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Coastal Maine Attractions and Activities
Sport fishing Charters
Bay View Cruises – 66’ 117 passenger boat with scheduled cruises. 184 Commercial St, Portland, 761-0496
Casco Bay Lines - Year-round narrated cruises on Casco Bay. Daily ferry service to five Casco Bay Islands. From Casco Bay Ferry Terminal at Commercial and Franklin Streets, Portland, 774-7871
Coast Watch & Guiding Light Navigation – Daily cruises to Eagle Island, 170 Commercial St, Portland, 774-6498
Lucky Catch Lobstering – Experience lobstering first hand. 170 Commercial St, Portland, 233-2026
Old Port Mariner Fleet – Scenic Cruises, Whale Watches, Deep Sea Fishing. Long Wharf, Commercial St. Portland, 775-0727
Maine Island Kayak Co. – ½ day to 7 day trips. Peaks Island, 776-2373
Lighthouses
How to Visit Six Lighthouses Near Portland, Maine (Drive or Bike)
Lighthouse - A virtual tour of over 170 New England and Maine lighthouses.
Cape Elizabeth Light/Two Lights State Park – Two lighthouses are perched atop the rocky shoreline. Off Rt. 77 in Cape Elizabeth. Directions: Take Route 1N to traffic light at Oak Hill (intersection Rt 1N & Rt 207) Take right onto Route 207 (Black Point Road). Follow almost to the end and take a left onto Route 77. Follow Route 77 to Two Lights road on right.
Portland Headlight & Museum – Maine's oldest lighthouse. Commissioned by George Washington in 1791. Adjacent to Fort Williams Park. Large grounds with picnic facilities and museum on the premises. 1000 Shore Rd. (off Rt. 77) Cape Elizabeth. 799-2661. Directions – Option One: Follow directions to Cape Elizabeth Light continuing beyond Two Lights Road on route 77 to Shore Road/Portland Headlight. Option Two: Take Route 1N to 295N to Port/Waterfront Exit and stay to left. Take Danforth Street thru 3-4 traffic lights. Take right on State Street and cross over Casco Bay bridge onto Broadway Street. Take right at second traffic light (Cottage Road) to Shore Road. Headlight is on left. On a clear day, you can see six area lights. view map
Wood Island Lighthouse – Take Route 1S to Route 9 (Main Street/Saco). Go thru downtown area passing over Saco River and past Saco Island. At bottom of hill past river bear right. Taking next left onto Route 9 (Hill Street). Take left at first set of traffic lights (Pool Road/Route 9/Route 208). Follow Route 208 to end. Take left on Route 208 thru Biddeford Pool and lighthouse is on right.
Nature
Ferry Beach State Park - 117 acres of beach and nature trails. Off Route 9 in Saco. 283-0067.
Scarborough Marsh Nature Center - Maine's largest salt marsh is best explored by canoe. Guided and self guided canoe tours. Abundant shorebird sightings. Nature center offers slide shows, exhibits. Rt. 9, Scarborough. 883-5100.
Gilsland Farm - Maine Audubon Sanctuary offering trails, field trips and a gift shop. North of Portland in Falmouth off Route 1. 781-2330.
Maine Wildlife Park – Moose, Bear, Deer, Cougars, Eagles and more. Nature Trail and Displays. Rt 26, 56 Game Farm Road, Gray, 657-4977
Elk Farm – View a large herd of Elk just 5 minutes from the beach. Portland Ave until you see Dunegrass Golf Course sign on left – Go right. Drive 2 miles and look for Elk on left. Scarborough.
Smiling Hill Farm – X-country skiing and Snowshoeing in winter. Homemade ice cream. Westbrook, 775-4818
Balloons Rides - Hot Air Balloon Rides. 17 Freeman St, Portland. 1-800-952-2076
Shopping
L.L. Bean - World famous and open 24 hours, 365 days per year. 30 minutes north in Freeport. Freeport also offers over 100 outlet stores. 865-1212.
Freeport Outlet Directions – Route 1N to I-295N which turns into I-95N. Take exit 20 or 22 (Downtown Freeport) and follow signs.
The Maine Mall - Over 135 stores including restaurants, theaters and more. 364 Maine Mall Road, So. Portland. 774-0303. Directions – Get on Route 1N to I-295N to Maine Mall Road exit or Route 1N to traffic light at Route 98/1N intersection. Take left at 2nd set of Lights (Payne Road). Five miles to Maine Mall.
The Old Port - Portland's Historic District offers over 158 shops, 65 restaurants, 28 galleries, and numerous pubs. All located in a charming five block area lined with cobblestone streets on Portland’s historic waterfront. 400 Congress St., Portland. 772-6828. Directions – Route 1N to I-295N to: Option 1: Take Exit 4 (Port Waterfront Exit). Bear right to 1A (Truck Route/Waterfront) to stop sign onto Commercial Street. Follow Commercial Street into Old Port. Option 2: Take Exit 7(Franklin Arterial). Go to your 4th set of traffic lights. Take right onto Congress Street. Take 3rd left (Exchange Street).
