I’m a New Yorker who visited Portland, Maine, for the first time. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

• I recently visited Portland, Maine, for the first time.
• I was surprised by how much I enjoyed “touristy” activities like a lobster boat tour.
• I was constantly reminded that I was by the ocean, despite being in a city.

I grew up in New England, and have spent many summers visiting popular destinations like Nantucket, Newport, and York Beach.

Until this past August, I had never been to Portland, Maine, even though friends and family kept telling me it’s one of the best foodie cities in New England and should be on my travel list.

It’s not just those I know personally who have raved about Portland’s food scene — Bon Appétit named it the restaurant city of the year in 2018. So this summer, I decided to see it for myself.

Aside from access to amazing restaurants and its New England atmosphere, living in a smaller city like Portland has serious financial benefits. When I used Rent Cafe’s cost-of-living calculator to compare the cost of living in Portland and New York City — where I live — based on my current salary, I found it was 38% lower in Portland.

However, the difference in the cost of living wasn’t the only thing about Portland that surprised me. From the incredible food scene to my experience exploring the city, the most surprising things about Portland also became reasons I can’t wait to return.

Here are seven things that surprised me about visiting Portland for the first time as a New Yorker.