Brunswick, Maine, is the kind of town where you can tour world-class art for free in the morning, coast along a riverside bike path by noon, and polish off the best pizza in Brunswick—paired with house-brewed beer—before the afternoon shopping crowds hit. The loop below strings those highlights together so families, campus visitors, and day-trippers can experience culture, fresh air, and comfort food without ever moving the car. Every stop sits within a mile of Brickyard Hollow’s Brunswick taproom, making it the tastiest hub for exploring a college town that punches well above its population.
Morning on Campus: Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Free!)
The tree-canopied quad at Bowdoin College sets a genteel tone for the day. Your first stop is the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, housed in a Beaux-Arts landmark whose bronze doors were cast in Paris. Admission is always free, and doors open at 10 a.m. Tuesday–Saturday.
Inside, kids can grab a scavenger-hunt sheet while adults linger over Winslow Homer sketches, Assyrian reliefs, and an early cast of Rodin’s Burghers of Calais. Docent tours most mornings spotlight collection gems and last about 40 minutes. During Family Weekend the quad often erupts with a-cappella pop-ups and outdoor printmaking demos, making this one of the most family-friendly restaurants Brunswick visitors can count on for nearby lunch afterward.
Scenic Interlude: Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian Path
From campus it’s a 12-minute walk (or 5-minute drive) to the Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian Path, a 2.6-mile, 14-foot-wide paved greenway that hugs tidal water and rarely breaks a sweat. It’s stroller-friendly, wheel-chair accessible, and ideal for young cyclists. Scenic overlooks supply benches for bird-watching—ospreys in summer, bald eagles year-round.
Because the path ends near Cook’s Corner, you can turn around at any point for an easy out-and-back that builds an appetite without wiping out the kids. Parking is free, leashed dogs are welcome.
Why Brickyard Hollow Serves the Best Pizza in Brunswick
Back on Maine Street, two blocks from the Amtrak platform, you’ll smell delicious crust before you see the sign. Brickyard Hollow Brunswick opened in 2023 and has quickly earned local votes for best pizza in Brunswick. Ordering at the counter keeps waits short—pies land in 10-12 minutes—so parents can snag highchairs while kids draw on coloring sheets.
- Kid magnets: half-size cheese pies, soft drinks, and basics like chicken and burgers appeal to even the pickiest kids.
- For the grown-ups: the Mashed Potato & Bacon pizza plus a pint of 1901 Kölsch (4.6 % ABV) or a flight that includes hazy flagship Trestle IPA—all brewed at the New Gloucester facility that makes Brickyard a true Brunswick brewery.
- Diet tweaks: crispy gluten-free crust and vegan dairy-free mozzarella available on request.
Sunny day? Grab a patio table for people-watching: you’ll hear First Parish Church bells and Downeaster whistles—catnip for train-obsessed toddlers. Download the Brickyard Hollow App before you arrive to collect loyalty points and schedule pickup if the lunch rush swells.
Downtown Browsing: Books, Gelato & Indie Cinema
Full and happy, stroll historic Maine Street where Italianate and Federal facades house indie merchants. Pop into Gulf of Maine Books, an independent shop opened in 1979 that specializes in regional history, poetry, and nature titles. Across the arcade at Tontine Mall, Eveningstar Cinema screens arthouse flicks for parents seeking post-pizza date nights. Cap the circuit with a scoop (or dairy-free sorbetto) at Gelato Fiasco’s Flagship Store, where wild-blueberry gelato marries perfectly with lingering Kölsch notes.
Give Back While You Dine: Community Nights & Bowdoin Partnerships
Brickyard Hollow lives its “better together” motto through monthly Community Nights. Five percent of all sales—dine-in, take-out, and delivery—goes to a local nonprofit such as the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, which maintains nearby conservation trails. Student organizations can apply via the Community Involvement page, and past Bowdoin collaborations have turned pint nights into scholarship dollars. Parents: grab a charity coloring sheet so kids can vote for next month’s beneficiary while they wait for dessert.
One-Day Brunswick Itinerary at a Glance
| Time | Stop | Distance |
| 10 a.m. | Bowdoin College Museum of Art (free) | — |
| 11:30 a.m. | Androscoggin River Path stroll/ride | 0.5 mi |
| 12:15 p.m. | Brickyard Hollow – The best pizza in Brunswick | 0.2 mi |
| 1:15 p.m. | Maine Street shopping loop | 0.3 mi |
| 2 p.m. | Gelato, bookstore, optional matinee | 0.1 mi |
Save this to your phone and enjoy a zero-stress loop that covers art, exercise, food, and fun before nap time.
Fast FAQ for Family-Friendly Restaurants Brunswick Searchers
- Is museum admission really free? Yes, Bowdoin welcomes the public at no charge.
- Where can we park all day? Cedar Street lot offers ten-hour meters; Maine Street spots are free for two hours.
- Do I need a reservation at Brunswick’s top family restaurant? Walk-ins are welcome, but feel free to call ahead and ask if there’s a wait (midweek lunch time is a great time to catch a wait-free bite).
- Gluten-free or vegan options? Our crispy gluten-free crust, vegan cheese, and salads keep everyone fed.
- Can we take beer to go from this Brunswick brewery? Absolutely! Grab mix-and-match four-packs on your way out.
The Final Slice
Brunswick squeezes more variety into a single afternoon than many towns manage in a weekend—and Brickyard Hollow sits at the center, serving the best pizza in Brunswick in a space that feels every bit the family-friendly restaurant Brunswick residents recommend. Tag your trip photos #BrickyardHollow (and #BrunswickBrewery) so we can toast your Maine memories. Until then, raise a pint—or a juice box—to art, rivers, and pizza done right. Cheers!