Click here to book your boat tour in Newburyport! Take a self-guided tour through the grounds and enjoy the peace and quiet of this wooded spot. Click here for more information on customized and luxury private day tours from Portland! 740 miles. Best things to do in Marblehead on your day trip from Portland: Click here to read my post on all the best things to do in Marblehead! Each tour is different based on the season, but it lasts for 2.5 hours, and youll get the inside scoop from a local on all the best foods to eat in town. 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. The L.L. 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. Day 1: Getting to know Portland Arrive at Portland's. Here you can get up close to invertebrates at the touch tank, learn about the lifecycle of lobsters, and Atlantic sea life. Every good Maine road trip needs a day (or weekend) at the beach. The iconic lighthouse operated until 1989, when it was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard. Greyhound bus fare between the two coastal cities is about $20 one-way. For tips on what to bring with you on your puffin tour, as well as other fun things to do in Boothbay Harbor, check out my post below! Travel Tip: As you drive through Bath, you'll get a glimpse of Bath Iron Works, founded in 1884 and still a major builder of ships for the U.S. Navy. Destinations Africa Morocco Asia China India Drive or hike up Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for an awesome view of Camden Harbor from above. I love visiting this little town because its both a gorgeous place packed with beautiful, colonial-style homes and quaint side streets, but also has a charming downtown, a waterfront park and even the stunning Plum Island to explore. Both villages claim historic homes and businesses, built in the 18th and 19th century. Getting There: Head out of Portland driving north on I-295, and take exit 28 onto Route 1 toward Brunswick and Bath. A Couple of Drifters are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme - an affiliate advertising programme. Since Sebago Lake is the second largest lake in Maine, it covers a pretty big area, and there are a few different towns that surround the lake, which each offer really fun things to do. Walk along the paths in the waterfront park. Over two hundred miles of trails can be explored including motor roads, hiking trails, and carriage roads. Amtrak spent $400,588 on goods and services and products in Maine in FY17. A series of easy yet scenic hiking trails makes this day trip a great choice. Kennebunkport, ME Distance From Portland:40 minutes 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. Who made them? Even though youre coming from a city, Boston is always a good idea (at least, thats just my opinion!). Hobbs: it'll be the best you've ever tasted. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is in Rockland, too, so you may want to consider staying over and making this a two-day trip. In fact, you dont even need a vehicle for one of our recommended city breaks. The name refers to the sandbar that connects the island to the mainland at low tide. He is trying to run every single one of the more than 1,000 streets in Portland, including on Peaks Island. Public transportation requires taking a bus or the Amtrak Downeaster train to Boston, then switching to a local bus or MBTA train to Gloucester. During the winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing or ice skating on the frozen bodies of water. But if youre willing to stay in Portland, and head out for fun tours that will feel like day trips, this is an excellent option if you dont have a car! Feel like a kid again at Weirs Beach, and ride the roller coasters, play arcade games and go kart. New Hampshires White Mountains National Forest traverses the border between New Hampshire and Maine. Getting There: Enjoy a picturesque drive on Route 302 northwest from Portland to Sebago Lake State Park. New England Coast. Visit all the waterfalls at Dianas Baths. Next up: Naples. Visit the shops and eateries downtown and along Main Street. We even include our very favorite Portland day trip for picking wild Maine blueberries on a quiet mountaintop between Bridgton and Fryeburg. This is a guided tour that last about two hours, and is a casual cruise around town, as well as the surrounding islands. Enjoy the trails at the park, or visit the Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt, a trail system that spreads through town, surrounding the inland waterways. 2023. Screw Auger Falls 5. Public transportation is difficult but possible. Fun day trip ideas: Ohio, From San Francisco, From NYC, Texas, Florida. The Best Day Trips from Portland Under 1 Hour Away Multnomah Falls. Peaks Island Just a ferry ride away. Grab some snacks, Maine whoopie pies and other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store. It's about a 40-minute train ride and tickets start at $9 each way. Home to Bowdoin College, which was founded in 1794, Brunswick is brimming with history. This is one adventure you can even enjoy without ever leaving your car. