Get ready for some scenic drives! Our day trips have something for everyone, on any budget. Interpretative displays and lighthouse lenses are on exhibit. Click here to book your bike tour in Portsmouth! (5 day-to-day round-trips Boston- Portland, of which 2 round-trips function to/from Brunswick). Camden "The Jewel of the Coast" 4. Bean campus is home to Discovery Park, where events including a free summer concert series are held. Salem's dark history, which stems from the witch trials of 1692-1693, gives this seaside city north of Boston a distinct aura. Explore the Pearl District, downtown, two neighborhoods in Northern Portland and famous green spaces in the western part of the . Be sure to stop at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray on the way. The local economy is still primarily sustained by lobstering. . 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! Airlines Delta United Airlines JetBlue Airways Train operators MTA This is a private tour for your group, and considering how much ground youll cover, the price for the whole group is very fair! For foodies, definitely check out this North End Foodie Tour, which is led by a local culinary expert that knows all the very best spots. It requires taking a bus or the Amtrak Downeaster train all the way to Boston, then switching to a local bus or train to Salem. Getting There: Freeport is a 20-minute drive north of Portland on I-295. This comes at no extra cost to you. Rockport, Maine has the honor of being named one of Americas prettiest towns by Forbes Magazine. Explore the bay with a canoe or kayak tour, most of which include a trip to Hog Islands Fort Gorges, built in 1858. 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. 3. You can easily bring a canoe or kayak to Otter Ponds from either of the nearby parking areas mentioned above. Grab some snacks, Maine whoopie pies and other delicious baked goods at Gemmes General Store. Travel Tip: If watching whales in the wild is on your bucket list, Gloucester is a great place to spot them. This quiet spot was our place to go for a refreshing swim in summer. 2023, Is Lubec, Maine Worth Visiting? Travel Tip: If you're visiting Salem with kids during the warm-weather months, they'll love the old-school arcade and amusements at waterfront Salem Willows Park. Youll find a dense bank of bushes practically overhanging the top of Pleasant Mountain. About 15 minutes from downtown Portland, Portland Head Light is one of the most world's most photographed lighthouses. Cruises to Bailey Island feature a two-hour layover, perfect for a meal at the famous Cooks Lobster and Ale House. At just over 200 acres in size, Wolfes Neck Woods State Park features several different ecosystems and great opportunities for spotting ospreys. 8. Its very close to Kennebunkport, and you can definitely do both in one day if youre feeling up for it (although, theres so much to do in each town that you can easily fill up a full day in each place). Travel Tip: While in Rockland, walk atop the granite wall that leads to Rockland Breakwater Light. 3 days in Portland, Maine is the perfect amount of time. You wont miss the carpetof blueberry bushes on the way to the top; theyre heavily concentrated in natural clearings. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you want to explore Maine on a drive, make a game of finding Maine towns with names inspired by faraway places. Now that you know all about the best day trips from Portland, Maine, youre armed and ready to plan your own perfect day. The Best Day Trips from Portland Under 1 Hour Away Multnomah Falls. Other hiking trails meander through hemlock and pine forest and along the Harraseeket River as well. Difficult as it is to imagine wanting to leave Portland, people do take day trips (sometimes two) from the city to explore the rest of Maine. Therefore if you click on any of the Amazon links within our site and you make a purchase we do receive a nominal commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. The L.L. The charming New England town is home to Acadia National Park, and is an easily walkable city great for exploring the shops, galleries and restaurants on foot. Newcastles 1807 St. Patricks Church is the oldest Catholic Church in America. Year-round, The park's trails are open year-round to hikers and in the winter to snowshoes and cross-country skiers. The only Basilica in the state of Maine, the cathedral with rose window was modeled after the grand cathedrals of France. Amtrak spent $400,588 on goods and services and products in Maine in FY17. You can also connect to Portland from Boston via the Downeaster train. Mostly known as a summer destination, Lake Winnipesaukee is also a very scenic fall day trip because the amazing foliage colors. Bend, Oregon. If your schedule allows, see if you can also do lunch at Jordan Pond House inside the park overlooking the mountains. Of