Things to Do in Saco

Surrounding Kennebunkport Marina is a town awash in centuries of nautical history; the community also boasts a spot on AOL Travel's list of the 10 Best Beach Towns in America. The marina contributes to its pristine environs with new docks, an outdoor fireplace, and a riverside courtyard where guests can lounge on adirondack chairs. From the docks, which have hookups for water and 30- and 50-amp service, boaters can captain their vessels down the Kennebunk River or travel one-quarter mile to open ocean waters. Year-round storage keeps ships protected during winter or transatlantic spitball wars, and spring engine commissions by certified technicians prep boats for the sailing season.

Those without their own watercraft can join the Kennebunkport Boat Club, which grants members of any skill level access to a quartet of boats that range from 15 to 26 feet. Additionally, the store offers powerboat, canoe, and kayak rentals, and reservations of the Captain's Cottage make lodgers feel more nautical than tying their shoelaces in bowline knots.

Merriland Farm's par 3 course winds through fields of blueberry and raspberry, adding color and character to the 200-year-old working farm. At just 841 yards, the short course presents holes that range in distance from the 63-yard seventh up to the 119-yard third. Farm owner and course designer Jim Morrison makes up for the lack of overall distance by punishing errant shots with such hidden hazards as a brush-filled gully on hole two and a pond on hole eight, which players must avoid by selecting the right club or waiting for the next drought. The bucolic landscape also features a driving range with flagstick markers for golfers to warm up at.

Lauded by Yankee Magazine and featured on the Food Network, the on-site café got its start as a roadside stand from which Julie Morrison sold her delicious pies and jams. Visitors relax amid the comfy environs of the dining room or breathe in the fresh farm air on the outdoor patio.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 27 course
• Total length of 841 yards
• One tee box per hole

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.

Within Dudziak's School of Gymnastics’ two-story, 12,000-square-foot facility, athletes back spring across three tumble tracks into foam and resi pits or flip atop four in-ground trampolines. With the help of this equipment, certified instructors lead students, primarily aged K–12, through lessons in gymnastic and tumbling. Their routines cover skills from tumbling basics to high-flying maneuvers as advanced as opening an airplane’s sunroof. Summer camps and afterschool programs help keep kids active when they’re not in school.