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Gloucester isn't just America's oldest fishing port: It is still very much a working fishery made even more famous as the filming location for the National Geographic TV program, "Wicked Tuna." Weve done these day trips from Portland in all types of Maine weather; take our advice and bring a long sleeve top in summer! Grab a bite to eat and take a detour on your day trip to Camden Hills State Park. This Windjammer tour is an awesome option, and they have two types of tours: one is a day sail, and the other is a sunset sail if you want to end your day out on the water. Click here to book your bike tour in Portsmouth! Getting There: The drive time between Portland and Gloucester is just under two hours: Follow I-95 South to Route 128 North. Visit the shops and restaurants downtown. (5 day-to-day round-trips Boston- Portland, of which 2 round-trips function to/from Brunswick). Where: Via Mountain Road off US Roue 1, between Ogunquit and York. Things to do near me today: Sarasota, From Boston, OR, NC, From Houston, NJ, GA. Freeport, Maine is best known as a shopping destination, a favorite of New Englanders seeking deals among the hundreds of brand-name outlets. Dont miss the giant sacrificial table, carved with a channel to collect and drain blood from offerings. Galleries are located throughout town and the streets are often alive with outdoor art fairs in the summer months. Beaches in the area include the freshwater Barret's Cove on Lake Megunticook, and Laite Beach which extends from a grassy park onto the rocky ocean shore. For many Portland tourists without a rental car, the streetcar will be all you need to see the city. Youll find this collection of Maine facts, oddities, artifacts and displays worth the drive from Portland. Walk from Ogunquits town to Perkins Cove along Marginal Way for one of the most scenic walks in Southern Maine! 207/693-6613 ), on the lake's north shorethe park is off Route 302 (look . This is the only bridge of its kind in the entire world. Portland offers METRO Bus services, . That's a total of $200 a year, or about $17 a month on average. A longer route, which hugs the coast along Maine before heading inland, takes you a little further at 300 miles. Another great option if you love lighthouses is this cruise along Kennebec River, where youll get to see 7 lighthouses, and also learn about the local maritimes and ship-building history. And since these two towns are so close to one another, you could easily combine them into one festive day trip. Park facilities include restrooms, drinking water, picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles. Click here to book your Whale Watching Tour in Gloucester! Rangelely Lake is also a quiet and peaceful destination, which makes for a wonderful escape from the city. Rome2rio . The drive is 3-hours one-way, but if your only opportunity to get to Acadia National Park is by taking a day trip, its definitely worth it! Where to go near me: Traverse City, Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Things to Do in Wyoming, Things to do in Delaware. The end of the trail is capped with an old fire tower; this is where views to New Hampshire and even more blueberries await. New England in particular really requires a car to get around, and public transportation between towns isnt great, unless youre going from one city to another. Get on the water aboard an early 1900s ship with Portland Schooner Co., or try your hand at lobstering with Lucky Catch Cruises. 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. Mt Hood Day Trip from Portland to Multnomah Falls and Hood River. You can easily bring a canoe or kayak to Otter Ponds from either of the nearby parking areas mentioned above. The 136-acre Aldermere Farm, managed by the Maine Coast Heritage trust, educates the public on sustainable farming, and runs farm tours and other educational programs. Travel Tip: If watching whales in the wild is on your bucket list, Gloucester is a great place to spot them. We spent just over 10 days in Maine and focused on a trio of cities - Kennebunkport, Portland and Rockland - as well as some leisurely, unplugged time out on the water. While the US Coast Guard continues to maintain the light and fog signal, the keepers quarters have been renovated into a museum. Getting There: Salem, Massachusetts, an hour and 40 minutes from Portland in the car via I-95 South to Route 128 North to Route 114 East. See the 20 trails link directly above for information on each hike and dont forget to look for wild blueberries in mid-July! For everything you get with this tour, I think the cost is very reasonable! This Portland Maine day trip is easy, with or without a car. This tour often spots moose from above on the lake shorelines, so if seeing a moose in Maine is on your list, this will be a great option. Getting There The Casco Bay Ferry is the best and least expensive way for most people to get to Peaks Island. Done at night, this tour is led by a local history expert and takes you to some of the most haunted locations in town. My favorite boat tours in Boothbay are the wildlife and lighthouse tours. Everyone needs a quick getaway and we have you covered! Every day Estimated price $120 - $400. This quiet spot was our place to go for a refreshing swim in summer. Click here to book your Puffin Tour in Boothbay Harbor! The Portland Head Light is a historic 1791 lighthouse that sits within the Fort Williams State Park in Cape Elizabeth, on Portland Head. Best things to do in Boston on a day trip from Portland: I highly recommend checking out a tour while in Boston, especially if its your first visit, or youre looking to explore something new. 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