it helps to know which day trips from Portland, Maine are worth the journey. Peaks Island Just a ferry ride away. Perfect For: The First Hike of the Season Wild Blueberries in July Leaf Peeping Snowshoeing. Although not open to the public, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, Lighthouses at Two Lights. This Portland Maine day trip is easy, with or without a car. Sebago Lake is one of the best options for day trips from Portland, Maine if youre looking for a peaceful day. The park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the east coast of the United States. This moderately difficult hiking trail is perfect all year but mid-July is when wild Maine blueberries are ready for picking! The name refers to the sandbar that connects the island to the mainland at low tide. Visitors often spot a lot of different wildlife and a variety of birds while on the mountain and can sign up for whale watching tours off the Atlantic coast as well. Click here to book your Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley tickets in Boston! Below are directions to find the two major sections of our city by car. Insider travel recommendations, In-depth reviews of our favorite places: UT, Indianapolis, From Kansas City, Mackinac Island, Chattanooga, RI, From Chicago, Sacramento, Nantucket, Girls Getaways, Santa Barbara, PA. What to do near my location, inexpensive, private adults only getaways: Carmel, WA, UT, MN, Chicago, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, Kirkland, Taos, SoCal Camping, West Palm Beach, LA Beaches, Things to Do in Moab. stay at Portland . A recent survey by the Leading Hotels of the World found that Italy is currently leading the pack for bookings this year. Of course, the views from the easy hiking trails are the real draw here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The community offers workshops, a museum and tours. Distance: 175 mi / 3 hrs ( map) Things You Can't Miss: High Desert Museum, Tumalo Falls, Sparks Lake. Cruises to Bailey Island feature a two-hour layover, perfect for a meal at the famous Cooks Lobster and Ale House. Cast your line for chance to catch largemouth bass, pickerel or trout. Click here to book your Hauntings & History Walking Tour in Salem! Head over to Eastern Point Lighthouse and walk almost a half mile out on the breakwater. SALE: SUBSCRIBE AND GET 1 YEAR FOR $21.99 $5. (5 day-to-day round-trips Boston- Portland, of which 2 round-trips function to/from Brunswick). Distance From Portland: 2 hours and 30 minutes. Be sure to stop at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray on the way. Getting There The Casco Bay Ferry is the best and least expensive way for most people to get to Peaks Island. 15. Youll find this collection of Maine facts, oddities, artifacts and displays worth the drive from Portland. This is a private tour for your group, and considering how much ground youll cover, the price for the whole group is very fair! Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to products and services whereby we receive a nominal commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Some of the best things to do in Camden on a day trip from Portland: One of the best things to do in Camden, though, is to head out on a sailing tour. Pick up some sandwiches and see what else you can find at. Grab some snacks, Maine whoopie pies and other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store. Maines Bradbury Mountain State Park is located just north of Portland and is open to visitors year round for outdoor recreation opportunities. It requires taking a bus or the Amtrak Downeaster train all the way to Boston, then switching to a local bus or train to Salem. Travel Tip: Try to align your trip with Apple Saturdays, a Sabbathday Lake fall tradition featuring cider pressing, apple arts and . Named for the rocky terrain and its history of limestone mining, todays Rockport is a laid back scenic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Get the most from your time and see as much of Maine (and New Hampshire!) Walk along the shore at Good Harbor or Wingaersheek Beach. This is a guided tour that last about two hours, and is a casual cruise around town, as well as the surrounding islands. Travel Time: 35 minutes. Get lost in the charming residential side streets. There are also a good amount of of kids activities here, including mini golf places, and lots of opportunity to get out onto the lake. Reserve a table for lunch or dinner or just come in for a drink; see their website for full details on the different entertainment options and special events held here. Your email address will not be published. At over 6,200 feet, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeast. In the winter months, the park is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ranger led programs include guided hiking or cycling tours and boat cruises, birding programs, hawk and falcon programs, and nighttime starry sky programs. New England Wanderlust contains affiliate links, and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. That's a total of $200 a year, or about $17 a month on average. Enjoy the trails at the park, or visit the Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt, a trail system that spreads through town, surrounding the inland waterways. In all honestly, getting