Summer is well and truly over, and winter, with its different kinds of activities, isn’t here yet. But unless we want stir-crazy youngsters, some out-of-the-house activity is still a must.

Because it’s hunting season, many wooded areas are probably not the best locations, either. (If you do take kids to the land trusts, try to take them in the brightest part of the afternoon, and make sure everyone is decked out in blaze orange. Or just wait for a few weeks until the coast is clear.)

If the weather’s good, state parks are always safe, but wear the orange anyway just in case a hunter strays across a boundary line.

If you have two hours

Lunch is over and naptime hasn’t started, and you want to get the kids outside for a while. Here are a few good choices that aren’t too far away:

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

426 Wolfe’s Neck Road, Freeport. (865-4465)

The park has gentle trails, some paved and stroller-friendly, as well as interpretive signs, and occasionally, ranger-led expeditions. There are also open spaces for kids to run, well-tended bathrooms, and picnic tables and grills. If the day turns out to be somewhat warmer, there are places to explore the intertidal zone. In winter, there is snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Ospreys nest there in the spring, but they’ll be mostly gone this time of year. Still, bring field glasses and you might even spot an eagle.

Bradbury Mountain State Park

528 Hallowell Road, Pownal. (688- 4712)

Best for older kids, Bradbury Mountain offers spectacular views from its summit. Kids can mountain bike here on all the trails, and horses are allowed on most trails. In the winter, snowmobiling and snowshoeing happens here. There is a tent campground and a picnic area.

Fort Popham Historical Site

At the end of Rt. 209, Phippsburg

Ft. Popham is a granite fort that was begun during the Civil War and never completed. Nearby is the site of Popham Colony, where Maine’s first ship was built in 1607. The fort is next to Hunnewell Beach, which even in November offers some sheltered paddling on warm days. It’s a dog friendly site, so dogs are welcome on the beach (though not in the fort itself). Unlike the larger Popham Beach State Park, there are no fees for use.

If you have six hours

You want to get the kids out and active for the better part of the day. Consider:

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Off Barters Island Road, Boothbay. (633-4333)

First of all, admission is free from November to April, making it an attractive option. But the gardens, though quieter in the fall, aren’t empty, and there are children’s gardens, places for active play, outdoor art, indoor activities, and more. You may have to bring your own lunch this time of year, but there are plenty of places to enjoy it.

Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine

142 Free St., Portland. (828- 1234)

Not far from the Portland Museum of Art is the Children’s Museum, which has not only active play opportunities, but also educational exhibits. Everything can be touched, or climbed, or swung on. Cost is a little steep at $9 per person, with only babies free, but often public libraries have coupons in the children’s room. Ask before you go!

If you have an overnight opportunity

New England Aquarium

1 Central Wharf, Boston

The New England Aquarium’s centerpiece is a giant four-story ocean tank, home to some of the most magnificant creatures in the oceans, including a large green sea turtle, and a delightful family of penguins at its base.

The aquarium recently opened a shark and ray touch tank, and is wellknown for its marine mammal center.

If the weather is good, a whale watch is well worth a visit. The costs are relatively high but worth it, at $25 for adults and $18 for children. Combine your ticket with an IMAX film to maximize the value or, on a warm day, take in a whale watch tour.