This guide is for a weekend getaway in Portland, Maine during winter time. It includes recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and locations to visit in Portland. A car is necessary for this itinerary. Bring a camera to photograph the lighthouses!
Most budget-friendly hotel in the area. Clean and comfortable. Ideal location for exploring without a car, near Old Port (About 15 minute walk). Hotel has a restaurant and bar on the ground floor as well as a heated pool, sauna, and gym. Parking in a parking garage attached to the hotel for the duration of your stay with an additional fee.
The most delicious custom omelets and wild blueberry pancakes!! Very popular, so go early to ensure you get a table. Our favorite breakfast. We would have eaten here more times if we could have!
Beautiful park to explore. Parking for an additional fee. Incredible light house, it is not accessible this time of year but the views of the ocean are fantastic. Great for photography. It was quiet chilly here in February- make sure to bring lots of layers, hats, gloves, etc.
Free parking. Can get real up-close to this light house and look out at the ocean while standing on the rocks. Another beautiful and worthwhile visit for photography and ocean lovers
Free parking. Can walk around the lighthouse and explore the architecture of it. Smaller and underwhelming in comparison to the too, but still a worthwhile visit.
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3) Warm your bones at a café and grab some baked goods
Super cute and clean vintage / vinyl store. Doesn't have the musty smell of old things, if you know what I mean; which is something I can't stand about certain vintage stores. Really cute clothing and wide array of vinyl.
This was one of the best parts of the trip for me. We went iceskating around sunset so we got to watch the sunset as we ice-skated outside. Reservations in advanced made things easy when we arrived - all we needed to do was check-in and get our ice-skates. It was $16/per adult. Public skate only happens at certain times so it's important to check the schedule. Parking was a separate fee. Thompson's point has other fun activities to do in summer so may be a worthwhile place to come back to check out once the weather warms up.
Super delicious gelato. There was a dairy free option. The gorgeous flavor was HEAVEN. I would go back in a heartbeat. Open until 9pm weekdays and until 10:30pm weekends.
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End the evening back at the hotel with a dip in the pool and quick trip to the sauna (Our Hotel, the Holiday Inn, had a heated pool and Sauna which was nice after being out and about in the cold New England air.
Open 10am-6pm. No public parking, but Holiday Inn (across the street) includes parking in your visit. It's free on Friday's from 4-8pm, but $20 all other times. Includes American and European art, Portland history, a café, and the McLellan House. The McLellan House is an early 1800's mansion, it is a national historic landmark
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The Portland Museum of Art was across the street from our hotel (The Holiday Inn) which made it easy for us to visit after our breakfast. We parked in the public garage (which we were already paying for as part of our stay) and then walked across the street to visit.
It was interesting to see a historic mansion from the 1800's (McLellan House ) as it was well preserved.
3) Grab some iconic potato donuts from Holy Donut- Trust me, you're going to want to try these!
I'm a Native Upstate New Yorker who loves to plan trips that involve a mix of exploring nature and cities. Whether it's for a Northeast weekend road trip or an international 10 day-er, I'm a Type A traveler - my plans will save your precious exploration time and maximize the locations and activities you are able to see and do.
