Things to do in Portland
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Duckfat
If you have gourmet taste on a fast-food budget, this one-of-a-kind eatery won't disappoint. Try the innovative panini sandwiches, the duck confit salad, and, if you have a tolerance for grease, the signature fries crisped in duck fat with truffle-ketchup dip.
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Standard Baking Co
For a sweet breakfast treat, head to this Old Port bakery and order a blueberry cream scone and chocolate croissant. Portland's best organic rustic breads are made here too.
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LL Bean Store
In 1911 Leon Leonwood Bean invented the Maine Hunting Shoe, now known as the ‘Bean Boot.’ In addition to the quality and practicality of the boot’s construction, it was accompanied by a lifetime offer of replacement or repair if outdoorsmen found the item in any way unsatisfactory. Other items for the outdoors were added, notably the often-imitated LL Bean Field Coat in 1924, popular for its rugged quality and craftsmanship. These days Bean sells over one billion dollars’ worth of clothing, outdoor gear and home furnishings. And the guarantee of no questions asked and 100% satisfaction is still honored. While the merchant’s successful start began through mail order, an ad…
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Portland Trails
Thanks to the hard work of the conservation organization Portland Trails, there are more than 30 miles of multi-use trails sprinkled about the Greater Portland area, with another 20 miles on the horizon. One of the most popular paths is the 3.5-mile Back Cove Loop, which provides excellent water and city views northwest of the city center. This trail connects to the Eastern Promenade, a 2.1-mile paved waterfront path that follows a former railway, just east of East End. For a complete rundown of trails (26 in all), with maps, visit the Portland Trails website or purchase their Portland Trails Map & Guide ($4.95).
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Museum at Portland Head Light
Fort Williams Park, on Cape Elizabeth, has rolling lawns dotted with bunkers and gun emplacements, from WWII, although the fort actively guarded the entrance to Casco Bay from 1873 to 1964. Right next to the park stands Portland Head Light, the oldest of Maine’s 52 functioning lighthouses. It was commissioned by President George Washington in 1791 and staffed until 1989, when machines took over. The keeper’s house has been passed into service as the Museum at Portland Head Light, which traces the maritime and military history of the region.
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Greater Portland Landmarks
Greater Portland Landmarks offers 1½-hour walking tours of the city. It’s a sprightly trip that’ll provide you with an interesting overview of the city’s history as you make your way around the Old Port, Eastern and Western Promenades, and the Portland Head Light. Trips depart at 10:30am in front of the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland. They also offer a tour of the historic Eastern Cemetery and of Portland’s 19th-century homes (each offered once a week).
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Desert of Maine
William Tuttle came to Freeport in 1797 to farm potatoes, but his deadly combination of clear-cutting and overgrazing caused enough erosion to expose the glacial desert hidden beneath the topsoil. The shifting dunes, which are 70ft deep in some areas, cover entire trees and the old farm’s buildings. Admission includes a 30-minute tram tour and lots of kiddy activities. To reach the farm, take I-95 exit 19 and head west of the highway for 2 miles.
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Portland Museum of Art
Works of Maine painters Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth are showcased at the Portland Museum of Art. Maine's finest art museum also boasts solid contemporary collections; post-Impressionist works by Picasso, Monet and Renoir; and a brilliant collection of Portland art glass. If you enjoy period homes, be sure to stroll through the restored 1801 McLellan House, entered through the museum and included in the ticket price.
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Shaker Museum
The nation's only active Shaker community is at Sabbathday Lake, 25 miles north of Portland. Founded in the early 18th century, a handful of devotees keep the Shaker tradition of simple living, hard work and fine artistry alive. You can tour several of their buildings on a visit to the Shaker Museum. To get there, take exit 63 off the Maine Turnpike and continue north for 8 miles on ME 26.
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Museum of African Culture
This museum houses over 1500 pieces of art and craftwork from sub-Saharan Africa, with a particularly impressive collection of ceremonial masks. Traditional pottery, ivory flutes and nicely executed changing exhibitions add to the portfolio. At the time of research the museum was temporarily closed in preparation for a move to its new Brown Street location.
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Soakology Foot Sanctuary & Teahouse
Although you probably didn’t come to Portland for a foot massage, the Soakology Foot Sanctuary & Teahouse is a great place to treat your aching gams. The first floor houses an elegant teahouse, with a salon downstairs. There are an extensive array of foot soaks ($20 to $50), scrubs, massages ($26 to $30 for 20 minutes) and reflexology treatments.
