The Biddeford center point is approximately 2 miles southwest of Funtown Splashtown USA and 6 miles north of Shoot the Moon.
As you might expect with somewhere in Maine, Biddeford has a brief but highly concentrated warm season. This season consists of the 3 1/2 months from early June to mid-September. It can be an exceptionally pleasant summer season, with average highs of 70 degrees, and the hottest day of the year capping off at a reasonable 79 degrees. Unsurprisingly, hotel rates go up then, but off-peak weeks like the post-summer rush can be a time to grab bargains on rooms.
Biddeford's cold season is also 3 1/2 months in length, from the start of December until mid-March. The good news for winter-sport enthusiasts, however, is that the town's snowy season lasts almost twice that length, from early November until late April. Again, catching the snow on the early or late ends of this will yield more affordable room rates.
As far as when to go, the best combination of tourist activities and clear days can be found in the warm season, especially the second week of August. For those focused more on beach and water activities, there's a smaller window — early July to mid-August — with the last week of July considered the sweet spot for hot-weather fun.
The Hampton Inn Saco is a haven for good accommodations and better discounts for seniors, AAA members, and government and military workers. It's a scant 2 1/2 miles from the center of town and has everything to fit a busy traveler's needs: free breakfast, a 24-hour fitness room, an outdoor pool (seasonal), and an accommodating pets policy.
Just a few miles down the road in Kennebunk is the Port Inn Kennebunk, a picturesque collection of Colonial-style buildings that looks more like a moneyed estate than a hotel. But for seniors and AAA members, the price markdowns are equally breathtaking. Visitors also praise the hotel's stylish look, especially its lobby artwork and room decor, as well as its helpful amenities like free newspapers and a 24-hour business center.
Value enthusiasts will find plenty to get excited about at the Holiday Inn Express Biddeford. Despite coming in at under $100 on average, the Holiday Inn Express's rooms are jam-packed with conveniences like microwaves, ironing boards, blackout shades, and lighted work desks. Also ranking high in convenience is the Holiday Inn Express's now-famous "grab-and-go" complimentary breakfast room, complete with a make-your-own pancake machine.
Another steal as far as value accommodations is the Hampton Inn Saco/Biddeford. Free parking, free Wi-Fi, full accessibility — the Hampton Inn Saco-Biddeford has it all. For business travelers, there's a full-time business center, meeting suites, and audio-visual equipment rental available. But the Hampton Inn Saco-Biddeford also earns kudos from guests for its exceptionally clean rooms, hot breakfast ("tasty, many options") attentive staff, and — saving the best for last — complimentary cookies.
Biddeford is surrounded by scenic waterways. On one side is its lengthy coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, which New York Magazine described as “The Maine Coast's Most Beautiful Beach." This coastal area is also home to Fortune's Rocks, a quiet, off-the-beaten-path place to take in nature's majesties. Once you're done with relaxing on the beach, adjacent Saco Bay is a great place to do all manner of watersports like sailing and ocean kayaking.
On the other side of town is the historically critical Saco River, which has since traded in lumber and textile shipments for fun on the water like kayaking and canoeing. For a completely different kind of aquatic experience, families will enjoy Funtown/Splashtown U.S.A., the largest family-themed amusement and water park in northern New England, or Aquaboggan Water Park, Maine's original water park.
Land-lubbers also have a smorgasbord of beautiful areas to explore. Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy plentiful hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing on the Saco Bay Trails. In addition to the gorgeous beachfront, explorers will get to see unique flora and fauna — for example, the rare tupelo trees of Tupelo Swamp. The Rachel Carson Wildlife Preserve and the historic Biddeford Pool are also wonderful vantage points for watching birds and beasts of all kinds.
Culturally, Biddeford offers the fascinating history of its recently shuttered lumber mills through a $10 mill tour. For kids of all ages, the Seashore Trolley Museum shines a light on a fun and sometimes-forgotten chapter of transportation history. Best of all, your ticket includes a free ride on a restored trolley car. There's also a flourishing arts scene taking over Biddeford with standout local galleries like Engine, and a panorama of local artists' works on display at the Saco Museum.
If you can make it to Biddeford in June, everything goes "en Francais" for a four-day-long festival of Franco-American heritage known as La Kermesse. Highlights of La Kermesse include a parade, concerts, dances, and fireworks.
As for dining, the typical Maine experience is to inhale as much fresh shellfish as you can. But for a very different Maine experience in Biddeford, you might also try the Palace Diner. Housed inside a nearly century-old railroad dining car, the Palace Diner sports exceptional thick, grass-fed burgers and crispy fries, as well as lighter fare like caramelized grapefruit. And when you're done eating, you'll want to chase down your meal at one of the many local microbreweries, such as Banded Horn. Both a brewery and a tasting room, Banded Horn is very friendly to samplers and boasts unique creations like their Binary double IPA, which contains twice the malt of a typical beer.
In short, despite some rather extreme weather conditions, Biddeford packs a lot of punch into its quaint "mill town" exterior. Miles and miles of unspoiled natural scenery and activity await the adventurous types, while memorable shopping, dining, touring (and beer-drinking) experiences are yours for the taking as well. It's no wonder Dr. Vines made his home here, or that so many generations fought over this little town. Biddeford has a lot to offer, even 300 years after its founding. With a wide range of hotel accommodations in town and in very close neighboring towns, Biddeford is a place that's not only easy to explore — it's also pretty hard to leave.
Below are reviews of the city of Biddeford, ME from an actual visitor's perspective.
Biddeford is a great city to visit and do business in.
Biddeford is a lovely area.