A series of easy yet scenic hiking trails makes this day trip a great choice. Perhaps your day trip form Portland includes southern Maine. What are some fun must-see places: Cincinnati, MD, OR Beaches, HI, Indoor Amusement Parks, Things to Do in Gatlinburg, WI, Orlando, Texas Beaches. Gloucester isn't just America's oldest fishing port: It is still very much a working fishery made even more famous as the filming location for the National Geographic TV program, "Wicked Tuna." Cool places to go near me, luxury spas, golf: Wichita, CT, CA, Corpus Christi, Best aquariums in the US, Hartford, NM, GA, NC, UT resorts, NM, LA, MI, DE, PA lakes. You can also connect to Portland from Boston via the Downeaster train. Surrounding Maine's legendary retailer, you'll find more than 100 other shops including factory outlets from brand names like Vineyard Vines, Calvin Klein, and Cuddledown. According to these estimates, my monthly transportation expenses (excluding my existing commuting costs) will now total $67, saving . During the tour, youll pass by lighthouses and gorgeous scenery, and the youll be guided by a member of the National Audubon Society to learn all about the puffins and other shore birds. Two companies, Cape Ann Whale Watch and 7 Seas Whale Watch, guarantee sightings (or a future trip is free). While the US Coast Guard continues to maintain the light and fog signal, the keepers quarters have been renovated into a museum. 2023, Is Lubec, Maine Worth Visiting? Then Poland and Norway. The areas Abbe Museum exhibits Native American artifacts and teaches guests about the cultural history of the region. Travel Tip: Be sure to stop into the oldest store in the country while you're in Moultonborough to buy snacks and souvenirs. Travel Tip: If you're visiting Salem with kids during the warm-weather months, they'll love the old-school arcade and amusements at waterfront Salem Willows Park. Every day Estimated price $120 - $400. Required fields are marked *. 12 hours 20 minutes. P-Town, a popular summer destination and legendary LGBTQ summer getaway, is at the very tip of Cape Cod. Birders, kayakers, and boaters are drawn to the islands for their natural beauty. Conway, NH from this list is also an awesome day trip in the winter. Even though its a splurge, the price is very fair for a private tour, especially in such a gorgeous area. A longer route, which hugs the coast along Maine before heading inland, takes you a little further at 300 miles. Visit the Fifth Maine Regiment Hall Museum and the Civil War Memorial. Our day trips have something for everyone, on any budget. Rockport is one of the best destinations for day trips in Maine if youre looking to see one of the most charming and unique towns along the Massachusetts coast. Marginal Way, photo by Melissa Moore. The Maine State Aquarium is located in Boothbay Harbor. Was it native peoples or, based on Phoenician script found here, a group from much further away? Alternatively, you can take a Concord Coach Lines bus between the two cities for $40 round-trip. Perfect For:Wintry/Rainy Days Shopaholics Collectors Foodies Music/Film Buffs Combining With Wolfes Neck Woods State Park (below) and a drive to Bailey Island (see directly above), Where:Located on Main Street in downtown Brunswick. Walk from Ogunquits town to Perkins Cove along Marginal Way for one of the most scenic walks in Southern Maine! Along with your kayak rental, youll get a life jacket, as well as a map of the lake so you know the best areas to explore. The tour is led by a local historian and shares stories of the towns incredible history, which dates back to the 1600s. (5 day-to-day round-trips Boston- Portland, of which 2 round-trips function to/from Brunswick). Best Stops To Make Driving From Boston To Portland, Maine; Best Day Trips From Portland, Maine; New England Bucket List: 75 Things You Must See & Do; 32. Portland is blessed with a pretty prime geographic location - drive two hours in any direction and you might find yourself at the coast, on a snow-capped stratovolcano, in the heart of wine country, at a rock climbing crag, soaking in a hot spring or even closing in on other major cities like Seattle, Washington. If youre looking to get out on the water, this boat tour out to Nubble and Boon lighthouses is an excellent choice. Led by a local expert, youll hear stories about the towns history, as well as be able to stop for some awesome photo opportunities. Day 1: Getting to know Portland Arrive at Portland's. What to do near my location, inexpensive, private adults only getaways: Carmel, WA, UT, MN, Chicago, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, Kirkland, Taos, SoCal Camping, West Palm Beach, LA Beaches, Things to Do in Moab. You wont miss the carpetof blueberry bushes on the way to the top; theyre heavily concentrated in natural clearings. The 136-acre Aldermere Farm, managed by the Maine Coast Heritage trust, educates the public on sustainable farming, and runs farm tours and other educational programs. Ogunquit is another one of the best options for day trips from Portland, Maine. Best Mid-Range Hotel for Portland, Maine: Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay Located in the heart of the action, this comfortable hotel has a