2017 Visitor's Guide

WHAT DO I NEED TO SEE?

We’ll keep you as busy as you want to be! Here are some of the top activities our visitors rave about… let us know yours!

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: BENJAMIN WILLIAMSON; BETHANY + DAN PHOTOGRAPHY; DOWN EAST DUCK TOURS; DAN SRIP ASERT; FREEPORT USA; VISIT PORTLAND/CHRIS RICCARDO; COREY TEMPLETON BEACHCOMB Although Maine is renowned for its many miles of rocky coastline, you won’t have to give up beautiful sand beaches when you visit—we’ve got seven sandy seaside playgrounds within a stone’s throw of downtown Portland. You can be sun tanning or surf boarding in the afternoon and enjoying a play or live music by nightfall. And many beaches are dog-friendly, allowing your furry friends full romping privileges from fall through spring. Bring or rent bicycles to explore the islands including beaches and secluded coves. Nearby, Old Orchard Beach’s seven sandy miles are crowned by an historic pier, boardwalk, and Palace Playland, New England’s only beachfront amusement park.

GO AFLOAT Surf crashing on the rockbound shore, salty sea breezes, seagulls squawking overhead—to really experience Greater Portland in its geographic context, you’ll want to venture out to sea. Get up close and personal with seals and lighthouses on a harbor cruise or haul lobsters that you can cook up for dinner. Rent a sea kayak or paddleboard at East End Beach and take off; you can explore the parapets of Fort Gorges, the hexagonal stone structure off the Eastern Prom. Venture to one of the populated islands on the Casco Bay Lines ferry or stay aboard for the round trip excursion. Go whale watching or deep-sea fishing or sail into the sunset on a wooden schooner. See listings for cruises and tours [p. 21-22].

GET TAPPED OUT Maine is at the forefront of the craft beverage boom, and Greater Portland has some of the most accessible, palate- pleasing imbibing opportunities around! For a car(e)free experience, join the Maine Brew Bus or Maine Beer Tours for a behind-the-scenes look at the fermentation process with plenty of samples. The East Bayside and Riverside neighborhoods contain a concentration of breweries and distilleries, making it easy to visit a number at once. As you wind your way through Portland’s Old Port, stop into the Sweetgrass tasting room for a sample of their flavored dessert wines. Across the street, Vena’s Fizz House offers its own botanical- infused fizzes, mocktails, and cocktails.

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