CNN Ranks Portland, Maine Among America’s Best Small Cities

Portland has been no stranger to positive accolades lately.

The city is frequently praised for its vibrant food scene, timeless neighborhoods, successful sports teams, beautiful working waterfront, and fascinating history. So, it should come as no surprise that the Forest City is receiving considerable national recognition from a leading news outlet in America.

America's Best Small Cities

CNN Travel decided to take a closer look at many of America's small cities to determine the best ones to visit. The site essentially utilized crowdsourcing with its staff and contributor network to compile a list of the 10 best in the nation.

The site had specific parameters to follow, including limiting the list to cities with a population between 50,000 and 220,000. The 10 communities chosen were then ranked, with our very own Portland coming in at a strong 4th place.

Portland, Maine, is One of America's Best Small Cities

CNN Travel cited many reasons for Portland’s high ranking on this prestigious list. One of the major reasons, of course, is the town’s beauty.

This is certainly not surprising to us locals, who spend considerable time in Portland. The town is unquestionably beautiful, with its regal coastal setting, dotted with pretty islands, historic forts, an iconic harbor, historic architecture, and cobblestone streets. It's a wonderful smorgasbord of evolution and tradition.

CNN Travel also astutely points out Portland's fairy tale-like location. The views of Casco Bay and Back Bay are first-class, and the skyline is classic. Venues like Hadlock Field, Thompson's Point, and East End Beach allow visitors to truly enjoy the city's natural splendor.

It's now easier than ever to enjoy these views and this location, especially considering that Portland seems to add a brand-new first-class hotel every week. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but it has certainly been quite a transformation downtown.

READ MORE: Portland, Maine's Best Hotels: TripAdvisor's Top-Rated Stay

Portland, Maine's Foodie Scene

But it wouldn't be an article about Portland if we didn't mention the city's first-rate culinary scene. CNN Travel had quite a few things to say about it, including this:

This historic harbor town offers some seriously up-to-date dining alongside classics reflecting Maine’s status as the US lobster capital. The food scene here has put it squarely on the map as a culinary destination.

CNN Travel is certainly not lying—the food scene is a monster. There's something for everyone, from fine dining to hot dog carts. Award-winning restaurants can be found right next to old dive bars. It's an eclectic mix that wonderfully illustrates just how food-diverse the city is.

The word has long been out about how special Portland is, and that word has really started to spread. CNN Travel's article perfectly encapsulates why people are falling head over heels for this city.

Only three cities finished ahead of Portland on this list, including a New England cousin. Here's a look at the top 3.

3. Tacoma, Washington
2. Providence, RI
1. Richmond, VA

You can find the entire list here.