photo by gusto

One of America’s original seacoast towns, Portland is home to lovely seaside estates and scrumptious local cuisine. It’s also Maine’s largest city, rich in history and festive in character – the quintessential northeastern town. Beautiful any time of year, Portland is a great place to wander. Foodies are particularly fond of Portland because of the town’s many spectacular restaurants. Local produce and organic ingredients enhance area menus and yield some of the best haute cuisine the east coast has to offer. Eating is such a popular pastime in Portland that the city is known for having one of the largest number of restaurants per capita in the United States.

If you are planning a trip to Portland, make reservations at Fore Street. This converted warehouse is next to the water, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer superb views as you nibble on two texture duckling, or white carrot bisque. Five Fifty-Five is another must-do, where you can sample lobster risotto and three citrus-cured Scottish salmon. Steve Corry (formerly of Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley) oversees the menu, and if you’re present on a holiday, you might be treated to lively bagpipe music. Once you’re done eating, you might want to take a walk throughout one of Portland’s celebrated historical districts. Old Port, for instance, is an excellent place for a stroll. A waterfront community and revitalized warehouse district, Old Port is host to a number of chic boutiques, art galleries and (of course) restaurants. Another great neighborhood is Old Orchard Beach. Featuring a 700-foot pier and a seven-mile long beach, Old Orchard Beach evokes the charming nostalgia of innocent times past.