2016 Visitor's Guide

MAINE: REIMAGINED Lighthouses and lobsters and surf crashing on the rocky shore—these are the enduring images that come to mind when people think of the classic Maine seacoast. Here, in Greater Portland, you’ll absolutely experience the quintessential Maine coast, as well as an urban sophistication that’s creating quite a stir. This year TripAdvisor named Portland one of the Top 10 Destinations on the Rise, based on positive feedback and interest shown by their well-traveled community. If you haven’t already been, perhaps it’s time you come see what the buzz is all about for yourself! Welcome to the Greater Portland Casco Bay Region. AUTHENTIC - BY NATURE Greater Portland’s increasing popularity as a visitor destination is due, in part, to its genuine- ness. Ours is an inherently real place with real people going about their business, surrounded by the incredible natural beauty of our forests, fields, and waterways. Mixing arts and culture with outdoor adventure, our region is hip and stylish without being pretentious, a place where grey flannel and plaid flannel coexist companionably. And underlying the latest tech, fashion, and

culinary scene is a deep sense of continuity. We invite you to experience the character of a region that blends the present with a very special past. WATERFRONT Jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay, this region offers some of the best water access to islands, light- houses, beaches, and historic forts in Maine. Greater Portland is home to seven lighthouses, those silent testaments to Maine’s enduring connection to the sea and a favorite of photographers from around the world. Portland’s waterfront is still very much a working port, an integral and thriving part of the local economy, which is one of the authentic aspects that visitors find so appealing. In Portland, you’re never far from the sea and its changeable influences.

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