10 Reasons to Visit Portland, Maine This Spring

10 Reasons to Visit Maine’s Portland Region this Spring

Rauni Kew March 23, 2021

Travelers, ready to venture out, carefully ponder where to go first as getaways begin to open up. Here are 10 reasons to visit Maine's Portland region and Cape Elizabeth this spring.

Spring is finally here and it is a terrific time to visit the Greater Portland region. People are more than ready for a change of scenery but are looking for uncrowded destinations with plenty to do outdoors. It’s the perfect time to get out into nature and enjoy the coastal scenery, beach walks and wooded trails Greater Portland and Cape Elizabeth have to offer before the summer tourists arrive. Longer, warmer days mean patio season is opening up and the Portland area’s renowned food scene has some truly delectable and creative al fresco dining options.

Take a stroll on a Cliff Walk in Cape Elizabeth

Just 6 miles south of Portland the Fort Williams Cliff Walk offers both the drama of crashing waves and a stone path that winds along the coast and takes in the historic remains of Fort Williams. Two Lights State Park has an open view of the Atlantic as well as a walk in the woods. Bring your pup on a leash and enjoy a picnic at one of the many benches along the way. You’ll have to leave the park to see the namesake Two Lights, but both are viewable at the end of the road.

Pick up the Pace- try forest bathing!

The beautiful natural environment in Cape Elizabeth make it an uncrowded destination as it’s just off the beaten track. Walkers can get out into nature on over 15 miles of well-maintained trails. Two of our favorite wooded walks are Robinson’s Woods and the Great Pond Trail. Robinson’s Woods three miles of trails wind through massive white pines, hemlocks and red oak trees- some as old as 300 years. The Great Pond Walk offers a variety of wooded and field terrain then circles a portion of the 125 acre freshwater pond. It’s a great spot for wildlife watching.

Breathe in some fresh sea air

Start at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, stopping to check out the small tide pools, then saunter at your own pace along the sand to the rocks at the end of Crescent Beach. Enjoy lobster boats and an island on the horizon along with crisp Atlantic breezes as you take a relaxed stroll across the sand. Turn onto the path into Crescent Beach State Park and follow the nature walk that winds through the Park. Keep an eye out for the shy and endangered New England cottontail rabbits who inhabit the park.

Bike or hike to a Light

Instagram able moments happen every time you visit a Maine lighthouse- whether adorable Bug Light in South Portland or the renowned and historic Portland Headlight commissioned by George Washington in Cape Elizabeth. Every light house is scenic and has a fascinating story. (FMI: 5 local lighthouses here: https://bit.ly/2Pp08wf )

Be Inspired

The Portland Museum of Art re-opens March 25 with free admission on Fridays and will be open Thursdays through Sundays. Take in the museum’s Winslow Homer collection, then for a bit of whimsy head up to the third floor to enjoy Bernard Langlais' primitive shore bird wood sculptures. Tickets are timed for safety protocols so make a reservation before you go. www.portlandmuseum.org. Closed now due to COVID but still well worth visiting virtually, Rachel Walls Fine Art, located near Portland Headlight, has a truly amazing collection of one of Maine most beloved artists, Dahlov Ipcar. You’ll love the virtual visit now but be sure to go in person when the gallery re opens. www.rachelwallsfineart.com

Eat Your Way Through Portland

Maine Foodie Tours guide visitors daily to some of Portland’s best eateries for a delicious taste of local fare with a generous dash of Portland history. It’s a delectable way to get the inside track on this urban- chic small port city. www.mainefoodietours.com

Visit a local Farm

Alewives Brook Farm and Lobster, family run for five generations, is located just up the road from Inn by the Sea and Crescent Beach State Park. Their farm stand is open daily with seasonally fresh produce, free range eggs and live, freshly harvested Maine lobster. www.alewivesbrookfarm.com

Join the Crew of a Lobster Boat

Join the crew of the Lucky Catch, don slickers, and venture out onto Casco Bay to haul Lobster and learn plenty of Maine fishing lore along the way. The authentic Lobster Boat departs from Long Wharf in Portland and operates from the first weekend of May through the last weekend of October. A typical lobster excursion pulls traps with backdrop scenery of Portland Headlight , Civil War Fort Gorges or Seal Rocks. Lobsters can be purchased after the tour and carried across the dock to the Lobster Co. for cooking. www.luckycatch.com

Rooms with a View

Located above Crescent Beach just 7 miles south of Portland, Inn by the Sea offers elegant hospitality with 61 rooms and one and two bedroom suites, heated pool (opens end of April), SPA, and private boardwalk to the beach. The Inn offers the best of two worlds- a rejuvenating upscale beach resort but is just minutes to Portland’s small port city. www.innbythesea.com

Ocean view Dining

Sea Glass restaurant at Inn by the Sea has panoramic views of the Atlantic from inside the intimate restaurant or outside on their al fresco seaside decks. Open to the public daily for breakfast, lunch, craft cocktails and dinner Chef Andrew Chadwick creates fresh seasonal menus with regionally sourced ingredients. Large square umbrellas shade diners from the sun with views of the gardens and ocean beyond. Reservations required at 207.799.3134. www.innbythesea.com

About Inn by the Sea:

An idyllic oceanfront escape, located on a mile of unspoiled sand beach, just 7 miles from Portland, Inn by the Sea is Maine's premier beach destination offering elegant hospitality in 61 upscale rooms and suites, with full- service SPA, cardio room, heated pool and captivating cuisine served in ocean view Sea Glass restaurant. Children and dogs are warmly welcomed to this Preferred LVX® member and Virtuoso® property.

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