Things to Do
Portland has a number of interesting downtown districts that draw visitors. Some people rent a bike to do their exploring. The Arts District runs mostly along Congress Street. Decades ago, it was a traditional shopping street, but it has now morphed into a collection of museums, antique shops, art studios and art galleries. It is home to an impressive art college, and the neighborhood hosts monthly art walks for visitors. It’s also a good place to grab a bite to eat. Visitors enjoy trying Maine’s traditional seafood dishes, like lobster, in all their delicious variations.
“Portland is definitely a culinary destination,” said English. “The city has had several James Beard Award-winning chefs cook here. Maine Foodie Tours will take you on tastings around the city. There are also brew tours and cocktail tours available.”
Also in the compact downtown area is the Old Port District, which features eclectic shopping, from cool clothing and shoes to gifts and souvenirs. Adventurous visitors enjoy walking tours of the neighborhood. Nearby are many choices for live music and theater to keep meeting attendees entertained. People board the Downeast Duck, which will transport guests around the area by land and sea, and some get a kayak and paddle themselves around.
Travelers to Portland often love to get out on the water. Some take a boat ride around the harbor, up or down the Fore River or out to sea. The Portland Head Light is a popular tourist attraction. It is a historic, traditional Maine lighthouse that sits on Cape Elizabeth at the entrance to the prime shipping channel into Portland Harbor. The Casco Bay Islands are sometimes called the Calendar Islands because there seem to be so many that you could visit a new one every day of the year.
“We can customize tour packages for them, or they can go out on their own,” said the CVB’s Tillotson about groups visiting the area. “We are such a compact destination, it’s nice that the spouses or significant others who come with the meeting attendee can walk out the door of a hotel and immediately have at their fingertips an amazing array of things to do.”
For a real change of pace and a chance to do a little team building, planners organize adventure tours.
“The L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery School will coordinate outdoor adventure sports for meeting groups that come to the area,” said English. “The school can take people out kayaking or for archery or to do geocaching and much more.”
Portland, Maine
Location:
Southeast coast of Maine
Access:
Portland International Jetport, Amtrak Downeaster, interstates 95 and 295
Major Meeting Spaces:
Holiday Inn by the Bay, Westin Portland Harborview, Marriott at Sable Oaks,
Doubletree by Hilton, Cross Insurance Arena
Hotel Rooms:
Portland Peninsula, 4,000; Greater Portland, 6,000
Offsite Venues:
Port District, Arts District, Portland Head Light, Portland Museum of Art
Contact Info:
Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau
207-772-4994
www.visitportland.com
