"Portland is Maine's largest city and the business center of northern New England. The town features a working waterfront that's rare in a modern urban center."
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"Ranked No. 1 in this year's America's Most Livable Cities by Forbes.com, Portland sees little traffic congestion even in the busiest summer months. The Old Port area can at times appear almost
too quaint, but city leaders have carefully cultivated its historic look and discouraged chain stores or restaurants. Some of the nearby restaurants feature local produce—a reflection of a
back-to-the-land movement in the 1970s—and the renowned fresh seafood and Maine lobsters. The Maine College of Art has helped to stabilize and revitalize Portland's downtown. Other arts
fixtures are the Portland Museum of Art, the Portland Stage Company, the Maine Historical Society and Museum, and the Portland Symphony Orchestra."
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"Everything about Portland during the spring, summer, and fall encourages residents to venture outside. Salt air and tidal pools draw residents to explore close-in beaches. Portlanders bike and
walk island neighborhoods, where cars are rare, or any of the more than 200 islands in surrounding Casco Bay. An expansive network of trails also promotes biking and hiking throughout Portland,
which takes pride in being a compact, walkable city built before the automobile. Carless living isn't unusual in Portland, which Organic Gardening named one of the greenest cities in the nation.
Even winter doesn't keep residents inside, with the ocean moderating the chill and nearby mountains inviting downhill and cross-country skiers.
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