"General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't…read moresee that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around." This quote, from none other than Prime Minister Hugh Grant of "Love Actually" perfectly explains Love Locks here in Portland. Up until February 2013 it was just a fence... a nondescript fence that hundreds of thousands of people passed every year without a second glance... until one night some drunken friends decided to buy padlocks, write a dedication to a loved one on it (for one of the original women, that included her husband and two dogs), lock it on the fence, then dispose of the key. Portland has such a European (where this idea originated from) feel to it, that it only makes sense for us to have our own version of Love Locks, too! Some folks think it's an eye sore... I think it's lovely. So lovely in fact that I may or may not have a lock up there myself (and I may or may not have thrown my key over the fence into the ocean... which I now realize isn't entirely eco-friendly. Dear fishies, please be careful grazing on any new sparkly snacks you might have recently found!). What can I say? I love love. And I love the ocean. And I love this city. And I love romantic gestures. And I love the strong bonds people have with other people, places, and pets. And I love unique forms of art. And I love pretty things. Don't you? Who knows if our Love Locks will stand the test of time. If, over the years, the locks begin to rust and become an eye sore instead of love lore, I would think the city might take it down. So come leave a lock of love for your loved one (be that your mom, your sister, your pet rabbit, your favorite coffee drink, or yourself) now... or at least take the time to read some of the proclamations of passion permanently padlocked here in Portland!

They're locks... on a fence. That's 5 stars right there. haha They're right in the middle of the…read moreOld Port and it was cool seeing it since I've never seen a love locks fence before in person. It is small and insignificant for most, but for it to have a yelp listing -- I had to check it out. They are tons of locks on it and most of them looked recent with in the year. That poor fence is holding on for dear life. If you're a lover want to lock it in -- put a lock on the love locks fence to make it official. That's more lasting than facebook official. Story has it that once you lock it up, that you toss the key in the water over the fence after the fact. Superstition has it that once you lose the key -- your love is locked together forever.

Such a cool experience in Portland... A tall ship docked next to the Maine State Pier behind RiRa…read moreand The new Science Center. I loved the interactive aspect of this tour. We were taken around by one of the crew members and he showed us the various parts of the ship. I don't know if there are words to describe being on a ship of this size and feeling like you've slipped back in time. This ship was built in 2009 (which was shocking enough) as a replica of a historic Spanish ship. There are crew on the ship that have sailed all over the world. The ship winters in the Caribbean and Florida and travels up the coast... This thing is MASSIVE!! Pay the money and go on this ship!

Great spot for Italian in Portland ME! Great mocktail and…read morecocktail options Friendly staff Great service Large portions

I don't typically write a lot of reviews but when I do, it is about an experience that was either…read morereally impressive or hugely disappointing. So here goes... My daughter had been wanting to go to Via Vecchia for a while but couldn't afford it on a college student's income. So we went during my visit. My hopes were high as we walked in--a beautiful glass enclosure at the entrance that was draped with ceiling to floor ivy; an intimate but lively atmosphere; and an offering of creative cocktails...my enthusiasm quickly vanished when our appetizers arrived. We ordered the focaccia, grilled octopus, and Caesar salad. The focaccia was soggy and flavorless. Even the olive oil that accompanied the bread was flavorless. The grilled octopus was another disappointment--there were more cloves of garlic than pieces of octopus. And what little octopus was there, a third of it was charred to black. Thankfully, the Caesar salad was fresh and fairly tasty. Ironically the focaccia croutons were the highlight of the salad. Then the entrees arrived--chicken Marsala and a spicy shrimp pasta in cream sauce (can't remember the name of the dish). My daughter liked the second dish enjoying the slight kick of whatever pepper/spice was used in the recipe. For me, it was just okay. The biggest disappointment however was the chicken Marsala--the gnocchi was overcooked, the entire dish itself was too salty, and the chicken--overcooked in some parts and fairly tender in others--tasted like it came out of a can. Quite honestly, I don't know what all the hype is about. This restaurant is mediocre at best. Perhaps the cocktails numb everyone's tastebuds to the overly salty but otherwise bland dishes. It was not worth the money and I would never go again. If this is the best that Portland has to offer by way of fine Italian dining, I'd say it's time Portland redefined the meaning of "fine".

Outside of the Temple Street Garage, in front of The Works Bakery Cafe, is a giant stone. You've…read moreprobably passed it a million times and have never taken a second to stop and look because it's a giant stone lying on the ground, and Portland has loads of those, so why does it matter? Because it's not a stone. It's a mask (...made of stone). The very large Elm Theater Mask was - according to the privately donated plaque near it - "found in 1977 during the excavation of the Portland Public Library at Elm and Congress streets. It was the single most important architectural detail of the former Elm Theater" (side note: like history? you should REALLY take a gander at this photo of the theater from 1920 on the Maine Memory Network: https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/12858) "which stood at its Elm Street Site from 1916 to 1952 and was the work of architects William Miller and Raymond Mayo of Portland. The beaux-arts style building first served as a motion-picture house and later as a church. A theater for WWII troops and a playhouse for the Portland Players, the mask has been intentionally left in its found state." Portland preserved. Is this stone mask to change your life? Probably not. Is it going to take you more then a few moments to check out? Nope. Is it cool, though? It sure is. In a city where we're now constantly razing things to the ground to build high-rises to help our ever inflating population, it's nice to have a little something of yesteryear tucked under a cherry blossom tree just smiling at the world around it.

