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STIR IT UP Maine’s largest metro area has lots of exciting activities to get the party started– or keep one going. Fine dining amid the region’s celebrated culinary scene is a great way to begin (multi-course menus are on tap throughout the region). Then move on to a variety of venues, from small performing arts spaces, to grand concert halls, to theaters offering arts experiences from traditional to avant-garde. Those craving a specialty cocktail, a pounding night on the dance floor, or quiet, romantic banter can choose from dozens of area nightclubs, bars, and music halls. An over- night stay in downtown Portland will position you for a quick and safe walk home when it’s time for lights out. (More on pages 31, 35)

SEE WHAT BEACONS No less than six lighthouses line Portland Harbor to protect incoming ships from the area’s famously rocky coast. The iconic beacons of Greater Portland are each unique representations of nautical history. Whether fashioned after Greek temples, attached to private homes, or having the distinction of being the first lighthouse commissioned by the U.S. government, these classic structures evoke a romantic sense of the sea. Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth is one of the most picturesque cliff-side towers found anywhere, and its quintessential New England design makes it one of the most photographed

SHOP AROUND With specialty shops for dog lovers, comic collectors, and those who love to cook (and eat!), you’ll be tempted to bring home several treasures. Nationally renowned designers, gourmet chocolatiers, local artisans, and farm-to-table purveyors share downtown storefronts with national retailers in this eclectic city. Poke through shops and galleries lining cobblestone streets in the Old Port. 15 minutes north of Portland, the picturesque shops of Freeport’s charming New England village are home to upscale outlets. Don’t be deterred if you lack some essential gear for the next day’s outdoor adventure—the flagship store of world-famous outfitter L.L.Bean is open 24 hours every day, 365 days of the year. (More on pages 50-56)

lighthouses in the world. (More on pages 24, 41)

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: CALENDAR ISLAND SAILING CO.; COREY TEMPLETON; ROBERT WITKOWSKI; JENNIFER KEARNS; DREW FORTIN; PORTLAND SEA DOGS;

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