Portland

Portland is the largest city in Maine, with an estimated population of 67,000 as of 2017. The city is comprised of several distinct areas, including the Old Port district, Peak’s Island, downtown and others. According to the United States Census Bureau, Portland is comprised of 21.31 square miles of land and 48.13 square miles of water. Portland borders the beautiful Casco Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounding towns include Falmouth, Westbrook and South Portland.

Portland is best known for its marine industry, appreciation for the arts, it’s 19th-century architecture and of late, it’s growing impressive culinary scene. Just 105 miles from Boston, Portland is also in close proximity to Portsmouth and Hampton, New Hampshire, as well as other tourists favorites in Maine. Visitors can be in Kennebunk in just 25 minutes, in Augusta in 55 minutes and up to Bangor, Maine in roughly two hours.

The city’s technology sector has grown significantly over the past several years, with the headquarters of companies such as WEX calling Portland home. IDEXX, Pioneer Telephone and Burnham & Morrill Co., maker of B&M Baked Beans, are all also headquartered in Portland, Maine.

For visitors, Portland has tons to offer. Whether you’re looking to experience the true Maine experience and explore the city’s lighthouses and beautiful shore, or you prefer to walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Port and shop at the city’s local boutiques, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, TripAdvisor named Portland, Maine one of the Top 10 Destinations to visit.

In terms of weather, Portland is super diverse. Generally, the city’s winters are cold and snowy, with high temperatures in January hovering around 30 degrees. In the summertime, Portland is the place to be, with highs in the 80’s, and just a few days in July hitting 90 degrees. Annual rainfall averages approximately 47.2 inches, however summers in Portland are generally fairly dry.

If you’re looking to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, Portland won’t disappoint. The city features more than 700 acres of open space and public parks and its surrounding communities offer 70 miles of trails, both urban and wooded, maintained by the nonprofit Portland Trails. Impressively, the Portland City Council banned the use of synthetic pesticides in all Portland parks in 2018. Some well-known parks in the city include the Eastern and Western Promenades, Lincoln Park, Congress Square Park, Fort Sumner Park and the Quarry Run Dog Park.

5 Fast Facts About Portland, Maine:

1. Several famous movies have been filmed in Portland, including ‘Message in a Bottle,’ ‘The Preacher's Wife’ and ‘Thinner.’
2. Portland’s new public transportation train system opened for business in 2016.
3. Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine.
4. The city broke away from Old Falmouth in 1786 on July 4th.
5. Portland is the closest transatlantic port in the U.S. to Europe.