Location: Portland
Top Things to do in Portland
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Things to do in Portland, Maine (ME): The Best Traveler Resources
From ornate mansions to ocean views, this charming city - the largest in Maine - will enchant you. Saunter down the brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets of the revitalized Old Port District, where you can browse through bookstores, explore craft shops and eat to your heart's content. Visit the Portland Head Light, which dates back to 1791, and is the oldest lighthouse still in continuous use in the U.S. The great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the city's native son, and you can visit his childhood home, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. With kids in hand, enjoy the highly interactive Children's Museum of Maine. And then go next door to the calmer Portland Museum of Art, a small, but eclectic museum with Impressionist works, Maine landscapes by Homer and Wyeth and other collections. Land or sea is an option here, so if you're tired of the street life, take one of the popular scenic cruises or whale watches, or hop on a ferry to the islands in Casco Bay. At the end of the day, and without kids in hand, unwind and rest your tired feet at one of the city's brewpubs.
Restaurants in Portland
1. Tate House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Georgian-style House, built in 1755; also has 18-century herb garden.
Reviewed By TravellingPhillips - Bismarck, United States
Had to leave a shout out to Laura the curator (for a wonderful amount of time) and the sweet tour guide (whose name I didn't catch) for graciously giving us a Cliff's Notes version of the tour AS they were closing up for the season. We saw a note in the FB page only after we had been knocking on the door, in the rain. Another couple pulled up right after us, and the lady was so kind to let us in. The house is so charming and oldest pre-revolutionary home that's open to the public in ME. Definitely worth a stop (but before Oct 30th!). Thank you so much sweet ladies!
2. Portland Public Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By mainemountainbear - Texas Gulf Coast, United States
This multi-level, quintessentially urban library (built 1979) was one of the jewels of the city’s Downtown District (not the Old Port). Once one got past the outdoor traffic, it was a pleasure to explore it. It was warm, well lit, and well organized. Its collections and spaces included a teens’ area, a children’s area, a public computers area, a periodicals reading area, a photo exhibits area, a special collections room, an auditorium, several meeting rooms, and more. The Portland Room was a particular treasure. The library’s main level restrooms were surprisingly clean. Its staff members were helpful, patient, and knew their library and all that it has to offer. The only major drawback was scarcity of parking for patrons who drive to it rather than walk or ride a bike. Parking was metered at curbside or paid at several nearby garages. Other than parking, I appreciated all that I found here; I disliked nothing.
3. Osher Map Library
4. Cumberland County Civic Center
5. Albert Brenner Glickman Family Library
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
