Portland Maine Recreation and Outdoors
Casco Bay Lines/Casco Bay Islands - Portland's best-known cruise service with commuter and charter services shows you all Casco Bay has to offer, from islands to forts and lighthouses. Boats depart daily from the Casco Bay Ferry terminal year-round, including daily mail-boat runs (3 hours) with stops at six islands both coming and going.
Back Cove Trail - Three and a half miles of walking/running trails along the blue waters of Back Cove off Baxter Boulevard, joining the Eastern Promenade Trail near Tukey's Bridge.
Eastern Promenade - Beach, tennis courts, ball field, playground, and a paved walking trail along the shores of Casco Bay from East End Beach to the Old Port.
Deering Oaks Park - A 51-acre park in the heart of Portland with a duck pond, tennis courts, playground, basketball courts, ball fields, a snack bar, walking trails, and beautiful flowers and trees.
Fore River Sanctuary - A marshy sanctuary right in Portland on the Fore River, (at the intersection of Congress and Frost Streets) with two and one-half miles of hiking trails and a reversing waterfall.
Payson Park - City park off Back Cove, with tennis courts, ball fields, rollerblading and skateboarding area, basketball courts, and an outdoor ice rink in winter.
Western Promenade - Walking paths past stately, historic homes and stunning views of Casco Bay.
Other Portland Maine Attractions
Portland Observatory - Built in 1807, this landmark structure is the last maritime signal tower in the US. During the summer, you can climb the more than 100 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the city and Casco Bay.
Victoria Mansion - This historic house built in 1858 in the Italianate style, with richly decorated Victorian interiors, is now a museum. Tour the opulent home and visit the museum shop.
Children's Museum of Maine - Learn-by-doing exhibits, science kits, and programs that focus on Maine's heritage, arts and humanities, science, nature and health teach kids by using a hands-on approach.
Old Port - Portland's Old Port, with its cobbled streets and beautiful Victorian brick buildings located along the city's waterfront, is a walkable mecca of restaurants, microbreweries, art galleries, and specialty shops. Enjoy views of Casco Bay while dining, or browse through the quaint shops selling crafts, antiques, and Maine-made products. Be prepared for the Old Port to go from bustling during the day to rowdy at night.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad - Enjoy great views of Portland's working waterfront and Casco Bay while riding on antique rail cars, and visit the Narrow Gauge Railroad museum.
Portland Museum of Art - The Portland Museum of Art is a cultural oasis in southern Maine, boasting works by master European artists like Degas, Renoir, Cassatt, and Toulouse-Lautrec; and American artists like Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Rockwell Kent, Marsden Hartley, and Andrew Wyeth.
Southworth Planetarium - Kids and adults alike will be impressed with the astronomy shows and laser light shows set to the music of Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Garth Brooks, The Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd, The Doors, and others.