Portland, Maine: A Destination for All

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Advisor - Ashlee Ruiz
Curated By

Ashlee Ruiz

  • Portland, Maine

  • Food & Wine

  • Arts & Culture

  • City Travel

  • Foodie

  • Local Food

  • Romantic

A beautiful wooden bridge with white railings leading to a lighthouse looking over the blue water and light orange sunset.
Curator’s statement

Portland holds a special place in my heart! The food scene is off the charts – I can't get enough of it. And don't even get me started on the craft beer; it's like a playground for beer lovers. My husband and I got married there, and let me tell you, it was the coolest place to tie the knot! Since then, our friends have also fallen in love with this small "city" and now we make it an annual trip. It's always a blast!

The Fora Difference

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Killer perks

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Insider knowledge

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Where to stay in Portland

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Things to do in Portland

Immersive tasting and tour experience at Allagash Brewing Company.

Bayside Bowling: A perfect hangout for the group (kid-friendly) with yummy bites and a fun time!

Arcadia: An arcade bar with good drinks & good tunes.

Shopping in Old Port

Seabags Store: Totes made of old sails, so cool!

Maine Souvenir Shop: Locally made items that are perfect for gifting or for yourself.

Portland Museum of Art: Free admission on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm.

Portland Head Lighthouse: A great photo op and one of the best Lobster Roll food trucks parked nearby called Bite into Maine!

Portland Children’s Museum: Perfect place to take the little ones!

Freeport: Shops, food and beer in this nearby town. If you’re an outlet shopper, this is for you!

LL Bean Store: Flagship store located in Freeport. Take a photo by the giant boot. The store is open 24/7.

Places to eat & drink in Portland

A shiny bun and lobster roll in a red basket with dipping sauces next to it.

Highroller Lobster: Lobster served so many ways, in a grilled cheese, lobster bisque, atop a burger and so much more.

Becky’s Diner: Their Maine blueberry pancakes are a must! This place is quite popular and doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to do some waiting during the weekend morning rush.

Fore Street: Specially curated daily menu with fresh, local ingredients made in a wood-fired oven or grill. The open kitchen is smack dab in the middle of the restaurant!

Crispy Gai: A cozy restaurant serving up Southeast Asian dishes including crispy wings & crab fried rice you’ll dream about.

Blyth & Burrows: A fun cocktail bar serving up their own bottled cocktails.

Papi: Puerto Rican bar and restaurant serving up excellent cocktails & even better service!

Allagash: I’m sure you’ve seen this Belgian-inspired beer on tap at a bar or 2. Definitely worth checking out their brewery when in the area; Bite Into Maine lobster rolls are also served here - YUM!

Austin Street: Local brewery serving up great beers. The neighborhood is home to some other local breweries. Make it a beer crawl.

Speckled Ax: A great local coffee shop with a few locations in Portland.

Hi-Fi Donuts: Whether you simply want a delicious donut or want to spice things up and get your BEC on a donut, you can’t go wrong at Hi-Fi!

Need to know

Portland is a wonderful destination that can accommodate groups of all sizes. Don't limit yourself to only traveling here during the warmer months. Most of our trips have taken place in early November, and they've been absolutely amazing! The foliage on the drive up from New York City is breathtaking, and there's so much to see, eat and drink once you arrive.

Advisor - Ashlee Ruiz

Travel Advisor

Ashlee Ruiz

Get in touch with Ashlee

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For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Alanna Zappariello’s guide, 4 Day Trip to Portland, ME.

This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Portland.