Things to do in and around Portland

Jan
Things to do in and around Portland

Eat out go tos

Portland is chocked full of amazing restaurants (See Portland Food Scene suggestions) you will find on yelp. Below are some of our easy week night go tos. In addition check out the Food Trucks down Cutter Street on the Eastern Prom.
Less than a mile walk. You can’t go wrong with the fish tacos and house margarita. Great outdoor dining experience with multiple patios. They do take walk-ins but a reservation is a good idea if you can. A place we frequent that has also gotten a lot of press recently.
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Terlingua
40 Washington Ave
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Less than a mile walk. You can’t go wrong with the fish tacos and house margarita. Great outdoor dining experience with multiple patios. They do take walk-ins but a reservation is a good idea if you can. A place we frequent that has also gotten a lot of press recently.
Find yourself hungry and and can't get in anywhere without a reservation? If you like sushi, this is a good choice.
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Yosaku
1 Danforth St
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Find yourself hungry and and can't get in anywhere without a reservation? If you like sushi, this is a good choice.
Good pizza nearby
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OTTO
576 Congress St
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Good pizza nearby
Right in the neighborhood. A good option for dinner or weekend brunch.
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The Front Room
73 Congress St
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Right in the neighborhood. A good option for dinner or weekend brunch.
Great thai take out. Easy to get to, just a half mile away.
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Kuno
166 Cumberland Avenue
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Great thai take out. Easy to get to, just a half mile away.

Local walks/hikes

Nearby in Falmouth. Highly recommended in early mid june when the wild and formal peony gardens are in bloom.
Gilsland Farm Audubon Center
20 Gilsland Farm Rd
Nearby in Falmouth. Highly recommended in early mid june when the wild and formal peony gardens are in bloom.
It can be a little elusive finding and parking, but this is a great shore walk that not many people know about. https://www.proutsneckcliffwalk.org/
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Prouts Neck
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It can be a little elusive finding and parking, but this is a great shore walk that not many people know about. https://www.proutsneckcliffwalk.org/
This is a short drive towards north towards falmouth. Very close to Gisland farm. https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/mackworth-island-state-park-trail
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Mackworth Island State Park
U.S. 1
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This is a short drive towards north towards falmouth. Very close to Gisland farm. https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/mackworth-island-state-park-trail
Eastern Prom Trail and Back Cove Trail are easily accessed at the end of the Vesper Street. You can get there by walking down to the East End beach or just walk to the end of the block on Vesper Street, go across the road and down the grassy hill. There are granite steps (a bit steep) that go down to the trail. It's just one section of what Portland Trails has to offer -- https://trails.org/our-trails/digitalmobile-trail-map/
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Portland Trails
38 Commercial St
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Eastern Prom Trail and Back Cove Trail are easily accessed at the end of the Vesper Street. You can get there by walking down to the East End beach or just walk to the end of the block on Vesper Street, go across the road and down the grassy hill. There are granite steps (a bit steep) that go down to the trail. It's just one section of what Portland Trails has to offer -- https://trails.org/our-trails/digitalmobile-trail-map/
This one is a little further away. Not too far from Freeport. https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/bradbury-mountain-state-park-hiking-trails
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Bradbury Mountain State Park
528 Hallowell Rd
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This one is a little further away. Not too far from Freeport. https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/bradbury-mountain-state-park-hiking-trails

Getting out on Casco Bay

Casco Bay Ferry Lines is just down the hill (Less than a mile walk or drive) from Vesper Street and an easy and affordable way to explore the islands of Casco Bay. I highly recommend heading out to Peaks Island or Great Diamond Island for Dinner. Check the ferry schedule here https://www.cascobaylines.com/schedules/. The outside deck at the Cockeyed Gull is a favorite of ours (call for a reservation a day or two in advance). Also worth checking out Diamonds Edge on Great Diamond. There are also mailboat runs and other specialty cruises https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/.
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Casco Bay Lines
56 Commercial St
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Casco Bay Ferry Lines is just down the hill (Less than a mile walk or drive) from Vesper Street and an easy and affordable way to explore the islands of Casco Bay. I highly recommend heading out to Peaks Island or Great Diamond Island for Dinner. Check the ferry schedule here https://www.cascobaylines.com/schedules/. The outside deck at the Cockeyed Gull is a favorite of ours (call for a reservation a day or two in advance). Also worth checking out Diamonds Edge on Great Diamond. There are also mailboat runs and other specialty cruises https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/.
Schooner tours that leave from town, walking distance from Vesper Street. I recommend the 2 hour sunset tours. https://www.portlandschooner.com/tickets
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Portland Schooner Co.
Maine State Pier
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Schooner tours that leave from town, walking distance from Vesper Street. I recommend the 2 hour sunset tours. https://www.portlandschooner.com/tickets
Paddleboard and kayak rentals from East End beach
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Portland Paddle
1 Eastern Promenade
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Paddleboard and kayak rentals from East End beach
Lobster tour. Last I heard Portland Lobster Company will cook your lobster for you when you return to the pier.
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Lucky Catch Cruises
170 Commercial St
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Lobster tour. Last I heard Portland Lobster Company will cook your lobster for you when you return to the pier.
If you're up for a bigger sea kayaking adventure, this is a shop with high quality kayaks that does tours from Peaks Island. Note: We are avid sea kayakers. If you want to explore the coast let us know -- we have plenty of suggestions.
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Maine Island Kayak Company
88 Island Avenue
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If you're up for a bigger sea kayaking adventure, this is a shop with high quality kayaks that does tours from Peaks Island. Note: We are avid sea kayakers. If you want to explore the coast let us know -- we have plenty of suggestions.

