Local Sights
The host committee has been busy planning activities for your free time in Portland.
On Sunday, a “Schooner Adventure” has been arranged with the 
Portland Schooner Company (http://portlandschooner.com/) aboard their 2 schooners, the Bagheera and the Wendameen. The sail begins at 2:30 and goes out into Casco Bay, passing several islands and lighthouses, including Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth. The return to port will be no later than 5:00 to allow time to get ready for the Opening Reception at the hotel. This optional trip costs $40 per person, which includes a tip for the crew. Since we are limited to 90 passengers (45 on each schooner), reservations for the trip will be made on a “first-come-first-served” basis. Transportation can be arranged for those individuals unable to walk the short distance to the pier.
For those not participating in the schooner adventure, there is plenty to do in Portland on Sunday afternoon. The hotel is situated between the Old Port and the Arts District and there are museums and many activities and fine places to eat within a short walk. See http://portlandmaine.com/ and the http://www.innbythebay.com/ for more details.
Tuesday Night Banquet: The closing banquet, a traditional Maine 
lobster bake, will be held at Harbor View Landing on Peaks Island and catered by the Black Tie Company (http://theblacktieco.com/venue_harbor_view.html). Peaks Island is part of Portland and is the closest of the islands in Casco Bay. At 6:00 we will board the “Island Romance” for a half-hour cruise, which will provide another opportunity to enjoy Casco Bay and Portland Head Light (http://cascobaylines.com/charters.htm). The banquet facility is right at the ferry landing and faces west so we should be able to view the sunset over the bay and city, if the night is clear. The dinner ends at 9:30 so that we can catch the regularly scheduled ferry at 9:45 back to the mainland. (There is a later ferry for those wishing to remain on Peaks Island a bit longer.) We will arrange for buses to bring everyone down to the pier (same place as the schooner trip); on the return trip, people can take the bus back to the hotel or walk to the Old Port for more entertainment.
Spouse/Guest Program: The Guest Program will be scheduled according to the interest of the attendees. The program may include a bus trip to Portland Head Light and then on to Freeport, home of L.L.Bean and other outlet stores (30 minute ride) or a ride down the coast to Kennebunkport (40 minute ride).
Extending Your Stay: Arriving early or staying after the conference? There are many great places to visit in Maine including Acadia National Park, Kennebunkport, or the Highlands with Baxter State Park. For more information, see http://www.visitmaine.com/ .