Discover Saco: Beaches, Nature, and History

A sweeping view of miles of white-sand beaches between the Saco River and Pine Point awaits you at Ferry Beach State Park. Saco also offers destinations with a variety of different attractions: amusement parks, a peatland, and places where you can explore regional history and art. You can tailor your trip to whether you’d rather spend time outdoors, enjoy rides, or learn about the city’s history.

Beachscapes and distinctive nature

Ferry Beach State Park is known for its expansive beach scenery: the view stretches across miles of white-sand beaches between the Saco River and Pine Point. If you’re interested in nature beyond the coast, Saco Heath Preserve offers a different landscape. A self-guided hike follows a forest trail to a boardwalk through diverse peatland communities. The trail makes the heath a worthwhile destination for anyone looking to add a nature experience to their stay.

This habitat is also connected to a distinctive feature of the local wildlife. The Atlantic white cedar stand at Saco Heath supports one of only two populations of Hessel’s Hairstreak in Maine. This link between the cedar stand and the butterfly population adds another dimension to a visit to the preserve. The beach and the heath offer two different impressions: the open expanse of white-sand beaches and the diverse communities of a peatland landscape.

Amusement parks and active experiences

At Funtown USA Ride Park, Excalibur is home to Maine’s only wooden roller coaster. Thunder Falls is New England’s longest and tallest log flume ride. These two rides offer different experiences: Excalibur is a wooden roller coaster, while Thunder Falls is a water ride. If you’re traveling with children, amusement park outings can be an option for days spent together; which attractions you plan to visit depends on what your family feels like doing.

Splashtown Water Park has pools and slides, offering another kind of amusement park experience. Funtown USA Ride Park and Splashtown Water Park offer different attractions, so you don’t have to center your trip on just one activity. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home in Saco, you can first consider which of these experiences appeal to you most.

City history, art, and a short walk

The Saco Historic District covers 103 acres and includes 206 buildings. These figures convey the size of the historic district and the number of buildings it contains. Saco Museum, a historic and cultural institution downtown, offers another way to explore Saco’s history. It features exhibitions on regional history as well as fine and decorative arts, and its collection includes more than 12,000 objects. The museum brings together different collection and exhibition themes, from regional history to art forms.

If you’re interested in history, you can also add the Saco Museum Main Street Walk to your itinerary. This history trail includes 12 informational panels. Another route is Below the Falls: the out-and-back trail from Riverfront Park is approximately 0.75 miles long. The approximate distance can help you fit the tour into your day’s plans; the trail offers another way to explore Saco on foot.

Choose the focus that suits your stay

These destinations appeal to different interests: beach views and peatland landscapes highlight nature, amusement parks center on rides and water, while the Historic District, museum, and history trail showcase local history and culture. When looking for a place to stay in Saco, you can consider which part of the trip you’d most like to emphasize. Are you mainly interested in nature, amusement park experiences, or cultural discoveries? It’s best to choose a vacation rental or vacation home based on the kind of getaway that suits your trip.

Other places to explore include Kittery, Wells, Buxton, Biddeford, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Old Orchard Beach and Limerick.

For the broader travel overview: York.