PORTLAND (the New England version)
If you're partial to breweries, lobster, coffee, and Victorian/Colonial Era architecture, you could do a lot worse than Portland, Maine. Maine's largest city, Portland's population is a mere 68,000, but it has a vitality and urbanity that is much more akin to a major city. Portland's downtown and central neighborhoods, including Downtown, the Old Port, the West Side, East and West Bayside, and Munjoy Hill/East End, are located on a peninsula that juts out into Casco Bay. These photos are from the peninsula and from Peak's Island, one of several islands accessible by ferry that is within the city limits.
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West Side - A very walkable historic neighborhood
Heading into the Old Port area --
Working Waterfront/The Old Port/Downtown - The Old Port is a very hopping walkable and touristy neighborhood adjacent to what remains a mostly working waterfront, though there are some restaurants/ferry terminals/and shops sprinkled in. The Old Port pretty seamlessly blends into the Downtown area located further uphill. These photos start along the waterfront before getting into the Old Port and then finally the Downtown area.
Notice the giant cruise ship in the distance --
The town of South Portland is seen in the distance and the bridge linking S. Portland and Portland is to the right.
Portland is very protective of its working waterfront, but some of the buildings look like they are about to fall in on themselves --
Commercial Street. This road divides the mostly working waterfront from the Old Port area--
Looking uphill from Commercial toward the Downtown area --
The
Old Port area --
Exchange Street --
Portland City Hall seen in the distance --
Downtown Area (I only got a few shots of this area) --
Portland's new tallest is currently under construction --
Eastern Promenade - Really the star of Portland, the Eastern Promenade is an Olmstead-designed park that makes up the eastern edge of the peninsula. There is a pretty dramatic drop in elevation from the East End/Munjoy Hill neighborhood (which sadly I didn't get any pictures of) to the coastline which makes for some beautiful views. There is a pedestrian/bike path and tourist railroad that links the Downtown area to the Eastern Promenade.
Ferry trip to
Peaks Island--
The East End/Munjoy Hill neighborhood and the Portland Observatory are in the distance.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse in the foreground and Portland Head Light in the distant background --
The island is extremely seasonal/touristy in nature --
Portland has many good breweries. Belleflower is an especially good one.
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