- Free Fridays at the Portland Museum of Art --The Portland Museum of Art is well worth the admission, but if you want to save money, go on Friday evening, when admission is free from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
- Take In an Astronomy Show --The University of Southern Maine's Southworth Planetarium offers a variety of interesting astronomy shows. Admission is $5.00 for adults; $4.00 for children, students, and seniors, and free for USM students, faculty and staff. Matinees are $4.00 for all ages.
- Browse Antique Stores --Browsing through antique stores can be fun even if you don't buy anything. You can find antique stores in almost any town in Maine, or pick up a copy of Maine Antique Digest and look for the schedule of antique shows, lists of shops, etc.
- Walk On The Beach --Don't think of a walk on the beach as just a summertime activity. Beaches are fascinating in any season, and less likely to be crowded in the off season. Fortunately, southern Maine has lots of beaches to choose from. Check out a few of them in the Southern Maine Beaches directory.
- Explore An Old Fort --Southern Maine has several old forts that are interesting to explore, including Fort McClary in Kittery, Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, and a bit further north, Fort Popham in Phippsburg.
- Visit a Lighthouse --There are so many lighthouses in southern Maine that you could spend several weekends seeing them all. Start with this list of Southern Maine Lighthouses or see How To Visit Five Lighthouses Near Portland, Maine for starters.
- Take A Scenic Drive --Even if you've lived here for many years, there are endless opportunities to explore back roads you've never been on. A scenic drive in Maine is always just minutes away. Just get out your map and start driving, or try one of my favorite fall foliage driving tours, which are picturesque any time of year.
- Window Shop In the Old Port --Portland's Old Port is a jumble of boutiques filled with antiques, clothing, crafts, furniture, jewelry, and specialty gifts in Victorian or 20th-century buildings that line the narrow streets of this historic section of the city. For information on parking and more, see the Guide To Portland's Old Port.
- Take a Hike --There are so many places to hike in southern Maine that several books have been written about them. Any one of the state parks in the area offer hiking, including Bradbury Mountain, Wolfe's Neck Woods, Lucy Sprague Memorial Trail, Mast Landing Sanctuary, Scarborough Marsh, and many others. For starters, see Parks and Public Lands.
- Visit a State Park --Southern Maine has more than its share of parks and public lands. See Parks and Public Lands for details. Admission is usually $2 to $3 per person, or you can buy a season pass for all of Maine's state parks.