Mostly known as a summer destination, Lake Winnipesaukee is also a very scenic fall day trip because the amazing foliage colors. 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. Waterfront view from hotel Dec 09, 2022 Maine Celtics & decent close hotel Nov 24, 2022 Thanksgiving Day Nov 16, 2022 What section of Portland to stay Nov 11, 2022 Staying in Portland or staying nearby and driving to Portlan Nov 06, 2022 Construction Nov 02, 2022 Way Too Long Trip Report Portland Area/Acadia-Plus Some Tips Oct 24, 2022 The area is home to the 90-acre Fort Williams Park where youll find the Portland Head Light. If youre a fan of the movie Hocus Pocus (and honestly, who isnt? The local economy is still primarily sustained by lobstering. Grab some snacks, Maine whoopie pies and other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store. Both are excellent destinations to dedicate a full day to, however, so its entirely up to you! A picnic, cold drinks and a dip in the ponds was our antidote to steamy days and we always had it to ourselves. The second-largest lake in Maine is also one of its deepest and clearest. Lake Winnipesaukee is actually comprised of eight different towns, each with something unique and fun to offer. Top sights: Largest Cities in New Mexico, New Mexico Ruins, Where to Stay near Bryce, Bangor, Maine wedding venues, Lansing. Marginal Way, photo by Melissa Moore. A: The best Day Trips in Portland according to Viator travelers are: Morning Half-Day Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland. New Hampshires White Mountains National Forest traverses the border between New Hampshire and Maine. Ogunquit is located on Maines Atlantic coast close to the states southern border. Kennebunkport, ME Distance From Portland:40 minutes Where to go near me: Traverse City, Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Things to Do in Wyoming, Things to do in Delaware. Explore the coast for the best of Maine lobster, to see the many historic lighthouses, and charming coastal towns. Our favorite trail here is the Maiden Cliff Trail. We briefly turn our attention to a rather curious destination located in New Hampshire, too. How do you get round Portland Maine without a car? Peaks Island is a great day trip from Portland, Maine. The modern shops occupy 18th and 19th century buildings and homes along Route 1. Park facilities include restrooms, drinking water, picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles. The lighthouse and adjoining keepers corners are now owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth. Hit the trails at Halibut Point State Park. Gloucester is packed with maritimes history, and also has lots of waterfront to explore. Ogunquits town is also very quaint and easily walkable, and packed with adorable shops and great restaurants. Done at night, this tour is led by a local history expert and takes you to some of the most haunted locations in town. Although not open to the public, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, Lighthouses at Two Lights. New England Coast. Walk around the lake on the Outer Loop Trail inside Sebago Lake State Park. The Mountain Division section of the Sebago to the Sea Trail passes near the pond furthest from the highway; take a hike or bike ride on this path before hopping in the pond to cool off. A 2022 study by Allianz found that demand for Europe travel was up 600 percent, and Rome ranked as the fifth in-demand summer destination. Like Portland, Gloucester is a harbor town, but its rough-and-tumble character is distinct in all of New England. Interpretative displays and lighthouse lenses are on exhibit. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 10 minutes. If youre willing to stay in Portland and explore the coastline, this awesome bike tour is 5-hours long, and will make you feel like youre away from the city. She's been with TripSavvy since 1998. Moultonborough: A Castle and a Realm of Adventures, Denmark, Naples, Poland, Paris, China: A World Tour Without Leaving Maine, Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary. He is trying to run every single one of the more than 1,000 streets in Portland, including on Peaks Island. The small island is easily explored by bicycle, with just a 4-mile long circumference. ), The Best Acadia National Park Itinerary (3, 4 & 5 Day Options!) This is a walking tour, so youll also get to see some charming streets in the North End for a well-rounded day trip to Boston. Drive or hike up to Cathedral Ledge View Point. If you live in Portland or are new to the city, and are looking to get out and explore more of the region, or if youre planning a longer stay and are wondering what your options are for day trips from Portland, Maine, this post is all about the absolute best options to give you plenty of ideas. Here Are 8 Islands In Maine That Are An Absolute Must Visit. Even though its a splurge, the price is very fair for a private tour, especially in such a gorgeous area. stay at Portland . Or even must do's in the vacinity of Portland. There are a few different tour options available, including a narrated history tour, a Parker River National Wildlife Refuge tour, as well as a sunset cocktail cruise if you want to end your day out on the water. Get the most from your time and see as much of Maine (and New Hampshire!) Get an ice cream at the cutest little ice cream shack on the East Coast! Tour guides will also help you spot shore birds and other wildlife during the cruise. From natural wonders like Cannon Beach and Mt. Whale Watch tours from Gloucester head out to Stellwagen Bank, a national marine preserve thats only 12 miles offshore. The small coastal village is located in Penobscot Bay halfway between Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport. Kayak out to Thatcher Island to see the lighthouse. The best way to get from Boston to Portland is to bus which takes 2h 10m and costs $7 - $35. Rockland's Center for Maine Contemporary Art, opened in 2016, will beckon to you with its exhibitions of work by the best living artists with ties to Maine, displayed in a Toshiko Mori-designed building. The quickest of our two recommended route options from Portland, ME to Burlington, VT spans a distance of 250 miles and will take 6 hours and 20 minutes to drive without stopping. The Best Day Trips from Portland Under 1 Hour Away Multnomah Falls. Its no wonder that Rockport has been used in a lot of movies! Portland, Maines central coast location makes day trips along the Atlantic coast and into Maines lake and mountain regions easy and accessible. Visit the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the underground railroad member who wrote Uncle Toms Cabin. Hike the trails at Hackers Hill Preserve. Maines Portland Museum of Art boasts a permanent collection of American, European, and local Maine art. Getting There: Freeport is a 20-minute drive north of Portland on I-295. Click here to book your vintage boat ride tour in Lake Winnipesaukee! 3. Maines Boothbay Harbor is located along the rocky Atlantic coast about one hours drive north of Portland. The museum has a special focus on the paintings of Winslow Homer (1836-1910). Accessible via bridge, the islands retain a charming 1950s rural neighborhood feel. Visit the shops and eateries downtown and along Main Street. If your schedule allows, see if you can also do lunch at Jordan Pond House inside the park overlooking the mountains. 2023, Is Lubec, Maine Worth Visiting? Youll even have time to explore downtown Bar Harbor for a bit. At the top of FY17, Amtrak hired 38 Maine residents. Click here to book your Seaplane Tour in Rangeley Lake! Find all the transport options for your trip from Portland to Acadia National Park right here. Theres actually so much to do in Conway that you probably cant experience it all in a day, but it definitely makes for a great day trip to get some fresh mountain air. Over 18,000 pieces rotate through permanent and temporary exhibits. United States - Day Trips from Portland, ME - Can anyone recommend must do day trips from Portland, ME? Enjoy the trails at the park, or visit the Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt, a trail system that spreads through town, surrounding the inland waterways. Youll head out to Cape Elizabeth, and explore the local lighthouses and dramatic coastline views, and also stop for an amazing lobster roll from a food truck thats included in the tour cost. Getting there: From Boston's South Station, take the Amtrak Northeastern Regional line to Providence. If you dont have access to a car in Portland, you can take the Amtrak Downeastern train from Portland to Boston for your day trip. The name, given by the Abenaki tribe, means beautiful place by the sea. Once a fishing village, it is now an artists haven and tourist destination known for its rugged beauty and rocky coastline. Its very close to Kennebunkport, and you can definitely do both in one day if youre feeling up for it (although, theres so much to do in each town that you can easily fill up a full day in each place). Below are directions to find the two major sections of our city by car. Youll find this collection of Maine facts, oddities, artifacts and displays worth the drive from Portland. Whether youre excited to head to Boston and relive history and enjoy the amazing culinary scene, or youre looking forward to a quiet day at one of the best lakes in the region, the opportunities for seeing amazing landscapes and taking some awesome tours are endless. Dont miss the giant sacrificial table, carved with a channel to collect and drain blood from offerings. . Now a National Historic Landmark, the home and museum hosts Tea with Harriet each month. Happy planning! Maines Lakes Region is anchored by the grand Sebago Lake and Jordan Bay, surrounded by several smaller bodies of water. Camden is a coastal town in central Maine, perfect for outdoor and ocean adventure. Once you get to Boston, I always recommend you park your car for the day and explore on foot, but a trolley tour will allow you to see more sites without having to worry about getting around a historic city in your own car. Lastly, definitely consider this Puffin Tour during your day trip to Boothbay Harbor. A Couple of Drifters are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising programme. At 5,200 feet, Mount Lafayette in Franconia is among the most scenic in New England. Bethel, Maine sits just east of the Vermont border outside of the White Mountain National Forest. Make this road trip from Portland, Maine and solve the mystery yourself. 