Want to go to Portland, Maine?
Yeah. I wasn’t all that jazzed about it either.
But when I found out that come November I can fly there nonstop out of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport for as low as $199 one-way — yeah, I know, still not cheap, but easier than driving to Tampa — I started Googling.
And lo and behold, last year Portland was considered one of the “most underrated cities for millennials” on matadornetwork.com.
The traveling website touts Portland’s great beer scene, young professional events, lobster, affordable rent and ocean view. The site gives a shout out to Hugo’s for the foodie in your crowd, but also brags about Empire‘s for authentic Chinese cuisine with a music venue upstairs.
Places like Allagash Brewing Company and Rising Tide are known for their craft beer. Portland has a 90’s night every Thursday at Bull Feeney’s and an ’80’s night every Friday at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge.
If you’re looking for a little more culture with your weekly boozing, once a month participating art galleries pass out free wine at the First Friday Art Walk.
And because you can’t trust everything you read online, I decided to ask a former local.
Maggie after finishing the Beach to Beacon 10k at Fort Williams Park. Photo by Maggie Clark
Unravel’s Maggie Clark actually lived there for nine months.
This is what she had to say:
Portland is beautiful in every season. While I lived there, I ran in the ice and snow during the winter and the sunny yet cool summer days. One of my favorite spots was the Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park, a free park on the ocean with amazing views and an iconic lighthouse. I lived on Back Cove, a lake-shaped cove in the center of the city that’s part of the ocean and experiences drastic tides every day. The Cove is the hub of the city’s huge running community, and I ran the trail there multiple times per week. There was nothing more beautiful than a sunrise run along the water.
Watching the sun rise after a run along Back Cove. Photo by Maggie Clark
The weather is really unpredictable and can be bad, but I think that’s why the food is so good. There’s an insane food scene in Portland, anchored by the state’s organic farms and locavore culture. I regularly made special trips for fresh bread and meats to the local Rosemont Market and Bakery, which had the best baked goods I’ve ever eaten. And as you’d expect, the farmer’s markets were incredible.
The Eastern Promenade after a fresh coat of snow. As white as it is in this photo, it’s equally green in the summer. Photo by Maggie Clark
While I’m sure the non-stop flight is designed to get Mainers down here, I think it’s a win for us Sarasota residents to get a quick plane ride to one cool town. With a good coat, the cold is manageable in November when the flights start, and the city offers plenty to keep you busy for a long weekend away.
So if you have any interest in going to Portland, it’s evidently cooler than I thought it would be.
And now that Elite Airways is launching Thursday and Sunday service from Portland to Sarasota — it’s a hell of a lot easier.