Bakeries

Walkable. Great bread, croissants and other treats. It is VERY busy on the weekend mornings. A good trick is to order online. There's a separate door to pick up your order. https://standardbakingco.com/
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Standard Baking Co
75 Commercial St
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Walkable. Great bread, croissants and other treats. It is VERY busy on the weekend mornings. A good trick is to order online. There's a separate door to pick up your order. https://standardbakingco.com/
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The Holy Donut
194 Park Ave
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They also have a food truck that is on the Eastern Prom most days by 10am.
Eighty 8 Donuts
202 Federal Street
They also have a food truck that is on the Eastern Prom most days by 10am.

Heading up the coast? Some worthy waterside lobster shacks you can find along the way.

Not too far away in Freeport
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Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company
36 Main St
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Not too far away in Freeport
This is a favorite. Near Bath and Reid State Park. It's on a wharf in the picturesque town of Five Islands. If you don't get lobster, the Jenny is worth a try (crabcake plus haddock sandwich). While there you might want to look for the little nature trail off Ledgemere Road. It will take you out to the rocky coastline.
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Five Islands Lobster Co
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This is a favorite. Near Bath and Reid State Park. It's on a wharf in the picturesque town of Five Islands. If you don't get lobster, the Jenny is worth a try (crabcake plus haddock sandwich). While there you might want to look for the little nature trail off Ledgemere Road. It will take you out to the rocky coastline.
Hopefully it wasn't just a fluke. Last time we were there the fried scallops were the best we'd ever had. Worth a stop if you're in Boothbay.
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Robinson's Wharf
20 Hendricks Hill Rd
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Hopefully it wasn't just a fluke. Last time we were there the fried scallops were the best we'd ever had. Worth a stop if you're in Boothbay.
Super local little general store. Not as scenic as some other places, but a good lobster roll which has been reasonably priced in past years. A good stop of you go to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.
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Trevett Country Store
381 W Barters Island Rd
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Super local little general store. Not as scenic as some other places, but a good lobster roll which has been reasonably priced in past years. A good stop of you go to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.
Like oysters? This oyster farm has a little store where you can get shuck your own oysters, beer and wine. Nice setting on the Damariscotta River with picnic tables.
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Glidden Point Oyster Farms
637 River Rd
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Like oysters? This oyster farm has a little store where you can get shuck your own oysters, beer and wine. Nice setting on the Damariscotta River with picnic tables.
This is a favorite owned by friends. Good place to get a lobster dinner and steamers. It works well if you end up going to Pemaquid Point.
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Muscongus Bay Lobster
28 Landing Road
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This is a favorite owned by friends. Good place to get a lobster dinner and steamers. It works well if you end up going to Pemaquid Point.

Day trips

A very unique and worthy trip that can be done in a (long) day. You can grab a ferry from 3 different locations (Boothbay https://www.balmydayscruises.com/#balmy-monhegan; New Harbor https://hardyboat.com/; or New Harbor https://hardyboat.com/. Great hiking on the bold cliffs on the back side of the island and lots of art galleries.
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Monhegan Island
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A very unique and worthy trip that can be done in a (long) day. You can grab a ferry from 3 different locations (Boothbay https://www.balmydayscruises.com/#balmy-monhegan; New Harbor https://hardyboat.com/; or New Harbor https://hardyboat.com/. Great hiking on the bold cliffs on the back side of the island and lots of art galleries.
A great hike that leads to an unpopulated beach separated from Popham by a small inlet. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maine/morse-mountain-to-seawall-beach
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Morse Mountain
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A great hike that leads to an unpopulated beach separated from Popham by a small inlet. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maine/morse-mountain-to-seawall-beach
In Boothbay. Beautiful gardens with meandering walkways. Don't miss the trolls! While you're in Boothbay, the Boothbay Landtrust has a bunch of trails https://bbrlt.org/trails/
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Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
105 Botanical Gardens Dr
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In Boothbay. Beautiful gardens with meandering walkways. Don't miss the trolls! While you're in Boothbay, the Boothbay Landtrust has a bunch of trails https://bbrlt.org/trails/
Quintessential Maine beach. Try to hit low tide so you can walk out to the islands. If you need a lobster roll, beer or sandwich to take with you to the beach, the Bisson Center Store in Phippsburg is an option. You'll pass it on the way. Beware of the Popham seagulls. They aggressively want your sandwich!
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Popham Beach State Park
711 Popham Rd
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Quintessential Maine beach. Try to hit low tide so you can walk out to the islands. If you need a lobster roll, beer or sandwich to take with you to the beach, the Bisson Center Store in Phippsburg is an option. You'll pass it on the way. Beware of the Popham seagulls. They aggressively want your sandwich!

Local Music Venues Big and Small

Fantastic outdoor music venue. Check out this summers shows. https://www.thompsonspoint.com/the-calendar
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Thompson Point
Thompsons Point
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Fantastic outdoor music venue. Check out this summers shows. https://www.thompsonspoint.com/the-calendar
Great place on the water in Portland with music most nights (and lobster rolls).
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Portland Lobster Co
180 Commercial St
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Great place on the water in Portland with music most nights (and lobster rolls).
Check out the rooftop bar and music schedule. https://www.baysidebowl.com/the-rooftop
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Bayside Bowl
58 Alder St
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Check out the rooftop bar and music schedule. https://www.baysidebowl.com/the-rooftop
https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/
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Portland House of Music and Events (HOME)
25 Temple St
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https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/
Sweet little venue. https://onelongfellowsquare.com/shows/
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One Longfellow Square
181 State St
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Sweet little venue. https://onelongfellowsquare.com/shows/