City of Biddeford, Maine

A true mill city in the midst of a cultural and economic revival, Biddeford and her sister city, Saco, are enjoying a restorative injection of youthful entrepreneurship and vitality. Located just off I95, Biddeford is just half an hour south of Portland; this former textile-production giant now offers a gamut of options for recreation, dining, and necessary conveniences.

Exploring Biddeford Maine

Having the multi-pronged benefits of a beautiful coastline, a lively downtown, and a 2-mile stretch of retail shopping, dining, and healthcare options, Biddeford—Maine’s 6th largest city—is fast becoming a hotspot for relocation, especially for the younger set. A testament to this Millennial migration (Biddeford is Maine’s youngest city) is the housing boom; the once-derelict Pepperell Mill Campus is now home to over 80 beautiful, loft-style apartments, as well as 90+ small business ventures, including microbreweries (Banded Brewing and gluten-free Lucky Pigeon Brewing), a plethora of dining options (such as Elda, Rover, Jackrabbit Café, and Portland Pie Company), a museum, a gin distillery (Round Turn), along with dozens of artisans and myriad organizations.

Downtown Biddeford is also home to a whole host of other food and drink options; and whether you pull up a stool at the gorgeous bar at Magnus on Water, nab a precious counter spot at the 12-seat, renowned Palace Diner (it’s Maine’s oldest diner—and the Deluxe Sandwich and Palace Potatoes are a MUST), or opt for an old-school ice cream experience at Dairy Joy, chances are you’ll need to stretch your legs a bit after all that gastro-joy.

A Picturesque Walk

So, after indulging (and sure, maybe a bit of overindulging), it’s just a short stroll to reach Biddeford’s beautiful River Walk and pedestrian bridge. There is an amphitheater-style seating area (Laconia Plaza) overlooking the Saco River (check it out during a spring thaw—a jaw-dropping spectacle of the awe-inspiring power these former textile mills harnessed), and once you’ve crossed the bridge, voila! You’re in Saco. Follow the signage for a more extended walk through the mill complex itself—a great option during the snowy months. For any boaters, kayakers, or SUPsters, there is water access at either Rotary Park or Marblehead Boat Launch. Rotary Park is also home to leisurely walking trails, a beach with lifeguards (in season), a dog park, and a skate park, among many other attractions and conveniences.

Shopping in Biddeford

If walking just for the sake of walking doesn’t appeal to you, then how about a little retail therapy to compel you to bolster your Fitbit step count? Biddeford proudly holds a National Main Street designation, and in addition to several long-established antique and secondhand stores, a new boutique or specialty shop seems to pop up every week downtown. Whether you’re looking for clothing and gifts (Suger, Trillium, or Hills & Trails), books (Elements—whose sign boasts of “coffee, beer, and books,” or Rabelais—“fine books on food and drink”), or some really good cheese and charcuterie (Nibblesford), Biddeford is busting at the seams with fresh new options for consumers of every ilk, age, and inkling.

Art & Culture

Biddeford is also a haven for creative-minded individuals—and Engine, a unique organization that “creates space for creativity,” has been a big driver and supporter of the city’s burst of right-brained energy and artistic output. Visit their rotating exhibitions if you can to witness how they are “propelling the creative community” for the enjoyment of the public at large. Engine, along with Common Roots Studio, also launched the popular Biddeford Artwalk, which is a self-guided walking tour of local galleries and exhibits—some conveniently on temporary display in popular eateries and libation locations—scattered throughout the downtown area; it takes place the third Friday of each month. And for further artsy enjoyment, check out the offerings at the gorgeous City Theater—be sure to take a moment to read about its storied past (which even includes a house ghost).

Another Engine collaboration is the annual River Jam & Fringe Fest, which typically take place the third weekend in August. The product of a partnership with the Heart of Biddeford, this weekend of live performances includes music, demonstrations, and interactive shows, and takes place on Main Street and in Shevenell Park, rain or shine.

Once you get away from the downtown area, you still have decisions to make. If you crave a bit of fun in the sun, head on out to Fortune’s Rocks, Biddeford Pool, or Middle Beach—but head out early if it’s a quintessential Maine beach day because the paid parking goes fast. And if you find yourself at Biddeford Pool, take an Insta-worthy shot of the Camera House—rumor has it that the oddly-shaped home was built by the Kodak family back in the day; when viewed from a certain angle, it resembles an old-school Instamatic, complete with cube-style flash.

Daily Living in Biddeford

When your needs are more utilitarian than recreational, head south from downtown through Five Points (a confluence of—yup, you guessed it—five intersections) and take Route 111 to the city’s bigger-store retail corridor. Sprawling north and south of the I95 access point and the Biddeford Connector to Route 1, chances are you won’t need to go any further from here to find whatever you need. Restaurants (Chili’s, Kobe, Five Guys, and Mi Pueblo, to name a few), retail options (Target, Michael’s, TJ Maxx, Kohl’s, Walmart, Home Depot, Goodwill), health and wellness (Southern Maine Health Care, CVS, Planet Fitness), automotive services (gas stations, a car wash, and repair shops), along with a host of other businesses await the needy consumer along this stretch of commercial offerings.

Just a short drive from downtown sits the breathtakingly beautiful University of New England campus. This state-of-the-art, private university is an oceanside gem—and although it is Maine’s largest private university, it still has that intimate, small school feeling.

While Biddeford may feature Maine’s youngest median age (35…and 29 in downtown!), this bustling city-of-many-faces offers an abundance of appealing features and attractions for all ages and stages of life.

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