outside of Portland to explore the local areas without a car is very difficult, and sometimes not even possible. This is the shortest day trip from Portland and one of my favorite ways to spend a warm summer weekend. at one of the towns many bakeries. Distance: 0.5 miles. The Farnsworth Art Museum and its Wyeth Center showcase American works including famous scenes painted by the prominent Maine family of artists: N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth. Concord Coach Lines Phone +1 800-639-3317 . Rent a kayak and head out onto the water. This tour often spots moose from above on the lake shorelines, so if seeing a moose in Maine is on your list, this will be a great option. Get some sweet treats to bring home (or eat on the drive!) Drive or hike up to Cathedral Ledge View Point. Birders, kayakers, and boaters are drawn to the islands for their natural beauty. Visit the shops and eateries downtown and along Main Street. In downtown Camden, enjoy shopping for antiques, browsing upscale boutiques, and eating fresh seafood, especially lobster, straight from the working harbor. Maines Damariscotta region is known for oysters, and has been for over two thousand years. The Inland Route. While this is a great destination year-round, I think its especially enjoyable in the fall season to really take advantage of the fall foliage views. For foodies, definitely check out this North End Foodie Tour, which is led by a local culinary expert that knows all the very best spots. Cool places to go near me, luxury spas, golf: Wichita, CT, CA, Corpus Christi, Best aquariums in the US, Hartford, NM, GA, NC, UT resorts, NM, LA, MI, DE, PA lakes. If so, consider a brief detour inland for a drive or hike to Mount Agamenticus. 10 Easy Day Trips From Portland, Maine | Day trips, North The Ultimate Fall Foliage Drive from Portland, Maine | by Getting There: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester is a 35-minute drive from Portland on Route 26 or the Maine Turnpike (take Exit 63). 207-536-5611 Home; Private Tours; Cruise Ship Shore Excursions; . Walk from Ogunquits town to Perkins Cove along Marginal Way for one of the most scenic walks in Southern Maine! Note: Where applicable, check with each entity for revised opening/closing hours and other information. Required fields are marked *. 2023, Is Lubec, Maine Worth Visiting? It does take 2-2.5 hours to connect to Portland via I-95 N. However, if your one day in Portland ME falls as part of a wider New England road trip itinerary then this might work better with your schedule anyway. It's about a 40-minute train ride and tickets start at $9 each way. During your day trip, youll want to consider booking a tour on the Millie B, where youll get to take in the spectacular views of the region, and maybe even spot a loon or two. Have an awesome waterfront lunch or dinner at. Turn left and continue approximately one mile to either the Sebago to the Sea Trail or Johnson Field parking areas. Any time of year, visit the shops on Fore Street and Exchange Street, find fresh seafood at the Harbor Fish Market, and try a Maine potato donut at the favorite Holy Donuts. The destinations from this list that offer amazing hiking opportunities as a day trip from Portland would be Acadia National Park, Camden (Camden Hills State Park), Conway, Sebago Lake and Rangely Lake. Ogunquits town is also very quaint and easily walkable, and packed with adorable shops and great restaurants. The park spans 47,000 acres, most of which are located on Mount Desert Island, off Maines Atlantic coast. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 45 minutes. Perfect For: Lazy Drives Hiking Coastal Day Trips Biking Families Combining With a Trip to Americas Stonehenge (see above). The kids loved it. Day 1: Portland Iconic Classics Sterling Coffee Powell's City of Books Lunch at Deschutes Brewery Portland Art Museum Snack at Salt & Straw McMenamins Happy Hour Day 2: Gardens, Breweries, and a Waterfall International Test Rose Garden Portland Japanese Garden Alberta Arts District Multnomah Falls Breweries Food Truck Dinner Day 3: Day Trip! Choose the Mailboat Run which serves four islands in the bay. Getting There: Your GPS is your globetrotting best friend on this day trip: Use it to navigate from destination to destination. If you like to shop, be sure to hit up Newbury Street and Copely Place. During the winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing or ice skating on the frozen bodies of water. Carriage trails throughout the island make for excellent cross country skiing in the winter. Best things to do in Boston on a day trip from Portland: I highly recommend checking out a tour while in Boston, especially if its your first visit, or youre looking to explore something new. The iconic lighthouse operated until 1989, when it was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard. Our favorite trail here is the Maiden Cliff Trail. Visit the shops and restaurants downtown. Best Mid-Range Hotel for Portland, Maine: Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay Located in the heart of the action, this comfortable hotel has a bar/lounge, indoor pool, and all of the comforts of home. Hop aboard the Casco Bay Lines ferry to Peaks Island in just 17 minutes you're on an adorable isle where you can set out to explore on foot or on a rented bike. Public transportation is difficult but possible. Enjoy hikes throughout the area, ski resort attractions, and historic adventures. From snow-covered mountains to massive gorges to beautiful beaches, Oregon has it all. Free things to do, beaches near me: Leavenworth WA, Day trips from Las Vegas, Norfolk, Treehouse vacations, San Jose, Mexico, Jacksonville Beaches, WV, Woodstock, IL, Tampa Beaches, IN, Calistoga, Glowing Beaches. Learn more about the evidence Americas Stonehenge has yielded to archaeologists and astronomers over the years. Stroll through the walkable downtown area for shopping and dining. Youll even have time to explore downtown Bar Harbor for a bit. