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Things to do without leaving the backshore Things to do around the island Things to do in Portland and vicinity
THINGS TO DO WITHOUT LEAVING THE BACKSHORE: First, relax. Take your morning a cup of coffee, cross the road, sit on the rocks and just breathe in the salt air. (I go in my pajamas sometimes). You will find yourself surrounded by intricately balanced rock sculptures that summer visitors spend endless hours building. Later, you can watch the building process from the porch or try your own. It is harder than it looks. The enclosed porch is never without a breeze so it is the perfect place for an afternoon of reading or napping. Through the back door, you can watch the birds feed in the underbrush. Take an outdoor shower and air dry in the sun or wait until evening and shower under the stars. Showering in a light rain is a pleasant experience. Every night, you will see rows of white lights floating along the horizon. That is the Scotia Prince cruise ship coming into port and leaving again about an hour later, back to Nova Scotia once again. Awaken to lobstermen pulling their traps and drift off to sleep with a sea breeze on your face and bell buoys gently clanging. Have a cookout or picnic across the road with four lighthouses as a backdrop. Open campfires on the rocks require a permit. Just hunt down the island police and get their ok. At least once, catch a sunrise over the water; the colors are indescribable…and above all, relax. top		photo by Maryjane Burnette photo by Frank Toia
THINGS TO DO AROUND THE ISLAND: You don't have to be anywhere in a hurry, so you can easily park your car for the week and walk or bike. Recapture memories from a carefree childhood: rent a bike locally from Brad's Bike Shop and ride around the island every day (four easy miles). Go to the Beach. Hike the Indian trail. Rent a kayak by the hour or take a guided tour. Play tennis at the TEIA Tennis club. One evening, take a bike ride "down front" to buy an ice cream cone and watch the dramatic sunset over Portland. Eat dinner at one of our excellent restaurants. Visit the Fifth Maine Regiment Building Civil War Museum (also attend music programs, pancake breakfasts, craft shows here). Sail into the sunset aboard the 72-foot Schooner Bagheera, buy lobster at the Lobster Shack down by the boat. Explore every inch of the island's the rocky coast. Discover the crumbled ruins of WWI and WWII era towers, batteries, and bunkers that can be found throughout the overgrown woods. Check out the old graveyard with stones dating back to the 1700's. When you have exhausted the island's offerings, hop the boat to Portland. top		photo by Art Astarita
THINGS TO DO IN PORTLAND AND VICINITY: You can walk to many interesting sites and activities in Portland, including the Portland Museum of Art (free Friday nights), The L.L. Bean Factory Store on Congress Street, The Old Port for shopping, sightseeing tours and whale watching expeditions, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, The Duck Boat, two movie theaters, the main branch of the Public Library, Farmers' Market, The Portland Public Market, restaurants, and The Children's Museum. You will have to drive to golf, L.L. Bean and outlet shopping in Freeport (12 miles), supermarkets, The Maine Mall, antique stores, bus and train stations. You must see the huge, rotating globe at the headquarters of the DeLorme Map Company if you go to Freeport. You can go island hopping on Casco Bay Lines, which is America's oldest ferry service. top		Exchange Street, Portland
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updated 14 August 2007