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Bradbury Mountain State Park
Bradbury Mountain State Park has several miles of forested hiking trails, including an easy 10-minute hike to a 485-foot summit. It yields a spectacular view all the way to the ocean. There are 35 rustic campsites here. To reach it, take ME 125 and ME 136 north from Freeport, and turn left just after crossing I-95; from there, follow the state park signs.
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China Sea Marine Trading Co
This atmospheric shop is packed to the gills with old wooden helms, sextants, telescopes, and all sorts of nautical equipment you might need if you were planning a voyage into the 19th century. You’ll also find navy peacoats, mariner books, vintage weaponry, spooky old diving helmets and a character with a parrot on their shoulder (that’s the owner).
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Portland Observatory Museum
The hilltop Portland Observatory Museum, built in 1807 as a maritime signal station to direct ships entering the bustling harbor. Its function was roughly on par with that of an airport traffic control tower today. From the top of this observatory, the last of its kind remaining in the USA, you'll be rewarded with a sweeping view of Casco Bay.
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LL Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools
In the warmer months LL Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools offers adventure courses aimed toward beginning and intermediate kayakers and fly-fishers. Full-day courses cost between US$95 and US$120, and you can also sign up for overnight camping-kayaking trips, or arrange for private lessons. Very short 'walk-on adventures' are available at their store location.
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Maine Dining Room
This upscale dining room in the Harraseeket Inn serves excellent creative cuisine including roasted vegetables over quinoa cake, pan-seared halibut with polenta and chocolate soufflé for dessert. The inn also hosts the Broad Arrow Tavern, a wood-floored charmer with a good selection of microbrews and high-end bistro fare.
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Hugo's
If you have just one night to splurge let it be here. Owner-chef Rob Evans won the coveted James Beard Award in 2009 as the top chef in the Northeast. Trained at Napa Valley's elite restaurant French Laundry, Evans masterfully fuses California influences with fresh New England ingredients. Pistachio-encrusted lobster anyone?
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Fore Street
Still one of Portland’s best restaurants, award-winning Fore Street has a dining room of airy, exposed-brick and pine-paneling that faces an open kitchen. Owner and chef Sam Hayward has made apple-wood grilling and roasting his forte. The menu changes nightly, and features the best seasonal fruits of the land and sea.
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Victoria Mansion
Victoria Mansion, just a few blocks southeast of the art museum, is an outstanding Italianate palace dating back to 1860. Inside, it’s decorated sumptuously with rich furniture, frescoes, paintings, carpets, gilt and exotic woods and stone. Admission includes a 45-minute guided tour.
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Longfellow House
The Longfellow House, the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-82), retains its original character, complete with the poet's family furnishings. Admission includes entry to the adjacent Maine Historical Society Museum, which has exhibits on the state's history.
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Great Lost Bear
Hands down the best place in town for a draft is this cozy wood-and-brick tavern, located 2 miles north of the Old Port. At last count, GLB had over 50 beers on tap, with 15 Maine microbrews, as well as New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts selections. Live music on weekends continues to draw the crowds.
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Fort Williams Park
Up for a picnic in an unbeatable setting? Head 4 miles south of central Portland to Cape Elizabeth and the 90-acre Fort Williams Park where you'll find Portland Head Light, New England's most photographed lighthouse and the oldest (1791) of Maine's more than 60 lighthouses.
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J’s Oyster
Although it’s a total dive, J’s Oyster has the cheapest raw oysters in town, and you can enjoy them on the rugged waterside deck outside. If you’d rather not, you’re well placed for something same-same but different, with more than a dozen lobster/seafood shacks on either side.
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Green Elephant
Even carnivores shouldn't miss the brilliant vegetarian fare at this Zen-chic, Thai-inspired café. Start with the crispy spinach wontons, then move on to one of the exotic soy creations like gingered 'duck' with shiitake mushrooms. Do save room for the incredible chocolate orange mousse pie.
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Street & Co
The menu here might be simple, but the seafood is the freshest in town. You’ll find grilled, broiled or Cajun-style fish (tuna, salmon, swordfish), plus steamed or sautéed mussels, clams and calamari. The cramped but congenial dining rooms are usually packed, so reserve in advance.
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