When I went to Portland, Maine with Milan I wasn’t too sure what I was going to experience. I kept looking at what I could do, but most of the activities seemed to be unavailable until summer. But what I realized was that Portland, Maine had more than enough for us to explore in April -- so I can only imagine what the experience will be like when I go back in a hotter month. We stayed at Blind Tiger Guest House, which is a beautiful 19th century home that has been updated and offers a warm, unique feel to your stay. It’s also positioned in a central location, which allows you to quickly get to downtown with shops and restaurants.

Portland, Maine is a great option for you if you live in the east coast, if you don’t feel comfortable traveling too far or if you don’t want to leave the country. It’s scenic, filled with great food, relaxing, and super walkable since its not a large city. I went in early April, which isn’t the high traffic time for Portland, Maine and I still had a great time. I can only imagine what a visit may feel and look like if I visited in the hotter months of the year.

Things to Do:

Because of its close access to water, there’s the opportunity to fish, lobster, sail, visit mini islands that are close by, or even enjoy walking around the town to shop and eat from all of the great restaurants in town.

Tip#1: it’s identified as one of the towns in the US with the highest number of microbreweries per capita. This means that there’s plenty of options to do do a beer tour with friends that will leave you with plenty of memories.

Tip #2: You can visit the lighthouses, which are historical landmarks in Portland, Maine. We did the, “Real Portland Tour.” that gave us a tour of the city as well as a visit to three different lighthouses and it was absolutely worth it! Rather than visiting the lighthouses alone, we were in a group with approximately 8 other people and were able to learn lots of fun facts. Also, the tour guide who was a local, born and raised in Portland was super funny, informative, and even ended the tour with a mini-rap about the facts we need to remember about his precious hometown.

Tip #3: In 2018, Portland, Maine was voted as the restaurant city of the year. It is considered a perfect destination for someone who considers themselves as a foodie. Scope out which restaurants you want to visit, as there are many and make sure that you secure your reservations. I made reservations last minute, and was still able to experience good restaurants. But again, I can only imagine what it will look like this summer! Seats at these restaurants will be awarded to the planner who thinks ahead! There are also food tours that you can book to help you get a better taste of the food option landscape. My favorite two restaurants while I was there were Scales & The Highroller Lobster Co.

Tip #4: Enjoy Lobster! Apparently 90 percent of the country’s lobster comes from Portland, Maine, so you can enjoy it fresh! Also, if you want to see how its caught, you can sign up for a lobster boat tour.

(Lucky Catch Cruises is an option)

Tip #5: Enjoy the outdoors and get on a ferry! You can jump on a ferry and visit the multiple islands that are on the coast of Maine.
(Casco Bay Lines) You can visit the link and look at the ferry schedules depending on season.

Tip #6: Rent a boat and get your sail on! Go fishing, explore the islands, or just throw a boat party with family and friends. (https://www.portharbormarine.com/) I have linked an option, but I don’t have a personal experience with them. Make sure you do your research!

As you can see, Portland Maine was a great surprise and I will definitely be back. I hope you found this blog useful with some tips on the activities you can do if decided that your next adventure is Portland, Maine. You won’t regret it!