Saco, ME Outdoor Activities

Continuously operated by the Lahout family since 1920, Lahout’s Country Clothing and Ski Shop has supplied four generations of shoppers with winter-sports gear and backcountry apparel. Patagonia, North Face, and Columbia clothing highlights their collection of seasonal apparel, while their on-site ski shop rents out skis and snowboards and offers fast turn-around on tune-ups.

A fleet of sleek, futuristic-looking vehicles awaits drivers at Let’s Ride Rentals, where an able staff distributes motorcycles and snowmobiles for all-season recreation. They partner with Profile Powersports to rent out Spyder three-wheeled motorcycles with manual and semi-automatic transmissions to riders aged 21 and older. Renters are then free to roam throughout Mount Washington Valley including all of its lakes, mountains, and leprechaun-infested forests. During the winter, the staff doles out snow-centric vehicles, including Ski-Doo snowmobiles comfy enough for families meandering through snowy woods and sleek enough for zookeepers pursuing an escaped snowman.

Captain Mike, a Coast Guard–licensed boater, takes singles, pairs, and groups of three onto the water in a boat built in 2011 and checked daily for safety. Parasailers prep for their ascent by strapping into equipment garnered from the world's leading parasail equipment manufacturers. A multicolored parachute then pulls them soaring into the blue firmament for a thrilling ride and views typically only seen while inside a paper airplane.

The six different parasailing experiences cater to varying tastes, with the Wet 'n' Wild option guaranteeing a dunk in the water and the Elevator Gone Mad flight promising patrons a quick shot into the air before falling gently back to earth. For another means of taking in the sights, the crew sets up beach-goers with safe, speedy jet skis that can hold up to three passengers.

When Peter Joyce realized how many Maine civilians and law-enforcement officers could benefit from learning fundamental firearm skills that would protect them in life-threatening scenarios, he decided to start Weaponcraft. Since its founding in 1993, Weaponcraft’s staff of Special Response Team and SWAT operators and instructors have imbued novice and expert pupils with the same training that military personnel receive. From an introductory firearms class to courses specializing in advanced tactical techniques, each small class includes plenty of individual attention to ensure each student leaves with improved firearm comfort, knowledge, and skills.

Since its inception as a restaurant and mini-golf course in 1960, Funtown Splashtown USA has steadily expanded to include manifold family-friendly theme-park attractions and water-park slides. The park invites thrill-seekers to rush down the slopes of the wooden Excalibur rollercoaster or free-fall 220 feet from the zenith of the Dragon's Descent tower. At the Splashtown waterpark, guests combat the summer sun aboard two-person slide tubes or circular family rafts. And at the Portland Pirates Paradise attraction, visitors fire water cannons and slip through eight water slides. Between slips and slides, families can unwind on the 1,200 lounge chairs or grab a snack at the picnic areas, so long as they make sure to wait at least 30 minutes before swimming or picnicking again.