course, the views from the easy hiking trails are the real draw here. Outside of shopping, visit the Freeport Historical Society and the Historic Pettengill Farm. From the cobblestone streets of the Old Port to a scenic fall boat ride along the coast in Freeport. From haunted tours, to fun street fairs, to a picture-perfect New England streets covered in leaves, this is one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine you can take during the autumn season. A lot of folks who think Portland is growing too big too fast turn to Bend for solace. Theres so much to do in Acadia that I usually recommend at least 2-3 nights, but you can also see a lot on a day trip. We provide private and luxury sightseeing tours for individuals, couples and large groups featuring the Portland and Kennebunkport areas of Maine along with destinations along the midcoast. Our easy Portland day trips feature the best of Maine and each of our suggestions will have you home before dinner! 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. This particular tour is great for day-trippers because the vessel is a high-speed catamaran, so youll be able to cover more ground in the same amount of time, allowing you to really maximize your time. Youll head out to Cape Elizabeth, and explore the local lighthouses and dramatic coastline views, and also stop for an amazing lobster roll from a food truck thats included in the tour cost. Your email address will not be published. The furthest day trip from Portland, Maine is still definitely worth your time! Portland to Mount Rainier National Park Directions: Google Maps. Even though it still makes me smile a little each time I say it, the single-terminal, 11-gate Portland International Jetport is Maine's biggest airport. This is a great place for picnics and the park even features a warming hut for winter visitors. is actually right here in Gloucester, so this is definitely something youll want to consider for your day trip. Where: Via Mountain Road off US Roue 1, between Ogunquit and York. While this is a great destination year-round, I think its especially enjoyable in the fall season to really take advantage of the fall foliage views. The 1791 lighthouse and award-winning museum, located in the former keepers quarters, are open year round. The Best Ice Cream On Cape Cod & The Islands (2023), 21 Best Things To Do On Cape Cod For Adults (2023), 25 Best Things To Do In Maine In The Winter (2022-2023 Season), 25 Fun Things To Do In Vermont In The Winter (2023), 21 Best New England Winter Getaways (Even For Non-Skiers!) We don't need anything fancy - in fact, most fancy things are regarded with a bit of suspicion until we're won over. 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. That makes Sebago Lake State Park and its beaches a perfect place to cool off on a summer day. Grab a lobster roll at Little Harbor Lobster Company. The park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the east coast of the United States. The next time you find yourself with a day off with nothing but sunshine and time, do yourself a favor and pay one of these places a visit! More secluded is the Goose Rocks Beach, located in a quiet, residential area. Click here to book your Freedom Trail History Walking Tour in Boston! Take a self-guided tour through the grounds and enjoy the peace and quiet of this wooded spot. This is one adventure you can even enjoy without ever leaving your car. Boating of all sorts is an option, too. Galleries are located throughout town and the streets are often alive with outdoor art fairs in the summer months. It's about a 40-minute train ride and tickets start at $9 each way. Shave two hours of drive time off the route by returning to Portland after you see Paris. Then Poland and Norway. Hi there! Visit Portland's scenic coast, historic sites and most vibrant neighborhoods with a sightseeing and shopping tour on a classic fire engine. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 45 minutes. 740 miles. A Minnesota man will appear in federal court in Boston this week after he was indicted for allegedly engaging in abusive sexual contact while he was a passenger on a cruise ship that was traveling . And definitely dont forget to make a reservation for dinner if youre hoping for a special meal out! Grab a lobster roll at Roy Moore Lobster Company. A day visit to Portsmouth will give you a taste of this historic port city that will leave you wanting to return. In the winter months, snowmobiles are allowed on the Switch Back Trail, Link Trail and Snowmobile Trail. Just northwest of Portland, Maines Sebago Lake spans over 28,000 acres. 207-536-5611 Home; Private Tours; Cruise Ship Shore Excursions; . 