2. Portland: Self-Guided Sightseeing Driving Audio Tour
Travel through the neighborhoods of Portland on a self-guided driving tour. Learn about the city’s history and culture from an audio-guided app on your smartphone and get panoramic views from the Eastern Promenade.
Start by downloading the app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Once downloaded, your Portland tour begins at the Visit Portland Center.
Drive down Commercial Street and hear about the industrial beginnings of the city. Along the way, you’ll see the wonderfully preserved Victoria Mansion, dating back to 1858. That’s followed by the even older Danforth Inn, which goes all the way back to 1823.
As you drive up the Western Promenade, you’ll hear about some famous folks who were laid to rest in Portland, including the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (a statue of whom you’ll see next, in Longfellow Square).
Go to the Art District (perfect for picking up a souvenir), followed by a church that was once destroyed by the British.
Continue toward the shore, passing the site of an observatory that once guided ships into Portland’s occasionally treacherous harbor. Spot a couple of picturesque lighthouses perfect for any photo collection.
Explore the Eastern Promenade, a 68-acre seaside park sporting plenty of unforgettable ocean views. You’ll see the strange and controversial “baked beans” building, before passing through Old Port again for a second chance to stop at one of the neighborhood’s many restaurants and boutiques.
Pass by a statue of Portland’s own John Ford. Cross the Casco Bay Bridge into South Portland, home to a quieter community than its buzzing northern neighbor. Finally, you’ll arrive at Fort Williams Park, full of beauty and history. The tour concludes here.
