Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
4.5(1.5K)google
4.2(85)yelp
KidsBaby-FriendlyIndoorOutdoorInteractiveHands-OnEducationalScienceArtPerformance
Overview
Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine is located on Thompson's Point in Portland, Maine, and features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and activities for children and families.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
TueClosed
Wed9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SatClosed
Sun9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeOpen year-round, this award-winning facility is custom-designed for families. Booking a weekday slot at 9:00 AM at opening is highly recommended to explore the interactive, multi-story educational playscapes before large weekend crowds emerge. Kids can captain a scaled replica of a Maine lobster boat inside, or explore the outdoor tidal splash wetlands discovery zone on a sunny 2:00 PM afternoon.
Getting ThereLocated in the trendy Thompson's Point peninsula development at 250 Thompson's Point Road. Drivers take I-295 straight to Exit 5A, following the prominent signs onto the headland where vast asphalt pay-parking fields span. Outstandingly, it sits steps from the Portland Transportation Center (PTC) train hub; passengers off Amtrak or Concord Coach lines enjoy a flat 5-minute pedestrian walk.
Travel Tips
- Relocated to the Thompson's Point district, the venue operates under an absolute advance online timed-entry ticket mandate; prime weekend morning blocks routinely sell out days prior, rendering physical walk-up ticketing non-viable at the counter.
- Thompson's Point utilizes an independent, high-tariff private pay-by-plate parking matrix; operators must download and utilize the designated mobile application (e.g., ParkMobile) immediately upon vehicle docking to eliminate swift commercial fines.
- Rigid bio-safety protocols strictly ban outside allergen-heavy and nut-based loose food from entering active interactive zones; oversized daypacks and heavy strollers must clear thresholds and reside within the unmonitored ground-level racks.
Reviews
Positive
- A world-class children's museum! The newly relocated facility at Thompson's Point features a grand, modern visual space with three floors of interactives.
- It houses a replica lobster boat, outdoor water-play streams, and a children's theater, maximizing educational fun and family value.
- The staff are exceptionally gentle and sweet to toddlers. Safety protocols are clear, and staff constantly sanitize high-touch toy stations.
- Convenient location near transport hubs with quick highway driving access. It features flat accessible pathways, nursing rooms, and large parking lots.
Heads up
- Admission is charged at a flat premium rate for both adults and kids; total ticket spending for a larger family can feel a bit steep.
- On rainy afternoons and freezing winter weekends, tourist density hits total saturation; it gets packed with yelling children and seating is insufficient.
- While parking exists outside, the Thompson's Point lot is operated by a paid third-party mobile app, adding an extra transport expense hassle.
- Specific children's theater performances require buying extra secondary tickets and sell out fast due to small seating, causing letdowns for kids.