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. In all honestly, getting outside of Portland to explore the local areas without a car is very difficult, and sometimes not even possible. The city that brands itself "A Tiny Bit Huge" is just across the Piscataqua River from southern Maine. Bean flagship store is famously open 24/7/365, making Freeport, Maine, a destination not just for shopping-addicted daytrippers but for night owls, too. Was it native peoples or, based on Phoenician script found here, a group from much further away? Visit the Jones Museum in Sebago, where youll find a unique collection of ceramics and glass. See the 20 trails link directly above for information on each hike and dont forget to look for wild blueberries in mid-July! Over 18,000 pieces rotate through permanent and temporary exhibits. Youll get recommendations for places to eat during the rest of your visit, and get to sample some amazing treats along the way like meats, cheeses, baked goods, drinks and pizzas. P-Town, a popular summer destination and legendary LGBTQ summer getaway, is at the very tip of Cape Cod. Required fields are marked *. See the history of the industry at the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site, and try some at restaurants such as the Shuck Station or the Newcastle Publick House. 11 hours 20 minutes. Rangeley Lake in Maine is located in the Northwestern corner of the state, and is a beautiful destination to consider. Alternatively, you can take a Concord Coach Lines bus between the two cities for $40 round-trip. Bar Harbor, Maine, Phone: 207-288-3338 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! Trails range from easy to difficult, and several are open to cyclists, riders on horseback and skiers, as well as hikers. The bus takes beer lovers from venue to venue on an all-inclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Portland's craft breweries. Bar Harbor is the largest city on Maines Mount Desert Island. Tour guides will also help you spot shore birds and other wildlife during the cruise. Overlooking the park is Griffith Head, a rocky outcropping with views of the Seguin Island lighthouses. Our favorite trail here is the Maiden Cliff Trail. In any season it's a lovely place to walk along boardwalk trails through the dunes and seaside forest of the island's the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Pick up some sandwiches and see what else you can find at. Two companies, Cape Ann Whale Watch and 7 Seas Whale Watch, guarantee sightings (or a future trip is free). The second largest inland body of water in the state, Sebago Lake is surrounded by the towns of Sebago, Casco, Naples, Raymond, Standish, and Windham. This spot has great views over the Androscoggin River and also serves as a film and music venue, gallery and cafe. Click here to read my post all about the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor! ), but its definitely worth a full-day visit, or even a whole weekend. Provincetown, MA P-Town, as it's better known, is a splurge to get to for a day trip. The Wolfes Neck Center is an educational farm offering tours, classes, and kayak or bicycle rentals for use along their trails. 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. Next up: Naples. Whether you follow this itinerary word for word or scope out your own spots along the way, you'll find opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, camp, and just get outside . Acadia National park is one of the top ten most visited parks in the United States. Today, Mile Beach and Half Mile Beach are among Maines longest and widest white sand beaches, and enjoyed by outdoor recreationists, as well as the endangered least tern, who uses the beachs rare sand dunes for nesting and feeding. The community offers workshops, a museum and tours. Wells is a quiet coastal community and one of the oldest towns in Maine. How about Ogunquit or Kennebunkport for lunch or dinner? In downtown Camden, enjoy shopping for antiques, browsing upscale boutiques, and eating fresh seafood, especially lobster, straight from the working harbor. A 2022 study by Allianz found that demand for Europe travel was up 600 percent, and Rome ranked as the fifth in-demand summer destination. For the price, I think this tour offers a lot a fun and spectacular views. 375 Seguinland Road, Georgetown, ME 04548, Phone: 207-371-2303. Think Portland is growing too big too fast turn to Bend for.... And dont forget to look for wild blueberries in mid-July scenic fall boat ride along the coast quot! And see what else you can also connect to Portland after you see Paris Trail, Link Trail and Trail... And is a great place for picnics and the park is one of the most world & # x27 s. Of time wanting to return hours of drive time off the route by returning to Portland from via. 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Rainier National park Directions: Google Maps park features several different ecosystems and great opportunities for spotting ospreys,.
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day trips from portland, maine without a car