• Maine coastportland headlight lighthouse - vertical image by Scott Philbrook from Fotolia.com
  
  Portland, Maine, on Casco Bay, has family-friendly kayaking, fishing and canoeing guided tours, easy hiking trails and flat coastal bicycling. Explore lighthouses, visit the working farm, Smiling Hill Farm, which has a petting zoo and ice cream shop, or go to an ocean or lake-front beach. The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine is an interactive museum in the heart of Portland's downtown art district. Train buffs shouldn't miss the a ride on the antique cars at Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum.
  
  

Portland Harbor Hotel

• The luxury hotel, Portland Harbor Hotel, offers free bike rentals (with helmets) and free car service to downtown tourist attractions, so you can leave your car behind. The non-smoking family-friendly hotel has separate walk-in shower and soaking tub, so it is easy to bathe the kids. A fridge in the room is free, great for keeping children's snacks; at night, get a free chocolate. Deluxe, full-size cribs are free of charge.
  
  Portland Harbor Hotel
  468 Fore St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  207-775-9090
  portlandharborhotel.com
  
  

Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Waterfront

• The Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Waterfront has an indoor pool and large, family-sized suites. Rooms have full kitchens with fridge, microwave, cook top and coffee maker. The free breakfast buffet makes it easy to feed the kids first thing in the morning. The smoke-free hotel is also pet-friendly, so the whole family is happy.
  
  Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Waterfront
  145 Fore St.
  Portland, ME 04101
  207-761-1660
  marriott.com
  
  

Embassy Suites Portland, Maine

• Every two-room suite at the family-friendly Embassy Suites Portland, Maine has plenty of space, which includes a bedroom and a living room with a pull-out couch. The kitchen has a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker and Café Stroudwater has a children's menu at lunch and dinner. There is an elaborate free breakfast buffet, plus free drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the evening.
  
  Embassy Suites Portland, Maine
  1050 Westbrook St.
  Portland, ME 04102
  207-775-2200
  embassysuites1.hilton.com