Portland (Maine) Sights

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Portland Head Light

• Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Phone: +1 207 775-6148, Fax: +1 207 773-7324, Email: info@portlandmuseum.org, www.portlandmuseum.org. Tu,W,Th,Sa,Su 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-9PM. Memorial Day-Columbus Day: also M 10AM-5PM. Consisting of the historic McLellan House, the L.D.M. Sweat Galleries, and the I.M. Pei Designed Payson building, this museum houses a large collection of Winslow Homer works, as well as 17,000 sculptures, paintings, and objects from the 18th-century onwards. $10 Adults, $8 Senoirs/Students, $4 Ages 6-17, under 6 are free
• Childrens Museum of Maine, 142 Free St., Phone: +1 207 828-1234, www.kitetails.com. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM (also M in summer); Su Noon-5PM. Located next to the Museum of Art, this Museum features 3 stories of interactive exhibits, including "Our Town", an area with an interactive grocery store, farm, vet, firetruck, and more, and the "Explore Floor", which includes "LL Bear's Discovery Woods" and a mini planetarium. At the top of the building is the Camera Obscura, which offers panoramic views of the city and teaches children about light. $8
• Portland Observatory, 138 Congress St., Phone: +1 207 774-5561 ext. 104. Memorial Day to Columbus Day, Daily 10-5PM. Built in 1807, this National Historic Landmark is the only existing historic maritime signal station in the United States. Educational tours are offered at the 65 foot tower, or you can climb to the top on your own. Either way, you get great views of the waterfront. $7/$5
• Portland Head Light and Museum, 1000 Shore Rd. Cape Elizabeth, Phone: +1 207 799-2661, www.portlandheadlight.com. Museum open 10AM-4PM daily June-Oct; weekends in shoulder seasons. Grounds open daily year round and free. One of the most scenic lighthouses in the country. Adjacent to Fort Williams, a WWII artillery emplacement. $2/$1.
• Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth Street, Phone: +1 207 772-4841, www.victoriamansion.org. May-Oct. Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House, is the finest example of residential design from the pre-Civil War era in America. With superb architecture and well-preserved original interiors that were among the most lavish and sophisticated in their day, it is an unparalleled document of America’s highest aspirations in architecture, interior design, and the decorative arts. $10/$3.
• Bug Light Lighthouse across the Fore River in South Portland offers unparalleled views of the Portland skyline and Casco Bay.
• Spring Point- Coastal area in South Portland which is home to the old Fort Preble, Spring Point Ledge Light, Portland Harbor Museum and Southern Maine Community College. There is a breakwater extending out into the harbor which is great to fish off of.
• Stroudwater Village, just west of the Portland peninsula is one of Maine's oldest.
• Old Port, portlandmaine.com Next to the downtown area along Commercial St. next to Casco Bay. The Old Port is filled with neat shops, restaurants, and cafes, and has something of a European feel to it thanks to its many narrow cobbled streets and old brick buildings. Go here to shop and eat at both high-end and casual, local establishments. The Old Port is a great place to take a walk and smell the ocean air.
• Eastern Promenade. A neighborhood providing amazing views of the Casco Bay and the islands
• Western Promenade. A more residential area where you can see examples of mansions built by wealthy sea captains long ago.
• Deering Oaks. A 51 acre area in Portland with a tennis court, baseball diamond, playground and pond. You can ice skate on the pond in the winter. In the summer, you can enjoy a wading pool and, on Saturday mornings, an extensive farmers' market. Outdoor concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, and the Festival of the Nations take place here as well.
• Willard Beach in South Portland right across the bridge.
• Hadlock Field, Fitzpatrick Stadium and Portland Exposition Building, located off I-295. Home to most of Portland-area sports, including Portland Sea Dogs-
• Portland Sea Dogs Baseball, Hadlock Field, Phone: +1 207 879-9500, www.seadogs.com. A Boston Red Sox AA affiliate with a Fenway Park replica field. $3-$8 (2006).
• Cumberland County Civic Center, Middle Street, ☎ (207) 775-3458, theciviccenter.com. Box Office: 9:30 to 5:30. The main event space in Portland, this 6,733 seat arena host concerts, expositions, and the Portland Pirates, the minor league affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
• Fore River Gallery, 613 Congress Street, ☎ 207-791-2723, www.forerivergallery.com. A fine art gallery displaying the works of the three owners, Anna Russo, Elizabeth Marks and Mike Marks. A wide range of artwork is displayed; from paintings, ceramic wall hangings, to metalsmithing and jewelry. It's near the intersection of High Street and Congress Street, diagonally from the Portland Museum of Art. free.

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