Greater Portland
Maine’s largest city is easily reached from Portland International Jetport a few minutes from downtown, and by road from I-95, 1-295, U.S. Route 1, or Route 302 from the west. Portland is the terminal for Amtrak trains from Boston, and there is also a non-stop bus service from that city.
Fine views of Portland and its surrounds can be had from the restored 1807 Portland Observatory maritime signal tower at the top of Munjoy Hill on Congress Street. As Maine’s major port for shipping goods worldwide, Portland has long been important to the state’s economy. The Portland Fish Exchange commercial auction facility is here. Maine’s Constitution was drafted in the city’s oldest house of worship, the First Parish Church, and many historic homes on show are still complete with much of their original furniture and furnishings.
Shoppers throng the Old Port Area’s tree-lined cobblestone streets. The arts are important to Portland which has the long-established Portland Museum of Art, the Maine College of Art in what was once a department store, plus dozens of galleries. Portland’s Symphony Orchestra and theater and dance groups are active at several venues, and Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center hosts sports, exhibitions and entertainment. Museums include the Children’s Museum, the Museum of African Tribal Art, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, and the Portland Fire Museum tells how the city has survived its three major conflagrations.
For outdoor fans there’s Hadlock Field’s sports, plus parks and green spaces abound. Golf at various courses in Portland, South Portland, on Chebeague Island since 1923, in Gorham and Scarborough. Portland still has a working harbor from which excursion boat trips show whales, seals and bird life close up and demonstrate how lobsters are caught. Casco Bay Lines, dating from 1845, is the oldest continuously operating ferry company in the U.S.
Shoppers revel in South Portland’s Maine Mall and nearby Freeport’s many factory outlets; while in Freeport visit Wolfe’s Neck Farm and the Desert of Maine.
Portland Yacht Club is in mostly residential Falmouth, of which Portland was once a suburb though the reverse is now true. South of Portland is Cape Elizabeth’s scenic shorefront. Crescent Beach State Park and Two Lights State Park are on Route 33.
Maine’s first lighthouse, scenic Portland Head Light at Fort Williams, was built in 1791.
Scarborough’s 3,000-acre nature preserve near Pine Point, the Maine Wildlife Park at Gray, picturesque Casco village, and Sebago Lake are all interesting excursion attractions.
Freeport is a historic coastal Maine village with over 170 retailers, upscale outlets, designer ships, eclectic boutiques, charming B&B’s, hotels, fantastic restaurants and casual cafes. It’s also home to world-famous L.L. Bean.
L.L. Bean started in Freeport in 1912 with 100 pairs of boots. By 1982 the store’s immense popularity with shoppers inspired more than 130 brand name outlet stores, boutiques, specialty stores, fabulous restaurants and gift shops to open their businesses in Freeport.
Today Freeport is a tourist destination with more than 3.5 million visitors annually. Adding to your shopping experience are open air concert series, talks with tips on outdoor activities, art festivals and street performers.
While shopping diversity has become synonymous with Freeport, you’ll find the town has retained an allure and elegance that builds on its cultural past. Many businesses retained the original architectural style of buildings from an early era, which gives Freeport’s Main Street a traditional historic flair.
A short distance from the thriving downtown you can find the amazing Desert of Maine with natural 70-foot sand dunes; Winslow Memorial Park with a beach, boat landing, playground and campsites; the Audubon Society’s Mast Landing Santuary with day camp and trails through the woods and fields and Wolfe’s Neck State Park offering 233 acres to explore.
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FALMOUTH is mainly residential with fine estates lining the scenic ocean Route 88 but boasts abundant retail shopping opportunities along Route 1. Before 1786 Portland to the south was a suburb of Falmouth but now just the reverse is true. Falmouth is home to the Portland Yacht Club, which hosts the Monhegan Island Yacht Race each year. The Maine Audubon Society has its headquarters at Gilsland Farm a mile away.
YARMOUTH, just north of Falmouth on Route 1, is a quaint village settled on the Royal River. With many retail shops along Rt. 1, it is mostly residential. Famous for its Annual Clam Festival; a festival not to be missed. If you’ve come to Maine for seafood you’ll find plenty of it at this three-day extravaganza along with a parade, crafts, live music, a 5K race, and much more. You can picnic and stroll along the Royal River enjoying foliage and waterfalls from the Royal River Park on East Elm Street or launch your boat into Casco Bay from the marina on the river. If you’re a canoeing or kayaking enthusiast you can “put in” just up the river in North Yarmouth.
