Quick Trip to Portland, any ideas? (South Portland, Cape Elizabeth: houses, shop, eat)

[soonermeteor]

My family and I will be driving through Portland on Sunday. We are doing a quick little loop through the northeast. Obviously this is not a great plan if we are going to go sightseeing, but we just spent most of our vacation time visiting relatives and we've never seen New England. I was wondering if there are any sights within the Portland area that are popular? I'm not looking for Museums or things that you would need more time for, but possibly monuments or unique scenery? I would really be interested in anything pertaining to the original colonies, i.e. anything really old!!! For example, we plan on seeing the Old North Church, the Boston Tea Party sight, bunker hill, and ect. in Boston.

[Unhappycamper]

Portland Museum of Art.

Also across the river in South Portland there are alot of old Forts on the SMCC Campus and around Portland Headlight. That should settle your craving for "historic stuff".

[MRVphotog]

The Old Port and the Portland Observatory should be on your list.
Portland Observatory Maritime Signal Tower

[mandapanda]

The lighthouse for sure.

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by soonermeteor

My family and I will be driving through Portland on Sunday. We are doing a quick little loop through the northeast. Obviously this is not a great plan if we are going to go sightseeing, but we just spent most of our vacation time visiting relatives and we've never seen New England. I was wondering if there are any sights within the Portland area that are popular? I'm not looking for Museums or things that you would need more time for, but possibly monuments or unique scenery? I would really be interested in anything pertaining to the original colonies, i.e. anything really old!!! For example, we plan on seeing the Old North Church, the Boston Tea Party sight, bunker hill, and ect. in Boston.

You should take the duck tour. We did and it was really fun. It's a big yellow truck that tours the city and then goes in the water. You get on it right by the flaoting restautant ( no clue on the name I am sure someone more familiar with Maine could answer), anyway it was about an hour and was great because it toured the city!!

[sfw1979]

Downeast Duck Adventures : A fun and interactive historical adventure through Portland, Maine and into the waters of Casco Bay!

They also have a duck tour in Boston and we really wanted to get on it but they were all sold out. The Portland one not so much. But since you said your stopping in Boston you may want to do the duck tour there.

[oceanfit185]

LL Bean, for williams, down town Portland has some cool stuff. like the Longfellow house and stuff like that. The on some of the island in the harbor there are still forts. I also think the first Parish church still has a cannon ball in it from the rev. war

[exscrantonian]

It all depends on what you like to do

Spend the day in old port in Portland and visit the museum and Longfellow house with shopping and a meal at Gilbert's Chowder House or Becky's Diner.

Explore Lighthouses across the river in So. Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Spend an afternoon at Cresent State Park and then eat at the Lobster Shack by the sea in Cape Elizabeth off route 77.

Take a walking tour of the new heritage trail marking imp. sites in the history of Portland and the underground railroad followed by exploring Monument Square, Old Port and nearby Mackworth Island

Take a Ferry ride to Peaks Island or the mail boat tour to get a sense of the Casco Bay