Portland, Maine
It is time to get lost in the City of Forests, better known as Portland, Maine, a city that is as resilient as the phoenix on its city�s seal. The beating heart of downtown Portland revolves around its harbor, so much so that its name derives from the Old English �Portlanda�, meaning �land surrounding a harbor�. Portland is fond of its heritage, to the point where it has never shed its working waterfront roots, as it still relies on its bustling seaport industry. There is 19th-century architecture to behold amidst a glowing, modern nightlife that just keeps growing, which is good because Portland is a city that likes to eat.
There is plenty of sightseeing to be had, shows to be enjoyed, and history to be uncovered, but you can be guaranteed you will never do anything on an empty stomach.
Portland at a Glance
Portland is enjoying a housing market boom. Residents have been flocking en masse to the portside city to take advantage of the city�s growing startup scene of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, bioscience, and biopharma industries. The locals are enjoying a swelling job market, appreciating home value, and the thriving brewery and food scene.
The newest visitor to Portland will not disembark in the harbor for long before their breath is taken away. The pristine water, surrounding nature, old brick towering lighthouses, and the fact that every corner of the Portland streets promises one new, enticing delicacy after the next make the city nothing short of enchanting.
Where is Portland, ME?* Portland is approximately 69.44 square miles, 48 square miles of which is water! This means fishing trips, island tours, and lighthouse excursions, not to mention the prospect of fresh seafood when your stomach starts growling. The city borders South Portland, Westbrook, and Falmouth, but never gets lost in the shuffle. The city is technically a humid continental climate, which means prolonged, snowy winters and short, warm summers. The summers are a little dryer than the other seasons, and winter will sometimes witness nor�easters, with high winds and foot-high snowfalls. This can mean winter-season snowstorms from as early as November to as late as March, and into April. Keep your eye on that radar if you are looking to get away to a winter wonderland. Those who are fans of warmer weather will want to keep an eye on May and enjoy it all the way into September fall, where the leaves change and flaunt their colorful reflections in the harbor.
Portland, ME Attractions
Impressive, but under-stated. Trendy, but humble. Nostalgic, but so modern. Portland is a city of many layers: from a seaport to a historical hub laid in brick and memory, to a cultural hotspot that is also beginning to foster a technological boom. You may need to make more than one trip!
You could start your day with a dark chocolate sea salt-speckled donut from Holy Donut before boarding a Casco Bay Lines ferry to Peaks Island for kayaking, a World War II museum, and of course: fresh seafood. Or, you can hit the Old Port, a quaint historic district laden with cobblestone streets and punctuated by red-bricked buildings, boutiques, fishing piers, and award-winning restaurants that are sure to satisfy--especially if you go to the Old Port Festival in June or Merry Madness in December, where you will have more than your fill of local fanfare and grub.
Sail Casco Island or take in the grandeur of the Portland �Bug Light� Breakwater or Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, to name a couple. Trust your gut and take the Maine Food for Thought tour for an idea of just how big this city�s food scene really is, or mark your calendars for one of the many other food festivals. These are just a few of the adventures you can take while you are in Portland, Maine.
Marine Museum
Littlejohn Island
Little Jewell Island
Willard Beach
Kennebunk Marine Museum
Dogs Head
Dix Island
Inner Twin Island
Dunnegrass Golf Club
Salmon Falls Resort Golf Course
Great Diamond Island
Portland Fire Museum
Mothers Beach
Peaks Island Ferry
Lpon Island
Fog Island
Orrs Island
Drakes Island
Peggy Island
Heath Island
Little Iron Island
Grape Island
Malden Island
Marr Island
Little Knubble
Lord Mansion Museum
Lower Mark Island
Thomas Great Toe
Ossipee Hill Trail
Springs Island
Cow Island Ledge
Hog Island Ledge
Western Beach
Portland Head Lighthouse
Crescent Surf
Ministerial Island
Malaga Island
Stratton Island
Seguin Island Light
Bass Island
Gallows Island
East Brown Cow
Long Ledge
Little Stage Island
Pole Island
Great Chebeague Golf Club
Lower Coombs Island
Enoch Harrington House Museum
Brunswick Golf Course
Duck Rock
Jaquish Island
Drunker Ledge
Bartol Island
Joshua L Chamberlain Museum
Hunnewell Beach
Pound Of Tea
Goose Nest
Upper Green Islands
Redin Island
East End Beach
Davenport Memorial Museum
Whittum Island
Sable Oaks Golf Club
Upper Coombs Island
Webhannet Golf Club
Androscoggin County Historical Museum
North Sugarloaf Island
Middle Mark Island
Irony Island
Pumpkin Nob
Flash Island
Little Whaleboat Island
Gillman Island
Ben Island
Laudholm Beach
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Outer Head
Outer Twin Island
Prospect Hill Golf Course
Wells Auto Museum
Beal Island
White Bull
Trott Island
Arrowsic Island
Little Diamond Island
Elm Islands
Pettis Rocks
Popham Beach
Phippsburg Historical Museum
Lines Island
Doctor Island
Little Bustins Island
Yarmouth Historical Society And Museum
Jennys Nubble
Stanton Museum
Cape Elizabeth Light
Jewell Island
Old Orchard Beach
Portland Harbor Museum
Hotels in Portland
Schools in Portland