'''Old Orchard Beach''' [http://oobmaine.com/] is a city in the Southern Coast region of Maine.
Understand
Make sure that if you need cash, you get it in the town or elsewhere before going out for a night on the pier. The only ATM there has a surcharge of $2.50 and can have quite a line in the evening.
The bathrooms at Old Orchard Beach are not the best due to the fact there might be a guard that will ask you for a quarter but it only happens rarely.
Get in
Amtrak's [http://www.thedowneaster.com/oldorchard.html Downeaster] provides '''seasonal''' train service from Portland, Maine and Boston.
Get around
Car is the main vehicle
Motorcycles are popular
Walking but be careful construction and wilderness.
See
The Beach
The Arcade main street
The giant fireworks show at night (Only Thursday nights at 9:45 starting after the Fourth of July. Also, there is a giant fireworks show at 9:45 on the Fourth)
The ferriswheel
Do
Buy
Eat
Definitely stop by Bill's Pizza and the fry shop across the street for the best pier fries you'll find (Right on the intersection of the main strip). They are handcut and taste amazing with just a little salt and vinegar.
You can't miss with Ken's. The best clam cakes and whole belly clams in the OOB area. If you are into drinks, try their spicy bloody mary
Drink
You will find no shortage of bars located out on the pier. Remember that you can't drink on the beach. The seasonal officers patrol the beach looking for open containers.
Sleep
'''Atlantic Birches Inn''', 20 Portland Ave., (207) 934-5295, [http://www.atlanticbirches.com/]. Bed and Breakfast — the Victorian Main House built in 1903 by John Calvin Stevens during the beaches heyday, and the 1920_fs bungalow called The Cottage.
'''Edgewater Inn'''57 West Grand Ave., 800-203-2034 or 207-934-2221 (Fax:207-934-3731), [www.theedgewatermotorinn.com]. Great rates, open year round and has a fantastic furnished deck for daytime sun and evening relaxing.
'''Friendship Motor Inn''', 167 E Grand Ave, (207) 934-4644, [http://www.friendshipmotorinn.com]
'''Ocean Walk Hotel''', 197 East Grand Ave., (207) 934-1716, [http://www.oceanwalkhotel.com].
'''Royal Anchor Resort''', 203 E Grand Ave., (207) 934-4521, [http://www.royalanchor.com].
Get out
If you find the beach itself to be too crowded or dirty (the town has done a great job with trash pickup from where it was five years ago, but still has a way to go), try hunting for less-used beaches in Rye, NH or the Wells/Ogunquit area.
The northern part of the beach, also known as Pine Point and technically in Scarborough, is more peaceful and usually less crowded. Coming from Route 9, when you get to the intersection with the Clam Bake restaurant, turn right onto East Grand Avenue. Try to park in a spot on the right hand side of the street, and almost all streets on the left hand side of the road are public access to the beach.
There's also Ocean Park, located south of Old Orchard Beach. It's a gorgeous, tiny little seaside town with an amazing ice cream parlor called The Soda Fountain! Don't miss Illumination Night in August either.