bar/lounge, indoor pool, and all of the comforts of home. 3 Best Day Trips from Portland, Maine: Ogunquit, Freeport, and the Kennebunks | Cond Nast Traveler. Simply put, Camden Hills State Park is a classic coastal Maine day trip you need to make right now. Click here to book your Culinary Walking Tour in Kennebunkport! Kayak out to Thatcher Island to see the lighthouse. Getting There: Your GPS is your globetrotting best friend on this day trip: Use it to navigate from destination to destination. Enjoy hikes throughout the area, ski resort attractions, and historic adventures. Camden is a coastal town in central Maine, perfect for outdoor and ocean adventure. This spot has great views over the Androscoggin River and also serves as a film and music venue, gallery and cafe. Get an ice cream at the cutest little ice cream shack on the East Coast! Best Stops To Make Driving From Boston to Portland, Maine, Things To Do In Portland, Maine In The Winter, Best Winter Getaways In New England (Even For Non-Skiers! Get off-the-beaten-path at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to products and services whereby we receive a nominal commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. It's about 20 minutes to Cape Elizabeth, and then an additional 50 minutes to Kennebunkport. Whale Watch tours from Gloucester head out to Stellwagen Bank, a national marine preserve thats only 12 miles offshore. ), then you may enjoy this walking tour of the movies filming locations in Salem. A lot of folks who think Portland is growing too big too fast turn to Bend for solace. Ride Bus in Portland: Tri Met. Named the most beautiful mountain town in Maine, Bethel offers year round opportunity for outdoor recreation. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is one adventure you can even enjoy without ever leaving your car. Things to do near me today: Sarasota, From Boston, OR, NC, From Houston, NJ, GA. Freeport, Maine is best known as a shopping destination, a favorite of New Englanders seeking deals among the hundreds of brand-name outlets. Affordable things to see near me, must-visit beaches, cheap weekend getaways: East Coast Beaches, SC, Beaches near Orlando, Last Minute, NH, Houston, Palm Springs, Monterey, From Atlanta, GA, Sedona AZ. The lighthouse and adjoining keepers corners are now owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth. The spooky fun reaches its peak in October, when the city hosts a month-long slate of Haunted Happenings. Bethel, Maine sits just east of the Vermont border outside of the White Mountain National Forest. The iconic lighthouse operated until 1989, when it was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard. Day 1: Portland. If you have only 2 days in Portland and visit this city for the first time, the best way is to spend these two days in the city center. For foodies, definitely check out this North End Foodie Tour, which is led by a local culinary expert that knows all the very best spots. Over 18,000 pieces rotate through permanent and temporary exhibits. This 28,771-acre lake in Casco and Naples, Maine, is also a popular spot to fish for lake trout, bass, perch, and other species. Bar Harbor, Maine, Phone: 207-288-3338 To explore out on the water, hop aboard a whale watch tour, enjoy a fishing or lobstering outing, take a sailing cruise or rent a canoe or kayak. How about Ogunquit or Kennebunkport for lunch or dinner? Find places to go within a day's drive of me in Portland, ME and plan a day trip near Portland, ME. Visit the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the underground railroad member who wrote Uncle Toms Cabin. Destinations Africa Morocco Asia China India 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, ME 04069, Phone: 207-688-4712, Top Rated: Last minute places for couples: Charleston WV, Pensacola, Baton Rouge, Colorado Springs, Dayton OH, Dauphin Island, Provincetown, New Orleans, Philadelphia, UT, AZ, From NYC, CO. Brunswick, Maine is a charming New England college town thats been designated as a Main Street Community for its walkable downtown. By VacationIdea Staff on October 2, 2022 - Updated. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village was established in 1783, and is located between New Gloucester and Poland. Click here to book your Seaplane Tour in Rangeley Lake! This particular tour is great for day-trippers because the vessel is a high-speed catamaran, so youll be able to cover more ground in the same amount of time, allowing you to really maximize your time. E-bikes are so much fun to ride, and allow you to pack more into your schedule than just walking. Some of the best things to do in Newburyport on a day trip from Portland: A great option for a boat tour in Newburyport is this cruise through the harbor on a Yankee Clipper. In the winter months, the park is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Done at night, this tour is led by a local history expert and takes you to some of the most haunted locations in town. For all these reasons, its one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine. Getting There: Freeport is a 20-minute drive north of Portland on I-295. Head over to Eastern Point Lighthouse and walk almost a half mile out on the