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All 8 South Portland Attractions »

Willard Beach

South Portland, ME
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3.5 of 5 stars 11 Reviews
Type: Beaches
Activities: Swimming
Traveler Description: It's very kid friendly.  There are a lot of little sea creatures.  It's a little rocky but it has a nice little play ground and a lot of places to... more »
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11 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    3
    6
    0
    0
    2
Date Rating
South Portland, Maine
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 2, 2012

Willard is a neighborhood and a beach. The area is often likened to Martha's Vineyard. It a small beach but remarkable close to the city and handy for a walk or picnic on a pleasant summer day. There are public bathrooms, a parking lot and a snack shop. More

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South Portland, Maine, United States
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 28, 2012

Love this beach! Peaceful, relaxing, and it has its own food court. Restrooms also available. Enjoy! More

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See 2 more reviews by Elaine W for South Portland
ottawa
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed August 16, 2011

A great laid-back community beach. It's a local spot and not aimed at tourists. No trinket vendors, no t-shirts, etc. Just a great view, gradual sloping entry perfect for young kids, great bay views. A place to slow down and enjoy the beauty! More

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South Portland, ME
1 review
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 24, 2010
5
people found this review helpful

I've lived in Maine for 14 years and Willard Beach is one of my favorite places. At high tide, there isn't much beach, but at low tide, the beach is spacious and the bay is much warmer. This beach is clean, there are life guards, a great snack shop and clean public restrooms. It's a locals beach so there are... More

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Buford Ga
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed July 23, 2008
1
person found this review helpful

I have been going to Willard Beach since i was a kid, i moved out of State about 15 or so years ago. But everytime i go back home, i am sure to go to Willard. And i take my kid there now as well. Very kid friendly (always has been) it's kept up well, bathrooms are clean (especially for... More

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A TripAdvisor Member
Portland
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 9, 2006
1
person found this review helpful

A small beach with changing room facilities, a small snack bar (during the summer season) a great jungle gym / slides for kids, and usually not too crowded, especially during the week. Oh yeah, and the water is as warm as it ever gets in Maine (which isn't very) and it's clean. This is a terrific family beach if you... More

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A TripAdvisor Member
SoPortland, Maine
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
1 of 5 stars Reviewed September 6, 2004
1
person found this review helpful

As some others have written, this place is terrible. At times the beach is covered with smelly dried up seaweed made even worse by low tide. The friendly Mainers walking the beach may only smile and say hello. A place like this should be left to only those who know how to enjoy such treasures. More is not always better. More

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A TripAdvisor Member
Porltand, Maine
1 review
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed August 18, 2003
4
people found this review helpful

My kids' favorite beach! Willard has sand, sea, and best of all a brand new PlayGround right on the beach!! The surf is much lower than most other beaches making it great for young children. (If you are looking to swim and play in large cascading waves, head to a less sheltered beach.) It is a relatively small beach, making... More

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A TripAdvisor Member
Minneapolis, MN
1 review
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed July 24, 2003
3
people found this review helpful

This beach is little known--so, you can always find a place to spend the day. It has a snack bar, a lighthouse that you can walk out to and a beautiful point where you can see the islands of casco bay--truly a gem in the rough. More

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A TripAdvisor Member
South Portland, ME
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 30, 2003
2
people found this review helpful

Willard Beach is not a great beach for swimming. The water is frigid! It is a beautiful scenic spot. The view of the harbor traffic and islands is wonderful. Free admission and good parking makes it a great picnic spot. More

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