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is in Rockland, too, so you may want to consider staying over and making this a two-day trip. Below Ive also listed two options for companies that will drive you around Maine in a private tour if it works in your budget, and well as one tour in Portland that will feel like an escape. Get ready for some scenic drives! Lewiston, Maine is located in the Maine Lakes Region alongside the Androscoggin River. New England in particular really requires a car to get around, and public transportation between towns isnt great, unless youre going from one city to another. We are staying downtown at the Westin and will not be renting a car. Continue to China and Palermo before looping back south to Portland. Grab a trail map and cover the four miles of paths through the park. Hike the trails at Hackers Hill Preserve. Done at night, this tour is led by a local history expert and takes you to some of the most haunted locations in town. Once the holiday season is over, a great option for a day trip from Portland, Maine in the winter is to head just a few minutes north to Freeport and explore the charming town covered in snow, explore the trails at Wolfes Neck Center & Farm and then head back into town for a very cozy meal at Tuscan Brick Oven Pizza. Every one of these day trips from Portland are within a couple hours by car, making them easy to do in a single day. Our getaways over the years brought us to an ancient, peculiar Granite State spot we still cant quite figure out. Grab a famous cannoli from Mikes Pastry. Some of the best things to do on a Kennebunkport day trip from Portland: A really great tour option in Kennebunkport if youre a foodie is a culinary walking tour. Charming cottages and New England homes line the shore. Two companies, Cape Ann Whale Watch and 7 Seas Whale Watch, guarantee sightings (or a future trip is free). This tour will start at Portland Head Light, and take you out to Camden, Bangor and some of the best sites in Acadia National Park, including to the top of Cadillac Mountain and Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Hit the trails at Halibut Point State Park. The L.L. Take in the sensational views and feel the rush of the falls on this famous day trip from Portland. The beaches and rocky headlands of the New Hampshire and southern Maine coast are a scenic day trip from Boston. Find places to go within a day's drive of me in Portland, ME and plan a day trip near Portland, ME. Day 1: Portland. Make this road trip from Portland, Maine and solve the mystery yourself. Of course, the star of the show here is the half-mile Casco Bay Trail with access to tidal pools, rocky coastline and several scenic overlooks along the way. Visit Main Beach, rated among New Englands top ten beaches, embark on a sailing or fishing cruise from Perkins Cove, and enjoy fresh Maine lobster at the towns seafood restaurants. Some of the best things to do in Portsmouth, NH on a day trip from Portland: If youre looking to see as much of Portsmouth as you can, as well as take in some of the best water views, I recommend checking out this bike tour through town and the local islands. Perfect For:Picnics Scenery Seafood Day Trips Without a Car Something to Do With Visiting Friends or Family Combining with Cabot Mill in Brunswick or Wolfes Neck Woods State Park (both below, respectively). Getting There: Enjoy a picturesque drive on Route 302 northwest from Portland to Sebago Lake State Park. Get great views of picture-perfect lighthouses and architecture from high up on the engine, and listen to live narration as you tour the city. If the city is your base, you're in luck: within short drives are the first foothills of the Western mountains, quaint fishing villages and miles of rolling farmland. In contrast, Greyhound runs buses into and out of Maine from most major cities across the country, with one-way tickets from Boston to Portland starting at as little as $16 per person. Getting There: From Portland, follow I-295 South to I-95 South to Portsmouth: It's about an hour's drive. Tours of the studio depart from the museum. Click here to book this boat tour out to Nubble & Boon lighthouses! Even though its a splurge, the price is very fair for a private tour, especially in such a gorgeous area. Click here to book your boat tour in Newburyport! The drive takes you through the Cascade Mountains and past many scenic lakes and forests. Whale Watch, guarantee sightings ( or a future trip is easy with. Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the frozen bodies of water region is known oysters! 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