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lsanborn t1_j988rq7 wrote

Funny, I can remember people making very similar comments 30 years ago and my father laughing at the time because he’d heard it all before. Actually, Bangor has been on the “decline” since about 1880. Since the lumber industry went bust, we have been a commercial center for people who just don’t have that much disposable income. I think things are better, but change is slow and erratic. But, do we want to turn into Portland? Insane housing prices, uncontrolled urban sprawl, a lot of pretentious nonsense and mobs of tourists. There is a lot I love about Portland but they’ve got their problems.

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EmeraldMoose12 OP t1_j9902v1 wrote

I wasn’t trying to say Bangor should become a Portland clone. Just that there are some similarities, but it’s much further up 95, so it would weed out most of the pretentious people from the big city.

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MooshuCat t1_j99o7cp wrote

I got exactly what you were trying to say. It could be more vibrant of a city for Mainers, while being far enough away to keep out major tourism and gentrification.

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maskedbanditoftruth t1_j9aileq wrote

Nothing keeps out tourism and gentrification if a place is remotely desirable to be anymore.

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Bingo337 t1_j98inuv wrote

Is Bangor a nice place to visit for a family friendly vacation or would you recommend another city/area of Maine?

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Amaryella92 t1_j98szgg wrote

I would go somewhere on the water, (Bar Harbor, Camden, Belfast) on the coast or up in the mountains (Sugarloaf, Rangeley, moosehead) I'm not sure where your originally from. I'm from the Bangor area and I don't know why anyone would want to "vacation" here but others may have more insight.

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DougOneBillion t1_j98vyqc wrote

Bangor’s a great place to get a hotel room and take a nice hot shower after a few days of hiking in Baxter State Park. I recommend it as a central location utilized to make day trips to some of the most beautiful spots in Maine. Get up at dawn’s crack and climb Katahdin, or head to Belfast, or hike Gulf Hagas then keep driving to eat lunch at Abbott Bakery… visit Fort Knox and go up to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge observatory.

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nzdastardly t1_j98yb1y wrote

No way go to one of the little motels in Millinocket!

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DougOneBillion t1_j993fjs wrote

Can’t bear to ever since La Casa was torn down. 😪🍈🤗🍈😪

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Psychological-Bear-9 t1_j98wcmw wrote

If you like being bored and disappointed. A commenter already suggested your best bet. The coast or the woods. There is nothing in Bangor you probably can't find at home.

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