Portland, Maine Vacation

With stunning views across the waters of Casco Bay, sitting between the soft sand beaches of Maine's southern coast and the rocky shoreline of Maine's midcoast, is the historic port city of Portland, Maine, a favorite vacation spot for many travelers.

A Portland, Maine vacation offers the vibrancy of modern urban life amid century old buildings, cobblestone streets, and a working waterfront. Just a short drive from I-95, by way of 295 and Route 1, Maine's largest city is easily accessible, and one of the perfect year-round Maine vacation spots.

From a busy harbor, to streets filled with art galleries, unique restaurants, and specialty shops, and into charming Victorian styled neighborhoods, the city of Portland (Maine's largest) shows great pride in what is has to offer.

Visit Portland, Maine just once, and you will see why - according to the Portland, Maine Chamber of Commerce website - the #1 "Top Reasons to Choose Portland, Maine", is that it was named among the...

..."top twelve surprising, thriving and emerging world travel destinations for 2007 by Frommer’s Travel Guides and Frommers.com."

It's easy to travel to a Portland, Maine vacation, by way of...

...the Portland International Jetport (the Portland Airport) and then by rental car, taxi cab or bus to Portland downtown area, or the Amtrak Downeaster (from Boston and other points south of Portland).

Portland, Maine Activities and Attractions

Whether you visit the city for a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a week long vacation, you will find plenty of things to do in Portland, Maine...

...for family fun, children's activities, group events, and even for the days when the Portland weather calls for inclement conditions.

For starters, there are Portland, Maine museums...

• Portland Maine Museum of Art, the oldest and largest museum in Maine
• Portland Harbor Museum with displays of the maritime history of Portland Harbor
• Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine, featuring interactive exhibits and family activities
• Maine Narrow Gauge Museum with an operating railroad of authentic two-foot gauge equipment

...famous Portland landmarks, such as the...

• Portland Observatory, offering beautiful views of Casco Bay
• Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the boyhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Tate House, built in 1755 for Captain George Tate
• Old Port Exchange, 19th century brick buildings housing specialty shops, restaurants and pubs

...the Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, Maine lighthouses...

• Spring Point Ledge Light, situated at the end of a granite breakwater in South Portland
• Portland Head Light, on Cape Elizabeth is Maine's oldest lighthouse

... diverse Portland, Maine shopping...

• Dozens of locally owned boutiques and specialty shops offer Maine Made gifts and other unique items, in downtown Portland.
• The Portland Maine Mall (Maine's largest indoor shopping complex), and the Christmas Tree Shop Portland, Maine are just a short drive from the city.
• A short drive north to Freeport, Maine and you can visit the flagship LL Bean Outlet and Freeport, Maine outlets.

...Portland, Maine tours, by land and by sea...

• Downeast Duck Adventures is a 65-minute fully narrated tour of Portland, including an exhilarating stop directly in Casco Bay, aboard the Downeast Duck.
• Portland Trolley Tour offers a 90-minute fully narrated excursion aboard the "Discovery" trolley.

And of course, what spring, summer or fall, Portland, Maine vacation would be complete without a Casco Bay cruise aboard the aptly named Casco Bay Lines...

...which year-round ferries passengers, vehicles and freight between Portland and Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Long Island, Chebague Island, and Cliff Island, or...

...a cruise on one of the sightseeing or whale watching ferries, or...

...Maine windjammers or schooners that dock in Portland Harbor.

If you're still looking for more things to do on your Portland, Maine vacation...

At the day's end, there is plenty of Portland, Maine nightlife and entertainment to be found in the many restaurants, bars, pubs, and dance clubs throughout the city.

A Portland, Maine newspaper, such as the Portland Press Herald, is useful for learning about Portland, Maine events, and special programs at the Port City Music Hall and the Cumberland County Civic Center

Hotels in Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine vacation rentals are suited for nearly every taste and budget. Quaint inns, inviting B&B's, large and small hotels, and both mom-and-pop and chain motels, are plentiful - in and around the city.

Many Portland, Maine lodging accommodations are within easy walking distance to Portland attractions, and most offer fantastic off season discount rates.

Located in the heart of Portland's Old Port District - a block back from the waterfront - is the elegant Harbor Hotel, honored with the American Automobile Association (AAA) four-diamond distinction for six years in a row.

Also situated a few blocks from the waterfront...

...is the elegant and traditional Portland Regency Hotel and Spa, with "Old world luxury in Portland's Old Port District", and...

...the Hilton Garden Inn, offering "fantastic views of Casco Bay and Portland's working waterfront". This chain hotel also has a property conveniently located near the Portland, Maine airport.

In the heart of the Portland's arts district, the Eastland Park Hotel is surrounded by galleries, shops and museums, and just a short walk to the Old Port section, and waterfront activities.

And, also located close to the Old Port, the Art's District, and the waterfront, is the home of "Greater Portland's largest indoor hotel swimming pool" - the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Hotel and Convention Center.

If you prefer a bed and breakfast in Portland, Maine, several await you...

...the Fleetwood House Bed & Breakfast, an 1892 Colonial-style home with a wrap-around porch...

...the Morrill Mansion Bed & Breakfast, located one block from the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine and three-quarters of a mile from downtown Portland.

And, the Wild Iris Inn Bed & Breakfast, in a historic neighborhood, a quarter of a mile from the Art's District and less than a mile from the Old Port

You may also be interested in:
Activities and Events in Maine, Maine Coastal Vacations, Maine Tourist Attractions, Portland Maine Restaurants

Portland, Maine Restaurants

Restaurants in Portland, Maine have earned some serious bragging rights...

A perfect special occasion restaurant for your Portland, Maine vacation may be...

The 555 Restaurant (Five Fifty-Five), on Congress Street, which received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence in 2009, and where Chef Steve Corry was named Food and Magazine's Top 10 Best New Chefs of 2007. But the 555 is not alone...

The Fore Street Restaurant in Portland, Maine was named Number 16 in Gourmet Magazine's Top Fifty Restaurants of the United States in 2002, and in 2004, Chef-partner Sam Hayward was named Best Chef Northeast by the James Beard Foundation.

And, in 2009, Chef Rob Evans from Hugo's Restaurant was the winner of the James Beard Foundation Best Chef Northeast.

However, fine dining is not the only culinary excitement on a Portland, Maine vacation...

Rising and falling with the tides, twice a day, is DiMillo's Floating Restaurant...

...a converted car ferry - sitting directly in Portland Harbor on Long Wharf. From its dining room and outside deck the views are fabulous, and if lines at the door are any indication, so too is it's "freshest seafood, choice cuts of beef and Italian fare" menu.

Head back onto firm ground and find yourself surrounded by dozens of...

...International restaurants - featuring Asian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Greek, Italian, Latin American, Mexican and Spanish cuisine...

...American restaurants - specializing in steak and seafood, and other uniquely prepared appetizers, salad, dinner entrees...

...pizza houses, sandwich shops, fast-food and chain restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops, and coffee houses.

You will not be hungry when it's time for your Portland, Maine vacation to end!