Tag: Winter

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Portland has so many things to do for all ages and if you are young and looking for fun than this is the city for you! Not sure where to start? Of course the Old Port has a huge draw for the younger crowd as it is a plethora of bars and clubs which makes it perfect for an all night bar crawl. Four Play and the Stadium are the places to be if you are looking for some place to dance and cut loose. If you are into pubs than Rosies and Gritty’s are perfect for an evening full of good friends and great ale. Live music options are always important, be sure to check out the Asylum which is a hit especially on their 80’s nights. The Big Easy is another great place to hang out and enjoy live music and dance the night away. Portland also has a great live performance genre that is geared to appeal to the younger crowd. Check out Space a wonderful alternative arts venue found in the heart of Portland’s downtown. Space offers art exhibitions, live performances, film performances and much more with an ever changing schedule of events. Perhaps you want to take it outside and you are not sure where to start? The Maine Outdoor Club may be your best choice. Members can join others in participating in a variety of different activities from rock climbing to walking the Backcove Boulevard, it’s a great way to get outside and discover something new to do. Portland is a hip and happening town you just need to take some time to enjoy all there is to see and do so why not start today!

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Locals and visitors alike love Freeport for all the outlet shopping that it offers. But, there is more to Freeport than just the shops that draw the crowds. If you are looking for things to do while you are in town here are a few things to keep you occupied. Check out the Walk-On Adventure Tours offered through LL Bean’s outdoor adventure program. For only $15 you can try your hand at cross country skiing, snowshoeing, fly fishing, archery, kayaking or even clay shooting. There is not preregistration required so it is the perfect way to spend some time spontaneously trying something new. After your outdoor adventure, head over to Cold River Vodka Distillery and tour Maine’s very own premium distillery. The vodka is actually produced from potatoes grown in Northern Maine. This summer, Cold River infused their Maine potato vodka with another well known Maine product, blueberries. The combination was delicious and you can sample it during your tour of the distillery. Another fun thing to do is to check out Freeport Cheese & Wine Friday night wine tasting events. Every third Friday in the month, this specialty cheese and wine shop opens its doors for visitors to come and enjoy some of Freeport’s best selection of both imported and domestic wines and cheeses. This is a fun event that is great to do with friends. Feel like taking it outside? Then take a ride over to Wolfe’s Neck Farm. Whether you take part in their nature walking adventures or attend their sourdough bread making session, there is always something to do on the farm. We recently attended the do it yourself astronomy class which was both fun and informative. If you are looking for some live music, check out the Hilton Garden where you will find Maine’s very own Tony Boffa Jazz Quartet performing on a weekly basis. After spending some time in and outside, head over to the Harraseeket’s Broad Arrows Tavern and enjoy the warmth of a roaring fire and the taste of some great food. The atmosphere feels like a rustic lodge where you can see the wood fired oven from the open kitchen at any spot in the dining room. Kick back, have a cocktail and enjoy yourself after taking some time discovering the other side of Freeport.

Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter: There are so many great things to do in Portland but, why make this your only destination spot! Within an hour of Portland, you could find yourself at the state’s capital, on one of Maine’s best beaches, shopping at some of the best outlets or even skiing on the slopes one of Maine’s most popular mountains. So get going and head north on I95 until you find yourself entering the heart of Kennebec Valley and in Maine’s state capital, Augusta. There you can tour the state house, visit the Maine State Museum, walk the grounds of the Governor’s mansion or even explore old Fort Western. Hop in your car and this time head east on Route 1 and you will find yourself entering the center of mid-coast Maine and getting close to one of Maine’s prettiest beaches, Popham Beach in Phippsburg. The beach is amazing with wonderful tidal pools that form when the tide goes out. You can spend hours searching the beach for sea dollars and there is a great island that can be explored at low tide as well. After the beach head back toward Bath and stop in to the quaint downtown area and enjoy an ice cream cone while sitting on the banks of the Kennebec River. If you decide that shopping is on your list of things to do, head south on 295 until you get to the Kittery Outlets and shopping palazzo! After spending time finding some great bargains be sure to swing by Whaleback Lighthouse which looks out over the Piscataqua River, it’s a great place to take some amazing photos! During the winter months you can always find some exciting things to do like skiing Shawnee Peak! You can get to the mountain and be on the slopes in just under an hour drive from Portland. Be sure to try out their night skiing, it’s a great thing to do in the middle of a winter vacation in Maine! Check out Portland and all there is to do in the area, you will be surprised at where it may lead you!

Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter: Everyone loves to find that “greasy spoon” where the breakfast is real and the portions are hearty. In the Portland area, there are some great breakfast joints you just can’t miss out on. The first place on your list of places to try is Marcy’s Breakfast & Lunch on Oak Street in the downtown area. There isn’t a lot of room in this place but, the food is always good, real home cooked breakfast items which keeps patrons coming back again and again. Of course, there is also Becky’s Diner sitting in the heart of the waterfront district on Commercial Street in Portland. The food is nothing fancy but, you get what you want the way you want it for cheap. This place usually has a waiting line on the weekends but, for the most part it’s worth the wait so it’s the perfect place to go if you are really hungry! Another place to check out for your first meal of the day is Uncle Andy’s which is just over the million dollar bridge in South Portland. This is a true breakfast joint. Whether you decide to sit at the bar or at a table you won’t leave disappointed. Your coffee cup will never run dry and your plate will be overflowing with food. Love the corn beef hash here and the biscuits and gravy are reminiscent of my trips to North Carolina! You won’t be leaving this place feeling like you didn’t get your monies worth. If you are looking for the classic diner atmosphere than the Miss Portland Diner is the place for you to check out. Open since 1949, the Miss Portland Diner has been “slinging hash” as a part of Portland’s community for decades. There are plenty of great breakfast spots in Portland so go take yourself out to breakfast this weekend and enjoy yourself!

Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter: If you enjoy kicking back and having a few cold ones Portland has plenty of places to choose from that will deliver just what you are looking for. There are plenty of places in town that provide a great atmosphere and the perfect pint. Places like Boru’s, Gritty’s and Rosies are all great spots to hang out with friends and enjoy a cold beer whether it be a local brew or some other, the scene is always relaxed and fun. Another great spot that is not well known is Novare Res Bier Café which is tucked away on Canal Street. This place is a true and authentic beer bar and it is evident that they take their craft very seriously. They offer 25 beers on tap and 230 bottled varieties. The atmosphere is very chill and it is the perfect spot to spend some time meeting friends for happy hour or just stopping by on a Saturday night out. After spending time enjoying theses local hangouts make some time to head over to Maine Brewing Supply where you can find just about whatever you will need to brew your own batch of beer. It’s not as complicated as you may think and you will be amazed at the amount of beer one batch will yield. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to spend some time with a delicious reward at the end. Another place to check out is Allagash Brewing Company where not only you can take tours of the brewery but, you can also find the beer making supplies you’ll need to brew the perfect batch of beer. So next time you are in Portland, be sure to enjoy a beer at one of the many places in town.