire day. The water is shallow so it's great for small kids. They do allow you to bring or buy floats. Snack stand was a typical camping store with Keurig Coffee and teenagers. They also had a great playground in the beach area so it's excellent for families!

This beach is the reason I moved to Winthrop! Situated on the end of Maranacook Lake, this little…read moretown beach is my favorite local spot for a swim, float, picnic, and family outing! In peak summer days the shore is lined with families, food trucks, kids on bikes, boaters, kayakers, and all other species of lake lovers. The waters of Maranacook Lake are clear, pristine, and brisk! The beach is easily walked to from downtown Winthrop, which is lined with cool shops, a subway, couple of eateries. The town beach is clean, nicely maintained, trash receptacles are available, lots of green space to picnic and chill. The boat launch is nearby as is a lovely park with benches and a community gazebo. On the 4th of July this is THE place to be! Amazing fireworks food trucks, and of course the Winthrop PD regularly patrols so you can take your leisure in a safe, monitored location. As a local I love using the beach in the off season. There's always tons of free parking and the Winthrop peeps are just great, kind, people who don't mind sharing their gem of a beach with out of towners who respect and abide the rules. While at the beach take a stroll, explore the neato downtown area, and soak up the sun and fun vibes! Bring the fam and chill on the shore of the beautiful Maranacook Lake. Oh! And boaters if you put in the lake check your boat and trailers for milfoil (a nasty invasive plant) it's the law in Maine. No milfoil in or out of our water bodies. Enjoy!

Very nice area to just relax, take in the view, enjoy the fresh breeze and kids can go for a swim…read more,fish etc.

What a beautiful and serene spot!…read more Echo Lake is approximately 15.7 acres. Two granite ledges called White Horse and Cathedral Ledge surround it. We went later in the afternoon so parking was ample. A short walk leads you to the picnic area and lake. It's about a 1 mile hike around the lake. The water was clear and cold. There were lots of mosquitoes at that hour. We enjoyed seeing the tadpoles in the water. My family enjoyed our time there and can't wait to go back to this picturesque spot!

m a local to the state of NH about 1.5hr drive from this beautiful place…read moreWill recommend Will return Check the bacteria site before heading up to make sure its swim able I have state park plates so I went to New Hampshire State Parks website and made a reservation for this particular day in Wood State Park plates you pay one dollar which is your processing fee Without state Park plates, the entry fee is eight dollars per car I recommend making reservations on the website rather than just rolling up in person. They do have a large parking lot, but it seems to fill very quickly. The beach is very family oriented. You can rent canoes. You can rent kayaks. You can rent paddle boats. The fees are very reasonable. They have tubes. You can also purchase for a small fee of six dollars. The beach was not overcrowded. They have many hiking trails and areas around that area as well. They have charcoal grills that you can use up off the beach with some grassy area that you could also camp at. There is also a bathhouse there that's open as well as a small store There are no lifeguards it's a swim at your own risk Very very clean