Portland, Maine One of the Best Cities in the United States

In an article published by National Geographic in January 2018, Maines largest city, Portland, was proudly named as one of the best cities in the United States. With our LandVest office nestled in the heart of the city at 36 Danforth Street, we are no strangers to the extensive amenities that Portland has to offer.

Fresh Maine lobster, picturesque lighthouses, and coastal locale are only a few of the wonderful things we love about Portland. With countless eateries to satisfy any craving, historic sightseeing destinations, and outdoor activities for the adventurous, Portland truly offers something for everyone.

CUISINE

Known for being one of Americas foodiest cities, Portland has a plethora of dining options. A handful of our favorites include:

• Eventide, a seafood joint serving lobster rolls, cocktails, a raw bar, and New England fare
• Honey Paw, a contemporary bistro serving noodles, Asian bites, and local craft beer
• Scales, a seaside venue offering a raw bar, local seafood, and classic New England comfort food
• Aurora Provisions, a gourmet shop offering sandwiches and baked goods
• Empire, an eatery serving locally-sourced Chinses dishes and dim sum
• Slab, a modern pizzeria serving Sicilian street food and thick-crust pizzas
• Yosaku, a relaxed sushi lounge and a preferred eatery for our brokers
• Fore Street, a restaurant offering locally sourced and hand-crafted eats

ACTIVITIES AND DESTINATIONS

Being a coastal city, Portland is known for its beaches. A few popular beaches in the Portland area include:

• Crescent Beach State Park, which is a crescent-shaped mile-long stretch of beach offering picnic areas, views of fishing boats, sand dunes, and ample room for strolling.
• Scarborough Beach State Park, which happens to be a spectacular place to surf. Scarborough Beach even offers a Surf Camp for children aged 9 to 15, along with surfing lessons for adults.
• Higgins Beach, which is the go-to beach for kayaking, surfing, swimming, fly fishing at the river, and even a wedding destination.
• Ferry Beach, which is right in Prouts Neck. This beach in particular is perfect for children.

If you enjoy visiting the coast and touring lighthouses, Portland has many must-see lighthouses, including:

• Portland Head Light, which is Maines oldest and most popular lighthouse.
• Bug Light Park Lighthouse, which memorializes the shipbuilding efforts of World War II.
• Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, which is visited by people from all over the world.
• Ram Light, which is a 72-foot granite tower in Casco Bay.

A terrific way to see all of Portlands lighthouses in a day is by taking a ride on the Casco Bay Lines. Based in Portland, Casco Bay Lines offers a ferry schedule, including sunset tours, scenic cruises, and island-specific trips to Maines islands (e.g. Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Diamond Cove, Long Island, Chebeaugue Island, Cliff Island, and Bailey Island).

For sports fans, Portland is the proud home to a few well-known professional sports teams:

• The Portland Sea Dogs play minor league baseball and are the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. From April to September, the Sea Dogs compete in home and away games in the Eastern League. Home games are played in Portlands Hadlock Field.
• The Maine Red Claws are a professional minor league basketball team based in Portland and are an affiliate of the Boston Celtics. The Red Claws compete in the NBA G League and home games are hosted in the Portland Exposition Building.

Being a city rich in art and culture, Portland offers several theatrical venues and groups:

• Portland Museum of Art (PMA) is the oldest and largest public art institution in Maine. Art held in the PMA includes American, European, and contemporary art, along with iconic works from Maine
• The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. In fact, PSO is regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size nationwide
• Merrill Auditorium, located in the eastern section of Portland City Hall, seats 1,900 guests at a time. Musicians, comedians, theater groups, and more perform at Merill Auditorium

If you enjoy shopping, especially in one-of-a-kind stores, Portlands historic Old Port district offers boutiques galore, including shops unique to Maine.

• One wonderful place to shop around is Chart Metalworks on Portlands working waterfront. Here, nautical charts are developed into necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other lovely accessories
• Another popular store around is Lisa Maries Made in Maine. This store features designs by Maine artisans and craftsmen. A collection this shop is known for is jewelry made from the shells of lobsters, mussels, and oysters. The crushed shells fill bracelet charms, necklaces, earrings, and tie clips
• A final Maine shop worth visiting is called Sea Bags. Sea Bags creates handmade nautically-inspired totes made from sails. The materials used to make these totes mostly come from Maine

 

GREATER PORTLAND REAL ESTATE

If there is anything else Portland is known for, it would be real estate in the area. Here are a few of our LandVest-exclusive listings available in the Greater Portland region:

Hope Island, Casco Bay Broker: John Saint-Amour, (207) 874-6160

Truly one of Maines most extraordinary estates, Hope Island is a unique world unto itself. With the classic Maine setting of rocky coastline and crashing surf, this 86 acre island also offers a protected anchorage and sand beaches along its 11,050 feet of water frontage. Hope Island claims Portland, 25 minutes by boat, as its mainland base with every desirable amenity that one could ask.

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Town Landing Road, Falmouth Broker: John Scribner, (207) 874-2057

Custom built in 2014, this architect-designed timber frame home offers stunning craftsmanship throughout. Conveniently located on Town Landing Road with access to the town's waterfront amenities. This home offers 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, indoor/outdoor lap pool opening to outdoor patio, stone fireplace, 2-car garage, and lots of outdoor living space.

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COMING SOON

Cliffside, Cape Elizabeth Broker: Karen N. Reiche, (207) 874-6159