The Saco River

The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. For this series of articles I will expound upon the merits of each stop along the Downeaster Amtrak tour.

The next stop on the tour is Saco. Rhymes with “taco”. The train lets you off in the Downtown/Main Street area, from which you can walk to shopping and dining destinations. A quick cab ride can take you to many area attractions, such as the Aquaboggan Water Park, Funtown/Splashtown USA, or the Saco Museum. Or, go canoeing down the Saco River.

The Antique Car Ride at Funtown.

Personally speaking, Funtown/Splashtown was a fixture in my childhood. Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, this combination water park and amusement park is entering its fiftieth year of operation. The 82-acre park offers over 45 rides, water slides and pools, with some of the largest attractions in Northern New England. Day-long passes range from $18-$35 depending on age, time of day, and single or multi-park usage – season passes and periodic discounts are also available. The park even boasts a weather guarantee if things turn stormy.

Then when you’re done with your day’s activities, hop back on the train and head on down the line!

Past articles in this series:
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Overview
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Portland, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Old Orchard Beach, ME

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “The River” by Rezsox on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Julian sitting with my mom on the antique cars at Funtown USA” by Jennratonmort on Flickr Creative Commons.