Exploring Portland, Maine
December 29, 2023
Portland, Maine has such a cool vibe and I really enjoyed exploring different areas of this unique town. I highly recommend everyone visiting more than just Old Port and below is a list of some of the things I enjoyed while in town.
Visit some of the Portland lighthouses- the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is also known as “Bug Light” and it’s a really cool small lighthouse with some unique detail. Not too far from there is Portland Head Light, which is one of the most famous lighthouses in Maine. In addition to it being a great landmark, they also have a lot of green space for the kids to run around. They have food trucks on site, so you could easily spend a few hours there exploring. Something to note, you can actually do a lighthouse bike tour of lighthouses in the Portland area, if that’s more your speed.
2. Visit the Portland Observatory- this guided tour provided some great history of Portland and included some breathtaking views of the city. Tickets are very cheap; be sure to make sure it’s not closed for the winter season.
3. Do some shopping/dining in Old Port- this part of Portland is the most popular and as a result is the most crowded. There are tons of things to see and do in this part of town- everything from boutique gift shops to chain restaurants. Speaking of dining though, don’t be tempted by any chain restaurants- there are plenty of local spots that are worth experiencing. I was only in Portland for a little over a day so my time was limited but I can’t wait to go back and try some of the other restaurants. I found a great speakeasy in Old Port, had a potato donut from Holy Donut and am bummed that I didn’t have time to try Becky’s Diner. Maine Foodies is a great account that I follow that has some wonderful suggestions of places to eat in Portland- check them out.
4. Visit other neighborhoods outside of Old Port- I really enjoyed looking at the houses on the East End and thought the Eastern Promenade and the the trail along the water in that area were great as well. Munjoy Hill had some cool stores and dining options too. I had a great dinner at a local Italian spot located outside of downtown called Isa Bistro- it’s exactly what I’m looking for in a restaurant when on vacation.
5. Thompson’s Point- is a cool venue located outside of downtown Portland. They have a summer concert series as well as other concerts and events held there throughout the year. There’s also a brewery and several museums located in the area too. Be sure to check out their calendar of events to see if they have something going on there when you’re in town.
6. Cape Elizabeth- while you’re in Portland, you have to head over to Cape Elizabeth to check out the Lobster Shack at Two Lights for a great lobster roll. While dining on delicious food, you can enjoy some incredible views of lighthouses. Two Lights State Park is also located right around the corner as well. While on this side of town, be sure to grab some dessert at Red’s Dairy Freeze in South Portland.
Portland is one of the most popular cities in all of Maine and for good reason. Whether you fly into this town or are passing through on your way up the Maine coast, be sure to allow for at least a full day to do some good exploring. I know I’ll be back to check out even more great spots in Portland.
