South Portland, ME Outdoor Activities

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

The karts at Maine Indoor Karting definitely aren’t of the amateur variety. The center maintains a fleet of European racing karts that balance the power of 200 CC, 6.5-hp Honda engines and wet clutch drive systems with the comfort of adjustable padded seats. Before climbing into these speed machines, adults must first attend safety briefings, suit up in provided uniforms, and strap on helmets. Drivers younger than 15 must complete an intensive safety course on how to steer safely, increase speed, and ramp over oncoming fruit carts. But all that prep proves to be worth it when drivers squeal out onto the newly renovated serpentine track and motion-blur their way through 1,200 feet of narrow stretches and sharp switchbacks.

The family-fun center also houses an indoor 18-hole miniature golf course and an arcade filled with video games. An on-site café serves casual fare such as hot-dogs, hand-made pizza, and root beer floats.

Back Country Excursions founder Cliff Krolick set up his mountain-biking base camp in 1991 with the aim of guiding adventurists on low-environmental-impact tours along the 26-mile network of trails spread across the White Mountains' foothills. The trails, accessible with one-day or annual passes, traverse terrain suitable for both novice and advanced riders, from a gently rolling double track to harrowing technical descents peppered with slaloms and tree spring noose traps set by territorial squirrels. Cliff and his crew of savvy cyclists guide multi-day biking tours through the wilderness and set up camp for overnight trips in their mountain lodge or screened-in backcountry yurt. To ensure that the environment stays pristine for future generations, Cliff donates a portion of annual profits to a variety of local environmental causes.

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.

With access to thousands of acres of forests and fields, Carousel Horse Farm's expert equestrians take riders of all skill levels on scenic jaunts through the Maine countryside. Private or group trail rides in Casco explore the local woods, hills, and fields, sometimes including stops to fetch ice cream or to wipe down horses' windshields. Horse-drawn carriage rides, offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, provide an opportunity to admire Old Orchard Beach in the summer. Guided beach horseback rides are also available from October 15 through April 30.

Throughout the skating season from July to April, more than 60,000 people visit Portland Ice Arena for open-skate sessions, to play hockey, or watch an event. Public sessions during those months send skaters of all ages gliding across the rink. The arena also plays host to a number of other icy scenes, including learn-to-skate classes and practices for the AHL's Portland Pirates. Away from the 750-seat arena, the facility provides sharpening services, rentals, and a concession area.