Portland, Mainenew england charm

If you’re staying downtown—loosely defined as the Congress Street Arts District and the Old Port area—you can pretty easily navigate Portland’s hot spots without a car. The city has a metro bus system, but most of the its best dining, shopping and entertainment locales are all within easy walking distance of each other. Same goes for the ferry terminals that provide passage to the surrounding islands, most of which are similarly bike- or pedestrian-friendly. If you plan to hit the suburbs, rent a car. Taxis are available, but not plentiful, and the bus stops are pretty spread out.