Want to summer like a real Mainer? Here are five family-friendly classic experiences

The nostalgic pull of childhood summer experiences is something I’ll always chase.

But I grew up in Massachusetts, so my memories of childhood are from away. So I started asking Maine-born friends and colleagues what truly makes for a classic Maine summer. What are some of the must-do outings and experiences, the ones they grew up with, that signaled “summertime” to them, year after year?

Sure, most of us have a favorite lobster roll or a beach they recommend to tourists, but for lifelong Mainers of a certain age, there are specific experiences that are almost mandatory childhood memories.

Whether we’ve been here for decades, moved here during the pandemic or just rolled across the state line two months ago, those of us newer Mainers might need a little help upping our fun quotient of summer activities.

So here are five quintessential activities around the state that capture the essence of summer in Vacationland. There are dozens, even hundreds, of others that can be added to the list, so add yours in the comments.

10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. 773 Portland Road, Saco, $54, $45 (38 inches tall to under 48 inches tall) and seniors 60 and older for Funtown entry. funtownsplashtownusa.com.

Funtown Splashtown USA on Route 1 in Saco pairs a classic amusement park with a sprawling water park, making it a popular summer destination.

The attraction dates back to 1960, when the Marvel Drive-In food stand opened on the property. A go-kart track followed in 1963, with batting cages and an archery range added the following year. Funtown officially opened in 1967, and has been a fixture of Maine summers ever since.

One of the defining moments of the park’s history came in 1976 with the debut of the Astrosphere, an outer space-themed scrambler housed beneath a white dome.

50 years later, it’s still one of Funtown’s signature attractions. The ride remains frozen in time, with lasers, strobe lights, fluorescent paint, eerie wall projections and the Electric Light Orchestra instrumental “Fire on High” blasting through the speakers just as it has for decades.

It’s rare to encounter a southern Maine Gen-Xer who doesn’t have a nostalgic childhood recollection of riding The Astrosphere.

1 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. palaceplayland.com.

Palace Playland is a beachfront amusement park in Old Orchard Beach. Rides include the Drop Zone, Electra Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Matterhorn and the Sea Viper roller coaster. Kiddie Rides include the Crop Duster, Convoy and Dizzy Dragon.

But if rides aren’t your thing, you may want to immerse yourself in the sensory overload world of the Palace Playland arcade. There you’ll experience the din of enticing, high-tech offerings spread over 20,000 square feet. There’s also photo booths and vintage arcade games.

With more than 200 games to choose from, there’s something for all levels of skill and interest.

Among them is the enduring king of arcade games: Skee-Ball. The goal hasn’t changed in generations, and neither has the satisfaction of sending a ball into that elusive center ring for the highest score.

Another throwback game is the shooting range that looks like it hasn’t changed, or for that matter been dusted, in decades, which is part of its charm. If your aim is good, you’ll hit a target with a beam of light and make a piano player come to life or any number of animals move. It’s fairly ridiculous, which is why it’s entirely awesome.

9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Gate closes at 4:30 p.m.). 56 Game Farm Road, Gray, $15, $10 veterans, military and ages 2-10, free for under 2. maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park.

Until 1998, Maine Wildlife Park was known as the State Game Farm. It attracts more than 120,000 visitors annually.

As you wander the wooded pathways, you’ll come face-to-face with more than 30 species of Maine wildlife. Every animal at the park has a story. Most arrived after being injured or orphaned and can’t be returned to the wild, making the park their permanent home.

Residents include two black bears, one moose and a number of bobcats, deer, coyotes, Canada lynx, beavers, owls, bobcats, turtles, snakes, foxes, cougars and many other varieties of creatures great and small. The one exotic species in the park are peafowl. The female is called a peahen and the male, a peacock. Both have impressive fans of feathers, especially the male, who will frequently show them off.

The park has a picnic area, snack shack and gift shop.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 586 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, $20, $15 for 65 and older, $10 for 4-17, 3 and under free, free for Maine foster families with IDs and active and retired military with IDs. railwayvillage.org.

The Boothbay Railway Village Museum opened in 1965. On its 35 acres of land is a wealth of living history that turns back time 100 years.

Hop aboard the narrow-gauge train, visit the friendly goats, scan the pond for turtles and wander through an authentic village. Don’t miss the Antique Auto Museum, home to more than 60 vintage vehicles, or the sprawling model railroad display before browsing for souvenirs and curiosities at the Iron Horse Antiques and General Store.

If you’d like a deeper dive into the museum’s history, join volunteer guide Denny Wilkinson for a free 90-minute walking tour at 1 p.m. Tuesdays. The tour explores the village’s exhibits and includes a ride on the narrow-gauge railroad. Wilkinson and fellow museum expert Graham Bryer also offer private guided tours at other times for $3 per person. Call 207-633-4727 to schedule one.

Pack a picnic to enjoy on the village green or at one of the picnic tables, and feel free to bring your well-behaved dog along for the adventure.

383 Portland Road, Bridgton. Double feature nights are $24 a car (two people), $30 a car (3-6 people, additional persons $6 each). Single feature nights are $18 a car (two people), $24 a car (3-6 people, additional persons $6 each). Cash only, two-axle vehicles only (no RVs, oversize vans, trailers or box trucks). On Facebook.

There are five drive-in movie theaters left in Maine: Bridgton Twin Drive-In Theatre, Pride’s Corner Drive-In in Westbrook, Narrow Gauge Drive-In in Farmington, Skylite Drive-In in Madawaska and the Saco Drive-In in Saco.

The Bridgton Twin Drive-In Theatre is among the state’s enduring summer traditions. It opened in 1957 and has been operated by the same family since 1971.

Owner John Tevanian posts the weekly schedule on Facebook, and advance tickets are available through Eventbrite, though he said shows rarely sell out.

The theater accommodates about 250 vehicles at Screen 1 and another 150 at Screen 2. Double features are shown on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as the Monday before holidays. Movies run nightly through Labor Day before shifting to weekends through the end of October.

Audio comes through your car radio — 89.5 FM for Screen 1 and 88.7 FM for Screen 2 — a ritual that’s as much a part of the experience as watching the sun go down before the previews begin.

Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are welcome, but skipping the cash-only snack bar would be a mistake. Popcorn, burgers, hot dogs, fries, pizza, candy and ice cream are all available, all fixings for a proper drive-in feast.

Tevanian said one of the reasons drive-in movies are special is because the experience can’t be replicated at home. The most high-tech, comfortable theater or streaming on a giant TV in your living room is a vastly different experience to the timeless tradition of pulling into a spot at a drive-in theater.