Lighthouses & abandoned places: what to do in Portland, Maine!

Blending seaside town with quintessential New England charm, you can easily spend a long weekend in downtown Portland, Maine.

Staying in the centre of Portland can be expensive depending on the time of year, so I’d recommend booking well in advance. I stayed at the Hyatt Place Portland – Old Port, which was very nice indeed, and central, too. 

Portland is well-connected by train and bus links up and down the East Coast, and also has its own airport. Of course, it’s much easier to get to and explore the local area if you have a car, but I appreciate that’s not always an option, especially if you’re travelling from overseas.

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Downtown Portland: eating and shopping!

Portland is easily walkable and feels super safe – it definitely feels like more of a small town than a city.

If you’re looking for souvenirs there are plenty of quirky art, clothing, and gift shops along the cobbled streets, and there are loads of great places to eat. As you might imagine, seafood is often on the menu given Portland’s proximity to the ocean.

You can walk along the seafront too – I walked from downtown to just past Fort Allen Park via the Eastern Promenade Trail, and found a stony pebble beach to have a paddle in. Adjacent to the seafront is an adorable little narrow gauge railway that goes up and down the coastline.

Explore Peaks Island off the coast of Portland, Maine

From the Maine State Pier you can take the Casco Bay Line Ferry to many of the islands in the area. I visited Peaks Island, which cost around $8 USD (£5.60) although this price drops in the off-season.

When I got there I must admit I was a little disappointed. Other than a few tourist shops and places to buy ice cream, there didn’t seem like much to see or do and I wondered how I was going to pass the time. So bought an ice cream, picked a direction and started walking – and I’m so glad I did.

As you start to explore, Peaks Island becomes a treasure trove of pebbled coastlines, lush ponds, and hidden places to explore. I didn’t see a soul for most of the time I was there, even as I walked past timber homes with US flags rustling gently in the breeze.

Go urbexing in Battery Steele

At the opposite end of the island you can find Battery Steele, a WW2 military fort. Urban explorers, take note – this place is very cool. Testing the acoustics out was a lot of fun, too! As you wander through the cold, dark corridors (it’s just a concrete structure so there are no windows) it is quite hard to imagine what it must have been like when it was operational. I wouldn’t say it’s eerie, but it can feel a little unnerving.

Even more interesting is the graffiti adorning the concrete walls. I’m not kidding when I say that the corridors and offshoots are pitch black, and it makes you wonder how the artists achieved amazing results with such little light available.

On the ferry back, keep an eye out for Fort Gorges, a military fort that looks as though it has erupted out of the ocean. Built in the mid-1800s, it was never actually used by the military. There are tours to visit the island; you can find out more here.

Portland Head Lighthouse

Situated a little out of Portland in Cape Elizabeth is the Portland Head Lighthouse. This place is surrounded by Fort Williams Park and is a great place to stroll, whether it’s in the park or by the sea, and there are ruins of old batteries to explore.

Of course, the main attraction is the lighthouse. Built in 1791, it’s the oldest lighthouse in the state. There’s also little shop and a museum attached. The museum is interesting enough – not for everyone, but for the $2 entry fee it’s worth a look round.

To get to and from the lighthouse you can drive or take a taxi/liftshare – there’s very little in the way of public transport.

Overall, if you’re blessed with good weather Portland is a great place to chill out and just soak up the atmosphere. There’s no need to rush, and you can comfortably explore the town, islands and the lighthouse in a long weekend.

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