In search of a retreat that renews both body and soul, a place suffused with history? Head Up East to Portland, Maine.
Locals love it. Forbes, Bon Appétit, and Outside magazines label this New England city one of the best places to live in America. It’s not hard to see why.
Though you can spend a bundle, you don’t have to. Portland abounds with great things to see and do that are either free or comparatively inexpensive. You might:
Follow your nose to the Farmers’ Market: If you can grow it Up East, you’ll probably find it here. This is the quintessential in-season outdoor food emporium. Zucchini, artichokes and such abound. Fresh eggs, meats, cheese, and flowers are also here for the buying. The Farmers’ Market sets up shop at Deering Oaks Park Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon, and on Monument Square Wednesdays 7 a.m to 2 p.m.
Follow up with a beer: Shipyard Brewing Company shows you how it craft brews its beers. Maine’s largest brewery offers 17 varieties of award-winning English-style and seasonal ales, as well as seven flavors of Capt’n Eli’s Soda. Ask for a pint of Old Thumper, a non-traditional English bitter. The Shipyard Brewing Company conducts tours from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m., every hour on the hour. You’ll find it at 86 Newbury Street.
Take in history at Tate House: Maine was once famous for masts, from which the sails of many a ship hung. Overlooking the 18th Century mast yard on the banks for the Fore River is Tate House Museum. The museum that was once the home of a senior mast agent to the British Navy now interprets this pivotal point in time. The site, which has an $8 entry fee for adults, is a National Historic Landmark.
Shed the centuries at Victoria Mansion: Fascinated by the Victorian Era – the art, the elegance, the myth of this bygone era? You’ll be hard put to find a more engaging place to lose yourself than the Victoria Mansion. There’s a gift shop just adjacent to the mansion. It’s stocked with books, Victorian toys, cards, and decorations. Located at 109 Danforth Street, Victoria Mansion is also a National Historic Landmark, costing adults just $15 to get in.
Wander a historical gem: Within the walls of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, three generations of a remarkable American family dwelled, influencing the political, literary and cultural life of a region – and a newborn nation. No copycat makeover here. Virtually all of the household artifacts are original to the Wadsworth and Longfellow families. Take time to explore the gardens behind the house. They’re especially nice this time of year, an oasis of quiet greenery in the heart of downtown Portland. Adult admission is $12.
Walk to freedom: Don a pair of comfortable shoes, pack some water and trek the Portland Freedom Trail, a series of 16 marked sites chronicling Maine’s anti-slavery movement, an era when the Underground Railroad transported thousands to freedom. One of the railway’s stationmasters was Rev. Amos Noe Freeman. His house is on the corner of Hancock and Federal Streets.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: AZAdam)
