New England "tall tales":  In Search of Impressive New England City Skylines and Beyond

Article and photos by Eric H. (posted May 16, 2007)

New England cities offer many impressive skylines, but the ones that rise above the rest are Providence, R.I., Boston, Mass., and Portland, Maine:

PROVIDENCE

Providence, R.I., actually had very little skyline not too long ago, but the city went through an aggressive revitalization project that created a beautiful new look along three city rivers to go along with the well preserved historical elements. From the historic, beautiful Biltmore Hotel to the shiny modern office buildings (GTECH), and condos (Waterplace Condominium Towers), Providence indeed has a whole new look. It is a city well worth visiting, filled with great walking tours of the old and new and some of the best restaurants in New England.

BOSTON

Boston, Mass., already had an impressive skyline, but myriad modern buildings have sprouted to give the city virtually a whole new look from a distance. High rise office buildings compete against each other for height in a city skyline that seemed to be best know for the Hancock and Prudential buildings and not much else. With high rises seemingly going up every day, the Boston skyline seems significantly more substantial. Inside the city you will still find, of course, one of America's best preserved cities from the Brownstone look of Beacon Hill to the old North End Italian neighborhood. Extremely walkable, plan to spend several days exploring the diverse neighborhoods and the history that goes with it.

PORTLAND

Portland, Maine, might not have the tallest skyline, but the old and small to medium height buildings sure look combined with coastal water views. In a way, it's real testimony to a city that has a Holiday Inn as one of its major players in the skyline; a conservative and responsible building vision by the city has helped save Portland from looking like any other city. Yes, Portland has all the big city leanings -- museums, arts, entertainment, dining, hotels -- but has more of a small town feel with charming tree-lined old neighborhoods, lots of old brick in the sidewalks and buildings, amazing Victorian-style architecture, beautiful, quiet parks, and a laid back feel that isn't quite as bustling as larger cities. It's a great foundation for a Maine vacation with nearby beaches and classic coastal Maine destinations like Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. Portland, in fact, has been ranked #12 in the world by Frommer's in its list of Top Travel Destinations for 2007 and #6 on Relocate America'a Top 10 Places to Live in 2007.