Thinking about where to make a trip this year?

New England had two locations land on CNN's Best Towns to Visit in 2024 list, and these spots are prime for a 2025 visit as well.

Providence, Rhode Island, took the No. 2 spot, which is nice, but let's talk about Portland, Maine, scoring No. 4 on the list and why it's a great place to visit in 2024, 2025 and beyond.

Visit Portland, Maine

It's probably a thrill for Portland to be "nominated," but it's got enough awesomeness that it could definitely have taken a top spot.

CNN said that when coming up with the 2024 list, it looked for smaller cities that aren't on everyone's travel lists, so not places like New York City or San Francisco.

World Population Review said that Portland has nearly 70,000 people living there, which fits right in line with CNN's qualifying range of 50,000 to 225,000 residents.

Granted, it does seem like Portland, Bar Harbor, and Kennebunkport are the popular answers when "top" or "best" lists feature Maine, so it would have been a bigger surprise to see a different city/town revealed from CNN.

That said, Portland greatly represents what the city and state have to offer, so it's not a negative either.

CNN gave top marks to Portland's next-level food scene, coastal setting, and outdoor access, which helped it earn its spot in fourth place on the list.

Food in Portland, Maine

Portland crushes it when it comes to its food. Redbook and Capture the Atlas are just two publications that shout out the foodie city as the best of the best, and the numerous types of restaurants and meal options make for endless delicious possibilities.

You want fine dining? Check. You want a classic diner? Check. Seafood? Check. I could keep going...

Maine also had James Beard Award winners in 2024, and more recently for 2025, 10 nominees for the coveted recognition.

READ MORE: One of the Most Creative US Bakeries Is Hidden Inside This Unique Little Portland Market

Portland has multiple museums, beautiful hotels, numerous shops for buying stuff, walkability, breweries, rich history, and access to the water. Oh, and the view is incredible, too.

CNN says that "strolling the bustling center [of Portland] offers a window onto centuries of maritime history and a Victorian-era rebirth."

There really is so much that Portland has to offer and can boast about, that it's great to see even a place like CNN giving it a shout-out as a must-visit for 2024.

And it's just one more good reason to make the trip to Portland this year and years to come.

The 20 Most Popular Restaurants in Portland, Maine Right Now

Here are the 20 most popular restaurants in Maine's largest city of Portland, according to TripAdvisor rankings. This list comes from January of 2025.

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

25 Greater Portland, Maine, Restaurants That Have Been Featured on National Television Shows

Here's a list of 20 prominent Greater Portland, Maine restaurants that have been featured on national television shows. This is a great representation of the region's incredible food scene.

Data was researched from tvfoodmaps.com

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

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