Portland's Food Scene
First things first, Portland is a foodie’s paradise! Visitors to Portland will enjoy incredible seafood, artisanal coffee and locally-brewed beer all-year-round. And, honestly, I can’t think of a better time to enjoy a steaming bowl of seafood chowder or warm latte to heat you up than after a chilly walk strolling through Portland’s Old Pier shopping district.
Museums & Cultural Sites
Even though you could spend your whole long weekend in Portland just eating, there’s plenty more to see and do, even if it is freezing outside. If you’re like me, no trip is complete without visiting at least a few museums and cultural sites.
The Portland Museum of Art (PMA) is located right in the city center, and is open Wednesday – Sunday. (December has extended hours.) For travelers on a budget, as of December, 2019, every Friday evening PMA is open for free from 4 – 8. There is a free audio guide mobile app you can download to learn more while you explore their rotating exhibitions and permanent collection.
There are free lockers and an area to hang coats, which is great for winter visitors so you don’t have to carry around a bulky coat. There is also a cafe on the basement level to warm up with a coffee or snack before exploring the museum.
Family Tip: If you’re visiting with children, borrow a free activity guide to make the experience more interactive! They are hanging just inside the coat/locker area or ask a museum staff member.
Even if it’s chilly out, driving to see the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse can be a fun activity if you’re visiting Portland, Maine in winter! But, be careful! The rocks can be very slippery if it raining, snowing or icy!
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Want more places to explore New England’s gorgeous coastline and historic lighthouses? Check out my post on best places for nature photography in and around Rhode Island!
Maine Jewish Museum
History buffs & architecture aficionados – add the next two sites to your Portland must-visit list right now! Portland is home to the Maine Jewish Museum, a cultural and art space welcoming to visitors of all faiths and backgrounds.
Located in the historic Etz Chaim synagogue space, the Maine Jewish Museum shares the history of the Jewish community’s early roots in Bangor up through current day Jewish life in Portland. The museum also includes rotating exhibits by local artists. Etz Chaim translates to ‘tree of life’, and this museum truly shows both Portland’s roots and the continued creativity and growth of Portland’s cultural and art scene.
There is no official admission cost to the museum, but there is a donation box on the ground level. Also, note that the museum is closed on Saturdays and certain Jewish holidays. Check the website or give the museum a call to make sure it will be open before you visit.
Greeted with a warm welcome, museum staff not only walked us through the history and context of the space, they even shared how their own families’ stories were woven into the narrative of Maine’s evolving Jewish community. After almost 100 years of continuous use, the synagogue and museum are still vibrant members of Portland’s community.
If you’ve never been inside a synagogue before, visiting the Maine Jewish Museum is the perfect opportunity for a new experience. The staff and exhibits are happy to help explain aspects of the architecture, rituals and space. I highly recommend visiting the Maine Jewish Museum whether you’re visiting Portland, Maine in winter or summer!
Built in 1921, the historic Etz Chaim synagogue fell into disrepair in the mid-1900’s. It has been beautifully restored to its early state, with much of the original stained glass and chandeliers. For my history-loving readers, here is a more detailed history of the community and space: http://etzchaim-portland.org/etz/history/
The Maine Jewish Museum is home to over 10 rotating exhibits a year featuring artists with a local connection to the space. During my visit in December The Shape of Sensation – Selected Works by Rich Entel was on display, mixed media pieces bringing together wood, monotypes, drawings and cardboards sculptures.
Featured here are two works from Entel’s Cardboard Menagerie.
The bust of a camel and lion at first glance, are sculptures crafted from the joining of cardboard, text block prints and broken pieces of musical instruments. Take an even closer look, and you will see Hebrew characters visible on the camel’s upper nose. Learn more about Entel’s Cardboard Menagerie here.
Victoria Mansion
Wow! Built between 1858 and 1860, Victoria Mansion is of America’s most important historic houses. Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of the craftsmanship housed here in Victoria Mansion. Victoria Mansion should be a must-visit on everyone’s agenda when visiting Portland, Maine in winter!
If you’re visiting Portland in December, each year the mansion is decorated for the Christmas season. Local businesses contributing to the decor and aesthetic of each room, the process is so elaborate it takes almost a month to complete the installation. I visited just before Christmas and had the opportunity to learn the history of the space from the docents, whose dedication to and deep knowledge of even Victoria Mansion’s smallest nooks and crannies seemed infinite.
Designed as summer refuge by New Orleans hotelier Ruggles Sylverster Morse, the mansion boasts a meticulously restored interior. You will be transported back to what it truly would have felt like to be an honored guest of the Ruggles over 100 years ago.
Like Etz Chaim synagogue, Victoria Mansion also began to go into structural decline in the mid 1900’s, and the process of restoration began in the 1970s and continues until today.
Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, in when visiting Victoria Mansion you will see elaborate woodworking by the premier artisans and furniture of the time, the Herter Brothers. About 90% of the furnishings and stained glass are original to the space, creating a real-life time capsule.
Note: AAA Members receive a $2 discount off adult admission. Also, Victoria Mansion is closed from November 1 through Thanksgiving in preparation for the Christmas decor. During your visit, you will visit the first two floors of the mansion. Unfortunately, the second floor is not elevator accessible.
Portland’s locally-crafted drink scene is not to be missed, especially during a winter visit to Maine.
A great way to escape the cold while still experiencing local Portland culture is to hunker down with a friend (or a great break book) and your favorite afternoon drink. High-quality, locally produced coffee, kombucha & beer are some of the best of what Portland has to offer!
Coffee by Design (CBD for short, but not associated with cannabidiol) is the OG Portland coffee roaster! Established in ‘94, CBD has scaled to 3 cafes and a roastery in Portland and a location in the lower lever of the LL Bean store in Freeport. CBD locations are unpretentious with room to sit and enjoy your coffee or get some work done. Even the cafe in LL Bean has a chill vibe to escape retail mania. CBD’s cappuccino came out on top as the best coffee I had in Portland.
Or, Located right near the Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Historical Society in Downtown, you’ll be sure to be walking by Speckled Ax during your visit. Speckled Ax is all about the details, from the curation of their single origin coffee options to woodfire roasted coffee beans, this cafe will impress even the most serious coffee aficionados. Note that there is limited seating, so it is a great option for picking up a drink to go and continuing your exploration of the city if it isn’t too cold.
I have only scratched the surface of Portland’s coffee scene. For a more detailed write-up visit In It 4 the Long Run’s Portland Maine Coffee Shop Guide.
Sure, we’ve all heard of (and probably tried) kombucha. I’ve even made it before! But, a trip to Portland was the first time I had the experience of hanging out in not one, but two kombucharies!
If you’re looking for a place to take an afternoon break from exploring the city or a low-key hangout spot, add Root Wild Kombucha to your agenda. Root Wild’s kombuchas are fermented on site, and I recommend sharing a flight or two to try different flavors. My two favorites were the Blueberry with lemon, thyme & echinacea and Grapefruit with mosaic hops & hibiscus. The Grapefruit is especially light and refreshing. Available options change based on production, so my recommendations are just to share some examples from earlier this month.
The vibe in Root Wild was welcoming, open and relaxing, with both couches and tables or seating at the bar. Note that Root Wild Kombucha closes by 8 pm, so it’s not a late night hangout.
Want even more options fermented options? Visit Urban Farm Fermentory to enjoy kombucha, cider, beer, mead and jun! All of Urban Farm Fermentory’s ingredients are locally produced or foraged whenever possible. You can mix and match between drink flavors, which come 5 to a flight.
I consider myself decently versed in fermented drinks, but jun and seawood kombucha were new to me! Jun is a fermented beverage similar to kombucha, but made from a green tea and honey base. No matter how much experience you have with fermented drinks, check out Urban Farm Fermentory’s tasting room to learn even more!
With couches, tables and a bar, Urban Farm Fermentory has plenty of seating, and even board games!
Visit L.L. Bean's Flagship Store!
Did you know that the GIANT boot outside our Freeport store is a size 410? That's a big boot! See what other fun numbers we've been keeping track of during our 100th year: http://bit.ly/LLBean_FunFacts
Posted by L.L.Bean on Friday, May 11, 2012
Last, but not least, if you’re too cold to be outside you can always go shopping at L.L. Bean in Freeport. About a 20 minute drive north of Portland, the flagship L.L. Bean store is actually more like a shopping campus with a higher ratio of flannel to square foot than you’ve ever experienced before! I’m not much of a shopper myself, but it was a great opportunity for some bargain shopping in the clearance department. Also, the store is open 24 hours!
Still not sure if you want to visit Portland, Maine during the winter? Here are is recap of pros and cons to consider before booking your travel:
Pros:
- Avoid long waits at the hippest restaurants and cafes
- Lower hotel / accommodation prices
- Less overall congestion than Portland in the summer months
- Easier to find parking in the city center
- Still plenty to do and see in Portland in winter
- Portland is absolutely charming before Christmas and a great place to find holiday gifts for your loved ones.
Cons:
- It could be cold, very cold. And if the weather is not cooperative you could end up having to navigate snow and sleet.
- Some attractions are closed (or have limited hours), including the Portland Head Light Museum and the Portland Observatory.
- Less access to outdoor activities in Portland. Kayaking in Casco Bay, taking a walking tour of the city or biking around Eastern Promenade sound much more pleasant in the warmer months!
Do you have other recommendations for visiting Portland, Maine in winter? Or reasons it is better to wait for the spring? Please make this post even better by letting us know in the comments!