If you're looking to experience Maine, the city of Portland, has it all rolled into one city…read more If you love lighthouses, you can tour them by land, or by water. If you are a foodie there are so many great restaurants.This is a seafood lovers paradise with some of the best lobster, lobster rolls, oysters, and fresh seafood. You can also check out some of the cities well-known breweries. Let's not forget shopping the downtown water front district. The cobblestone streets are filled with quaint shops. If you want to be on the water, take a sunset, lighthouse, or schooner cruise. There are also all kinds of sightseeing tours. Put on your best walking shoes, and check out Portland Maine.

Portland has been on my "to visit" list for quite some time. I had the opportunity to do a quick…read morepop in, and took advantage. I have been to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but had never been this far north. Let me just say, coming from Texas in July, this was a breath of fresh air. Everything was so GREEN. I got the memo, and set out in comfortable shoes. I didn't really have an agenda, I just went out to explore. I know that the architecture of the north is far different than what I am used to, but I love it and find it charming. Portland on a weekend was bustling, but not overwhelming. Lots of people out and about but it wasn't crowded. I meandered downtown and then head down to the harbor area. I would have liked to have done a bit more exploring in that area, but it was sprinkling and I saw some lightening over the water, which was my que to get indoors. They have a lot of dining options, though a bit pricy. Doing a bit of research, that just seems to be the going rate in this area. I was charmed by the city and hope to come back and spend some quality time here. I just got a little taste.

What a nice house. The champagne was quite delectable. The people are nice. The snowballs from the…read morefront of the house are quite good and easy to throw.

Absolutely outstanding all around, from service to food…read more I love how spacious it is. It's easy to have a conversation, not too loud, and the lighting is perfect. For an appetizer, my husband and I both had a cup of the lobster stew. It was new for both of us and did not disappoint. Wow! Highly recommend. For dinner, I had the New York strip with garlic cauliflower and my husband had the Lazy Lobster. We ended up sharing and making it surf and turf -- absolutely delicious, and a great idea for anyone who likes both. So easy to share. For dessert, my husband had the bread pudding and I had the blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Both were delightful and scrumptious. Overall, everything was excellent. I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants a delicious meal with a unique atmosphere.

Greeted at our table by the owner himself ! Our table of 13…read moresampled almost all of the appetizers all were spot on ! Our meals were quite a variety from lobster , steak , chicken parm . No complaints from any in our party . Very beautiful boat ! Can't go wrong here !

Summer time island trip? Yes, please. Take the ferry over to Peaks Island by 9-10am to beat the…read morecrowds. Once you arrive, there is a golf cart rental place (Mike's) that you can use to explore the town. Other options are bike rentals or kayak. Although, the island is large & hilly so on a hot day a golf cart is clutch. The main shops and eateries are all centrally located near the ferry. Once the afternoon hits, they become more popular and may build lines. To explore the coastline, it's suggested to find a map as reference. Although there are signs to lead you in the direction. Beaches are small but have beautiful views. Honestly, everything on the island is picturesque. The only thing I highly suggest is making it over early to make it easier to maneuver.

Two Peaks Notice So,…read moreevidently there's a whole archipelago here in Casco Bay off of Portland Harbor. About six of them, from what I've gathered, and they all have different unique things on them from actually living there to beaches and golfing to hiking trails. Peaks Island is the largest--and most populus--of which, and features a beach, museums, shopping, hiking and even a small lighthouse. Unfortunately, we didn't plan our travel here very well as we basically just got here, did a short hike, and then bounced. Next time I wouldn't mind getting an Airbnb on the island and having a few days to reconnoiter it and the surrounding islands more. Next time, Gadget! Next tiiiiimmmeeeee...!

Awesome tour! My wife and I attended the Seafood Tour in Portland with Pete and we had a fantastic…read moretime! We went to Andy's, Gilbert's, Rigby Yard and finished with some sweet treats to wrap up the tour. Pete had such a knowledge and love for Maine that we wanted to hang out with him after! I highly recommend the trip and doing it early in your trip any extended stay in Portland - we added a long list of ToDo's that Pete recommended and have not been disappointed by a single one. Highly recommend. Thank you, Pete M!

We had a wonderful experience with our guide, Chuck, on the tour. Chuck was full of interesting…read moreinformation and made the tour enjoyable for everyone. It was rainy, but the balance of inside and outside was good. All of the stops provided delicious food. Would recommend this tour!

And just like that... they're gone! Farewell feathered friends, and thank you to Creative Portland…read moreand TEMPOart for making this happen. I hope there's another public installation in Portland coming soon!