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Portland, Maine

The arrival of passenger rail in Maine, via the Downeaster line, is certainly an exciting event, particularly for the city of Portland. Even now, in the midst of winter, there are so many things to do and places to see in Portland. Portland is Maine's largest city, and has the the largest number of restaurants per capita, second only to San Francisco. The Old Port is filled with shops, restaurants and saloons, and alleys, nooks and crannies providing a fun and interesting area to stroll through. Visitors can take the Portland Metrobus to travel throughout the city.

If you take the Downeaster to Portland from Boston, you will arrive at the Sewall Street Concord Trailways Bus Station, which is now a combined train/bus station. Take Metrobus #5 from the station to downtown and the Old Port.

If you go to Portland, consider the Eastland Park Hotel. Almost 75 years old, the Eastland has been wonderfully restored to its former beauty and elegance. A new restaurant, Restaurant Decoupage, has opened within the hotel and many other restaurants are nearby. The hotel is within a block of the Children's Museum of Maine and the Portland Museum of Art. Check TurboTrip for Eastland Park reduced rates, and for other hotel availability.

The Old Port is not the only neighborhood boasting fine restaurants. The area around Deering Oaks Park, a beautiful park right within the heart of the city, features The Roma restaurant and Bintliff's American Cafe. Bintliff's is a beautifully decorated restaurant, featuring a varied menu, including some of the best, and most creative, ravioli that I have every tasted. When we visited, the chef came out to meet us and even gave my son a tour of the kitchen. The service is excellent and the ambiance relaxed and unhurried. Bintliff's is at 98 Portland St, Portland, ME 04101, (207) 774-0005.

In the same vicinity is The Roma, housed in a historic mansion on Congress Street. The inside of the 1887 house is as it was those many years ago - small dining rooms scattered throughout. The menu features excellent beef, veal and fish dishes and luxurious desserts.

For those of you who enjoy visiting train museums, stop by Portland's Narrow Gauge Railway Company and Museum, on Fore Street, near the Old Port. This rail complex includes an operating Maine twofer gauge railroad, over a mile of track, and operating diesel and steam locomotives. The line runs along the Portland harbor seawall with a panoramic view of the harbor and the maritime activity that occurs there. For adult and child, this railroad museum is worth a visit.

When you got to Portland, take along "Portland Undercover: How to Visit New England's Hippest City Without Looking Like a Tourist," written by local reporter Chris Barry and published in 2000. This is the book Mainers (as I am) use to discover and rediscover the city. It is a small book, filled with much more information than its size would indicate, and is the perfect accompaniment to your trip.