Visitor's Guide 2022-2023

Top things to do in Greater Portland that won’t break the bank. CHEAP THRILLS

FREE FAVES ART ATTACK On the first Friday of each month,

Portland art galleries open their doors for free (under-21 patrons are always free) and Congress Street is lined with performers and artists. Admission to Maine College of Art’s Institute of Contemporary Art is always free. SEAS THE DAY Take a dip or bring your kayak to East End Beach or Willard Beach. Make a day trip to Old Orchard Beach and chomp on Pier Fries. TAKE A HIKE Over 70 miles of trails in Greater Portland offer a variety of settings fromwoodland escapes to waterfront walks. trails.org LEAD YOURSELF Immerse yourself in architecture and history with self-guided walking tours. Download maps at greaterportlandlandmarks.org. GO FLY A KITE Scarborough’s Pine Point, South Portland’s Bug Light Park, and Cape Elizabeth’s Fort Williams Park are ideal for soaring good times. A WALK IN THE PARK Deering Oaks and Payson Park both feature playgrounds. Deering Oaks also boasts rose gardens and a duck pond. HAVE A BALL Let the kids expend their exuberant energy at The Point Community Center’s indoor Playscape and Turf Field. GO UNDERGROUND Find all 16 markers of the Portland Freedom Trail’s Underground Railroad to learn about Maine’s abolitionist movement. Self-guided walking tour maps: mainehistory.org.

LOW COST FUN

Try a donut that Bon App´etit said was “alone worth the trip to Portland.” For the best selection get to Holy Donut before noon. Gluten-free options too. Join Greater Portland Landmarks for a walking tour of one of Portland’s historic neighborhoods or learn about the prominent figures buried in Eastern Cemetery with a tour conducted by Spirits Alive. From late December through February, skate on the outdoor rink at Thompson’s Point and stay toasty in their warming room and heated lounge. Snack and drink bars on-site. Sample a flyte of craft beverages at Rising Tide, Shipyard Brewing , or another of Portland’s hopping breweries. See the grid on pg. 33 for tasting room locations. Delight in the velvety texture and intense flavor of Gorgeous Gelato ’s authentic Italian gelato, made with all natural ingredients, sourced locally when possible.

Space out at an astronomy show at Southworth Planetarium and geek out at other nature shows about the human body, dinosaurs, and more. Climb the Portland Observatory, the last remaining maritime signal tower in the US, for spectacular views across the city and Casco Bay. Open for guided tours late May–early October.

Take a slow ride on the Narrow Gauge Railroad alongside Portland’s scenic waterfront.

Enjoy fresh air all year long with an outdoor yoga class led by Ashley Flowers in Payson Park. Interact with exhibits at the Children’s Museum where kids learn from hands-on exploration. Take a self-directed window tour of the candy-making operation at Haven’s Candies’ Westbrook factory. Then indulge in some mouth-watering chocolate goodness.

PHOTO: VIEW FROM THE PORTLAND OBSERVATORY, CFW PHOTOGRAPHY

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