When visiting Maine, your first thought is probably about the state as a whole, not necessarily any single city. Or, hey, that was our first thought. After a quick trip through the state, though, it became clear different cities and areas within Maine definitely have personalities of their own – and none of these are more popular than Portland! Our hope is that this travel guide to Portland, Maine (not Oregon) shows why the Forest City is growing so quickly – and why it should definitely be on your list to visit sooner, rather than later.
Where to Stay: Old Port
As Portland is becoming more and more popular, there are things to do and see all over town, to be sure. It quickly became clear, however, that many of those things to do were in a concentrated area: Old Port. Old Port is considered both a Historic District and downtown Portland, but both of those classifications are a bit reductive – while there is a ton of history throughout Old Port, some of the most up-and-coming restaurants and businesses have taken up residence there, and there is so much more to do from a recreational standpoint than your typical downtown.
This may not answer the “Where to Stay” question in our typical manner, but the truth is, there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference in the hotels available downtown. There are several mid-tier quality chains in the Old Port – I personally stayed in the Residence Inn, but I also saw a comparable Hampton Inn and Ace Hotel nearby, and new hotels are popping up consistently that likely match the quality.
One of the interesting things about Maine culture is that the proximity to Canada seems to rub off: everyone is very friendly, which definitely has an effect on customer service. The Residence Inn provided service that was well above what I would expect (given that I got a really solid rate as well.) Keep in mind, Old Port was named for a reason – many of these hotels share a close proximity to the water, so ask for a view if possible. Although I forgot my own advice, I got lucky with a port-view room anyway – which made sunrises all the more spectacular each morning.
Where to Eat: Eventide Oyster Co.
When we visit a city for the first time, we don’t often get unanimous recommendations for things to do or places to eat. In this case, though, literally every person I asked beforehand said the same place: Eventide. One of the more upscale restaurants in Portland, it wasn’t the best fit for a more casual evening, but after the sheer number of times I heard about the restaurant, it became a must-try.
Another thing that Maine is well-known for is blueberries, so when I saw the blueberry rhubarb pie, it seemed like the perfect locally-sourced dessert to wrap up the meal – and it definitely delivered. Perfectly portioned with a higher-end vanilla ice cream to top it off, it was difficult to think of how it could have been a better dessert.
Eventide was admittedly a smaller restaurant and seemed particularly crowded, but it was with good reason – the food was some of the best I had on the trip. It was a
What to Do: Visit the Portland Headlight
The Portland Head Light is definitely the most tourist-y thing to do in Portland, but we’ve always been of the belief that those types of places are often deserving of that reputation. People must want to visit them for a reason, right? Well, the Portland Headlight is no exception. The site has so much to offer: beautiful view, significant history, and overall fun in a number of ways.
One of the best things about the Portland Head Light is how the site incorporates local businesses. My favorite way? Food trucks! And the one I tried at the Head Light was good enough for a second restaurant spotlight within this post.
I tried a food truck parked close to the base of the lighthouse: Bite Into Maine. Bite Into Maine is, unsurprisingly, very Maine-focused, offering their take on some of the dishes Maine is known for.
Overall, Portland is an up-and-coming destination in the Northeast, and that’s with good reason: it offers some of the best of Maine, and is only growing – and becoming more and more popular, as a result. You get great historically-relevant things to do (like the Headlight and walking through Old Port) in one hand, while shops and restaurants like Eventide are putting some new and masterful spins on the classic Maine culture. It’s already a must-visit as far as we’re concerned, but that’s only going to become a more emphatic opinion as far as the Keys are concerned.
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