I Moved to Maine: Favourite Issues About New England As a Younger Grownup

• I relocated from the Bay Space in California to Portland, Maine, for a residency two years in the past.
• I’ve fallen in love with New England’s altering seasons and the numerous issues to do in each.
• I am actually glad I moved to Portland and have discovered so many enjoyable issues to do there as a younger grownup.

In 2023, I relocated from the Bay Space in California to Portland, Maine, for a residency.

I would by no means visited Maine earlier than and was excited for the chance to reside in a brand new place in my 20s. Though I solely supposed to remain there all through my program, I’ve since discovered myself enthralled with life in New England and am undecided I am going to depart.

Portland has stolen my coronary heart, and there are just a few causes I am unable to think about being happier anyplace else.

Portland’s meals scene has taken my breath away

Each information I learn earlier than shifting to Portland highlighted its spectacular meals and beverage scene. As soon as I arrived, I discovered the choices have been so significantly better and extra various than I anticipated.

Past recent seafood, town has tons of distinctive treats (like potato doughnuts at Holy Donut), plus domestically brewed beers, kombucha, and occasional.

Lobster is actually standard in New England, so I had excessive expectations attempting it for the primary time — and I used to be not upset. It was scrumptious dipped in butter and paired with corn on the cob and potatoes.

Plus, the midsize metropolis has a reasonably various culinary scene that includes Japanese, Latin American, Chinese language, and Cajun eating places, simply to call just a few.

All 4 seasons give me one thing new to look ahead to

In California, most of the seasons can blur collectively and are pretty gentle. Right here, I like seeing and feeling them change.

Summers in Maine are peak tourism season, full of sunshine, recent seafood, and outside actions. After I first moved, I used to be shocked simply how shortly summer time progressed into fall.

Town went from being bustling and stuffed with vacationers to being quieter and chillier. Many retailers downtown shut after the season ends, solely to open up as soon as it begins once more.

Happily, fall additionally welcomes the attractive — however fleeting — leaf-peeping season.

When the foliage peaks right here, a few of my favourite actions are taking lengthy drives on the freeway and crusing on Casco Bay to view the brightly coloured leaves.

Fall weekends may be spent apple selecting and having fun with recent cider doughnuts at native farms a mere 30-minute drive from downtown.

Plus, residing within the land of Stephen King (the well-known horror author was born in Portland) makes Halloween even spookier.

Come winter, temperatures drop shortly. Happily, enjoyable outside actions assist me recognize the chilly.

I get pleasure from cross-country snowboarding with mates right here — we even discovered a path the place you possibly can sip beer and lounge by a fireplace when you get to the highest.

Portland additionally has just a few ponds that freeze over, so I can ice skate virtually each night after work within the winter.

Then, the nice and cozy spring climate comes with revitalizing actions.

Early spring is sugaring season in New England, the place it is simple to go to close by farms to look at reside demos on learn how to faucet maple bushes and pattern totally different flavors of syrup.

Later within the season, I am going kayaking on native rivers and in Casco Bay. Considered one of my most memorable journeys was kayaking to Fort Gorges, a former navy fort solely accessible by boat.

Town of Portland additionally organizes artwork walks within the spring, the place 1000’s collect to benefit from the museums and galleries on the town which might be quickly open without cost admission.

Total, I’ve discovered Portland is a surprisingly nice metropolis for younger folks like me

Though New England can have a popularity for catering to older residents, my time in Portland as a younger grownup in my 20s has been unexpectedly eventful.

The numerous barcades and breweries, the nightlife in Previous Port, the reside music on the waterfront, and the proximity to a plethora of outside actions make town something however boring.

It has been nice to reside in such a walkable metropolis, but when I made the transfer once more, I would convey a automotive so I might extra simply discover the remainder of New England.

Nonetheless, it is OK if I do not go too far for now. Portland has every thing I need in a metropolis, and there is nonetheless a lot extra I am wanting ahead to seeing within it.