Bath is a small town located on the Kennebec River at the center of Maines Atlantic coast. We gathered a lot of our favorites in Portland, Maine after living here for 14 years; see if your local haunts made our list. 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. Hike the trails at Hackers Hill Preserve. The trail to Bald Peak is lined with lowbush blueberries near the mountaintop. Every day Estimated price $120 - $400. 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. That trend is likely to continue into 2023. 3. Where to go near me: Traverse City, Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Things to Do in Wyoming, Things to do in Delaware. Three things make this historic Brunswick mill a worthwhile day trip: antiques, a flea market and a great restaurant. Turn left and continue approximately one mile to either the Sebago to the Sea Trail or Johnson Field parking areas. Maines Boothbay Harbor is located along the rocky Atlantic coast about one hours drive north of Portland. Perfect For:Wintry/Rainy Days Shopaholics Collectors Foodies Music/Film Buffs Combining With Wolfes Neck Woods State Park (below) and a drive to Bailey Island (see directly above), Where:Located on Main Street in downtown Brunswick. In all honestly, getting outside of Portland to explore the local areas without a car is very difficult, and sometimes not even possible. To explore out on the water, hop aboard a whale watch tour, enjoy a fishing or lobstering outing, take a sailing cruise or rent a canoe or kayak. There are also a good amount of of kids activities here, including mini golf places, and lots of opportunity to get out onto the lake. The museum has a special focus on the paintings of Winslow Homer (1836-1910). The city that brands itself "A Tiny Bit Huge" is just across the Piscataqua River from southern Maine. Most day trips from Portland, Maine on this list are less than 2 hours away, with the longest being 2 hours and 30 minutes away. The Inland Route. And actually this region is home to several lakes, and covers a lot of ground, so youll have lots of options when it comes to towns to visit, activities on the water and places to eat. ), then you may enjoy this walking tour of the movies filming locations in Salem. Here youll find man-made stone structures and standing slabs aligned with particular lunar and solar events. Rome2rio . The drive to Camden on US Route 1 is like several Portland day trips in one, taking in some quintessential Maine coastal towns along the way. Located on Penobscot Bay, the deepwater Camden Harbor is home to several tall ships and schooners that offer cruises of the bay, sailing tours and fishing excursions. Portland is Maine's largest city, and you won't easily run out of activities to occupy your time, but when you do, these day trips will satisfy your sense of adventure. Provincetown, MA P-Town, as it's better known, is a splurge to get to for a day trip. Youll definitely be able to fill up a full day here. Click here to book this boat tour out to Nubble & Boon lighthouses! Here you can get up close to invertebrates at the touch tank, learn about the lifecycle of lobsters, and Atlantic sea life. With a day, I would recommend doing Ocean Path (walking from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs), one hike (Great Head or Gorham are both great choices), and then heading into downtown Bar Harbor for dinner before driving home. Although not open to the public, the site was made famous by Edward Hoppers 1929 painting, Lighthouses at Two Lights. 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. Rockport is small, but feels very special and memorable. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is in Rockland, too, so you may want to consider staying over and making this a two-day trip. Bar Harbor is the largest city on Maines Mount Desert Island. Perfect For: City EscapesWithout a Car Picnics Seasonal Scenery Family Day Trips. The Appalachian Trail passes just north of Bethel on its way to Canada. Popular destinations include the Peaks Island House, open in the summer months and overlooking Casco Bay, and the Cockeyed Gull, which offers casual fine dining year round. Maine's beaches have refreshing, clear water that is perfect for cooling off on a hot day. The Portland Head Light is a historic 1791 lighthouse that sits within the Fort Williams State Park in Cape Elizabeth, on Portland Head. If the Portland Museum of Art's rich collection inspires you to seek out even more art treasures, then plan a day trip to the coastal city of Rockland. Alternatively, you can take a Concord Coach Lines bus between the two cities for $40 round-trip. 13. Trail Distance/Elevation Gain: 4.6 miles round-trip/1,984 feet. We even include our very favorite Portland day trip for picking wild Maine blueberries on a quiet mountaintop between Bridgton and Fryeburg. Technically speaking, there are over 4,600 islands off the coast of Maine.This includes the largest actual island (Mount Desert Island) to tiny ledges that can only be considered islands during a very low tide.There are a fair few that fall right in the middle, perfect for exploring no matter what your budget might be. Here are my tips for a fun and easy visit with kids. Perfect For: History Buffs Winter/Rainy Day Trips Families, Where: Located next to the Blaine House in Augusta. Once the holiday season is over, a great option for a day trip from Portland, Maine in the winter is to head just a few minutes north to Freeport and explore the charming town covered in snow, explore the trails at Wolfes Neck Center & Farm and then head back into town for a very cozy meal at Tuscan Brick Oven Pizza. This is the perfect day trip, no matter what the weather has in store for you. The small island is easily explored by bicycle, with just a 4-mile long circumference. Busses in portland go almost everywhere, are popular, reliable, and the reason I was able to so effortlessly live in Portland for 6 years without a car! For all these reasons, its one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine. 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. Be sure to stop at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray on the way. Drive or hike up Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for an awesome view of Camden Harbor from above. Getting There: Head out of Portland driving north on I-295, and take exit 28 onto Route 1 toward Brunswick and Bath. 