12 Magical Things to Do in Portland Maine in Winter
Portland is a beautiful city on the coast of Maine and the perfect place for a getaway year-round. Although many people visit in the summer and fall, winter is one of the best seasons to visit!
Winter is one of the least crowded seasons, even though there are many things to do in Portland, Maine, in the winter. Winter is one of my favorite times to visit Portland!
Whether you want to stroll down the downtown, cross-country ski, go on a sleigh ride, or explore snow-covered lighthouses, there is something to do for everyone in Portland in winter! This guide has everything you need to know about the best things to do in Portland, Maine, in the winter.
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Best Winter Activities in Portland Maine
Portland Maine Winter Festival
Every winter, Portland hosts a fun winter festival for the entire family to enjoy! The Portland Maine Winter Festival offers live music, ice sculpture demonstrations, delicious food and drinks from local restaurants and breweries, and fun kids activities for a week in February. Whether you want to enjoy a beer in an Igloo or explore beautiful ice sculptures, the Portland Maine Winter Festival has something for everyone!
Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is the most iconic lighthouse in Portland for good reasons! The stunning lighthouse sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean in the 90-acre Fort Williams Park and is so picturesque that it is among the most photographed lighthouses in the US!
Winter is one of the best times to visit Portland Head Light because there are fewer crowds. Although you cannot explore inside the lighthouse, you can enjoy the beautiful views of it around Fort Williams Park in the winter.
You can also visit the museum in the keepers’ house to learn more about the fascinating history of Portland Head Light and browse the gift shop. You will quickly see why visiting Portland Head Light is one of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, in the winter!
Portland Harbor Hotel Ice Bar
One of the most unique things to do in Portland, Maine, in the winter is to visit the Ice Bar at Portland Harbor Hotel. It is one of my favorite things to do when we visit in the winter! Portland Harbor Hotel is a beautiful hotel in downtown Portland, offering cozy rooms year-round.
For the past several years, the hotel has been hosting a weekend with its iconic Ice Bar where visitors can enjoy a fun night out! I recommend wearing warm clothes when you visit! The Ice Bar is easily one of the best things to do in Portland in winter!
Bug Light
Bug Light is a small but beautiful lighthouse in the 9-acre Bug Light Park, and it is considered one of the most elegant lighthouses in Maine because of its architecture. It is one of my favorite lighthouses in the city, especially in the winter.
Bug Light was built in the 1800s to serve as a marker of the breakwater it sits on. It got the name Bug Light because of its small size, being only 26 feet tall. Although it is a small lighthouse, it is beautiful! It is also easily accessible from the park and offers views of Portland’s skyline! The park is the perfect area to visit in the winter.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is a small but beautiful lighthouse in Portland, sitting on a 950-foot breakwater and is only accessible by walking along it. It is one of my favorite lighthouses near Portland.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1897 after many shipwrecks occurred at the nearby ledge. Since Portland was one of the busiest ports in the northeast at the time, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was built to help prevent any future shipwrecks. The breakwater was built years later, connecting the land to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.
The breakwater allows visitors to walk along it to get an up-close and personal experience with the lighthouse. If you hike out to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse in the winter, it is crucial to be careful since the breakwater can be slippery with snow and ice.
Pineland Farms
Do you want to enjoy outdoor winter activities while visiting Portland, Maine? Although the city offers many fun things to do in the winter, you can enjoy outdoor activities outside the city!
Pineland Farms is a 5,000-acre working farm in New Gloucester and offers many fun winter activities! It is one of my favorite places to visit in winter because you can go sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ride fat bikes on its 18 miles of groomed trails.
And the best part is Pineland Farms has rentals for each outdoor activity in case you don't have the gear. Visiting Pineland Farms is one of the best things to do in Portland, Maine if you want to enjoy outdoor winter activities!
The Rink at Thompson’s Point Ice Skating
The Rink at Thompson’s Point is one of the best places near Portland to enjoy ice skating! Thompson’s Point is a beautiful riverside venue that hosts events year-round. In the winter, it has a large ice skating rink along the water that everyone can enjoy. It also offers delicious food, drinks, and areas to warm up in between ice skating.
High View Farm Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Rides are some of my favorite winter activities in Portland, Maine! High View Farm is a small family-owned farm an hour from Portland in a small town, Harrison, and it is worth the drive for its sleigh rides! You will love riding around the snow-covered farm with its beautiful horses. The sleigh rides are one of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, in winter!
Portland Ballet
If you do not want to spend too much time outdoors in the cold weather, do not worry! Portland has many fun things to do indoors in the winter.
If you visit Portland in December, you can enjoy a beautiful Nutcracker show by Portland Ballet! They only offer a handful of Nutcracker shows, so I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance to enjoy the fun show.
Portland Symphony Orchestra
Another beautiful show to enjoy in the winter is the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Christmas. Although they offer shows year-round, the Magic of Christmas is only in December. It is the perfect thing to do in Portland, Maine, in winter if you want to cozy up in a stunning theatre and enjoy beautiful music.
Portland Art Museum
One of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, in winter is to explore its many museums! The Portland Art Museum is one of the best museums in the city, offering over 18,000 pieces of art. It is the perfect place for art lovers or those looking for a fun thing to do to warm up in between outdoor activities.
L.L.Bean Discovery Programs
If you want to enjoy fun outdoor winter activities in Portland but do not know where to start, the L.L.Bean Discovery Programs are perfect! I have gone through a few of their programs, so I know you will enjoy them.
L.L.Bean offers a variety of expert-led programs, including fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Whether you want to go on a full-moon snowshoeing tour or learn how to cross-country ski, L.L.Bean has guided adventures for the entire family! After your program, you can explore its flagship campus and shop around for cozy apparel and outdoor gear.
Where to Stay in Portland Maine in Winter
If you visit Portland in winter, you will not have a shortage of places to stay! There are plenty of accommodations for all budgets, allowing you to find the perfect basecamp for your winter adventure.
If you are visiting Portland, Maine, in the winter, this is a great place to start planning your trip! I have visited Portland in the winter many times, so I know you will love it. This guide has everything you need to know about the best things to do in Portland, Maine, in winter.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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