Crew Cuts

MAINE MANAGER

AirTran Airways Station Manager—and mom—Sharon Traum takes us on a kid-friendly tour of Portland.

Sharon Traum, Portland station manager for AirTran Airways, has only lived in the city for a few months, but she’s quickly becoming an expert on its most kid-friendly places, thanks to her three-year-old son Jaylan.

JUST RELAX

So far, Maine has been good for them both. “It’s just completely laidback and relaxed here,” Traum says. “Everyone is social, no matter what. It’s not a hustle-bustle type of environment.” Among her favorite places to relax is Fort Williams

Park in Cape Elizabeth, home to the famous Portland Head Light (www.portlandheadlight.com). “We’ve spent many afternoons there. There’s no charge, and you can fly a kite, bring food to barbecue, climb around the fort—it’s a great place to go.”

KIDS ’R US

Traum, who worked in Philadelphia and Florida before moving to Maine, particularly recommends the Portland Children’s Museum (www.portlandcm.org) for families. “I could not get my son out of there! That is the coolest place to go on a rainy Sunday afternoon,” she says. Hands-on exhibits include a clay studio, play grocery store and theater where kids can put on their own shows.

Other great places for kids once the weather turns warm again include two spots south of Portland. Funtown Splashtown USA (www.funtownsplashtownusa.com) is an amusement and water park with a log flume ride and water slides. Old Orchard Beach (www.oldorchardbeachmaine.com), a beachfront that includes a pier with shops and an amusement park with rides, is a summertime paradise complete with an old-fashioned arcade and midway.

FOOD AND CULTURE

For those who love history, Traum suggests the Victoria Mansion (www.victoriamansion.org), a restored pre-Civil War home in the style of an Italian villa, complete with wall paintings, ornate furniture and stained glass. For shopping, she points to the Old Port district (www.portlandmaine.com/op.html), with its galleries and boutiques.

Now that she’s in Maine, Traum is taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the seafood. Favorite places include The Lobster Shack (www.lobstershack-twolights.com; 207-799-1677) in Cape Elizabeth and DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant (www.dimillos.com; 207-772-2216) in Portland. She particularly enjoyed a visit to Portland Lobster Co. (www.portlandlobstercompany.com; 207-775-2112). “It was all outside, and they had a live band. My son enjoyed that; he was the entertainment, dancing around,” she says.

Now, Traum is looking forward to her first winter in Maine. “I have to buy some skis!” she says. —Pat Washburn