breakwater. Mount Agamenticus also combines easily with visits to Americas Stonehenge (see above) in New Hampshire. At 5,200 feet, Mount Lafayette in Franconia is among the most scenic in New England. The area is home to the 90-acre Fort Williams Park where youll find the Portland Head Light. Tumbling down a staggering 620 feet, the stunning Multnomah Falls is the tallest of all the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge region-and it also happens to be one of the easiest and most popular day trips from Portland, Oregon! The mountaintop features a visitor center, an abandoned ski lift and a mysterious grave site. Boston can easily be done in a day, and while you wont see it all, youll be able to cover a lot of ground, depending on what youre looking to do. Trail Distance/Elevation Gain: 4.6 miles round-trip/1,984 feet. Homers 1883-1910 studio in Prouts Neck, Maine is now owned by the museum and open to the public. The next time you find yourself with a day off with nothing but sunshine and time, do yourself a favor and pay one of these places a visit! Walk along the shoreline of Ogunquit Beach. 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, Phone: 207-799-2661, Romantic places this weekend: Mountains in Utah, Utah resorts, Romantic Getaways in Maine, Maine lighthouses, Where to stay in Acadia, Things to Do in Brunswick, Wilson. To get to the islands, take the mailboat or a ferry from Portland, or board the Bailey Island Cruise to arrive at Cooks Lobster House. Art Museum, Maine Historical Society/Longfellow House, etc) but for all practical purposes you will need a car if you'd like to get outside the city to visit lighthouses, charming coastal villages, etc all within 30 minutes drive. Cabot Mill Antiques is a great place to simply browse and the Waterfront Flea Market is filled with an impressive amount of memorabilia, knickknacks and collectibles. Abol Bridge Can you beat this view of Katahdin? Everyone needs a quick getaway and we have you covered! The park spans 47,000 acres, most of which are located on Mount Desert Island, off Maines Atlantic coast. Be sure to stop at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray on the way. Lake Winnipesaukee is actually comprised of eight different towns, each with something unique and fun to offer. Hi there! Whether you follow this itinerary word for word or scope out your own spots along the way, you'll find opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, camp, and just get outside . The performing arts also excel at Bates College, Lewistons Public Theater and the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. Where:We recommend Bald Peak Trail, located off US Highway 302 between Bridgton and Fryeburg, Maine. Explore the cute downtown and visit the shops. Drive to the top of Quill Hill for more amazing birds eye lake views. The small coastal village is located in Penobscot Bay halfway between Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport. Get some sweet treats to bring home (or eat on the drive!) Take a scenic drive along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. Technically speaking, there are over 4,600 islands off the coast of Maine.This includes the largest actual island (Mount Desert Island) to tiny ledges that can only be considered islands during a very low tide.There are a fair few that fall right in the middle, perfect for exploring no matter what your budget might be. The most direct and yet still packed full of great coastal scenery route option spans a distance of 630 miles from Portland in Maine to Nova Scotia. Travel Tip: While in Rockland, walk atop the granite wall that leads to Rockland Breakwater Light. Best things to do in Rockport on a day trip from Portland: Want to explore more of the North Shore & Cape Ann, MA?Click here to read my post on the best thing to do in the region! But if you're visiting the area in the summer and can swing it, it's well worth the cost. Rockport is small, but feels very special and memorable. Spending a day here means walking the beaches at Reid State Park, feasting on lobster with an idyllic view at Five Islands Lobster Co., shopping for locally made Georgetown Pottery, and maybe even staying late to hear live music at the landmark Robinhood Free Meetinghouse. If you like to shop, be sure to hit up Newbury Street and Copely Place. Portland, Maine's central coast location makes day trips along the Atlantic coast and into Maine's lake and mountain regions easy and accessible. Two of my favorites are. Lake trout, crappie, small mouth and large mouth bass, and perch all frequent the coves, inlets and rocky underwater islands. Free points of interest close to me: West Virginia, Santa Cruz, Sister Bay, Houghton, Issaquah. North America. Whether you're looking for outdoor recreation or art museums, outlet shopping bargains or unique galleries and boutiques, beaches or historic sites, or even a driving tour, you'll find plenty to entice you within a short radius of Portland. Most day trips from Portland, Maine on this list are less than 2 hours away, with the longest being 2 hours and 30 minutes away. Turn left on Maine Route 327 (Mosher Rd.) One the water activities are the top attraction here, be it fishing, boating or sightseeing. You don't need a car while in Portland because the city is well served by public transportation (light-rail, streetcar, buses). 