The motto of Maine’s largest city is Resurgam , or “I shall rise again,” for good reason. Portland has burned down four times since its foundation in 1633. Building codes set up after the 1866 Great Fire created a legacy of handsome Victorian structures. Redevelopment has transformed the waterfront with dining and entertainment, and former warehouses have become boutiques and galleries. A short drive from downtown lie the parks and sandy beaches of Casco Bay.
NEED TO KNOW
Two Lights State Park • Cape Elizabeth • 207 799 5871
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Odyssey Whale Watch • 170 Commercial St • 207 775 0727
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Maine Sailing Adventures • Maine State Pier, Commercial St • 207 749 9169
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Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park • Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth • 207 799 2661
Crescent Beach State Park • Rte 77, Cape Elizabeth • 207 799 5871
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Portland Sea Dogs • 271 Park Ave • 800 936 3647
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Portland Observatory • 138 Congress St • 207 774 5561
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Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine • 142 Free St • 207 828 1234
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- Be prepared for steep walking, often on cobbles. Residential Portland is on a high ridge; downtown sits on a steep slope.
1. Victoria Mansion
Portland-born hotelier Sylvester Morse (1816–93) made his fortune in New Orleans. The elaborate Italianate manse he built in 1860 as his summer home showed the folks back home how well he’d done.
Victoria Mansion
2. Two Lights State Park
Sandy dunes and rocky points meet at this state park, named for a pair of 19th-century lighthouses.
3. Windjammer and Whale-Watching Cruises
You might see humpback, finback, and minke whales roll in the water, spout, and leap during a 4-hour whale-watching trip, or view Portland from Casco Bay on a 2-hour sail aboard a gaff-rigged sloop.
4. Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park
Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head was built in 1791 as part of Fort Williams. This stately beacon marking the entrance to Casco Bay is one of the world’s most photographed lighthouses.
Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park
5. Old Port District
The colorful shops of the Old Port District range from dealers in antiques and fine crafts to coffee roasters, candy stores, and boutiques. Both fresh-caught lobsters and harbor island commuters come ashore at the docks.
Old Port District
6. Crescent Beach State Park
Spread out a blanket on the mile-long arc of beach, go exploring for shells, and take a dip to appreciate the soft sand and safe waters at this park, which is favored by Portland locals but little known to travelers.
7. Portland Sea Dogs
A minor-league affiliate of major-league baseball’s Boston Red Sox, the Sea Dogs have a loyal, almost fanatical following in Portland. The home games are played at Hadlock Field.
Portland Sea Dogs game in progress at Hadlock Field
8. Portland Observatory
Built in 1807 to alert merchants when their ships were arriving, this 86-ft (26-m) wooden observation tower is the last remaining US maritime signal station. It provides fine views of Portland harbor.
9. Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
An ambitious program of plays for children and interactive exhibits that both entertain and enlighten make the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine an essential place to visit with kids up to age 12.
10. Portland Museum of Art
In a complex of three historic buildings, the museum features painters of the Maine landscape, notably Winslow Homer (1836–1910), Marsden Hartley (1877–1943), and Rockwell Kent (1882–1971).