GRAY – NEW GLOUCESTER is located just north-west of Yarmouth. Both communities are very rural with rolling hills and plentiful farm land. Gray has a downtown area with shops, banks, and many other businesses. You’ll find the Maine Wildlife Park here which is owned and operated by the Maine Department of Inland & Fisheries. The 200-acre park is home to more than 25 species of native Maine Wildlife. New Gloucester is home to 5000-acre Pineland Farms. Open to the public for a variety of recreational purposes, everything from walking trails, to ice skating, to mountain biking, and Nordic skiing, Pineland Farms also has a creamery and sells Maine-made cheeses … or if you’re an equestrian you won’t want to miss their Equestrian Center.
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When Portland’s fabled Union Station, the rail center on Saint John Street, was demolished in 1961 it created such a public outrage that it inspired the beginning of the historic preservation of Maine buildings and iconic locations. The Greater Portland Landmarks has been at the forefront to increase awareness and appreciation of these historic places. Listed below are just a few of Portland’s architectural treasures.
Tate House (1755) 1270 Westbrook Street. While Portland was a frontier, Captain George Tate and his family lived here while he served as a mast agent for the British navy locating tall timbers for English ships.
Wadsworth-Longfellow House (1785-1786) 487 Congress Street. The oldest house on Portland’s peninsula and home of the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
McLellan Sweat Mansion (1800) 103 Spring Street. Successful as a shipping merchant, Hugh McLellan constructed his mansion to reflect a new popular style of the day with larger windows and carved décor.
Portland Observatory (1807) built on Portland’s highest spot by Lemuel Moody. Used to watch for ships entering the harbor and send signals to help ships in danger and approaching storms.
First Parish Church (1825-1826) 425 Congress Street. The oldest church in Portland and site where Maine’s Constitution was drafted. A cannonball from the British attack that burned Portland is located inside the church.
Charles Q. Clapp House (1832) 97 Spring Street. Built by Clapp who made a fortune buying and selling land in Portland. He built his home in the style of a Greek temple because of the young nation’s admiration of Greece as the birthplace of democracy.
Victoria Mansion (1855-1860) 109 Danforth Street. Built by Ruggles S. Morse in the Italianate style with a tall central tower. It was a summer home for Morse and his family who decorated it with art works of European and America masters. Called the “villa” because it was inspired by the 15th to 17th century villas of Italy.
United States Custom House (1868-1871) 312 Fore Street. Following the Civil War Portland harbor became a hub of commerce and needed a new building for government record keeping. It was designed to look like a European palace and built with Maine granite.
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Drive onto Maine Street in Brunswick and you’ll see a curious sight – a street that spans 198 feet. When planned by the visionaries who established the town in 1714-15 they called the street Twelve Rod Road. It may be the widest street in New England. It sets the tone for an open environment and organized grid system of streets that make Brunswick an easy place to visit and enjoy.
The street makes room for an inviting spacial grassy mall where town folks and visitors can picnic, relax on benches and listen to free concerts.
Not far from this open area is Bowdoin College, one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the country. Founded in 1794, its 110 acre campus houses the Maine State Music Theater, where you can attend professional musical productions during the summer. Also on campus you’ll find the Nathaniel Longfellow-Henry Wadsworth Hawthorne Library and the Perry-MacMillan Arctic Museum with displays depicting the exploits of the two explorers and their arctic adventures.
Be prepared to lose track of time in the Bowdoin College Museum of Art Gallery. It features portraits of Colonial and Federal luminaries, old master drawings, antiques, 19th and 20th century art and the Molinari Collection of plaques and medals.
For camping and swimming visit Thomas Point Beach. The Maine Highland Games are held here in August.
Bruswick prides itself on several historic districts which include the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum. This was the home of the hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, who returned from the war to become Governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin. Another important area is the Pennellville Historic District, which preserves the mansions built by shipbuilders and sea captains in the Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate architectural designs.
While living in Bruswick, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Her vision for the story occurred while attending the First Parish Church.
Flowing by Brunswick is the Androscoggin River. The river drops in 3 successive stages over a distance of 41 feet and inspired the Native Indians to call the area “Pejepscot” which means the “long, rocky rapids part of the river.” This water power helped establish Brunswick as a major industrial city producing lumber for shipbuilding. This was also the site of Maine’s first cotton mill and other manufacturing businesses.
The area was settled by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen in 1628. They called it Pejepscot after the Indian name for the river. Over the years more settlers moved into the area only to be rousted by Indian tribes. By 1727 Brunswick was rebuilt again and incorporated into a town in 1738 and evolved into a prosperous seaport.
Serving the Pejepscot regions of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell is the Pejepscot Historical Society. It was established in 1888 and is one of Maine’s oldest historical organizations, maintaining three museums and comprehensive research material.
Below Brunswick you’ll find the Harspwell Peninsula. Sometimes this area is called “Harpswells” because the town has several sections interconnected by roads and bridges.
