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