Residents say that Portland is less a city than a collection of individual neighborhoods, an easy city to navigate city, a small-town feel with all that a larger city has to offer.
The historical part of the city is near or on the waterfront. Commercial Street hugs the port. The “Old Port” is filled with small shops that offer everything from nautical instruments to bags made from sails to cosmetics made from seaweed. Cultural activities abound; Portland is a lively, diverse, exhilarating city with residents that take pride in its offerings. It has been said that Portland likely has more craft breweries than a lot of larger cities; many of them open for meals. There is a thriving art scene and year-round outside activities, and recent statistics cite that Portland has more restaurants per capita than any other US city.
It’s little wonder that Portland, Maine, is frequently in the top 100 most livable cities in the US. Recently, according to livability.com, Portland has emerged as “an attractive option for families and young professionals eager to take a step back from the frenzied lifestyle of large East Coast cities, without sacrificing the culture and conveniences of metropolitan living”. Healthy living is important to Portland residents, and with its numerous parks, healthy eating options, local organic farmers’ markets, it’s a great city for staying in great shape. Back Cove Park is hugely popular, with a 3.5 mile loop that encompasses an estuary basin about a mile in diameter. As well, Portland houses Maine Medical Center, an allopathic teaching hospital for Tufts University and home to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.
Portland has a friendly feel with ample opportunities for adults and children to savor this city.