Parks & Recreation - Beaches And Ocean Activities

If you have come to Portland, chances are that you’re a fan of the ocean. How could you not be? The city boasts not only a working waterfront but also countless beaches and activities related to the salty water. This chapter gives you a heaping helping of some of the best coastal activities in the area. Whether you like to get your feet wet in the sea or lounge on a sandy shore, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy Portland’s rocky coastline just like a local. You could come to Portland and never have anything to do with the ocean, but you’d be missing a good part of the city’s soul. As the poet e. e. cummings wrote, “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) / it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.”

This chapter lists beaches, whale watches, ocean sports, and more than a dozen tours of the bay and beyond. For those of you who’d like to learn how to tie a hitch or let out a jib, we have also listed a few sailing schools.

The “Beaches” section provides rough directions from downtown Portland to the selected shores, as well as entrance fees and whether a lifeguard is on duty. Most people hit the beach here between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the traditional summer season in Maine. The information provided in this chapter, including entrance fees, is for this warm, sunny stretch. These summer months offer the most activity shoreside and also are the warmest time to take a dip in the notoriously chilly Atlantic Ocean. From June through August, the water normally warms from its winter low of around 33 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (which is not as warm as it sounds).

Another element of nature that is constantly changing around here is the ocean tides. Knowledge of the tides is crucial for swimmers, boaters, and seaside strollers alike—an ill-timed picnic at high tide can really swamp your spirits, and strong currents make for potentially dangerous conditions.

The local Portland harbormaster (the city official in charge of Casco Bay) runs an updated Web site on the tides, ocean weather, and sunrise and sunset times at www.portland harbor.org. The weather section of the Portland Press Herald also has the same information.

When you’re ready to hit the beach, remember that entrance fees can change seasonally just like the natural elements, so bring a couple of extra bucks just in case. As for lifeguards, it’s always best to take caution when swimming in new waters, even if someone is looking out for you. Dogs, even when leashed, are barred on most beaches. If you must bring man’s best friend along, call the area town office ahead of time to make sure the local ordinance allows pets on the sand. Some areas allow pets during off-hours or during the cooler months; be sure to notice any such restrictions posted on signs. Any dog off its leash must be under voice control—a rowdy pet could land you a fine. Owners must pick up after dogs and dispose of droppings.

You’ll notice that the “Ocean Tours” section is especially long. Lately, a number of tour companies have launched their own tours around Casco Bay and its islands. Portland has jurisdiction over five islands in the bay—Peaks, Great Diamond, Little Diamond, Long, and Cliff Islands. All are inhabited year-round (Peaks has the largest population), although summer vacationers are becoming more and more prevalent. Besides these five inhabited islands, Casco Bay also contains Chebeague Island to the north (which in April 2006 won its independence from the mainland town of Cumberland) and over 365 Calendar Islands, so named because there are as many (or more) islands as there are days in the year. Some of these islands are private and developed, but most are wild. Portland’s five inhabited islands, besides being gorgeous and easy to reach by the Casco Bay Lines ferry, also have a notorious independent streak. In 2006 Peaks Island joined Chebeague Island in its quest to secede from the mainland and become an independent town, mostly to avoid what some residents believe are unfairly high tax burdens. Chebeague won its historic battle, but Peaks backed off after resistance from the city and the state legislature.

Politics aside, Casco Bay—its islands, beaches, and ocean—offers enough beauty and character to justify a book limited strictly to its waters. This chapter lists some of the local favorites, each of which offers something a bit different. If you find yourself absolutely overwhelmed by the selection, just wing it and walk down Commercial Street, where most of the ocean tour offices are located. No doubt you’ll find a vessel that fits your needs.

Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation

Portland offers plenty of things to do during the daytime and at night. If you like to be active, this is the chapter for you. Listed here are some of the best choices for all kinds of recreational sports and activities, as well as information on some of the best urban and area parks in and around Portland. Many of these activities are seasonal, but most parks in the state are open year-round, for hiking during the warmer months and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when things turn white and icy. If you’re looking for information on seaside parks off the peninsula, turn to the Beaches and Ocean Activities chapter. In this chapter, we have limited the park listings to either areas on the peninsula or landlocked parks beyond the peninsula. For your safety, all parks listed here are open only during daylight hours.

Portland is known as Forest City because of its abundance of trees, even in urban areas like the Old Port and the downtown. Here, you’ll find a park that was designed by the man who created Central Park in New York City, as well as beautiful lookout points and plenty of places for the perfect picnic. The Portland area also offers a wide variety of recreational sports and activities—everything from birding to ice hockey.

Portland’s location in the Pine Tree State means that outdoor activities are a big draw for visitors and natives alike. For those of us who like to meet new people while exploring the great outdoors, there’s the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club (MOAC), an all-purpose, nature-lovers organization with more than 100 members in the Portland area. MOAC is listed in the “Hiking” section, but the group participates in a range of activities year-round, from kayaking to snowshoeing. Portland also runs a number of organized activities and intramural sports on a rotating basis each year. If you’d like more information, contact the city’s Parks and Recreation Department at (207) 874-8793. All of the parks listed here, except Bradbury Mountain State Park, are maintained by Portland Parks and Recreation, so, if you have more questions, visit their Web site (www.ci.portland.me.us/rec.htm) or call them at the above number.

In this chapter, you’ll find a network of enthusiasts and opportunities for you and your family, whatever your interest. So get excited—there’s a lot to do!