Portland is a small but sophisticated city whose designation as one of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live In America is well-deserved. As New England's cultural hub, the city is a showcase for artists, musicians, craftsmen, and actors. Portland and the rest of southern Maine is also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of spectacular scenery. Here's a list of 25 things to do in Portland and southern Maine.
- Visit an amusement park such as Funtown/Splashtown USA or Aquaboggan, both in Saco, Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach, or York's Wild Kingdom in York.
- Browse through an antiquarian bookstore in the Portland area.
- Browse through some of southern Maine's many fine antique stores.
- View the outstanding collection of American paintings and other exhibits at the Portland Museum of Art.
- Visit one or more of the many Portland fine art galleries or other southern Maine art galleries specializing in Maine art.
- See Maine in a unique way, from a hot air balloon, available near Kennebunkport.
- Take a walk along one of southern Maine's fine sandy beaches.
- Take a cruise to one of the islands in Casco Bay, enjoy a whale watch or lobster cruise, or for a real taste of Maine, take a Windjammer cruise.
- Paddle the quiet waters of the Saco River.
- Visit one of southern Maine's covered bridges.
- Shop 'till you drop at the outlet stores in Kittery or Freeport or explore the unique boutiques in Portland's Old Port.
- Explore an old 18th century fort such as Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Fort McClary in Kittery, or Fort Popham in Phippsburg (near Bath).
- Take in some harness racing at Scarborough Downs April through November.
- Visit one of southern Maine's numerous lighthouses, such as Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Cape Neddick Light in York, or Spring Point Light in South Portland.
- Enjoy a bit of regional history in one of southern Maine's many museums, including the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, or the Old York Historical Society in York.
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Get back to nature in one of the beautiful parks or nature preserves in southern Maine, such as the Wells National Estuarine Reserve in Wells, the Audubon Society's Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, Scarborough Marsh in Scarborough, or
in Freeport.
- Enjoy quality summer theater at the [link url=http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/]Ogunquit Playhouse
in Ogunquit, the Portland Stage Company in Portland, or the Portland Players, also in Portland. - Step back into the Victorian Age in the beautiful Victoria Mansion in Portland, open May through October.
- Take a walk along Casco Bay on the Eastern Promenade Trail, or walk the one mile perimeter trail on MacWorth Island, offering views of Portland and the islands of Casco Bay.
- Check out the music, sports and other events at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.
- Take in a spectacular laser light show at Southworth Planetarium.
- Cheer on the Portland Pirates hockey team at the Cumberland County Civic Center or the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team at Hadlock Field.
- Visit the farmers' market at Monument Square in downtown Portland.
- Experience a natural phenomenon at Freeport's Desert of Maine, a 40-acre natural desert.
- #25, the Portland Public Market, has been removed because the building was sold and the new owners chose not to have the Public Market in the building.