From former presidents to regular vacationers, Maine is a great escape from the doldrums of everyday life.
One of the hottest cities in a New England getaway is Portland, Maine. The website Destination360 says, “Portland is a small New England city whose sophistication has earned its designation as one of Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live.”
Portland is a vibrant city nestled on the banks of Casco Bay, which transverses the city and connects to the smaller lobster hubs like the town of Harpswell.
When the British settled the area in 1632, the name of the town became Casco then Falmouth, which is a current city in Maine. A war broke out and locals converted the ruins of Falmouth into beautiful replicas of Victorian mansions and a fishing port along the bay side. According to the Destination360 writer, “This became Portland’s famous Western Promenade, where Adam P. Leighton, the man considered as the father of the post card industry, designed one of the homes that dot the landscape of the promenade.”
Steeped in rich history, the city of Portland caters to the tastes of everyone – both young and old. Chug back in time to an earlier era when railroad tracks outlined the streets of Portland, and the Main Narrow Gauge Railroad took passengers throughout the towns of central and western Maine.
The Portland Museum of Art features eclectic art collections that span from the 18th Century to present day. The museum houses artwork from American artists such as Rockwell Kent and Marsden Hartley, and Europeans like Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt.
For bookworms, Portland hosts a great number of bookstores that transport you from the tiny shelves of this coastal bay town to points beyond the universe. Curious City is a great spot to find a book to entice your favorite young reader.
For those interested in learning more about the author’s who pen around Maine towns, check out Books Etc. You might find one of Stephen King’s classics since he likes to spin his tales from fictional Maine towns.
For a wide range of events happening in Portland, a stroll to the Portland Maine Civic Center keeps you entertained throughout your vacation to Maine. Since 1977, the center is a must see and do on any vacationer’s list because of the hit entertainment venues.
After a full day of taking in the sights and sounds of downtown Portland, it is time to grab something to eat at the award winning Portland restaurants, which include awards for the “Best New Chefs in the U.S.” and “50 Top Restaurants in the U.S.”
The most respected foodie designations hail from Portland, such as Arrows, Hugo’s, Primo, and Portland’s Fore Street Restaurant. The chefs from these restaurants earned the James Beard Award, and Arrows is “One of the most romantic restaurants in the U.S.”
Sources:
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/maine/portland
http://www.visitmaine.com/region/portland/portland
http://www.mngrr.org/readmore.php