PORTLAND,MAINE
 

I will be spending a weekend in January with my two sons in Portland, Maine. Does anybody have any ideas??? I heard there is a nice Embassy Suites and also a Marriott near Portland. Any recommendations?? Is there any good skiing/snowboarding nearby??? Decent restaurants??

Portland is a wonderful city to visit. The Old Port area has lots of great shops and restaurants. You might want to think about a hotel in that area where you are within walking distance of the shops. There is a good parking garage that also has a skywalk to the Public Market. While it is small and not anything on the scale of Pike in Seattle, it's fun to browse and great for a Sunday morning quick breakfast. Another part of Portland where hotels are located is near the Portland Mall. I'm not sure where the Embassy Suites are located. I wasn't that happy with the place we stayed so go with others' recommendations. You might do a search here for past advice. Portland is about 1 1/2 hours from NH ski areas in the North Conway area but you will probably find something closer.

Thanks Drfost, I appreciate your input. Does anybody know about Sundae River Skiing???

I am not a skier, so I cannot actually comment on the sport aspect,. However, we spent a week in that location at a lovely timeshare resort. Sunday River is very popular, but it is quite a distance away from Portland. The East-West roads in Maine are terrible. Other than skiing, there is not a lot to do in western Maine. It is about one hour to North Conway with loads of restaurants and bargain outlets. I recently read an article about hotel chains in "Consumers Report" as we are staying in an Embassy
Suites facillity in Jacksonville, FL. next weekend. They received the very highest rating. You might wish to read the article at your local library. I am not sure which issue, but you could check the index.
Portland, by the way, was rated a top city in which to live. It is small and very walkable.
I think you will enjoy yourselves.

Thank you Massteach, when I was in Orlando I stayed at the Embassy Suites on International Drive and it was great. The breakfast is terrific (especially when you have kids with you) and the prices are reasonable for the rooms. Have fun on your next trip!!!!!!!!

The Embassy Suites is nice but is right at the airport...nothing else to do within walking distance. Holiday Inn downtown is walking distance to several restaurants, theatres etc. The Sonesta is great, too.

Sunday River is nice, and I think a 2 hour drive. I have heard people talk about taking a train from Portland to a ski area...not sure if this is a morning trip that returns at night or an overnight thing...I'll try to find out more if you think you'd be interested in something like that.

Sunday River is one of Maine's best ski areas. There are a few resorts and lots of condos near the mountain, but it is pretty quiet in that part of Maine. Closet town is Bethel, very nice and quaint. A few nice restaurants and not alot of nightlife. However, if you enjoy quaint Maine, you may like this alot. And, previous poster is right, a good 2 hour drive from Portland.

I would recommend staying downtown in the old port area. Try Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. We are staying there in January and the rate is $119 per month and it is right in the heart of things.

I'd stay at the Regency Inn right downtown. Although they charge for parking, you can't beat the convenience of being right in the old town section.
Fore St. is an upscale restaurant that always gets rave reviews, Flatbread Company is an organic pizza joint with huge brick ovens. The chefs chop the wood for the ovens themselves right inside the restaurant!
Sunday River is one of the most highly regarded ski areas in the Northeast. It is worth the two hour drive. Has the most snow making, and perhaps the largest number of trails, in the region. Lots of nice long easy trails, and lots of more challenging terrain, as well. Bethel is a cute New England town if you are looking for something to do while they ski. There is also an interesting restaurant up there in a converted train car.
Don't know where you are coming from, but bring lots of very warm clothes. Most likely January will be freezing, with gusty winds off the ocean.
Hope you havae a great trip!

Checked in to the Portland Embassy Suites, took one look at the room and checked out.
Unlike the newly built ES I stayed in CA & CO, this building was converted from something else. The living room and bedroom combined were smaller than a typical hotel room.
Instead checked into the Residence Inn about one mile south of the Maine Mall. Previous trips had comfortable rooms at the Sonesta and the Sheraton.

Thank you all so much, I did not realize that sundae river ski was a two hour ride, is there any ski area closer to Portland or even Poland???
I guess I should think twice about the Embassy Suitesm (even with the "free" breakfat, sound like a real dump, what about the marriott????

The Embassy Suites in Portland Maine was converted from a Quality Suites in the mid-90s. I'd recommend staying in Old Port - the Hilton Garden Inn or the Sonesta. The Holiday Inn was "very tired" the last time I was at that hotel.

kc15, I think the ski resorts in NH may be closer than Sunday River, or maybe Mt Abrams is still open. Some ski resorts located in NH are Loon, Atatash, & Wildcat. That's all I can think of but there are more.

FYI:
http://www.luxurylink.com/Home.phtml...k=LLOfferEmail

We were in Portland in August and ate at one of the best restaurants ever--Fore Street. It was absolutely wonderful and not stuffy or formal. I highly recommend it. We stayed one night at the Eastland Park which is overpriced and we also stayed at the Holiday Inn by the Bay which was nice and affordable.

Shawnee Peak is alot closer to Portland
& very easy to reach (west on 302 all the way)There is also a small place in Auburn- Lost Valley good for a few hours but no where as big as S.P. or Sunday River. The Hilton Garden would be my choice for location,you might also try The Eastland (The old Sonesta) which is also in Portland but Downtown(if you could call it that!!!!)
Good Luck