Visitor's Guide 2015

Winter’s REWARDS Mainers have figured out how to pack the coldest months of the year with a warming cheer and so many ways to get out and blast away the chill! Photo: Danielle Perry

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One of the first ways to add seasonal charm to your visit is to take a horse and carriage ride in the Old Port with carolers on street corners and museum homes all dressed up for the holidays. Then visit the North Pole with a ride along the waterfront on the Polar Express. Bundle up and grab a hot chocolate or cup of joe from one of our many local coffee shops as you view the historic beauty of Portland's Victorian legacy. As a low-cost alternative for finding great culture, Greater Portland is hard to beat, with a rich profusion of professional theater and dance at a fraction of the cost found in other cities. Enjoy live music at intimate venues like the State Theatre and One Longfellow Square, and innovative artistic perform- ances from jazz to Broadway show tours presented by Portland Ovations inside elegant Merrill Auditorium. If you’re itching to get moving, join Portland residents for some urban

skiing. The Eastern Promenade and Green Belt trails cater to runners and walkers, cyclists and skateboarders in the warmer weather and, alternately, fans of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. On particularly snowy days don't be surprised if you see errant skiers forgoing the trails and instead taking to the streets. Downhill skiers can find solace at one of Maine’s many ski mountains like Sunday River in Bethel and Shawnee Peak in Bridgton. All that brisk winter air is sure to whip up an appetite; reward your outdoor excursions with hearty winter fare and curl up beside a fire at a cozy inn. When you’re ready to people watch and socialize, take bar-hopping to a new level and experience an ice bar—great blocks of ice are carved into eye-pleasing configurations from whimsical characters to sculpted piping systems that keep your drink cool as the liquid sluices into your ready glass.

To maximize your appreciation of Maine's winter wonderland, plan your vacation to coincide with one of the winter festivals put on in Portland, South Portland, Freeport, and Westbrook, each a special program of crowd-pleasing activities, games and competitions from chili and chowder cook-offs to ice skating and sled-dog races. When it comes to winter getaways, Portland is one of the best values in the northeast. Come embrace winter like a local with culture, spectator sports and, of course, snowscapes to keep you glowing.

LOCAL TIP Treat yourself to a massage, facial, and aromatherapy at one of the region's day spas or spa resorts—it's a sure antidote to the winter blahs.

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