Portland, ME

[midwestchick]

I have nothing planned for us while we are in Portland. LL Bean does not interest me. I was planning a DIY but is there some must see areas in Portland? Any particular tours that we should do?

Or, if we do a DIY, what are the best things to do?

[chengkp75]

I have nothing planned for us while we are in Portland. LL Bean does not interest me. I was planning a DIY but is there some must see areas in Portland? Any particular tours that we should do?

Or, if we do a DIY, what are the best things to do?

 

Not knowing your interests, I'll go pretty general. Longfellow's house, Victorian mansion, and Tate house are some interesting sights with the Tate house dating back to 1750's. Portland Museum of Art. Old Port area (really adjacent to pier) for shopping, great food, and craft beer. Great Lost Bear is nationally known for its craft beers. Shipyard brewery tour. Portland Observatory for views out over Casco Bay. A ferry ride out to Peaks Island. Portland Head Light out in Cape Elizabeth is the most photographed lighthouse on the East Coast, and one of the oldest. There may be some schooner cruises of Casco Bay that would fit the time frame, not sure.

 

Unless you're doing organized tours, I wouldn't go much farther afield than Cape Elizabeth, as everything else like Kennebunkport is 30-45 minutes each way, and probably longer in summer traffic.

[midwestchick]

Not knowing your interests, I'll go pretty general. Longfellow's house, Victorian mansion, and Tate house are some interesting sights with the Tate house dating back to 1750's. Portland Museum of Art. Old Port area (really adjacent to pier) for shopping, great food, and craft beer. Great Lost Bear is nationally known for its craft beers. Shipyard brewery tour. Portland Observatory for views out over Casco Bay. A ferry ride out to Peaks Island. Portland Head Light out in Cape Elizabeth is the most photographed lighthouse on the East Coast, and one of the oldest. There may be some schooner cruises of Casco Bay that would fit the time frame, not sure.

 

Unless you're doing organized tours, I wouldn't go much farther afield than Cape Elizabeth, as everything else like Kennebunkport is 30-45 minutes each way, and probably longer in summer traffic.

 

Thank you. I'll read up on a few of those things.

[mskaufman]

We were in Portland this past weekend. Lots of nice shops and old buildings. If we had been there for the entire day, would have taken one of the harbor cruises. If you are a railroad buff, the narrow gauge RR might be an option.

[Giantfan13]

If you don't mind renting a car, you can see several great things. If you are into Lighthouses, there are about 5 in the general area of Portland, including the Portland Head Light. Just a picturesque area with wonderful views of this lighthouse. With a car, you can head out along Rt. 1, maybe going to Kennebunkport, or just driving along this great road seeing Maine at it's finest.

 

We are not museum people, we like the freedom to get a car and go on our own.

 

Here is a pix of the Portland Head Light if you are interested.

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3892_zps17c690b5.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[midwestchick]

If you don't mind renting a car, you can see several great things. If you are into Lighthouses, there are about 5 in the general area of Portland, including the Portland Head Light. Just a picturesque area with wonderful views of this lighthouse. With a car, you can head out along Rt. 1, maybe going to Kennebunkport, or just driving along this great road seeing Maine at it's finest.

 

We are not museum people, we like the freedom to get a car and go on our own.

 

Here is a pix of the Portland Head Light if you are interested.

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3892_zps17c690b5.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

 

Thank you. I've seen that picture before and it is gorgeous. I hadn't thought about renting a car...definitely a possibility. :)

[mskaufman]

You can also get a lighthouse tour (by boat) in the harbor area.

[terpla]

I am definitely planning on renting a car. Any advice on which car rental has a shuttle to his place or is the closest to the pier. I know Enterprise does that, but any other advice.

 

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Edited June 11, 2015 by terpla

[midwestchick]

You can also get a lighthouse tour (by boat) in the harbor area.

 

 

Thank you for the suggestion. I love lighthouses. :)

Edited June 12, 2015 by midwestchick

[marys350]

We did the Land and Sea combination tour through Portland Discovery Tours. It included a trolley tour and a boat ride. We did the trolley tour in the morning and the boat ride in the afternoon. We had time to go out for lunch and look around the shops in the Old Port area in between the tours. They also offer other tours.

http://www.portlanddiscovery.com

 

Check out the photos and reviews on Trip advisor.

[midwestchick]

We did the Land and Sea combination tour through Portland Discovery Tours. It included a trolley tour and a boat ride. We did the trolley tour in the morning and the boat ride in the afternoon. We had time to go out for lunch and look around the shops in the Old Port area in between the tours. They also offer other tours.

http://www.portlanddiscovery.com

 

Check out the photos and reviews on Trip advisor.

