By VacationIdea Staff on October 2, 2022 - Updated. Here is the info on Ucar Share: Ranger led programs include guided hiking or cycling tours and boat cruises, birding programs, hawk and falcon programs, and nighttime starry sky programs. Next up: Naples. 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. Note: Where applicable, check with each entity for revised opening/closing hours and other information. Click here to book your Lighthouses, Lobsters & Seals tour in Boothbay Harbor! BUS, CAR, PLANE, TRAIN, + FERRY SERVICE . A timeline guides visitors through the lighthouses 200 years of operations. The most direct and yet still packed full of great coastal scenery route option spans a distance of 630 miles from Portland in Maine to Nova Scotia. While the Visitors Center is located towards the west of the park in North Woodstock, theres plenty to see and do across the span of the range. Get off-the-beaten-path at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Galleries are located throughout town and the streets are often alive with outdoor art fairs in the summer months. In the spring and summer months, enjoy fishing, canoeing and kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking or golf. Yes, you can, but just keep in mind that it will be a long day and youll have to carefully plan what sights you really want to see and be strategic. 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. The areas Abbe Museum exhibits Native American artifacts and teaches guests about the cultural history of the region. This moderately difficult hiking trail is perfect all year but mid-July is when wild Maine blueberries are ready for picking! Visit the shops and restaurants downtown. What to Eat: Bangers & Brews, Spork, Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails. The park spans 47,000 acres, most of which are located on Mount Desert Island, off Maines Atlantic coast. Technically speaking, there are over 4,600 islands off the coast of Maine.This includes the largest actual island (Mount Desert Island) to tiny ledges that can only be considered islands during a very low tide.There are a fair few that fall right in the middle, perfect for exploring no matter what your budget might be. For many Portland tourists without a rental car, the streetcar will be all you need to see the city. Travel Tip: If you skip China and Palermo, you'll return to Portland via Route 26 South and pass by two unique Maine attractions you may want to add to your itinerary: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village and the Maine Wildlife Park. Free guided tours from naturalists are available year-round; see the website above for further information. 6. Our day trips have something for everyone, on any budget. Perfect For: Coastal Hikes Birdwatching Family Day Trips Snowshoeing/Cross-Country Skiing Combining With Cabot Mill (see above). 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. The city that brands itself "A Tiny Bit Huge" is just across the Piscataqua River from southern Maine. Visit the shops and eateries downtown and along Main Street. Of course, the views from the easy hiking trails are the real draw here. Click here to book your Kennebec River Cruise! Tours of the studio depart from the museum. New England Wanderlust contains affiliate links, and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Perfect For: History Buffs Winter/Rainy Day Trips Families, Where: Located next to the Blaine House in Augusta. Do you need a car to get around Portland? Go to AllTrails to learn more about their free app; its full of trail maps, including this one, which work offline. Click the link below for more fun things to do in Ogunquit! Kennebunkport continues to be the summer residence of President George H W Bushs family. Explore the most charming streets in the Beacon Hill neighborhood (my favorite thing to do!). 375 Seguinland Road, Georgetown, ME 04548, Phone: 207-371-2303. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village was established in 1783, and is located between New Gloucester and Poland. The scenic area is a popular summer destination for swimming, boating and fishing. 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 jury is still out regarding who exactly built this site. Grab a famous cannoli from Mikes Pastry. 1. Take a tour with the Naples Historical Society, their small museum features 18th and 19th century artifacts. Hike the trails at Hackers Hill Preserve. But if you love history, consider this tour by a local historian to get even more out of your experience. The downtown area is packed with awesome and unique shops and eateries, theres a big local artist scene here, and everywhere you go, you kind of feel like youre in a postcard. 