You’ll have a scenic ride past coves, inlets and woodlands with a choice to veer toward Harpswell Center or Orr’s Island. Take both. From Orr’s Island you get to Bailey Island by crossing the Cribstone Bridge, built in 1928 of granite from local quarries. Because of strong ocean currents and wind, the bridge was designed with heavy granite blocks with “cribbing” spaces instead of mortar to allow the tides to pass through.
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If the Old Port Exchange District of Portland didn’t exist you’d want someone to invent it. Stroll along cobblestone streets with gas light fixtures, past classic Victorian style brick buildings, and you’ll think you’ve returned to an enchanted by-gone era. Today this classic architectural motif and stylish old-world surroundings provide the Old Port with its signature character and make it one of Portland most popular vacation attractions.
The Old Port spans about six blocks of undeniable charm and vitality. You’ll find a delightful eclectic selection of fashionable boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, jewelry stores and trendy restaurants. It’s a place that invites you to look for one-of-kind art pieces, stylish outfits, hard to find culinary items and mementoes of Maine.
Your dining experience in the Old Port range from traditional lobster dinners overlooking the harbor, to exotic delicacies presented with flair and style, to a chili dog from a street vendor with entertainment provided by an outdoor musical group.
Adding to the zest of the Old Port is the city’s working waterfront harbor centered on Commercial Street. At first blush the hubbub that goes on in the harbor may seem too chaotic. But there seems to be an invisible choreographer that keeps pedestrians and commercial traffic flowing with a poetic elegance.
The tapestry of activity you find here includes fish markets, ferry services, fashionable condos, rustic eateries and docks where whale watching and cruise boats take you out to “see.”
Over the years the Old Port has gone through a number of dynamic transitions.
During the 19th century the Old Port was at the heart of the booming commercial waterfront. In 1866 one of the four fires that devastated the city destroyed 1,800 buildings and left almost 10,000 people homeless. The city rose from the ashes with a new determination and reestablished the Old Port as vital part of its waterfront expansion.
As the highs and lows of business cycles evolved the Old Port went through periods of decline. In the 1970s artists and crafters in search of low rents moved into abandoned lofts, vacant chandleries and warehouses and converted them into profitable studios and workshops. They were followed by visionaries and entrepreneurs who opened shops and restaurants and revitalized the Old Port to its former prominence.
Today the Old Port is one of Portland’s most visited destinations. Each summer the Old Port Festival attracts thousands of visitors for a lively parade, entertainment, food and great family fun.
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Are you going to Scarborough? A fair question if you want to add to your vacation fun. When you reach this breezy seacoast town you’ll find a wonderful collection of sights and sites for your entire family to enjoy.
Scarborough has five beaches, three oceanfront villages and a bustling commercial section along Route 1 that includes several vacation attractions.
Renowned artist Winslow Homer had his studio at Prouts Neck, one of Scarborough’s three villages. Prouts Neck, which juts out into Saco Bay, was the subject of many of his works and helped publicize its beaches and distinctive rocky coastline. Scarborough Beach Park, Ferry Beach and Western Beach are located here and offer great swimming and water sports.
Higgins Beach is another village with a sandy shoreline adjacent to the Spurwink River. Just off Route 77, it has rows of charming cottages that are ideal for family rentals.
The third village is at Pine Point with a fine-sand beach and protected boating facilities. You reach Pine Point by heading down Route 9 toward the ocean. On the way you’ll pass Scarborough Marsh, Maine’s largest saltwater marsh. It covers 3,100 acres of tidal flats with meandering channels for canoe trips and trails for hiking, bird watching and getting a glimpse of hundreds of wildlife species. There is also a Bird Sanctuary on Prouts Neck.
Fans flock to Scarborough for its world class harness and stock car racing along with a high energy go-cart track. You’ll find a great variety of seafood and specialty restaurants and a selection of comfortable accommodations ranging from motels, B&Bs, campsites and rental cottages. If you’re a chocolate lover, journey along Route 1 to visit a candy manufacturer with the world’s only life-size chocolate moose on display.
Scarborough had a challenging time establishing itself when it was first settled in the 1600s. Confrontations with Native Americans frustrated its growth and the area was abandoned several times before a new community flourished. A major battle took place on Prouts Neck and was commemorated by naming the site Massacre Pond.
Maine’s first governor, William King, was born in Scarborough at the family homestead in the Dunstan area near Route 1.
Scarborough’s convenient location near Portland’s jetport, the Amtrak rail center and Maine Turnpike make it an ideal residential community for commuters and visitors. Shopping areas along Route 1 and the Maine Mall, a few miles to the north, add to the pleasure of Scarborough as a great place to visit. And no shopping trip would be complete without a trip to Maine’s newest “outfitter” … Cabela’s.
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