Portland Public Market – An indoor market of vendors showcasing fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and many other specialty items. Daily entertainment and activities.
Saco Valley Shopping Center - 12 stores, 2 banks and a restaurant. Free parking. Just off Route 1, Saco.
Entertainment/Culture
Comedy Connection –America’s top professional stand-up comedians. 6 Custom House Wharf, In the Old Port. Portland, 774-5554
Portland Symphony Orchestra - Concerts year round. Special events. 30 Myrtle St., Portland. 773-8191
Portland Concert Association - Dance, opera, musical theater, jazz, & more. 1-800-639-2707
Portland Opera Repertory Theatre – Grand Opera in Portland’s magnificent Merrill Auditorium. 767-0773 view map
Cumberland County Civic Center – Music Concerts, Sporting Events Etc.
Old Orchard Beach Historical Society - Features historical memorabilia on the Old Orchard Beach area since the 17th Century. Top of Old Orchard Street, Old Orchard Beach. 934-9319.
DeLorme - Pictures of "Eartha" The DeLorme globe is the worlds largest rotating and revolving globe. Eartha is the largest printed image of the Earth ever created. Eartha has a circumference of nearly 130 feet and a diameter of over 41 feet. Located in Yarmouth Maine at the headquarters of the DeLorme Map company. directions
Saco Museum - Paintings, decorative art, tools, period furniture, etc. from 18th century to present. 371 Main St., Saco. 282-3031.
Maine Maritime Museum - Historic shipyard site and maritime history building on Kennebec River. 243 Washington St., Bath. 443-1316.
Portland Harbor Museum - Portland Harbor Museum is a small maritime museum located at Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse in historic Fort Preble. The museum features permanent and changing exhibits about our harbor's rich heritage.
Portland Museum of Art – Maine’s largest and oldest art museum. Designed by world renowned I.M. Pei. Features fine and decorative art from the 18th century to present. 7 Congress St, Portland, 773-2787. view map
The Arts District – Portland’s cultural community along Congress Street – Portland, 772-6828
Family Fun
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum - Looking for something fun
to do with the entire family?
Take a trip back in time at the
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum!
Enjoy magnificent views of Portland's
working waterfront aboard antique rail cars pulled
by hard-working steam and diesel locomotives.
Discover the unique two-foot gauge trains that
linked rural Maine to the rest of the world. view map
Children’s Museum of Maine - Exhibits. Toddler Park, Cave & Farm, Interactive Science Exhibits, Space Shuttle, Camera-Obscura-Theater. Fun for all ages. 142 Free Street, Portland. 828-1234.
Funtown USA - Nearby amusement part sure to provide lots of fun for the youngsters and those young at heart.
Southworth Planetarium - Shows for children and adults including laser concerts. Off I-295 Forest Ave. North to 96 Falmouth St., University of Southern Maine’s Science Building. Portland, 780-4249
Children’s Theater of Maine - Live theater for adults and children. 25A Forest Ave., Portland. 874-0371
Portland Public Library - Story telling and entertainment for children. 5 Monument Sq., Portland. 871-1707
Historic Sites
Victoria Mansion - One of America's most significant Victorian homes. All interiors are original and quite spectacular. 109 Danforth St., Portland. 772-4841. view map
Wadsworth-Longfellow House - Boyhood home of the famed 19th Century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Seasonal. 485 Congress St., Portland. 774-1822. view map
Portland Observatory – Not a lighthouse, it is the last maritime signal tower in the US. Built in 1807 as a communication tower for the harbor. Guided tours and exhibits. 774-5561
Sports
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway - Auto racing every Saturday night. Holmes Road, Scarborough. 883-5227. view map
Portland Pirates Hockey - AHL affiliate of NHL Washington Capitals. Play in Cumberland County Civic Center. Regular Season: October to early April. 775-3458.
Portland Sea Dogs Baseball - AA Farm Team for the Boston Red Sox. Home games held at Hadlock Field, Portland, from late April through early September. 879-9500.
Scarborough Downs - Seasonal harness racing, Rt. 1, Scarborough. 883-4331
Breweries
D.L Geary Brewing Co Inc. - 38 Evergreen Drive, Portland, 878-2337
Kennebunkport Brewery Tours - Shipyard Ale, Federal Jacks Brew Pub - Lower Village - Kennebunk, 967-4322
Shipyard Brewing Co. - 86 Newbury St, Portland, 761-0807
Stone Coast Brewing Co. - 74 York St, Gorhams Corner, Portland, 733-BEER
Whale Tail Brewing Co. - 213 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach, 934-7370
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