7 Congress Square, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-775-6148. You can easily bring a canoe or kayak to Otter Ponds from either of the nearby parking areas mentioned above. Portland to Mount Rainier National Park Directions: Google Maps. Just northwest of Portland, Maines Sebago Lake spans over 28,000 acres. The historic shipyard is flanked by 19th century buildings, and the Victorian-era shipyard owners home. Note: Check for current information regarding all departures aboard Casco Bay Lines. And be sure to keep reading below for bonus seasonal suggestions, as to find out if a day trip from Portland to Acadia is worth it! Some of the best things to do in Conway on a day trip from Portland: You may also enjoy:The best places to go apple picking in New Hampshire! He is trying to run every single one of the more than 1,000 streets in Portland, including on Peaks Island. In fact, you dont even need a vehicle for one of our recommended city breaks. 3 days in Portland, Maine is the perfect amount of time. Camden has some gorgeous vessels you can climb aboard, and youll have the opportunity to admire the landscapes from a unique perspective out on the water. Take a scenic drive along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. Perhaps your day trip form Portland includes southern Maine. The unique sand dune formation was formed by an Ica Age glacier. Although not open to the public, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, Lighthouses at Two Lights. Getting to see it from a boat tour that departs from Kennebunk is a real treat! If you're looking to get out and explore Massachusetts' glorious coastline, Newburyport is the ideal day trip from Boston without a car. She's been with TripSavvy since 1998. The New England born artist is best known for his oils and watercolors depicting coastal living. Hike the lighthouse trail to pass by eight lighthouses, join in on a walking tour with the Deer Isle Historical Society, and shop the local galleries. Rent a jet ski or boat to spend the day on the water. The kids loved it. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 30 minutes. 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. Rockport is small, but feels very special and memorable. The local economy is still primarily sustained by lobstering. That makes Sebago Lake State Park and its beaches a perfect place to cool off on a summer day. Lake trout, crappie, small mouth and large mouth bass, and perch all frequent the coves, inlets and rocky underwater islands. The museum has a special focus on the paintings of Winslow Homer (1836-1910). Rockport, Maine has the honor of being named one of Americas prettiest towns by Forbes Magazine. What are some fun must-see places: Cincinnati, MD, OR Beaches, HI, Indoor Amusement Parks, Things to Do in Gatlinburg, WI, Orlando, Texas Beaches. There is enough to do in Portland proper e.g. We easily spent a few hours here and you just might do the same. The best option is to drive because the train will take you three hours one-way, but if you dont have access to a car, this is a great option! 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, ME 04069, Phone: 207-688-4712, Top Rated: Last minute places for couples: Charleston WV, Pensacola, Baton Rouge, Colorado Springs, Dayton OH, Dauphin Island, Provincetown, New Orleans, Philadelphia, UT, AZ, From NYC, CO. Brunswick, Maine is a charming New England college town thats been designated as a Main Street Community for its walkable downtown. 200 NH-112, North Woodstock, NH 03262, Phone: 603-745-8720, You are reading "25 Best Weekend and Day Trips from Portland, Maine " Back to Top. It's about 20 minutes to Cape Elizabeth, and then an additional 50 minutes to Kennebunkport. If your schedule allows, see if you can also do lunch at Jordan Pond House inside the park overlooking the mountains. The historic park was founded in 1939, making it one of the first five state parks in the nation. Get out on the water to enjoy Casco Bay on our ferries and tours! Knowing this ensures you'll see leaves at their peak, so keep reading to plan your seven day Maine fall foliage road trip! Youll even have time to explore downtown Bar Harbor for a bit. Click here to book your Culinary Walking Tour in Kennebunkport! Want to explore more of the North Shore & Cape Ann, MA? Our experts' top picks for a long weekend getaway for couples: Best caves in the U.S., SD, Galena IL, Boise, St. Pete, San Jose, Taos, Fayetteville, Steamboat Springs, NH, East Coast, DE, GA, Little Rock. The modern shops occupy 18th and 19th century buildings and homes along Route 1. McMenamins Edgefield is a 74-acre property sitting atop farmland near the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area a mere 20-minutes from downtown Portland. Things to do near me today: Sarasota, From Boston, OR, NC, From Houston, NJ, GA. 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