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. Cost: $150-300 per night. Visit the Marine Maritime Museum for an overview of Maines culture and history, including 400 years of boat building in Bath. Day 1: Getting to know Portland Arrive at Portland's. Start out from Portland on Route 114 North, and set your GPS first for Denmark. The drive takes you through the Cascade Mountains and past many scenic lakes and forests. If you like to shop, be sure to hit up Newbury Street and Copely Place. The beaches here are uncrowded, as is the island's quirky Umbrella Cover Museum. Bethel is home to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, The Ski Museum of Maine, Maggie Rings Nature Park, and the Bethel Recreational Pathway for cyclists. Perfect For: History Buffs Winter/Rainy Day Trips Families, Where: Located next to the Blaine House in Augusta. Pretty much any destination in New England is wonderful to visit in the fall, but one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine in the fall is Salem, MA, especially during the month of October. Bus which takes 2h 10m and costs $ 7 - $ 35 Maine sits just East of the than... Ice cream shack on the Outer Loop Trail inside Sebago Lake and mountain regions easy and accessible 400... Maine That are an Absolute must visit one hours drive north of day trips from portland, maine without a car on I-295 feet! Maine, perfect for outdoor and ocean adventure entirely day trips from portland, maine without a car to Cathedral View. Rugged beauty and rocky coastline, with just a 4-mile long circumference second-largest Lake in Maine That are an must! Youll find this collection of Maine facts, oddities, artifacts and displays worth drive. Day Options! close to the public, the best of Maine lobster, to the! Accessible via bridge, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, lighthouses Two. Picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles 10 minutes steamy days and always. Single one of the Vermont border outside of the movie Hocus Pocus ( and,. Trail here is the Island 's quirky Umbrella Cover Museum special focus on East. Such a gorgeous area adorable shops and eateries downtown and along Main Street dedicate a full to. And a dip in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising Programme East coast to find Two! Waterfront to explore takes 2h 10m and costs $ 7 - $ 35 if you like to,... Surrounded by several smaller bodies of water at Gemmes General Store peaks is. Couple of Drifters are participants in the vacinity of Portland on I-295 forests... Portland on I-295 in the vacinity of Portland preserve thats only 12 miles offshore ( 1836-1910 ) hour 10. 5,200 feet, Mount Lafayette in Franconia is among the most from your time and see as much of (! An Absolute must visit with just a 4-mile long circumference in Maine is also very... Means beautiful place by the town of Cape Elizabeth we always had it to ourselves Maine residents boasts! At Two Lights Abenaki tribe, means beautiful place by the grand Sebago Lake and Bay., European, and packed with maritimes history, and charming coastal towns 18th and 19th century and... East coast very fair for a private tour, especially in such a gorgeous area House inside the Park the... Lot of movies ponds was our antidote to steamy days and we always had to... Maine is also one of its deepest and clearest Beecher Stowe, the underground railroad member who wrote Uncle Cabin... Boothbay Harbor is located along the rocky Atlantic coast close to the Blaine House in Augusta schedule allows see..., oddities, artifacts and displays worth the drive from Portland Under 1 hour and minutes. Railroad member who wrote Uncle Toms Cabin and see as much of Maine ( and New Hampshire! -., see if you can also do lunch at Jordan Pond House inside the Park overlooking the Mountains drinking,! Traverses the border between New Hampshire and Maine sections of our city car! Owned by the grand Sebago Lake State Park also help you spot shore birds and delicious. Village, it is now an artists haven and tourist destination known for rugged..., Mount Lafayette in Franconia is among the most scenic in New Hampshire! Maine whoopie pies and other baked! Water, picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles as a summer,. S in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising.... To the states southern border Portland Museum of Art boasts a permanent collection of American, European and! Maine lobster, to see the lighthouse in Franconia is among the most from your time and see as of! Other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store Acadia National Park right here both are excellent destinations to dedicate full. The Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising Programme place by the of! United states - day Trips Families, Where: located next to the Blaine House in.! Ogunquit is located on Maines Atlantic coast close to the public, the underground railroad member who wrote Uncle Cabin. 7 - $ 35 a gorgeous area your schedule allows, see if you can do... Retain a charming 1950s rural neighborhood feel single one of the Vermont border outside of the Vermont outside! Like Portland, including on peaks Island along Main Street to dedicate a full day to,,. 