 

How much time did you have on your own?

[pizzalady1]

How much time did you have on your own?

 

If you go to the link that Marys350 gave you, you can find the combo tour and can see the times available for each part (trolley and boat). The trolley is 105 minutes long and the boat is 90 minutes long. You can select which ever times work best for you, ie: one after the other or more time between, etc.

[marys350]

If you go to the link that Marys350 gave you, you can find the combo tour and can see the times available for each part (trolley and boat). The trolley is 105 minutes long and the boat is 90 minutes long. You can select which ever times work best for you, ie: one after the other or more time between, etc.

 

Our ship was in port from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. during September. We did the 9:30 trolley tour (9:30-11:15) and the 1:30 cruise, which gave us a nice amount of time for lunch and shopping between the tours. There are a number of restaurants and shops within walking distance of Portland Discovery Tours. We purchased our tickets in advance. It was a very enjoyable day and a great price.

 

The available times for the tours vary by season, but as pizzalady1 mentioned, you can select whatever times work best for you.

 

Mary

Edited June 13, 2015 by marys350

[Giantfan13]

Just a note, if you don't make it to the Portland Head Light, your ship will pass fairly close to it, heading out of Portland. Be up on deck, on the Starboard side and you will get some very good views of 'Bug' Light and the Portland Head Light.

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4477_zpsfd2d1763.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4478_zps78230027.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4492_zpsedd12efb.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4493_zps201bfbff.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[midwestchick]

Just a note, if you don't make it to the Portland Head Light, your ship will pass fairly close to it, heading out of Portland. Be up on deck, on the Starboard side and you will get some very good views of 'Bug' Light and the Portland Head Light.

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4477_zpsfd2d1763.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4478_zps78230027.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4492_zpsedd12efb.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4493_zps201bfbff.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. I see you sailed on Carnival. How was it? I've read a lot of mixed reviews.

[midwestchick]

Our ship was in port from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. during September. We did the 9:30 trolley tour (9:30-11:15) and the 1:30 cruise, which gave us a nice amount of time for lunch and shopping between the tours. There are a number of restaurants and shops within walking distance of Portland Discovery Tours. We purchased our tickets in advance. It was a very enjoyable day and a great price.

 

The available times for the tours vary by season, but as pizzalady1 mentioned, you can select whatever times work best for you.

 

Mary

 

 

Thank you, Mary and pizzalady1. I think I'll probably book something with them and still have enough free time for strolling through town and eating a wonderful lunch. Lobster comes to mind....any suggestions?

[marys350]

Thank you, Mary and pizzalady1. I think I'll probably book something with them and still have enough free time for strolling through town and eating a wonderful lunch. Lobster comes to mind....any suggestions?

 

Check out http://www.portlandlobstercompany.com

They are located along the pier close to Portland Discovery Tours.

 

Also check out http://www.gilbertschowderhouse.com

You go past this restaurant when walking from the ship to Portland Discovery Tours.

 

There are also a number of other restaurants in the Old Port area to choose from.

[MHF]

Thank you for the suggestion. I love lighthouses. :)

 

Check out the schooner tours…you can help raise/lower the sails or you can just hang out on deck and take photos of all the lighthouses! It was a neat experience to be on a big masted sailing ship. It's 2 hours.

[Giantfan13]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. I see you sailed on Carnival. How was it? I've read a lot of mixed reviews.

 

Thanks for the kind words on the pix.

 

We sailed the Carnival Glory out of Boston and it was very nice. We would rather have stopped in Bar Harbor then Portland, but we don't make the itinerary. We enjoy Carnival for certain cruises. We are not party people, but when the price is right, why not.

Out only complaint and it's sure not Carnival's fault, was the fog we encountered, almost every day. I can still hear the fog horn of the ship going off every 5 minutes. There were times we couldn't even see the smoke stack of the ship while up on deck. Pea soup as they say. But Carnival does a great job on this cruise if they are still doing it. The Glory was a nice ship, just updated with the 'new 'Carnival things, if you are interested.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[midwestchick]

Check out the schooner tours…you can help raise/lower the sails or you can just hang out on deck and take photos of all the lighthouses! It was a neat experience to be on a big masted sailing ship. It's 2 hours.

 

I'll do that. Hopefully the weather will still be nice enough to be on a boat.

 

[midwestchick]

I finally found this thread again. Meant to print it up some time ago.