Portland

From Goose Rocks, drive north on Route 9 to Route 1 north, and then take I-95 onward to Portland. With its population of about 65,000, the city of Portland is the largest town you come to as you go northward along the coast. The port is an important one for the fishing industry and the city has become the center for commercial business in northern New England. This is a city that is perfect for sightseeing on foot since all the interesting spots are within a short distance of one another. There is also an advantage to walking as the pace allows you to study the architecture and permits the occasional glimpse into a hidden garden here and there. The downtown area of Portland has been revitalized and many of the historical buildings have been rehabilitated. There are many great restaurants and lots of shopping in boutiques known for their handcrafts. Portland has a great historical area and is a regional center for the arts. The Museum of Art focuses on artists of the state of Maine, and there are wonderful paintings by Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, and John Marin. For those interested in seeing more of Casco Bay, there are seasonal, daily trips by boat to view the islands, though it is not always possible to disembark.

From Portland, you can take a ferry to Nova Scotia; but unless your time is very limited, I suggest you continue a little farther north by car along the coast to Bar Harbor. This is well worth the time, and from there it is a much shorter sea trip to reach the maritime provinces.