OVERVIEW

Cruise to Peaks Island for a traditional Maine lobster bake with all sorts of delectable side dishes. A ferry will take you across Casco Bay to the island, which lies just three miles offshore. On the way over, you will pass the 19th-century Bug Light Lighthouse, an elegant cast-iron beacon with Corinthian columns. First settled by the Abnaki Indians, Peaks Island didn’t start to flourish until the late 1890s, when Portland’s population grew, and an amusement park went up. It is hard to imagine, but Peaks Island was once called the “Coney Island of Maine.” Today, the population is about 1,000, and the lifestyle is low-key and quintessentially New England. Upon arriving, you will walk to the nearby Inn on Peaks Island, a seasonal lodging that features outstanding views of the sea and classic Maine cuisine. There, you will enjoy a traditional lobster bake with New England clam chowder, steamed mussels and sides such as corn on the cob.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take the ferry across Casco Bay to Peaks Island and enjoy the scenery on the way over.
• See a 19th-century cast-iron lighthouse modeled after a monument in Athens, Greece.
• Enjoy a classic Maine lobster bake with clam chowder and steamed mussels, as well.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Get a wonderful overview of Portland during a panoramic driving tour, and then enjoy free time shopping in Kennebunkport, an equally picturesque coastal village. Your tour commences with a scenic drive through the Old Port, a former warehouse district that is now home to quaint restaurants, unique stores, and art galleries. Continuing, you will pass through the New Arts District, the heart of Portland’s cultural resurgence, and pause for photos at Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. You will make another photo stop at the extraordinary Wedding Cake House in Kennebunkport. With its carved buttresses, spires, and lacy spandrels, this 1826 home is one of the most photographed buildings in the state. Just as famous is the George H.W. Bush family summer estate, which you will pass on the way to Dock Square, where you will enjoy free time to shop and dine on your own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Portland’s best, most characteristic architecture.
• Pause for photos at Maine’s oldest lighthouse.
• Spend about 1½ hours of free time exploring Kennebunkport.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Enjoy beautiful views of Maine's famous rocky coastline as well as a visit to the charming coastal village of Kennebunkport, which gained worldwide exposure as the summer home of the Bush family. Located just 45 minutes from Portland, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive through Kennebunkport passing the stunning mansions that were built by wealthy sea captains and merchants in the 1700’s and 1800’s. A stop will be made in the center of town at Dock Square to enjoy some free time to stroll the picturesque streets lined with shops, galleries, unique boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, and pubs. Your return route will take you past Walker's Point, and the Bush estate where world leaders often gathered when George H. Bush was president.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore famous rocky coastline of Maine.
• Enjoy scenic 45minutes ride to charming costal village of Kennebunkport.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Travel through the scenic White Mountains in a meticulously restored 1950s-era railway car that evokes a period when life was more leisurely. You will get a hint of the natural beauty that lies ahead on the 1.5-hour scenic bus drive to North Conway, a delightful town in New Hampshire near the White Mountain National Park. After a bit of free time to explore, you will board the Conway Scenic Railroad in the 19th-century train station and settle in for a breathtaking ride through the majestic White Mountains, which cover nearly a quarter of the state. Along the way, you will pass over towering trestles, through Mount Washington Valley and up into an alpine setting that is spectacularly photogenic. Enlightening commentary will enhance the experience by describing the points of interest in fascinating detail. You will eventually disembark at the late 19th-century Crawford Notch train station for the two-hour return drive to Portland.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the vintage Conway Scenic Railroad into the majestic White Mountains.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the White Mountains and its namesake national park.
• Pass over train trestles, through Mount Washington Valley and into an alpine setting.
• Enjoy the train’s historical ambiance and a boxed lunch along the way.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Nestled in the old port district of Portland is the bustling working waterfront where lobstermen off-load their catch from Casco Bay and seafood shops offer the freshest delicacies from the sea. Discover the inner workings of the area with a voyage on a lobster boat followed by walking tour through the cobbled streets of the area exploring the numerous marine related businesses. From the pier a short walk brings you to the waterfront departure point of your lobster boat. Following a short safety briefing depart to Casco Bay to pull live traps. During the voyage discover how lobsters get from the bottom of the ocean to your dinner plate and learn about their habits, conservation efforts and the difference between hard shells, shedders, shorts, culls, and keepers. A see through live tank allows you to watch the catch until the end of the day, when they’re released back into the sea. Upon return to the pier, join your guide for a walking tour of the old port area. Your guide will carve a path through the streets of this charming area, which a hundred years ago was home to fish houses, canneries, industrial factories and textile mills. Today the brick warehouses hold numerous fresh seafood shops, coffee houses, bakeries and award-winning restaurants. Learn about the history of this area, as your guide offers insight into the history of the old waterfront.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the inner workings of the area with a voyage on a lobster boat.
• Explore cobblestone streets of charming town.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Bicycle along a popular coastal promenade to the state park on forested Mackworth Island, where you will hike along a picturesque loop trail before bicycling back to Portland. Meeting at the pier, you’ll receive a safety briefing and helmet and then begin your biking adventure. Riding a bicycle allows you a wonderful up-close view of the area. As you pedal along the tree-lined Eastern Promenade, you can expect to see other bikers, joggers and walkers enjoying this waterfront trail. The promenade was built along a former rail corridor and offers spectacular views of Casco Bay. Every so often, you will pause for the guide to elaborate on the significance of landmarks like Fort Gorges, which perches on uninhabited Hog Island. The fort wasn’t finished until the end of the Civil War, by which time weaponry had changed making it obsolete. Later, you will learn fascinating facts about Bug Lighthouse, which was once just a wooden tower, and the Casco Bay Islands, also known as the Calendar Islands, because there are supposedly 365 of them. Upon reaching Mackworth Island, you will hop off your bike for a one-mile hike along a trail that encircles the island. In 1946 Maine’s governor set aside the island “as a sanctuary for wild beasts and birds,” and in fact, buried his own dogs here. During your hike you may also spot seagulls and ospreys. After leaving Mackworth Island, you will pedal back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bicycle along a popular coastal promenade to the state park on forested Mackworth Island
• Visit many landmarks as you pedal along the tree-lined Eastern Promenade.

HELPFUL HINTS

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