ENJOY PORTLAND
The Portland Head Light at Fort Williams is just one of many spectacular settings in Greater Portland.
Portland is nestled between Maine’s forest-covered mountains and spectacular rugged coast, just two hours north of Boston, and offers all of the cultural and entertainment amenities of any metropolitan area, but on a much more livable scale. The city’s remarkable collection of historic buildings, its outstanding physical setting on the coast of Maine, a vibrant arts district and a traditional working waterfront are all balanced with the ease and friendliness of a small New England town. A very walkable city, it’s easy to stroll the cobblestone streets and explore the galleries, shops, historic landmarks and incredible number of unique dining opportunities set in a spectacular natural setting. Portland has consistently been ranked as one of the Safest Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report, listed third for Trip Advisor’s “20 Top Places To Visit In The US In 2019,” Bon Appétit magazine named Portland as their “2018 Restaurant City of the Year,” was rated 3rd in the nation for best summer destinations by Travel and Leisure’s America’s Favorite Cities reader survey, and was ranked as one of the seven happiest cities in the U.S. by Green Living magazine.
With island communities dotting the coast, unspoiled landscapes, fresh succulent lobster, stately lighthouses, outdoor adventures, incredible night scene, a vibrant community of visual and performing artists and exceptional shopping, Portland truly has it all, giving a new meaning to active senior living! Sports enthusiasts can enjoy the Portland Sea Dogs, Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and the Maine Celtics (formerly the Red Claws), Portland’s NBA-G League basketball team. The greater Portland area and Casco Bay region is truly a kaleidoscope of activities and interests of all kinds.
The area has several colleges, along with the University of Southern Maine which includes the headquarters of the national Osher Lifelong Learning Institute network (OLLI—formerly called Senior College). Falmouth, Portland and the Maine Historical Society have outstanding libraries which host educational collections, exhibits and programs. And amongst the plethora of nearby art museums and galleries is the Portland Museum of Art which has roughly 15 changing exhibitions per year and houses the largest European art collection north of Boston. In celebration of Maine art, the renovated Winslow Homer Studio recently opened to the public as a registered National Historic Landmark to educate audiences to appreciate the artistic heritage of Winslow Homer and Maine.
Additionally, Portland houses Maine Medical Center, Maine’s top ranked hospital which has also been recognized as “high-performing” in five specialties by this year’s Best Hospitals, the 23rd annual edition produced by U.S. News & World Report, namely cancer, gynecology, nephrology, orthopedics, and urology.
With Portland’s easily accessible International Jetport and multiple, daily Amtrak train and bus routes to Boston and beyond, plus a deepwater cruise ship pier that allows large cruise ships to tie up at its terminal on the eastern waterfront, Portland acts as a gateway to the rest of the world – and for visiting family and friends, getting here couldn’t be simpler!
For more information about Portland and all its offerings, please visit the official Portland, Maine Travel Site at visitportland.com.
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