When I booked my trip to Portland, Maine, I knew I would be trying at least a few different lobster rolls. I ended up trying five from some of the city’s most famous spots and was surprised by how differently they were all prepared.

Most were classic Maine-style rolls, which meant they were dressed with mayonnaise instead of warm butter. However, there were also variations in how much mayonnaise was used, how the lobster meat was prepared, the quality of the meat, and how much each roll cost.

I had assumed all lobster rolls were pretty much the same, but I was definitely mistaken. The one pictured above from Cousins Maine Lobster was succulent and juicy and came with just the right amount of mayonnaise.

However, my favorite roll was from Luke’s Lobster thanks to its signature seasoning.

While the lobster rolls were certainly memorable, I was also impressed by other restaurants during my stay.

Among them, we dined at Scales, one of the restaurants in the same family as Fore Street, a James Beard-nominated restaurant that’s one of the most hard-to-get-into restaurants in the city. I was beyond impressed by the quality of the food at both restaurants — I thought they were better than restaurants I’ve dined at in New York City in recent memory.

Standout dishes were the scallops from Scales, which were seared on the outside and paired perfectly with a fresh summer corn sauce, and the bourbon-brined half chicken from Fore Street, which was similarly packed with flavor.

While I was in Portland, I decided to view a few one-bedroom apartments to get a feel for how much it would cost to live there if I ever left New York.

I was surprised the apartments I toured were still out of my budget for a one-bedroom, even though Portland is a “second-tier” city. All of the apartments, which were in luxury buildings, cost around $2,500 a month.

While this is still too steep for me, I would have had access to incredible amenities like conference rooms, gyms, recreational areas, and even a swimming pool. These are all amenities that I could only dream about while living in New York City — apartments with those luxuries would cost much more.

According to Apartments.com, the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Portland in September 2024 is around $1,747 a month.

This is still roughly 10% higher than the national average of $1,564 a month, but New York City one-bedrooms are even more expensive. They run for an average of $3,867 a month, the site reported.

Coming from New York City, where it’s relatively easy to get around using the bus or subway, I was surprised that there wasn’t much public transportation in Portland. There is a trolley and bus service that service downtown and other areas, but there is no underground or aboveground subway, and I decided to mostly walk or drive during my stay in the city.

However, the main peninsula and downtown area were pretty walkable, with plenty of well-lit sidewalks that felt safe, even at night. I found myself using Uber to get from my hotel to restaurants late at night, though, just to be safe.

One of the biggest things that surprised me was how “New England” the city felt. From the historic architecture to the piers and the sound of seagulls cawing overhead as I explored the city, it felt distinctly different from any other city I’ve visited.

Thanks to the tourist shops and seafood shacks, it felt like a beach town, but it also had a sophisticated feeling from the luxury stores and high-end restaurants that you often find in a major city.

When I travel, I usually try to avoid the tourist traps. Despite living in New York City, I rarely see Broadway shows or visit Times Square, and I haven’t been to the Empire State Building since a high-school field trip.

I often find that doing typically touristy things, though often a necessary part of any first-time trip to a new place, is rarely my favorite part of a vacation.

However, when I booked a tour on a working lobster boat in Portland, I had no idea it would become my favorite memory from the trip.

I booked the tour through Lucky Catch Cruises, and for $50, I got to go out on the water, see how the lobstermen catch lobsters, learn how to do it myself, and even see Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine, from the water. The tour lasted an hour and a half and was an unforgettable part of my trip — and definitely worth the cost.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many quaint seaside towns were close to Portland, allowing me to easily take time away from the city.

One day, I took a quick excursion to Kennebunkport, Maine, which was filled with adorable souvenir shops, clothing stores, and a candy store where I could stock up on Maine’s famous saltwater taffy.

It was nice to know that while the city of Portland has a lot to offer, there were also more quaint New England adventures to be had less than an hour’s drive away.