Old Orchard Beach

The beach runs about eleven kilometres of flat hard sand, which is what made it a resort from the 1830s once the railway arrived. The pier, first built in 1898 and rebuilt repeatedly after storms and fires took it, now runs a few hundred metres out with bars and food stalls along it. Palace Playland at the seafront is a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel and carousel, one of very few beachfront parks left in New England. The town has drawn Quebec holidaymakers for well over a century - French is commonly heard in summer and businesses advertise in it. Out of season the pier and rides shut and the town is almost empty.

What you'll find

• About eleven kilometres of flat sand - hard enough to walk and cycle.
• The pier - rebuilt many times since 1898.
• Palace Playland - a beachfront amusement park, rare in New England.
• A long-standing Quebec connection - French heard everywhere in summer.

When to go

June to early September. Half a day.

Good to know

The season is roughly ten weeks and outside it nearly everything is closed. July and August are crowded and parking is paid and tight. The water is cold - this is the Gulf of Maine. It is a traditional seaside resort, not a quiet one.

Nearby

Portland is north; Kennebunkport is south.