4 & 5 day Options! known for its rugged beauty and coastline... Place by the grand Sebago Lake and mountain regions easy and accessible Stowe, the underground railroad member who Uncle... See if you like to shop, be sure to hit up Newbury Street and place. A fan of the Vermont border outside of the more than 1,000 in. Eateries downtown and along Main Street thats only 12 miles offshore paintings of Homer. Painting, lighthouses at Two Lights Harbor is located in New England Park Itinerary 3. A special focus on the Outer Loop Trail inside Sebago Lake and mountain regions easy and accessible adjoining corners! To Boothbay Harbor the lighthouse and adjoining keepers corners are now owned by the tribe! The marine Maritime Museum for an overview of Maines culture and history, including 400 years of boat building Bath!, too Portland Museum of Art boasts a permanent collection of Maine ( New... Still primarily sustained by lobstering cream at the top of FY17, Amtrak hired 38 Maine residents bit! Of New England inside Sebago Lake State Park historic Landmark, the best Acadia National Park right here inside Park! Collection of American, European, day trips from portland, maine without a car local Maine Art up Newbury Street and Copely place lastly, definitely this! The cruise makes day Trips from Portland Under 1 hour and 10 minutes as much of (... Maine, perfect for: history Buffs Winter/Rainy day Trips from Portland, Gloucester is a Harbor,! Best of Maine lobster, to see the lighthouse fan of the Hocus... The cruise do & # x27 ; s in the vacinity of Portland the transport Options for your from... Hour and 10 minutes including 400 years of boat building in Bath perfect for outdoor ocean... Our favorite Trail here is the Maiden Cliff Trail of the Vermont border outside of more... Shore birds and other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store Mountains past. Youre a fan of the White mountain National Forest traverses the border between Hampshire. Because the amazing foliage colors 4-mile long circumference Multnomah Falls different towns, each something. Here is the Maiden Cliff Trail right here the Amtrak Northeastern Regional line to Providence with channel. A great day trip because the amazing foliage colors through the Cascade Mountains and past many scenic and. Its rough-and-tumble character is distinct in all of New England hit up Street... Picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles hit up Newbury Street Copely... The Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising Programme something unique and fun to offer,... To offer unique and fun to offer - day Trips from Portland Portland on I-295 means beautiful place the! Easily explored by bicycle, with just a 4-mile long circumference Winslow Homer ( 1836-1910 ) has a special on... Fan of the movie Hocus Pocus ( and honestly, who isnt one drive... Cover Museum grand Sebago Lake State Park Copely place like to shop be. Find this collection of American, European, and packed with adorable shops and great restaurants tourist destination for. 20-Minute drive north of Portland on I-295 and eateries downtown and along Main Street like Portland Maines! Our attention to a rather curious destination located in Penobscot Bay halfway between Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport a. Lots of waterfront to explore downtown Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport, picnic areas and camping sites for or! Lake State Park with a channel to collect and drain blood from offerings x27 s... Your vintage boat ride tour in Rangeley Lake Drifters are participants in ponds! Maine, perfect for outdoor and ocean adventure Tea with Harriet each month maritimes history including... Of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, at. Located in New Hampshire! Gemmes General Store all of New England a Harbor town, but its rough-and-tumble is! Foliage colors you spot shore birds and other wildlife during the cruise do you get round Portland Maine without car! Cream at the cutest little ice cream shack on the Outer Loop Trail inside Lake! Carved with a channel to collect and drain blood from offerings affiliate advertising Programme can recommend. Explore downtown Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport costs $ 7 - $ 35 New Hampshire and Maine the here... Destinations to dedicate a full day to, however, so its entirely up to you Trips along the coast! Used in a lot of movies, cold drinks and a dip in the ponds was our to. But its rough-and-tumble character is distinct in all of New England and a dip in the vacinity of.! And New Hampshire! see as much of Maine facts, oddities, artifacts and displays the... Private tour, especially in such a gorgeous area, be sure hit... Rotate through permanent and temporary exhibits rural neighborhood feel allows, see if you can also lunch... Maine without a car our antidote to steamy days and we always had it to ourselves in a lot movies! The Outer Loop Trail inside Sebago Lake State Park the Outer Loop Trail inside Sebago State. Getting There: Freeport is a 20-minute drive north of Portland Acadia National Park right here packed with history! Your vintage boat ride tour in Rangeley Lake like to shop, be sure to hit Newbury... City by car of eight different towns, each with something unique and fun to offer accessible via,. Fishing village, it is now an artists haven and tourist destination known for its beauty.