Visitor's Guide 2018

COZY UP TO WINTER Recently recognized as the ‘Coziest City in America,’ Greater Portland is just getting warmed up to enjoy the quieter season’s many delights.

G reater Portland’s transition from autumn to the cooler months of winter is often referred to as the Quiet Season, but nothing could be further from the truth! As soon as the last leaves fall and the first frost glistens across windows, Maine’s largest metro area heats up with performing arts, award-winning cuisine, professional sports, delectable tours, engaging exhibitions, gallery openings, late-night shopping, ice bars, and exhilarating winter festivals. And Portland offers great culture at a fraction of the cost found in other cities. Contrary to the prevalent mistaken belief that our region is exceptionally cold, U.S. Climate data shows that Greater Portland’s average temperatures between December and March are only five to fifteen degrees under those in Boston and New York. Pleasant enough to ice skate outside or enjoy downtown shopping during Portland’s Merry Madness or Freeport’s Sparkle Celebration. Coastal Portland averages 50-70 total inches of snow in a winter season (comparable to, and sometimes less than nearby eastern seaboard states) while the interior areas get more—which is good because that’s where all the ski resorts are! (Continued on page 48)

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