Portland Maine
Highlights & Links for activities in Portland Maine and the Greater Portland Maine area.
Information courtesy of PineCrest Bed and Breakfast Gorham Maine.

Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park
1000 Shore Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Maine
(207) 799-2661
Maine's oldest lighthouse and the most photographed lighthouse in the US, located at Fort Williams Park near the remains of Fort Williams on a dramatic rocky promontory.

Scarborough Downs
US Route 1, Scarborough, Maine
(207) 883-4331
Live harness racing on a one-half mile track. Trackside restaurant. Open April through December.

Children's Museum of Maine
142 Free St., Portland, Maine
(207) 828-1234
Hands-on, interactive activities teach kids about Maine's heritage, arts and humanities, science, nature, and health. Kids can climb a mountain, enter a bear's den, role-play being a crewmember on a 40-foot schooner, man a space shuttle, run a supermarket checkout counter, or slide down a firehouse pole, use the computer lab, tape their own programs in the TV studio, and much more.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum
54 Fore St., Building #6, Portland, Maine
(207) 828-0814
Enjoy a 30-minute, 3-mile ride along the shores of Casco Bay in Portland's East End on a 2-foot gauge train and tour a historic museum with cabooses, railroad cars, and artifacts. Train rides daily mid-May to mid-October and on weekends from mid-February to end of December. Steam trains on holiday weekends.

Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square, Portland, Maine
(207) 775-6158
European masters including Degas, Picasso, and Renoir plus Maine artists Hartley, Wyeth, and Homer. Gift shop and cafe. Open daily during summer. Free Friday nights 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Portland's Old Port
Commercial St., Portland, Maine
The Old Port is Portland's historic waterfront shopping district, restored to its 19th-century splendor, with cobbled streets and beautiful Victorian brick buildings housing an eclectic mix of restaurants, microbreweries, art galleries, boutiques, and specialty shops. Here you can enjoy views of Casco Bay while dining, or browse through the quaint shops selling crafts, antiques, and Maine-made products.

Fort Preble
On the campus of Southern Maine Technical College, South Portland, Maine
Remains of an 1808 fort on the shorefront at the Southern Maine Technical College campus with views of Portland Harbor. The fort was operational from the War of 1812 through World War II.

Portland Observatory
138 Congress St., Portland, Maine
(207) 774-5561
Recently restored old marine signal tower offering panoramic views of Portland and Casco Bay from high atop Munjoy Hill. Open daily Memorial Day through Columbus Day 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Fort Rd., South Portland
(207) 799-6337
1897 lighthouse on a granite breakwater jutting out into Portland Harbor. The Spring Point Light Museum features maritime and local history.

Portland Breakwater "Bug" Light
Off Broadway, South Portland, Maine
1855 lighthouse on a short breakwater in Portland Harbor at a public park that includes a playing field (great for flying kites) and a shoreline walkway.

Eastern Promenade and East End Beach
Munjoy Hill, Portland, Maine
Large 1-mile long hillside park overlooking Casco Bay and East End Beach with views of old forts, lighthouses, boats, and islands. Paved walking trail along the waterfront.

Two Lights State Park
Off Route 77, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
(207) 799-5871
Two lighthouses sit high above the rocky shoreline in a park that includes walking paths, picnic tables and grills, a small beach, and dramatic crashing surf, next to one of Maine's best lobster shacks.

Back Cove Trail
Portland's most popular walking trail winds along the edges of the Back Cove neighborhood with views of the water and the Portland skyline.

Crescent Beach State Park
Route 77, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
767-3625
Sandy family beach offers swimming, fishing, picnicing and a playground.

Scarborough Beach State Park
Route 207, Scarborough, Maine
White sand beach with dunes, relatively warm water, and good surf. Lifeguards, restrooms, and bike racks are available.

Fore River Sanctuary
Stroudwater St., off Congress St., Portland, Maine
(207) 781-2330
85-acre Audubon preserve with salt marshes, woodlands, and a 25-foot waterfall. Great for birdwatching, cross country skiing, and canoeing.

Gilsland Farm Sanctuary
Route 1, Falmouth, Maine
(207) 781-2330
Maine Audubon sanctuary along the Presumpscott River with trails for walking and snowshoeing. Nature programs, field trips, and a gift shop.

MacWorth Island
Off Route 1, Falmouth, Maine
One-mile wooded walking path around the island offers outstanding views of Portland Harbor and the islands of Casco Bay. Beaches and interesting stops along the way.

Pine Point Beach
Pine Point Rd., Scarborough, Maine
Long white sandy beach that extends all the way to Old Orchard Beach.

Scarborough Marsh Nature Center
Route 1, Scarborough, Maine
(207) 883-5100
Maine's largest salt marsh with nature center, nature trail with guided walks, and canoeing.

Winslow Memorial Park
End of Staples Point Rd., Off Route One, Freeport, Maine
Picnicking, camping, walking trails, great views, beach, boat launch, and playground, plus large group facilities.

Desert of Maine
95 Desert Rd, Freeport, Maine
(207) 865-6962
Narrated tours, nature trails, giant sand dunes, museum, sand artists, gem stone hunts for kids, and a gift shop. Open daily 9:00 am to 5:00 pm early May through mid-October.

Maine Wildlife Park
Route 26, 56 Game Farm Road, Gray, Maine
(207) 657-4977
Moose, bears, deer, cougars, eagles, fish, and other wildlife live in the wildlife park while being rehabilitated to return to the wild (when possible).

Nature trails, wildlife displays, and gardens. Open mid-April to mid-November.
Bradbury Mountain State Park
Route 9, Pownal Rd., Freeport, Maine
(207) 688-4712
Camping, hiking, and a great view from the easily reached summit.

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
Wolfe's Neck Rd, off Bow St., Freeport, Maine
(207) 865-4465
Pristine nature preserve with walking trails along Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Osprey, herons, and egrets.

Old Orchard Beach
Grand Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Seven miles of wide, flat, sandy beach and gentle surf, great for walking, jogging, swimming, sunbathing, and beach games. Amusement park on the beach with Ferris Wheel and other rides. Concerts, family events, and weekly fireworks all summer make this a popular family destination.

Royal River Park
Off Main St., Yarmouth Maine
Paved biking and walking path running along the scenic Royal River and waterfalls. Picnic area.

Mast Landing Sanctuary
Upper Mast Landing Sanctuary Rd., Freeport, Maine
(207) 781-2330
This Maine Audubon Society sanctuary offers trails through fields, woods, and an old orchard. Cross-country skiing.