Portland Maine Shore Excursions

Table Of Content

• Scenic Train Ride through Eastern Promenade and Congress Street
• How to Save on Excursions
• American Cruise Lines Adds Another Riverboat to Columbia and Snake Rivers
• Cruise Ports in East Coast, Canada, Bermuda region
• Conveniently Located Near Popular Tourist Attractions
• Things To Do in Portland – Maine
• Lobster Rolls: Eventide Oyster Co., The Highroller Lobster Co., and Bite Into Maine

One of the highlights of the museum is its outdoor shipyard, where visitors can watch craftsmen build wooden boats using traditional techniques. There are also several historic ships docked at the museum that visitors can explore. Finally, for those interested in learning more about Maine’s rich maritime history, a visit to the Maine Maritime Museum is a must. Located just 30 minutes north of Portland in Bath, this museum features exhibits on shipbuilding, lobstering, navigation, and more. During the cruise port development, the existing Deep Water Berth was removed and replaced with a new berth.

Scenic Train Ride through Eastern Promenade and Congress Street

Originally called Casco and then Falmouth by the British, the name was changed after the Revolutionary War to Portland. When Maine became a state in 1820, Portland served as the state’s first capital until 1832, when it was switched to more centrally located Augusta. Founded in 1882, the Portland Museum of Art is the oldest and largest public art institution in Maine.

How to Save on Excursions

Huge cruise ship arrives at Portland Port - Yahoo Movies UK

Huge cruise ship arrives at Portland Port.

Posted: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It was installed as part of an investment plan for improving and extending the Port's cruise docking/mooring arrangements on Deepwater Berth and Outer Coaling Pier. Isle of Portland is located in the English Channel and on Dorset's southern coast (southern England). Portland Island is connected to mainland Dorset (at Abbotsbury) via a narrow piece of land (named Chesil Beach, aka Chesil Bank) with a length of approx 29 km (18 mi). Enclosed between Chesil Beach and Abbotsbury is the freshwater lake Fleet. The cost of the regional tour is usually between $50 and $100 per person depending on the length. Shorter city tours that include the Portland Observatory and Portland Head Light cost about $25 to $30 per person.

American Cruise Lines Adds Another Riverboat to Columbia and Snake Rivers

If you’re in search of souvenirs or gifts to take home, head to some of Portland’s local street shops. These stores offer unique items that you won’t find anywhere else – from handmade jewelry to locally-made crafts. Bite Into Maine is a food truck that has gained national recognition for its award-winning lobster rolls. They offer several different varieties including classic Maine-style with just mayo or Connecticut-style with hot butter.

Two large cruise ships arrive at Portland Port - Yahoo News UK

Two large cruise ships arrive at Portland Port.

Posted: Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

THE place for souvenirs and really nice apparel, Ports of Call is located near the cruise terminal on Commercial Street. The Ocean Gateway Terminal is a newer facility and has a visitor information center located inside the terminal. In total, Portland was burned, almost to the ground, four times in its history.

The house was built in 1785, and its interiors are rich with furniture and art from the 18th and 19th centuries. Join a tour to learn more about Longfellow and the impact he had on the New England political and literary scene. This french fry and sandwich shop is a great option if you want to grab something quickly, and still get good food.

Conveniently Located Near Popular Tourist Attractions

Visit the museum in the former Keeper’s Quarters to learn about the history of the light and see displays of navigational aids and old photographs. After your tour, you can hike the coastal trails in the park, taking in magnificent views as waves pound the rocks. The port is busy, and not just with cruise ships, but with working fishing wharves and warehouses that have been converted into restaurants and shops. The Western Promenade of Portland  is a park on top of a bluff that gives spectacular river and mountain views. The West End is full of Victorian-era homes including the Victoria Mansion museum. Maine is 90% forested and is one of the world’s leading paper producers.

It has panoramic views of Portland, Casco Bay, Back Cove and Mt. Washington. Built in 1807, this National Historic Landmark has guided tours that focus on maritime history, the importance of the structure, and Portland history over two centuries. Cruise passengers can start their visit with a walking tour of Old Port. This revitalized warehouse district is packed with 19th century buildings as well as bars, shops and restaurants. The historic port was once a major shipbuilding center, as well as one of the busiest fishing ports on the Atlantic as far back as the 18th century. Its success as a port made it a prime target for the British during the War of 1812 and also for the Confederates during the Civil War.

Lobster Rolls: Eventide Oyster Co., The Highroller Lobster Co., and Bite Into Maine

One of its main attractions is the Waterfront Park Trail for anyone with a little extra time and energy on their hands. Red Lion Hotel on the River, which is north of the city, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park in the city are common embarkation points for many of these river cruises. Portland and the rest of Maine use the U.S. dollar, and there are numerous ATMs located around the city. Credit cards are accepted in most places, although you should check when hailing a taxi whether they take cash or card. Tipping is customary in the USA, with 15% to 20% of the total bill or fare being the norm.

You can also head to the Fore River Sanctuary, just a few miles northwest of downtown, and hike to Jewell Falls. The Fore River Sanctuary is absolutely aglow in autumn colors from late-September through October. With a permanent collection featuring pieces by Picasso, Delacroix, and Renoir, as well as local artist exhibits, The Portland Museum of Art is a must-see. Portland is also home to a surprising number of award-winning breweries, including the Allagash Brewery, Brothers Brewing Company, and Foulmouthed Brewing. To sample a wide variety of Portland area brews, book a tour on the Maine Brew Bus. The Holy Donuts are wildly popular and typically sell out early on in the day, so be sure to get there first thing in the morning.

The town also attracts celebrities all summer long who come for the art scene, the quirky shops, the farm-to-table restaurants, and endless, sweeping sandy beaches. Come here on a day trip and, after browsing the downtown area, jump on a boat for a scenic cruise of the wild, rocky shores, with a chance to peek at Walker’s Point, the Bush estate. Explore the heart of Portland and head out to see some of the area's hidden gems, including 3 lighthouses, and less-visited spots with this guided sightseeing tour. Your guide, a born-and-raised Portlander who works as a college librarian by day, shows you off-the-beaten-path locations and shares with you all sorts of local lore along the way.

The long peninsula on which it’s located was called Machigonne (“Great Neck”) by the Native Americans who first lived here. When the British began building colonies in America, they also found the peninsula to be an alluring piece of land and established it as a trading and fishing settlement in 1632. The largest shopping mall in Maine with about 100 stores, fashion, housewares and electronics are just a few of the stores that you will find here. Carhartt, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Aeropostale and Apple all have shops here too. If you want something to eat, Amatos Italian Sandwiches, Charleys Philly Steaks and Jaffa Mediterranean Grill are a few of the restaurants available. If you need to visit a pharmacy, this is the closest to the cruise terminal, located at the corners of Congress and Hampshire Streets.

Three generations of the family lived in the house that was built in 1785. Bequeathed to the Maine Historical Society by Henry’s sister Anne, the house passed to the society in 1901. All of the household items and artifacts are original to the Wadsworth and Longfellow families. Indulge your literary side and explore the Wadsworth-Longfellow house, home of famed Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

First settled by the British in the early 17th century, much of the peninsula was battered and burned during the American Revolution. In 1786, the town was rebuilt and named Portland, after the English Isle of Portland.