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T oo many visitors never venture further than the 3 or 4 miles that comprise down- town Portland. But communities, both in Portland proper and in the surrounding towns of Greater Portland, deserve your attention. The Rosemont and Deering neighborhoods, still part of the city of Portland, feature boutiques, bistros, and relaxing coffee houses. Woodfords Corner has become a culinary hub with cafes, bakeries, ethnic food shops, and restaurants serving a wide range of cuisine. On two college campuses in Portland you’ll find galleries, a planetarium, and engaging exhibits and presentations open to the public. Located in the historic Stroudwater District, the Tate House is a pre-Revolutionary museum home that gives one a glimpse into life during the Colonial era. Minutes north of Portland, expansive farms, mills, and quintessential New England church steeples poke above the villages of Falmouth, Cumberland and Yarmouth. Stop for refresh- ments in a cafe or for picnic fixings in a general store, then head for Pownal where picturesque Bradbury Mountain offers easy day hikes. Next door, Freeport is famous for the bargains found at its many national outlets as well as being home to the always-open campus of stores at L.L. Bean’s world headquarters. But there’s so much more to explore in Freeport, including the seaside hiking trails at Wolfe’s NeckWoods State Park and the walk-on adventure clinics offered at L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery School. Immediately west of Portland, Westbrook’s burgeoning culinary and cultural offerings make this riverfront town a less-crowded yet exciting alternative for a night out. Nearby, Gorham’s University of SouthernMaine campus and quaint downtown is less than 20 minutes from its Portland’s sister campus. The coastal towns of South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough wrap around the city’s south, while the Calendar Islands fan out across Casco Bay. These are the places to find lighthouses, military forts, rocky cliffs, vast beaches, mysterious marshland, and the scenic Eastern Trail, where hikers and bicycles will find 22 off-road miles on which to exercise. WHAT’S SO GREAT Portland is a hub surrounded by communities that complement and accent Maine’s largest city; explore and see what we mean.

ABOUT GREATER PORTLAND?

Even within Portland city limits, secret escapes and oases await your discovery.

PHOTO: COREY TEMPLETON

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