Old Port Neighborhood
Portland
Portland is a small coastal city that borders the picturesque Casco Bay on the Atlantic Ocean and is best known as a working port city with an appreciation for the arts, it’s 19th-century architecture, and an impressive culinary scene. Portland has lots of distinctive neighborhoods to explore, like the Arts District where the Portland Museum of Art is located, or the cobblestone streets of the Old Port neighborhood great for touristy souvenirs, seafood spots on the water, and shopping at the city’s local boutiques. Munjoy Hill is a hip scene with cool shops and restaurants along Washington Ave. Nearby lobster roll favorite Bite Into Maine, and Eventide Oyster Co, breweries, coffee shops like Coffee By Design and Maine Pottery just to name some more great places. Along bustling main artery Congress Street you'll find Empire Chinese, Otto Pizza, Green Elephant, to name a few tasty spots great for a meal before a show at The State Theater, the West End neighborhood has classic 19th century architecture and a delicious low key taco window that if you spot is a scrumptious reward. Bard Coffee has some of the best coffee and is perfect for people watching and getting a dose of that busy city vibe. The nearby Nickelodeon movie theater feels like a cozy artsy cinema like in the college town where I grew up. The city also features well-known parks which include the Eastern and Western Promenades, Lincoln Park, Congress Square Park, Fort Sumner Park and the Quarry Run Dog Park. Portland's winters are cold and snowy, and in the summertime, Portland is fairly dry. with highs in the 80’s, and just a few days in July hitting 90 degrees.
Portland Head Light at Ft. Williams Park.
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth is a gorgeous coastal town with beaches, lighthouses, preserved agricultural and marshland, hiking trails and is a quick 5 mile drive into the city of Portland. Extending 12 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, its craggy shores and sandy beaches, Cape Elizabeth marks the entrance to spectacular Casco Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine.
In Cape Elizabeth there are state and local parks and beaches, trails and lighthouses. One of the most popular spots is Fort Williams Park along the rocky coast where the landmark Portland Head Light is located.
Locals enjoy delicious bagels, baguettes, and desserts at Scratch Bakery, donuts and cookies from long time favorite The Cookie Jar, and ice cream in the warmer months at the wonderful Willard Scoops.
Knightsville Neighborhood
South Portland
Some South Portland residents say, South Portland is the Brooklyn to Portland’s Manhattan. According to an article in DownEast magazine, the neighborhood of "Knightville’s revival has been especially dramatic, and packs a complete community into its roughly two square miles. Decades-old bungalows and pricy new condos surround city hall, the post office, the public library, Mill Creek Park, shops, restaurants, crafts studios, and Shaw’s Millcreek Plaza, built in 1955...The creative economy that enlivened the city of Portland has found its way across the Fore River, bringing new people, new restaurants, and new shops to neighborhoods from Knightville and Ferry Village to Willard Square and Meetinghouse Hill," according to DownEast magazine.
There are so many delicious food spots to visit in South Portland — OTTO Pizza, Bistro LeLuco for fine dining, Terra Cotta Pasta Co. a cozy Italian market, have all popped up along Cottage Road from Millcreek to Meetinghouse Hill, and in Knightsville SoPo Seafood, and Barber Bros Meats + Provisions which has the vibe and convenience of a fancy NYC bodega are favorites. Coffee shop, Second Rodeo in Ferry Village, is a community hotspot with a warm welcoming vibe and tasty treats.
A few years ago, former Portland mainstay Mad Horse Theatre Company relocated to the waterfront neighborhood of Ferry Village, bringing the number of theaters in South Portland to three (the others are Lyric Music Theater and Portland Players).
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough
Scarborough beaches are a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. These beaches include Pine Point (Hurd Park), Ferry Beach, Scarborough Beach State Park, and Higgins Beach. Scarborough is loved for its coastal beaches, the largest salt water marsh in Maine, farmland, the Eastern Trail, and robust local restaurant and shopping scene.
The Black Point Inn sits on the ruggedly beautiful coastline, it's a luxury beachfront hotel lushly landscaped and surrounded by ocean and beaches on three sides. The Chart Room located at the inn, is a popular destination for oceanfront dining.
The Winslow Homer Studio, the historic studio and home of the artist Winslow Homer, is located in Scarborough. Maine architect John Calvin Stevens altered and expanded an existing carriage house to suit Homer's needs in 1884. The most dramatic element is a balcony from which the artist often painted in winter. Homer resided and painted in the studio from 1884 until his death there in 1910. The studio was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
The Carnival and Pier
Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach is a resort town in York County. Located on the inner side of Saco Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, the town is a popular seaside resort. Its seven mile long beach extends into the towns of Scarborough and Saco, and is lined with many beach residential properties, condominiums, motels and bed and breakfasts.
Stroll the beach, take in the salty air, and snack on french fries. The seaside amusement park Palace Playland is located in Old Orchard Beach. The amusement park dates back to 1902 and sits on four acres of beachfront property. Palace Playland is one of the last old-timey oceanside amusement parks in New England. The Pier
Pier at Old Orchard Beach is a wooden walk way is lined with souvenir shops, carnival-style foods, and a night club at the end of the pier.
Peaks Island
Peaks Island, located in Casco Bay, offers a small town feel with scenic ocean views and daily departures from Portland. Accessible only by ferry, quaint Peaks Island is popular for biking and kayaking, plus swimming at Sandy and Centennial beaches and exploring rocky Cairn Beach. A few casual seafood restaurants, cafes, and a small grocery store are scattered around the harbor.