Local Activities
What do you do for fun? Local events, local music halls, outdoor activities, etc.
Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park- about 2.5-3.5 hrs drive up coast, depending on traffic
Bath – fun shops, good food and coffee. Best time to visit – July 4th weekend for the Chili & Chowder Fest!
Bradbury Mountain State park- short distance from Portland, few miles of trails- biking and snowshoeing
Bug light (or Bud light as called by local high school kids) – great place to fly a kite
Cape Neddick (Nubble) light house in York
Cundy Harbor - about 45min from Portland - exit I295 just after Bath, mapquest it... great little lobster shack on the Harbor, BYOB, eat outside on the deck over the water; great on a warm summer night
Ferries- many different routes, can make day trips or overnights, the Mail boat is nice
Fort Williams Park- with the most photographed light house- Portland head light
Hinkley Park - good trail, pond, dogs can be off leash
Indian Point (between Rockland and Portland)
Land’s End (Bailey Island) - with oldest cribstone bridge, currently under construction
Mackworth - as above but you need to have local plates or it'll be hard to get in - I think it also helps to have kids
Peak’s Island – 20 min ferry ride, rent bikes for $5 and ride around, feels removed but so close
Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg (near Bath)
Portland Rock Gym (between Forest and Franklin Arterial)- good sized indoor climbing
Portland Trails - Presumpscot Trail, feels far from Portland but right in the middle of it
Portsmouth New Hampshire- small downtown with nice shops
Sebago Lake- the “Lakes Region”
Spring Point Ledge- smaller light house with breakwater – great for fishing, reading and picnicking
Willard Beach - best for dogs
Wolfe's neck is a great place for a quick walk at any time of year - I've done it in all weather, all seasons
Hiking on the Mountain Division Trail or at Pineland Farms
Kayaking- a great deal of ocean or lake kayaking to be had
Mountain biking- local places that are hard to find (Bradbury state park- In park for mild to moderate, across the street for single track), any of the ski mountains in the summer, the white mountains
Indoor climbing- Maine rock gym- by Trader Joe’s on Marginal Way
Outdoor climbing- go to Cathedral Ledge just outside North Conway, NH in the White Mountains, other places in middle of Maine, but harder to find
Road biking- head south towards cape Elizabeth, east on 26, north on roads that parallel 302
Running – Back Cove (3.5 mi), Eastern Promenade, South Portland Greenbelt
X-Country skiing and snowshoeing- Harris Farm (can rent equipment), other places cheaper/free if you have your own equipment- Smiling Hill, Pineland, golf courses
Yoga – You can throw a rock in any direction and hit 2 studios, check out happyyogi.com for a list
Gyms/Fitness Centers – world Gym and Planet Fitness are free to MMC employees
YMCA, Reiche school, and Riverton Elemetary have pools, but you have to pay
Art Walk – First Friday of month, galleries free and open with snacks and booze, what else do you need?
Drive-In movie theatres! One just north in Windham, one further in Bridgeton, and one just south in Saco.
Freeport Community Players- Freeport Theater
Nickelodeon Theater – Only movie theater in Portland, but fortunately it is small, funky and independent
One Longfellow Square- wonderful small venue for “semi-well known” music groups
Port City Music Hall – small/medium music venue with good acts, open space
Portland Art museum
Maine Mariners Hockey- cheap, fun winter activity
Portland Sea Dogs- Park is right by the hospital (park in the MMC garage)
Maine Celtics- Celtics "farm" league
Portland Stage Company
Roller Derby - Portland Expo, everyone should go once
Space Gallery – Experimental music, art, and film
State Theater – Bigger names come through this historic music venue (Low Anthem, Iron + Wine)
Wadsworth-Longfellow House- worth going to once to hear of the local history