![]() ![]() Although the rain held off, the dense fog kept us from getting great views of the passing boats as their decorative lights were shrouded in the heavy mist. Lucky for us our annual visit coincided with the annual event and we walked to the waterfront to get a good view. One of the most fun things to do in Portland, Maine, in winter is to view the Parade of Lights when boats are decked out with Christmas lights and cruise along the waterfront in December. Customs House and the home of Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow. Sites may include the famous lobster statue, the U.S. You can also take Walk Through Time in Portland history tour that’s given year-round. The “Bon Appetite” Culinary Walking Tour takes place in the East End of Portland and includes the city’s newest restaurants along with a taste of the “butteriest croissants.” The flagship tour, Old Port Culinary Walking Tour, is available every day and visits several venues for samplings that may include Maine craft beer, fresh lobster, seafood chowder and dark chocolate truffles. While some tours with Maine Foodie Tours are seasonal, operating May-October, a few operate all year. Sample local cuisine, learn history on a walking tour Troubh Ice Arena where you can also get lessons and have your skates sharpened. No matter what the weather, public skating is available at the William B. If it’s cold enough, you can skate in parks, on Deering Oaks pond and Mill Creek Park. Strap on your skates and head to The Rink at Thompson’s Point where you’ll find a warming room, heated lounge, skates for rental and views of Portland. If snowmobiling is more your speed, you’ll find more than 14,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Maine along with snowmobiling resorts where you can find lodging, equipment rental and guided tours. It’s also a good place to pick up gifts made in Maine. Check out the views of Mountain Washington in New Hampshire. Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, about 30 from downtown Portland, is a popular excursion for its 30 kilometers of trails for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. Bundle up for some outdoor funĪmong the more exhilarating things to do in Portland, Maine, in the winter are outdoor activities like ice skating, dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.Ĭross-country skiing is really popular here, with miles of trails in state parks and other trails in the greater Portland area. Visit three lighthouses, learn how the lobster industry works and stop for coffee and a treat at Rwanda Bean.įor a combination tour of the city of Portland and the lighthouses, take the Portland Maine City and Lighthouse Tour. The easiest way to see several lighthouses is to take a tour, like the Portland Maine Winter Lighthouse & Waterfront Tour. Its official name is Portland Breakwater Light and it’s the only lighthouse modeled after a Greek monument. My favorite is the Bug Light, so called because of its small size of only 26 feet tall. Just south of Portland is Two Lights State Park, named after two Gothic towers captured by Edward Hopper in his 1929 painting “The Lighthouse at Two Lights.” One of the towers is still a lighthouse, although not open to the public, and the other is a private home. These include the oldest operating lighthouse in Maine and the symbol of the city, the Portland Head Light, built in 1791. Go on a winter weekend and you have the advantage of taking photos with snow in them, one of the cool things to do in Portland in the winter. There are six lighthouses within 20 minutes and you can see all of them within two hours. Next to eating lobster, seeing a lighthouse is one of the top things to do in Portland, Maine. You can’t return from a trip to Maine without photos of lighthouses. (Photo by Cynthia Farr Weinfeld, courtesy of Visit Portland.) The Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. You’ll find ice bars, sculptures and drinks served through ice luges. Travel just a little ways outside of Portland and you can visit the Ice Bar at Brunswick Hotel. This fabulous hotel offers specials for stays for the Ice Bar, but book early. ![]() You can sip on a frosty cold martini while checking out huge ice sculptures. I would love to visit the one at the hotel where we stayed, Portland Harbor Hotel, which takes place in January. If you’re visiting in January or February, check the dates for seasonal ice bars. You may think with winter temperatures in Portland, Maine, hovering around from the mid-teens to the lower 30s, your thoughts may turn more to hot teas and hot toddies, but then you’d be missing out on all the frozen fun. And since we don’t have them in Atlanta where I live, they are really a treat. I’m not a big fan of being cold, but I make exceptions for ice bars. ![]() You’ll have an ice time at the Ice Bar at Portland Harbor Hotel. ![]()
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