3 days in Portland, Maine is the perfect amount of time. The best time to see the fall foliage in Maine is mid-September through the end of October. Take a walking tour with a certified Maine Guide to learn more about the town. That trend is likely to continue into 2023. Named for the rocky terrain and its history of limestone mining, todays Rockport is a laid back scenic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Any time of year, visit the shops on Fore Street and Exchange Street, find fresh seafood at the Harbor Fish Market, and try a Maine potato donut at the favorite Holy Donuts. Visit the Boothbay Region Art Foundation or visit during a Boothbay Art and Crafts Show, which takes place on summer weekends. 15. If the weather is nice, take a ride to Portland Head Light, technically in Cape Elizabeth, it's just 9 miles south of Portland. This spot is pure perfection! It does take 2-2.5 hours to connect to Portland via I-95 N. However, if your one day in Portland ME falls as part of a wider New England road trip itinerary then this might work better with your schedule anyway. During the winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing or ice skating on the frozen bodies of water. 6. While its a popular destination, it doesnt often feel super crowded, and definitely has a very chill atmosphere. We briefly turn our attention to a rather curious destination located in New Hampshire, too. Visiting this megalithic monument comes with an especially strong recommendation. Mt Hood Day Trip from Portland to Multnomah Falls and Hood River. Click here to book your Hauntings & History Walking Tour in Salem! And be sure to keep reading below for bonus seasonal suggestions, as to find out if a day trip from Portland to Acadia is worth it! Happy planning! Below is a list of my favorite day trips from Portland, Maine, and the destinations are organized by shortest to furthest distance from Portland. Ready for a winter cruise through Casco Bay? It requires taking a bus or the Amtrak Downeaster train all the way to Boston, then switching to a local bus or train to Salem. 207-536-5611 Home; Private Tours; Cruise Ship Shore Excursions; . Tour guides will also help you spot shore birds and other wildlife during the cruise. Rangelely Lake is also a quiet and peaceful destination, which makes for a wonderful escape from the city. If you don't have access to a vehicle, join this awesome waterfall hiking tour to the Columbia River Gorge from Portland! The proximity of this Maine State Park to the city makes this one of our easiest Portland day trips. The destinations from this list that offer amazing hiking opportunities as a day trip from Portland would be Acadia National Park, Camden (Camden Hills State Park), Conway, Sebago Lake and Rangely Lake. Hood, within a short driving distance from the city, to smaller towns like McMinnville and Eugene. Interpretative displays and lighthouse lenses are on exhibit. The town also offers uncrowded beaches, a tidal river teeming with wildlife, a working fishing harbor, a desert, and Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park with broad views of Casco Bay from rocky beaches and high bluffs. Most day trips from Portland, Maine on this list are less than 2 hours away, with the longest being 2 hours and 30 minutes away. . Getting there: From Boston's South Station, take the Amtrak Northeastern Regional line to Providence. Airlines Delta United Airlines JetBlue Airways Train operators MTA Buy the big bag of popcorn at E.W. Theyll take you to some off-the-beaten path places, and youll meet with food artisans to sample locally-caught lobster, chowder, Maine whoopie pies, the absolute best ice cream in town, and so much more. No matter how you get there, expect classic Maine coastal scenery, a unique man-made structure and a great seafood restaurant perfectly situated on the coast. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the US for a reason, it is beautiful! Bethel is home to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, The Ski Museum of Maine, Maggie Rings Nature Park, and the Bethel Recreational Pathway for cyclists. Home to Castle in the Clouds and Riding in the Cloudswhere you can ride horseback or take a horse-drawn carriage rideMoultonborough, New Hampshire, is a perfect day trip destination on Lake Winnipesaukee. Insider travel recommendations, In-depth reviews of our favorite places: UT, Indianapolis, From Kansas City, Mackinac Island, Chattanooga, RI, From Chicago, Sacramento, Nantucket, Girls Getaways, Santa Barbara, PA. Moultonborough is also home to the Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary, where a walk along the Loon Nest Trail allows you to view a nesting pair of loons from late spring through early fall. If you live in Portland or are new to the city, and are looking to get out and explore more of the region, or if youre planning a longer stay and are wondering what your options are for day trips from Portland, Maine, this post is all about the absolute best options to give you plenty of ideas.

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