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. Art Museum, Maine Historical Society/Longfellow House, etc) but for all practical purposes you will need a car if you'd like to get outside the city to visit lighthouses, charming coastal villages, etc all within 30 minutes drive. Simply put, Camden Hills State Park is a classic coastal Maine day trip you need to make right now. In the winter months, snowmobiles are allowed on the Switch Back Trail, Link Trail and Snowmobile Trail. Climb to the top via the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway, take the auto road, or enjoy a hike. You wont miss the carpetof blueberry bushes on the way to the top; theyre heavily concentrated in natural clearings. Walk around one of the many waterfront parks. Fill a day in Glouchester touring Hammond Castle, popping in and out of artist studios on Rocky Neck, and touring Cape Pond Ice, which manufactures the ice used aboard the city's fishing vessels. Its up to you to make your own trip from Portland and see this mysterious site for yourself. Drive or hike up to Cathedral Ledge View Point. The areas Abbe Museum exhibits Native American artifacts and teaches guests about the cultural history of the region. The L.L. Click the link below for more fun things to do in Ogunquit! . 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! Explore the coast for the best of Maine lobster, to see the many historic lighthouses, and charming coastal towns. Portland is home to a vibrant working waterfront, great small-business shopping, and an incredible art scene. 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. The spooky fun reaches its peak in October, when the city hosts a month-long slate of Haunted Happenings. If you're looking to get out and explore Massachusetts' glorious coastline, Newburyport is the ideal day trip from Boston without a car. The iconic lighthouse operated until 1989, when it was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard. Rockland's Center for Maine Contemporary Art, opened in 2016, will beckon to you with its exhibitions of work by the best living artists with ties to Maine, displayed in a Toshiko Mori-designed building. Dont miss the giant sacrificial table, carved with a channel to collect and drain blood from offerings. Charming cottages and New England homes line the shore. Or just lie in the sun along the sandy beach at bustling Sebago Lake State Park (tel. We uncover a variety of attractions nearby from hikes and Mainelandmarks to mysterious megaliths in the woods. This moderately difficult hiking trail is perfect all year but mid-July is when wild Maine blueberries are ready for picking! Perfect For: Lazy Drives Hiking Coastal Day Trips Biking Families Combining With a Trip to Americas Stonehenge (see above). Screw Auger Falls 5. Sebago Lake is one of the best options for day trips from Portland, Maine if youre looking for a peaceful day. How to Get There: Leave Portland via US Highway 302 west to Bridgton. Boating of all sorts is an option, too. Keep in mind that this is a fall-specific tour, and its not available year-round. . A great option for day trips from Portland, Maine without a car is this full-day Maine in the fall tour. Rent a jet ski or boat to spend the day on the water. 740 miles. By VacationIdea Staff on October 2, 2022 - Updated. Public transportation is difficult but possible. The bus takes beer lovers from venue to venue on an all-inclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Portland's craft breweries. It provides access from . During this tour, youll pass by two lighthouses, spot seals lounging on the rocks, and also learn all about the local lobstering community, as well as what it takes to haul lobster traps. Marblehead has an awesome historic district with beautiful houses to admire, cute little shops and cafes, plenty of waterfront to explore and is even home to some Hocus Pocus filming locations! Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Getting There: The Casco Bay Lines ferry, which runs year-round at least 14 times each day, is the most popular option though you can also use the Portland Sea Taxi or Fogg's water taxi. Over 18,000 pieces rotate through permanent and temporary exhibits. Insider travel recommendations, In-depth reviews of our favorite places: UT, Indianapolis, From Kansas City, Mackinac Island, Chattanooga, RI, From Chicago, Sacramento, Nantucket, Girls Getaways, Santa Barbara, PA. The park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the east coast of the United States. In downtown Camden, enjoy shopping for antiques, browsing upscale boutiques, and eating fresh seafood, especially lobster, straight from the working harbor. E-bikes are so much fun to ride, and allow you to pack more into your schedule than just walking. 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!) Of course, the star of the show here is the half-mile Casco Bay Trail with access to tidal pools, rocky coastline and several scenic overlooks along the way. Ah yes, the Otter Ponds make for a peaceful day trip just a stones throw from Sebago Lake. Choose the Mailboat Run which serves four islands in the bay. Please see our Disclaimer for full information. (www.oregon.aaa.com; tel. Click here to read about the best stops to make when driving from Portland to Acadia National Park! Kim Knox Beckius is a Connecticut-based travel writer, author, photographer, and editor. Travel Tip: On your return drive to Portland, make a stop at the outlet stores just across the Piscataqua River Bridge in Kittery, Maine. A picnic, cold drinks and a dip in the ponds was our antidote to steamy days and we always had it to ourselves. Go to AllTrails to learn more about their free app; its full of trail maps, including this one, which work offline. The park spans 47,000 acres, most of which are located on Mount Desert Island, off Maines Atlantic coast. Alternatively, make your Portland day trip to one of Maines island communities and explore on foot for several hours. The Boothbay Region Land Trust is home to over 35 miles of hiking trails, while the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offer a colorful outdoor space in which to relax. Camden "The Jewel of the Coast" 4. We prefer more technical hikes, but the views over Megunticook Lake in summer and autumn make this trail worthy of a mention. Click here to read about the lifecycle of lobsters, and charming coastal towns up to to. A 4-mile long circumference Hoppers 1929 painting, lighthouses at Two Lights of Bethel on its way to top. 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