The best way to see a new town is to be shown around by a local, who will give you its history and recommendations of what to do while you’re there. They know the best tourist spots and will even share some hidden gems. This is exactly what you’ll get when you take The Real Portland tour. Derek will make you feel like a long-lost friend that’s taking you around his hometown.
I chose this tour when I was attending the Women in Travel Summit, and although I’d been to Portland a ton of times, I got to see places I had no clue existed. This 90-minute tour was the perfect way for me to see Portland from a new perspective…that of a local.
Derek, a native of Portland, was knowledgeable and I could picture my girls dying laughing at all of his jokes and puns. I can’t wait to bring them next time. He gave us the history of Portland as we passed the busy downtown area, the Arts district, and the Old Port. We went by gorgeous brownstones and Victorian mansions and enjoyed stunning views of the Eastern Prominade. There were beautiful views of the harbor…or “ha-bah” as Derek would say!
Our first stop was my favorite lighthouse…Portland Head Light. We had 20 minutes to walk around and get some perfect shots of the third oldest lighthouse in the country.
Stop number 2 was Spring Point Light. It is an adorable lighthouse that you can get out to by walking on a breakwater. I can’t wait to bring my kiddos out here.
Our final stop was to Bug Light, officially known as Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, which was built in 1875. It gave us a stunning view of Portland, and was one of the cutest lighthouses I’ve ever seen.
Along the way we learned some valuable pieces of Portland history such as:
Donuts were invented in Maine. (Perfect reason to visit Holy Donut.)
Maine has more coastlines than California. (Hard to believe, but it’s true!)
Prohibition started in Portland. (Might be why there are several fun speakeasies here.)
Prisoners would protest because they were fed lobsters every day! (Hysterical!)
I now have a long list of places I want to eat, drink, and visit, since Derek made so many recommendations throughout the tour. It was truly a fun, educational tour that everyone should try when in Portland.
How much does the tour cost?
Adults $27
Children (ages 4-12) $25
Seniors (ages 65+) $18
Kids (3 and under) $5
Tour meets up at 96 Commercial Street (in front of the Casco Variety Store). You’re asked to arrive about 15 minutes before your tour starts.
Tips for a Perfect Tour:
Arrive EARLY since it is often hard to find parking in Portland.
Make sure you bring a camera because there will be endless photo opportunities.
The tour happens in a comfortable 14-passenger climate-controlled van.
Online booking is strongly recommended since tours often sell out during peak months.
Some public parking areas:
Customs House Parking Garage (25 Pearl Street)
Fisherman’s Wharf Public Parking (184 Commercial Street)
Fore Street Parking Garage (419 Fore Street)
There are public bathroom inside the Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal. There is also a portable restroom at Fort Williams Park, during the tour.
A big thank you to Visit Portland for organizing this tour for the Women in Travel Summit ’19 and to Derek from The Real Portland tour for a great afternoon! As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% of MyTravelingKids.com.
