Portland, ME Area Guide

Exchange and Congress Streets form the cultural heart of Portland’s Arts District. Located at the top of Exchange St., you’ll find the Portland Museum of Art. Founded in 1882, it’s the largest art museum in Maine and has over 17,000 objects in its collection. The Portland Art Museum has a spectacular European collection including works by Monet, Degas, Picasso, and Rodin. There are also paintings by popular American artists Winslow Homer, Marsden Hartley and Maine native son, Andrew Wyeth. The Portland Museum of Art was deigned by noted architect I.M. Pei.

Are you in the mood for a night of Mozart? Beethoven? At the end of Congress St, you’ll find the Merrill Auditorium, which is home to the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Other highlights and cultural attractions in Portland include The Children’s Museum, The Portland Harbor Museum, the Longfellow House, and the Victorian Mansion.

Maine is well known for its succulent lobster, thick and hearty clam chowder, and wild blueberries. However, cutting edge chefs are putting new twists on New England classics, and over the past few years Portland has become one of the country's hotspot foodie destinations. When it comes to food, Portland restaurants embrace a farm-to-table philosophy. The locovore movement is a popular trend in Portland, as chefs are placing an emphasis on fresh and locally sourced products and ingredients. The James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast has been given to a number of chefs in southern Maine. Small batch craft breweries are popular in Portland as well, so when you order the venison, trout or quail breast, be sure to pair it will a local IPA.

From gift stores selling local Maine-made products to traditional outlet centers, Portland offers diverse places to shop. The Old Port is lined with galleries, antique stores, and specialty shops featuring Maine-made products and imported goods. From tourmaline jewelry and designer cookware to textiles and baskets, the stores tucked into the port’s old wooden buildings and warehouses are one-of a-kind. The Maine Mall is located in South Portland, and with over 140 stores and restaurants it’s the state’s largest mall. L.L. Bean is one of the most respected outdoor outfitters in the world, and the 24-hour store (which is part of a larger outlet shopping center) can be found just a short drive from Portland in the town of Freeport. The Kittery outlet, located on the border of Maine and New Hampshire, is another popular place for discount shopping.