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Portland

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Weekend Getaways to Portland

Portland
From ornate mansions to ocean views, this charming city - the largest in Maine - will enchant you. Saunter down the brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets of the revitalized Old Port District, where you can browse through bookstores, explore craft shops and eat to your heart's content. Visit the Portland Head Light, which dates back to 1791, and is the oldest lighthouse still in continuous use in the U.S. The great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the city's native son, and you can visit his childhood home, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. With kids in hand, enjoy the highly interactive Children's Museum of Maine. And then go next door to the calmer Portland Museum of Art, a small, but eclectic museum with Impressionist works, Maine landscapes by Homer and Wyeth and other collections. Land or sea is an option here, so if you're tired of the street life, take one of the popular scenic cruises or whale watches, or hop on a ferry to the islands in Casco Bay. At the end of the day, and without kids in hand, unwind and rest your tired feet at one of the city's brewpubs.
 
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Don't-Miss Attractions
TripAdvisor's editorial team reviewed our attractions database and selected the best local attractions to highlight in this itinerary. Some are popular, some are off the beaten path, but all are worth a visit.
Unique viewpointUnique viewpoint
Portland Observatory: In the 1900s, Captain Moody used this observatory to monitor the routes of ships as far as 30 miles away. Today visitors can tour a museum focusing on the history of the watch tower and get a stunning bird's-eye view of Portland and the harbor.
Address: 138 Congress St., Portland, Maine
Phone: 207-774-5561
Admission fee; open from June to October
For art loversFor art lovers
Portland Museum of Art: Works by the European masters such as Degas, Picasso and Renoir are on display along with American greats like Winslow Homer, Robert Indiana and Andrew Wyeth at this museum that places special emphasis on the works of artists from Maine
Address: 7 Congress Square, Portland, Maine
Phone: 207-775-6148
Admission fee
Museum of African Tribal Art: A rare collection of tribal masks, sacred objects and artifacts representing over 1,000 years of African history on are on display at this museum, the only one of its kind in New England.
Address: 122 Spring St., Portland, Maine
Phone: 207-871-7188
Free
On the waterfrontOn the waterfront
Old Port: This charming waterfront section of downtown Portland, dating back to the 1800s, has narrow cobblestone streets, art galleries, boutiques, a variety of restaurants and restored Victorian buildings, as well as the Portland Museum of Art and the Children's Museum.
Address: Portland, Maine
Literary landmarksLiterary landmarks
Wadsworth-Longfellow House: The famous poet Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow was born in this brick house - the first in Portland. Built by his grandfather and completed in 1786, the Federal-style house contains period furniture and documents and overlooks a beautiful colonial-style backyard garden.
Address: 487 Congress St., Southern Maine Technical College Campus, Portland, Maine
Phone: 207-774-1822
Admission fee
Nearby places worth a visitNearby places worth a visit
Portland Head Light: Maine's oldest lighthouse - and one of the most picturesque and most frequently photographed in the U.S. - has been in operation since 1791. Although it is closed to the public, you can stop by the adjacent museum, enjoy the grounds which include a beach, lawns and picnic areas and view boats entering and leaving the harbor.
Address: 1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Phone: 207-799-2661
Admission fee; open from May to October
RestaurantsRestaurants
Back Bay Grill: The menu features well-prepared meat and seafood that changes with the season. The atmosphere is inviting and the service top notch.
Address: 65 Portland St, Portland, Maine
Phone: (207) 772-8833
Restaurant Sapporo: You'll find traditional Japanese cuisine on the menu but the fresh and authentic sushi is the reason to dine here.
Address: 230 Commercial St, Portland, Maine
Phone: (207) 772-1233
Things to doMore attractions
View all attractions in Portland

Portland Traveler Lists

Traveler Lists — Created by real travelers to give you ideas
on where to go and what to do on your next trip.
What to do in Portland
Where to Stay
Our editorial team selected local hotels and resorts that have good reputations and good deals. Because we know travelers' budgets differ vastly, we chose hotels at different price points rather than listing the city's top five hotels, which might all be in the same price range.
Luxury hotelsLuxury hotels
Portland Regency Hotel
Popularity index: #6 in Portland
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Travelocity Hotel rooms at up to 50% off.
ORBITZ.com Find great deals on Orbitz & pay no hotel change or cancel fees
View all travel offers for this hotel
Moderate hotelsModerate hotels
Howard Johnson Plaza Portland
Popularity index: #5 in Portland
HoJo.com Get 15% off the best available rate when you book direct through Howard Johnson!
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
ORBITZ.com Find great deals on Orbitz & pay no hotel change or cancel fees
View all travel offers for this hotel
Holiday Inn Portland By The Bay
Popularity index: #7 in Portland
HolidayInn.com Book online or call 877-270-6397
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
ORBITZ.com Find great deals on Orbitz & pay no hotel change or cancel fees
View all travel offers for this hotel

Recommended Reading
"Portland, Maine"  away.com / Outside Magazine, Aug 1, 2007
Discover the many natural and historic treasures this scenic port city has to offer.
"Journey: 36 Hours - Portland, Me."  New York Times (free registration required), Aug 2, 2002
Explore the islands in Casco Bay or enjoy some shopping or a lobster roll on your next visit to Downeast Maine.
"What's Doing In; Portland, Me."  New York Times (free registration required), Jul 2, 2000
Victorian mansions, lighthouses and views of Casco Bay are big summer draws in Portland, Maine.
"A Maine Summer Yields Bargains and L.L. Bean"  New York Times (free registration required), Aug 19, 1999
A long weekend trip to Portland and Freeport Maine for the cost-conscious traveler.
 View all articles, guidebooks and user reviews about Portland