City of Sanford, Maine

Close to 22,000 people reside in the small city of Sanford. It was incorporated into a city not too long ago, in just 2013. Part of the city’s border on the Northeast side runs down the middle of Mousam River, which produces some of the power for the city through use of dams. Part of the river along the border branches out and winds through the middle of the city, splitting it in half. Within Sanford is Springvale, a quiet little village with mostly houses but a handful of businesses too.

History

Like other Maine towns, Sanford has a history of sawmills and textile mills that made up the foundation of its early economy. Sanford distinguished itself by producing mohair plush (wool from angora goats), which was not found elsewhere in the area. It was wildly popular and used by some American car manufacturers to upholster their seats with. Eventually sales died down and the mills were forced to close. Today, a much wider array of businesses contribute to Sanford’s economy.

A visit to the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society Museum will give you an in-depth look at the origins of the city. There you can look through their collection of 1,500 photos on glass plate negatives, which are snapshots of life in Sanford between the late 19th and early 20th century. They also have archived newspapers, town records, and lots of other documents mostly dating back to the 1900s.

Exploring Sanford Maine

Sanford is both an exciting and safe place to live. Housing is affordable, especially compared to bordering towns Kennebunk and Wells. Sanford’s median home cost is $260K, which can get you a multi-bedroom house—good luck paying less than $300K for the same house in Kennebunk, where most family homes run closer to $400K or higher. Lovers of the Southern Maine area might want to seize this cheap real estate opportunity!

Parents might like to know that in 2018 they constructed a new high school, called Sanford High School & Regional Technical Center. With the improved and expanded campus came the same for their academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities.

The number of ways to entertain yourself in Sanford is practically endless. If you’re paralyzed with indecision, go to one of these following spots for a guaranteed great time. To make it easier, we’ll break the list down into outdoor and indoor entertainment categories.

Indoor Entertainment

If you want to go out to dinner and a movie, Smitty’s Cinema is a tiny local restaurant and cinema hybrid chain where you get to dine while watching a movie. Instead of normal auditorium seats, you sit at long, narrow tables that point towards the screen with chairs on each side. When you take your seats, a server will give you a menu and take your order. They serve burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and apps; they’ve also got desserts and plenty of alcohol. Smitty’s Sanford theaters open an hour before each movie starts, so those who want to get a jumpstart on their meal can go in early and order.

If you need a way to relax and release stress, make an appointment at Sanford Massage and Wellness. Here you can get several types of massages, all for a good price. You can also get a cupping session or a foot scrub! Buy one of their spa packages (pre-pay for a set number of massages up front) to save even more money.

Restaurants

As far as restaurants go, you’d be hard-pressed to run out of options. If you’re on the Springvale side of Sanford, check out Springvale Publick House for pub food and draft beer in a cozy setting. Also in Springvale is Kai Asian Fusion with Japanese food and Pho Saigon with Vietnamese food.

Back Street Sanford serves simple American homestyle food, as does Pilots Cove Cafe (which is inside the Sanford Regional Airport, so you can watch the planes take off!) Third Alarm Diner is one of the best diners in the area. They open early, close late, and serve their full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus all day. Meaning you can order a hamburger at 6 a.m. and an omelette at 9 p.m. Even better? They have a full bar! Breakfast for dinner with margaritas, anyone?

These are only some of the truly amazing restaurants in this city—please don’t stop at just what’s on this list!

Outdoor Entertainment

There are three places to play golf in Sanford: Pine Hollow Golf Course, Sanford Country Club, and minigolf at Mountain View Golf Range. (Hint: rounds at Pine Hollow are much cheaper than at Sanford Country Club; they’re also cash only.) If you go to McDougal Orchards, you can pick your own fruit (apples, raspberries, plums, peaches, or pears). There’s even a corn maze—just try not to get lost! This is a great place for families to visit, but a good date spot for couples too.

Make your trip to Sanford extra memorable by taking a scenic coastal flight with Southern Maine Aviation. From up above, you’ll be able to see the beauty of Maine’s beaches and coastlines on a whole new level. Daredevils can sign up for one of their discovery flights, where you’re the one flying! You’ll be in the pilot’s seat with a flight instructor guiding you for a half hour long flight. Talk about memorable!

If one or more of these activities appeals to you, come visit Sanford, Maine! Stay at the Sanford Inn or the Quality Inn, both affordable options and both just a short distance south of some restaurants and recreational spots in the area. With all of the things to do here, you surely won’t run out of ways to keep yourself entertained. But hey, it’s a good reason to come back for another vacation!

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