Stuff to do in Portland, ME?

[noodleoo]

Hi Guys! My sister and I are planning to do a weekend trip somewhere within 2 hrs of Boston. She suggested Portland, ME. This will be my first trip away from the baby and I need it! Has anyone been? Is it fun? I don't know anything about it. I'd appreciate any suggestions for restaurants or stuff to do. Thx!

[Awkward]

The best part about Portland is walking around the Old Port area peeking into little shops and eating. If you get tired of that, there's a little train that can take you from the Old Port area up to the Eastern Promenade, a big park on the water. Do you like breweries? There's a few of them in town you can tour and have some samples.

I haven't personally been, but Duckfat and Fore Street are supposed to be the top restaurants. I like Petite Jacquline for brunch, which is a fantastic little French bistro. Grace is in a renovated church, so a gorgeous setting. I reeeeeally wanted to get married there but it was a little $$$. The regular restaurant is supposed to be great though. For sushi I like Sapporo and Fuji.

My big piece of advice is try and pick a day when there are no big cruise ships in town. It gets very crowded very quickly when there is one or more of them in port. Check this link: www.cruiseportlandmaine.com/why-cruise-here/cruise-schedule/

Have fun!

[5kcandlesinthewind]

I don't have any tips, but have fun! Maybe take a ride up to Freeport? (But don't do Kittery and Freeport - we did, and it was kind of a waste. I'd pick freeport over kittery, since it's not somewhere I normally go.) find a spa and have a girls day? I've heard good things about Fore Street and Duckfat, too. Not to discount rock's feedback, but I suspect even a mediocre meal will taste amazing when you can eat it hot and not have to spend all of it trying to settle a baby
Enjoy your time away!

[cgpm]

I like the shops and such in Old Port. It's nice to walk around.

Grace is a neat restaurant and when we went the food was really good.

[elfinia7]

Walking around the Old Port is fun all on it's own. Fore Street is wonderful. I love Fuji for both sushi and hibachi. If you want awesome steamed mussels or clam chowder; my go to favorite place is Gilbert's Chowder House. The Eastern Prom is definitely a pretty area. You could also check out the Portland Headlight which is where that famous picture of the lighthouse is from.

[hulley]

I'll throw in a suggestion of the Cliff House. A little out of the way, but close to Kennebunk. Stay there, enjoy the ocean air, get a spa treatment, then drive up to Freeport one day for shopping.

[ashap]

Portland is my absolute favorite New England town!!

Old Port is the place you want to be, it has amazing restaurants (555 and central provisions are my faves) and such cute little shops. For hotels, Portland Harbor Hotel and The Regency are both great with perfect locations and The Regency bar has the best red apple martini I've ever had.

If you want more specifics let me know, H and I usually go up twice a year and I have tons of rec's!