With it's festivals, restaurants, sprawling seashore and bustling harbor, Portland, Maine is a well-regarded summer hot spot. Yet when the tourists head south for the winter and the boats in the harbor head inward until spring, there are still a wide variety of engaging activities for locals and visitors alike. From skating to tobogganing, the fun in Portland doesn't stop once the snow flies.
Eastern Promenade
Portland's Eastern Promenade sits atop Munjoy Hill overlooking the sprawling harbor front. Snowshoers often trek the 2.1-mile Eastern Prom Trail, which offers stunning ocean views, and the shorter Black Cove Trail, which travels around the cove of the same name. Others choose to navigate the park via Nordic skis. Several low-lying slopes in the park are also great for sledding.
Cross Country Skiing
For those who desire a longer Nordic trek, Portland's Smiling Hill farm offers over 20 miles of cross-country skiing trails just outside the city. The grounds are spread across a huge swath of the Portland countryside, which is a working farm during the spring and summer months. The facility is also home to a fully equipment rental shop and refreshment stand that serves warm beverages to ward off the chill.
Skating
Ice skating at Portland's Mill Creek Park pond is a winter tradition in the city. The pond is illuminated by lights in the evening and speakers pipe in holiday music in late December. Great for children and families, skating at the pond is admission free.
Tubing and Tobogganing
The Camden Snow Bowl is located just minutes from Portland center and offers several great outdoor winter activities. The park is home to a tubing hill that visitors can whiz down either solo or tandem and a toboggan chute. Tube and toboggan rentals are available.
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
The Camden Snow Bowl is also home to over a half-dozen downhill ski trails and a snowboarding park. Ski and snowboard rentals are available at the facility, and lessons are offered for beginning skiers and riders. Half-day, full-day and private lessons are available.
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