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Portland is located on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Southern Maine coast approximately 100 miles (161 km) north of Boston, Massachusetts. It has more than 65,000 inhabitants making it the largest city in Maine. Despite its relatively low number of residents, Portland has a wide array of shops, restaurants, and things to see and do. Many people commute to Portland to work, and the city's population significantly increases in the summertime.
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SEE DO EAT
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 SEE
- Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Phone: +1 207 775-6148, Fax: +1 207 773-7324, Email: info@portlandmuseum.org, [9]. Tu,W,Th,Sa,Su 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-9PM. Memorial Day-Columbus Day: also M 10AM-5PM. Housing a diverse collection of Impressionists, included Monet and Renoir, and is great for an afternoon stroll.
- Childrens Museum of Maine, 142 Free St., Phone: +1 207 828-1234, [10]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM (also M in summer); Su Noon-5PM. Great fun for the kids.
- Portland Observatory, 138 Congress St., Phone: +1 207 774-5561 ext. 104. Memorial Day to Columbus Day, Daily 10-5PM. This has nothing to do with astronomy. Built in 1807, it is the only extant maritime signal station in the United States.
- Portland Head Light and Museum, 1000 Shore Rd. Cape Elizabeth, Phone: +1 207 799-2661, [11]. Museum open 10AM-4PM daily June-Oct; weekends in shoulder seasons. Grounds open daily year round and free. One of the most scenic lighthouses in the country. Adjacent to Fort Williams, a WWII artillery emplacement. $2/$1.
- Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth Street, Phone: +1 207 772-4841, [12]. May-Oct. $10/$3.
- Bug Light Lighthouse across the Fore River in South Portland offers unparalleled views of the Portland skyline and Casco Bay.
- Stroudwater Village, just west of the Portland peninsula is one of Maine's oldest.
- Old Port, next to the downtown area along Commercial St. next to Casco Bay. The Old Port is filled with neat shops, restaurants, and cafes, and has something of a European feel to it.
- Eastern Promenade. Providing amazing views of the Casco Bay and the islands
- Western Promenade. See examples of mansions built by wealthy sea captains long ago.
- Deering Oaks. A 51 acre area in Portland with a tennis court, baseball diamond, playground and pond. You can ice skate on the pond in the winter.
- Willard Beach in South Portland right across the bridge.
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DO
- Back Cove. This large inlet connected to the sea by a small canal, has a recreation path over 3 mi (5 km) long and was designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted and lined with linden trees to memorialize World War One dead.
- Portland Schooner Company, 40 Commercial St., Phone: +1 207 766-2500, Toll free: 1-87-SCHOONER, [13]. During the summer months you can purchase tickets on the Maine State Pier, right next to the ferry. From 2-hour sails to overnight charters.
- Casco Bay Lines, 56 Commercial Street, Phone: +1 207 774-7871, [14]. Taking a tour of Casco Bay on the ferry is a great way to enjoy Portland from a different perspective. In addition to fishing vessels and cargo and tanker ships, during the Spring and Summer months many sailboats, yachts, and cruise ships provide enjoyment.
- Center for Cultural Exchange , 1 Longfellow Sq. Congress and State Sts., Phone: +1 207 761-1545, [15]. A community center for the expression of traditional folkways and contemporary performance which hosts over 200 events per year.
- Portland Sea Dogs, Hadlock Field, Phone: +1 207 879-9500, [16]. A Boston Red Sox AA affiliate with a Fenway Park replica field. $3-$8 (2006).
- U.S. Highway 1. Be sure to drive up this scenic coast-hugging road whether on a clear or foggy day.
- Lucky Catch Lobster Cruise, 170 Commercial Street, Phone: +1 207 761-0941, [17]. Go on a lobster boat for a 2 hour cruise. You can help bait the traps, throw the traps overboard and more. Great for kids.
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EAT
Portland is home to many good restaurants. As one can imagine, the abundance of lobster, haddock, clams, scallops and other seafood allows restaurants to sell these usually expensive items at reasonable prices. In the Old Port and especially on Commercial Street, there are plenty of fine restaurants, including the Fore Street Restaurant. Additionally, Portland is probably the most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Maine. This results in a plethora of Vietnamese, Thai, Polish, African, Middle Eastern, and other restaurants. Most of these places are inexpensive and delicious.
- Walter's, 5 Exchange Street, Phone: +1 207 871-9258, [18]. Located in the Old Port since the summer of 1989, Walter's has an eclectic selection of international fare that features bright menu ideas and creative dishes that fuse Asian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and local influences with an emphasis on pasta and fresh fish. Whenever possible, Walter's uses local purveyors for produce, meats and seafood. Walter's has a nice wine list, spanning the world from Napa, South America, France and Italy to the Land Down Under. They also have spectacularly unique martini offerings, including the Pear, made with fresh pear puree."
- 51 Wharf Restaurant & Ultra Lounge, 51 Wharf Street, Phone: +1 207 774-1151, [19]. Right on Wharf Street, this restaurant and ultra lounge is the newest high end place in the Old Port. 51 is a modern restaurant with a contemporary, yet uncomplicated approach to food. With a cozy fireplace for the winter and a open air bar and deck in the summer, this place is the new place to be. 51 Wharf describes their bar as "51's sleek and sexy first floor bar is perfect for wine, cocktails, a bite from the Bar Menu and to people watch! The cozy lounge area with leather furniture is inviting to all. 51 is perfect to enjoy dinner, a quick snack at bar, or share a romantic bottle of wine in the lounge."
- Becky's Diner, 390 Commercial Street, a fixture of the working waterfront. Becky's starts serving breakfast a 4AM. Fisherman and other waterfront workers start their early days here. On the weekends you can also find many people ending thier nights with pancakes and famous homefries. Bumper stickers can be seen all over town reading, "Becky's Diner -- Nothing Finah".
- Flatbread Co., 72 Commercial Street, Phone: +1 207 772-8777, [20]. Right on the water with one of the best views of Portland Harbor and Casco Bay in town, a fun and funky staff that toss your pie in a wood-fired clay oven. Flatbread is a great place to go for a fun night out in the old port and also family friendly.
- Fore Street Restaurant, 288 Fore St., Phone: +1 207 775-2717, [21]. This place is reserved weeks and sometimes months in advance. But, you can get in just about any night if you arrive at opening about 5;00 PM and get on the list for their open seating. It is worth it. Start looking for it early, some people drive past this place three for four times before finding it and ask where it is when they are right in front of it. Very small sign. It's located on the south side of Fore Street between Franklin and Pearl streets, and is to the right of the Bangor Savings Bank / Baker Newman Noyes building. If you see the private garage on the first floor of the bank building, you'll notice a staircase to the right, and then a one-story building that doesn't remind you of a restaurant.
- Ribollita, 41 Middle Street, Phone: +1 207 774-2972, Excellent Italian food. Fresh pasta, creative specials and the best mussels in Portland!
- Sebago Brewing Company, 164 Middle St., Phone: +1 207 775-2337, [22]. This brew pub offers 7 unique brews on tap and a wide variety of entrees. There is an upstairs for a more social dining atmosphere and a downstairs for a quieter environment.
- Susan's Fish and Chips, 1135 Forest Av., Phone: +1 207 878-3240. Known for its large portions, freshness, and those reasonable prices.
- Granny's Burritos, 420 Fore St., Phone: +1 207 761-0751. Affordable and delicious Mexican food in a casual funky atmosphere. It is open for both lunch and dinner, and has many vegetarian/vegan options.
- O'Naturals, 83 Exchange St.
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