Portland Highlights & Lighthouses

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive around historical Portland that focuses on the lighthouses along the rocky coastline. As an introduction to Portland, you drive past the lobster boats on the working waterfront and down cobblestone streets lined with Victorian mansions once owned by wealthy sea merchants. The city’s rich maritime heritage will be most evident at beacons such as the Portland Head Light, which George Washington commissioned in 1791. Classic Maine sweets such as Whoopie Pies and Needhams – a chocolate, coconut and potato treat – will be served there. You will also see the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, which resembles a spark plug sitting at the end of a granite breakwater, and Bug Light, a 19th-century cast-iron lighthouse. A short walk will bring you to the Liberty Ship Memorial that honors a former World War II shipyard.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the Victorian architecture throughout Portland’s historic district.
• Gain an understanding of Portland’s maritime heritage through its lighthouses.
• Stop at Maine’s oldest lighthouse and see two unusually shaped 19th-century beacons.
• Savor a blueberry drink, maple syrup and Whoopie Pies, the state’s official dessert.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.