Getting There -- Coming from the south by car, downtown Portland is most easily reached by taking Exit 6A off the Maine Turnpike (I-95), then following I-295. Exit at Franklin Street and continue straight uphill and downhill until you arrive at the ferry terminal. Turn right onto Commercial Street, and continue several blocks to the visitor center on the right.
In December 2001, Amtrak tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com) finally launched its long-delayed Downeaster service from Boston's North Station to Portland. The train makes four round-trips daily, for $21 one-way. Take a short METRO bus ride to reach downtown from the station.
Concord Trailways (tel. 800/639-3317 or 207/828-1151) and Vermont Transit (tel. 800/451-3292 or 207/772-6587) offer bus service to Portland from Boston and Bangor. The Vermont Transit bus terminal (next to the Amtrak terminal) is located at 950 Congress St. Concord Trailways, which is slightly more expensive, offers movies and headsets on its trips; its terminal is on Sewall Street (a 35-min. walk from downtown).
Portland International Jetport (tel. 207/774-7301; www.portlandjetport.org) is served by Air Nova (tel. 902/873-5000; www.airnova.ca), American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com), Delta/Business Express (tel. 800/638-7333; www.delta-air.com), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280; www.flycontinental.com), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525; www.nwa.com), US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com), and United (tel. 800/241-6522; www.ual.com). The airport is across the Fore River from downtown. Local METRO buses ($1) connect the airport to downtown; cab fare runs about $15.
Visitor Information -- The Convention and Visitor's Bureau of Greater Portland, 245 Commercial St. (tel. 207/772-5800 or 207/772-4994; www.visitportland.com), stocks a large supply of brochures and is happy to dispense information. The center is open in summer, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm; hours are shorter in the off season. Ask for the Greater Portland Visitor Guide, which includes a map. Portland's two free, weekly alternative newspapers -- the Casco Bay Weekly and the Portland Phoenix -- offer listings of local events, films, nightclubs, and the like. The daily Portland Press Herald also publishes arts listings in its Thursday paper.
Parking -- Parking is notoriously tight in the Old Port area, and the city's parking enforcement is efficient. Several garages are convenient to the Old Port, with parking fees around $1 per hour. Be careful when parking in residential neighborhoods; restrictions are complicated, and sometimes change. You will get towed if you run afoul of them. (Don't ask how I know. I just do.)
