Old Orchard Beach (OOB)

Set in Saco Bay, towards the southern end of Maine’s Atlantic coast is the thriving little resort town of Old Orchard Beach. The town has a long and colorful history and was once dubbed “The Garden by the Sea” which featured, you guessed it, an orchard!

However it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the town took off as a holiday resort, with the near seven mile stretch of sand as the main attraction. Old Orchard Beach soon became hugely popular and along with a pier, hotels and boardwalk it was the site of a beachfront amusement park.

Today the iconic pier and Palace Playland park still exist, with the latter being the last of its kind in New England. With its ferris wheel and rides it continues to thrill the young and young at heart.

Of course the beach here at OOB (as it is known) is still the main draw and there’s no shortage of activities from fishing to surfing to just enjoying the sun. 

Old Orchard Beach is also home to a variety of unique events throughout the year, such as the Taste of Old Orchard Beach Food Festival, the Old Orchard Beach Street Festival, and the Old Orchard Beach Classic Car Show. And when the sun goes down there’s plenty of nightlife and restaurants to check out; Old Orchard Beach has something for everyone.