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Authentic — BY NATURE
Go 10 or 15 minutes in any direction and you'll doubt you're anywhere near Maine's largest
metro area. Set like a jewel in the crown of Casco Bay, Portland is unique in its position as a
major cultural center that equally embraces its natural environment.
Photo: Chris Lawrence
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Both surrounding and within Portland,
parks and preserves allow access to the
tranquil natural beauty that Maine is
renowned for. Seascapes abound, from
the sandy beaches of Cape Elizabeth
and Scarborough to the leafy trail vistas
of Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
in Freeport. Across the harbor from
Portland, Bug Light Park offers an
unimpeded view of the city's skyline
and the harbor's many watercraft, while
the granite breakwater at Spring Point
Ledge Lighthouse literally takes you out
onto the bay.
Altogether, seven lighthouses in Greater
Portland offer their stately profiles to
avid photographers. The region's best
known landmark, Portland Head Light,
sits majestically in Cape Elizabeth's Fort
Williams Park, where surf crashes upon
granite shores and open fields are per-
fect for flying kites. Pack a lunch for the
beach or stop by the Lobster Shack at
Two Lights where your picnic table is
close enough to the sea for the ocean to
tickle your senses. For an idyllic
afternoon, hop on the ferry and bicycle
around one of the islands, each an
intimate neighbor of Portland yet a
world away from the city's bustle.
Pristine country and forest landscapes
lie within striking distance of the city.
From the top of Bradbury Mountain in
Pownal you'll gaze over a carpet of au-
tumn-hued trees and New England
homesteads. Cross-country ski on the
groomed trails at Pineland Farms in New
Gloucester, where some of the best local
cheeses are crafted from cows that graze
happily on hundreds of acres of pastoral
grasslands. Discover native wildlife and
plants as you navigate a canoe through
the state's largest marsh in Scarborough.
Tee off at a variety of beautiful courses
open to visiting golfers, and pick apples,
pumpkins, and berries at local farms.
Wildlife watching has long been an
interest of Maine visitors. In Portland
you aren't likely to catch a glimpse of
North America's tallest land mammal,
the moose, but you can get a close up
look at bears, mountain lions, lynx,
moose, and other species at Maine
Wildlife Park in Gray. The park also
has trails where you may encounter
free-roaming wildlife. Bird watchers can
grab binoculars and head for sanctuaries
in Falmouth and Freeport or Baxter
Woods right in Portland. Join Odyssey
Whale Watch on an expedition to see
the awe-inspiring denizens of the sea or
charter your own onboard adventure
with Casco Bay Custom Charters.
With the ocean in its front yard and
lakes, rivers, and mountains within easy
reach, Portland is a city with an urban
spirit complemented by a natural soul.
Whether you're out for a day of shop-
ping, visiting museums and galleries,
or touring historic sites, you're never far
from places of pure, scenic beauty; it's
one of the reasons we call Portland
"Authentic - By Nature."
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