What Not To Miss_One Day Only

I will be traveling via cruise to Portland and Bar Harbour and will have about a day in each location. I%26#39;m trying to start researching what we want to do and was wondering what you would suggest we NOT miss while there. We will be traveling in mid-October. One thing for certain, we want to visit the LL Bean store, how far away is the store from where we will be porting and is it easy to find transportation to and from. We will need some other ideas, maybe a walk on the beach, again, which area would be the best for a stroll and any other areas or sites, even shopping stores that might be appealing or a great place to grab some lunch/dinner, something unique that would be a good Maine experience. Any suggestions on how to build out our itinerary would be most appreciated.

Thanks..

What Not To Miss_One Day Only

This is a great site to explore the possibilities in Portland. There are usually greeters awaiting the cruise ships and they will also have ideas, coupons, etc.

I imagine that your ship will offer transportation to LL Bean. I have seen excursions leaving for different locations.

If you stay in Portland, strolling through the Old Port (right near where you%26#39;ll come ashore) will offer many opportunities for shopping and eating. Continue up to Congress Street for more shops, etc., including an LL Bean outlet, as well as the Portland Museum of Art.

If it%26#39;s nice out, sit outside at J%26#39;s Oyster and have some seafood or a beverage or two.

What Not To Miss_One Day Only

Oops - here%26#39;s the site I mentioned:

http://www.portlandmaine.com/

Would agree with CB that most of the cruise ships making port calls in Portland include land transportation to Freeport as an optional shoreside excursion. If you can do that, don%26#39;t miss the L L Bean Discount/Outlet store -- it%26#39;s in a separate building in the middle of their multi-store campus in Freeport. If you can%26#39;t get to Freeport for some reason, the L L Bean Outlet Store in Portland would be better than nothing -- but it%26#39;s not a substitute for the real thing if you can get to Freeport.

CB hit most of the Portland high spots otherwise...

For Bar Harbor, am sure they too will have shoreside excursions available. Would strongly recommend Ocean Drive or Cadillac Mountain (both in Acadia National Park) as must-see%26#39;s....if you%26#39;re really lucky, maybe you can find an excursion that includes both. For more leisurely touring than downtown Bar Harbor will offer, if you get a chance to get to Northeast or Southwest Harbor, both are quieter, more relaxing villages....

Plenty to do in both Portland and Bar Harbor...should make great port calls for you.

I would visit the fish market, the Two Fat Cats bakery for a whoopie pie (most important). From town, catch the commuter boat (about 20 mins) to Peaks Island for an unforgetable experience, they run every hour and head back to LLBean - they are open 24 hours. Lovely city, don%26#39;t miss it.

Thanks for coming to Portland! Summer is a wonderful time to experience this city, and there%26#39;s so much to do just steps from your cruise ship terminal!

LLBean is in Freeport, which is a good half hour up 295. While I think LLBean is a great store and fun to go to, I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s worth your whole day. It%26#39;s really a novelty to go, but you%26#39;ve only got 24 hours? Spend it in Portland. There is an LLBean outlet store within walking distance of the ferry terminal and you%26#39;ll get to experience Portland more. I recommend walking around the East End, checking out the Portland Observatory, and enjoying the shops of the Old Port.

There are some GREAT restaurants (nationally recognized!) with delicious food! You can get an open air bus tour of Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and out to Portland Head Light (one of the oldest lighthouses in the US-- commissioned by George Washington!)

Enjoy :) Thanks for coming up and we hope you love Maine as much as we do!

I%26#39;m a Portland native but have lived ';away'; for past 35 years. I get back frequently enough to maintain a knowledge of the city; I endorse what prior posters have said about this great little city. I was in Portland last week and have a bar/restaurant recommendation right on the waterfront. I had never (appalling) visited J%26#39;s Oyster Bar, open since 1977, and serving, last week at least, the best steamed mussels I have ever had. Great vibe in the bar, too:nothing but blues music on the sound system and a nice mix of locals and visitors.

The Ship when it leaves...

Re: reymax%26#39;s suggestion of taking a ferry to Peaks island: traveling around the harbor by boat is one of my favorite things to do in the summer, but beware, in October it will be collllllddddd on the water.

Tourists do like to visit the LLBean Flagship store in Freeport (along with all the other outlet stores that have sprung up surrounding it). While Freeport is a great place to do some shopping, it is a half hour drive from Portland (as people have mentioned) and will eat up at least half of your day. If you are looking for genuine Maine, stay in Portland. The history is here... an old, working waterfront, local businesses, the smell of the sea, a cool arts scene...

Oh, a tip for you! While you%26#39;re in the Old Port, don%26#39;t forget to look up at the upper stories of the buildings! I%26#39;ve lived in Portland all my life and often neglect to see the interesting archetecture downtown. It%26#39;s not to be missed!

Even Mainers can disagree. If you want to go to LL Bean, go to Freeport. Your cruise will offer bus transportation, the outlet in Portland is quite different than the store and if you don%26#39;t go you%26#39;ll be mad at yourself later if you started out saying ';One thing for certain, we want to visit the LL Bean store ...'; and you let people on a talkboard talk you out of it.

There is plenty of good food and shopping in Portland too. You can arrange to do both.