Things to do in Bangor, Maine with Kids

Bring the whole family for kid-friendly fun in Bangor, where outdoor adventures, indoor activities and surprising sites offer plenty to see and do. 

See a larger-than-life lumberjack.

Start your journey at Bass Park for a picture next to the 31-foot-tall Paul Bunyan statue, a nod to Bangor’s historic ties to the timber industry and as the purported birthplace of this lumberjack legend.

Learn through play at a museum.

At the Maine Discovery Museum, Maine’s largest children’s museum, three floors of hands-on exhibits and daily STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) programming invites little explorers to tinker, build and imagine. 

Go birding in a bog.

To get outdoors, stroll the scenic Orono Bog Boardwalk — a 0.9-mile, wheelchair accessible loop through a wetland filled with birds, frogs and fascinating flora such as pitcher plants and bog cranberries.

Get silly on a playground or splash pad.

Hit the local parks such as Stillwater Park and Fairmount Park for playgrounds, swings, slides and plenty of open space to run around. Cool off in summer at the free BangorHousing Splash Pad, where water jets, fountains and a spraying archway turn up the fun.

Stay warm in winter with indoor things to do.

In cooler weather, let the kids burn off some energy at Urban Air Adventure Park, an indoor playground packed with trampolines and obstacle courses. For quieter moments, head to the Bangor Public Library for cozy story times and special kids’ reading events. Budding artists can get creative at Zillman Art Museum, offering art camps and family workshops throughout the year.

Order off the kids’ menu.

For kid-friendly restaurants, stop by Harvest Moon Deli for freshly made sandwiches, wraps and paninis, as well as simple classics on the kids menu. Portland Pie Company serves up all kinds of pizzas, from build-your-own options for the pickiest of eaters to gourmet specialty pies for little foodies in training.

Try some new foods.

On Sundays year-round, introduce kids and teens to Maine-made treats and freshly picked produce at the Bangor Farmers’ Market.