If "charming and delightful" is your goal go to Portland. That's the tourist city that has all the tourism economy stuff to cater to tourists. Bangor is basic

If "charming and delightful" is your goal go to Portland. That's the tourist city that has all the tourism economy stuff to cater to tourists. Bangor is basically a giant service plaza for everything that's further north and west than your typical Masshole with three kids and spouse piled into the Land Rover is willing to drive. There's some dive bars, college bars and museums. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place but it's neither the "high culture city" nor the "charming rural backwater" that most of HN is looking to visit.