Lower Old Port/Commercial Street

Welcome to a tour of the Lower Old Port/Commercial Street
Portland, Maine

Please note that you can click on the images to make them bigger.

There are lots of benches to sit in placed in strategic places around the city.

A lot of the buildings are quite old and still have original words or paintings on them, giving the city a feeling of history.

This sign lets you know the nearby attractions. Back Cove, which features a 3.5 mile paved walking trail around the ocean, the East End Beach, the ferry, Bug Light Park (a local lighthouse), and the South Portland Greenbelt walking trail are all nearby.

There are water taxis to take you to local Casco Bay islands, in addition to the ferries which also provide regular service to them.

One of the many boats that line Long Wharf on Commercial St.

I have to say I found this sign, on the far end of the wharf by the ferry terminal, a little amusing, because it was so indicative of where I was. Symbolic, you might even say. I knew I had to be in Maine seeing a sign like this.

I like this picture because it's another "Only in Maine" picture, you know you have to be in Maine, specifically Portland, with this sign... Casco Bay Ferry Terminal, and a cheerful yellow number 8 bus stop right next to it.

The famous Whaling Wall, also located by the ferry terminal, was done by artist Wyland in 1993. It depicts various forms of whales and has been a local landmark for many years. Wyland has done similar murals of whales in 100 different cities across the world, finally completing his goal of a 100th mural in 2008. The wall is unfortunately quite faded in places, and is nothing like it used to be, but it is still fun to look at.

"Catch the next boat out of town." This sign says it all.

A gift shop with a decidedly nautical theme is one of many interesting shops that line Commercial St.

There are certainly no shortage of places selling lobster in the Old Port, as this prominently displayed sign shows.

A beautiful old building dots the landscape of Commercial St.

One of the many fish restaurants and chowder houses in the Old Port.

DiMillo's is a very popular restaurant where you can eat on an actual boat.

LeRoux Kitchen is a lovely kitchen supply store, filled with every gadget you could possibly need. It also has a tempting display window of gourmet chocolates in the front, and a wide variety of enticing items even for those who are not so much into cooking, but eating instead.

It wouldn't be Portland without the lobster!

The bottom of Exchange, technically Moulton St, which leads into Commercial St and the ocean. Going up it leads to the rest of the Old Port. Lots of cute little shops on this street, including Mexicali Blues (think tie-dye), the smoothie shop, a restaurant, a card shop, and Beal's ice cream.

On Long Wharf... A lighthouse, and a lobster. Can you think of anything that screams Maine more than that?

The waterfront with the statuesque brick buildings and the Portland Lobster Company in the background.

Another view of Exchange St, this time at night.

You can see signs of all different sizes, shapes and colors lining Exchange St.

This concludes this tour of the Lower Old Port. For more of the Old Port and Congress, please see that album. I hope you enjoyed the tour! Be sure to wipe the lobster remains and butter sauce off your clothes before you go.

Downtown Portland - Monument Square, Congress, and Old Port

Downtown Portland, Maine
Monument Square, Congress, and the Old Port

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One of my favorite places in Portland, Monument Square is a wide open space for people to hang out, relax, and eat at one of the adjoining resteraunts. The library is across the street.

One of many mini lighthouses in the Greater Portland area sits adjacent to Monument Square, adding color and festivity to the area.

If you walk up Congress St a little, which runs adjacent to Monument Square, you will get to the Cryptozoology Museum. Cryptozoology is the study of creatures who have not yet been proven to exist, such as Bigfoot. As far as can tell, more people seem to know about this place outside of Maine than in Maine.

This is Longfellow Square, named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. There is a pink tulip garden dedicated to cancer research that is new this year, 2011. This is as far up Congress as I usually go.

There is some beautiful architecture throughout Portland. This street lies and sidewalk adjacent to Longfellow Square.

A majestic looking building on Congress St.

Walking back down Congress. you see a potpourri of different buildings, and streets on either side.

Back on the other side of Monument Square, we have a lovely independent, locally owned bookstore called Longfellow Books.

Midway to the Old Port is the Nickelodeon movie theater. A long time ago, this used to show second run movies and only cost a couple dollars, but it's long since converted to a first run theater.

A park-like area with benches is in front of Nickelodeon, with this statue of what appears to be a lobsterman.

The street that goes into the heart of the Old Port. When I am walking down to the Old Port, this is about when I start getting excited, knowing I will soon burst into the middle of such a beautiful place.

A historic building stands on the corner of Exchange, one of the key streets in the Old Port.

Some pretty trees in an area known as Tommy's Park. This is a circular area with benches and flowers where people can sit. There are often people juggling, throwing fire, or doing other acrobatic stunts on weekends for people to enjoy. Lately, there has been someone occasionally playing the bagpipe, which is kind of cool for about five minutes until it gets sort of annoying. In the summer, there are free weekly concerts at noon.

Walking down Exchange Street. There are many one of a kind shops that line Exchange, from
fancy clothes to curios, gelato and forty flavors of popcorn, tie dye to Christmas items, coffee shops and upscale restaurants, you'll find it all on Exchange Street.

A bookstore that specializes in maps, among other things, is one of the stores on Exchange.

The bottom of Exchange, which runs into Fore St. Fore St also has many more shops of interest. The store in front of you used to be a kite and toy store, but is now a pottery store. Continuing downwards is Moulton Street, which leads to the ocean.

A great local smoothie place that just opened up a couple of years ago on Moulton Street. The Maine Squeeze is run by a guy who moved here from California and decided we needed a touch of juice. Filling the void left by Smoothie King when it vacated, owner Buzz actually makes his apple juice out of real apples right in front of you - nothing is from concentrate here.

The aptly named Long Wharf is a beautiful place to sit and relax, and look at the many boats docked around you. It is also the site of DiMillo's, which is a restaraunt that is actually on a boat.

Going on a whale watch is just one of many things you can do from Long Wharf.

I have always loved this sign.

This beautiful church is visible from Pearl Street, which I walk down to get to Whole Foods after I've had my fill of the Old Port. It is only a 10-15 minute walk from the center of the Old Port.

That concludes our tour of Congress St and the Old Port. Did you smell the ocean breeze? Hear the guitar of the street musicians? See the seagulls flying overhead? Be sure to click on the Commercial Street album to see the lower part of the Old Port, and don't forget to come and visit us!

Welcome to Maine!

Have you ever wanted to visit Maine? This site will showcase some of my favorite pictures I've taken of Maine, especially southern Maine and Portland. I have lived in Maine most of my life, and have traveled extensively.

I can now honestly say there is absolutely nowhere that I would rather live than Maine. I love its natural beauty, its charm, how everything is just the right size - you have everything you need, but it's not too big or crowded too navigate. I love the cobblestone streets of Portland and the Old Port, of walking down among quaint shops and restaurants to the water. I love hanging out in Monument Square, looking up at the blue sky and thinking it will last forever. It's only a mile to the East End Beach or less than ten minutes by car to the Spring Point Lighthouse.

There's just a certain charm about Portland, a magic that you feel walking around it. To me, it feels like home. There are few things that I would rather be doing than strolling around the Old Port, from Monument Square and Tommy's Park to Commercial Street and the ocean.

I'd love to show you what I mean. Care to come along for a tour? I'll show you just what makes this town so special. On the right, in the archives, you will see a tour of several different parts of southern and central Maine. Happy viewing!