We are travelling from Philadelphia to Maine the last week of October. We're spending 3 days in Bar Harbor, 2 days in Camden, and need a place to spend the last 2. I was thinking Portland, but I want to avoid a "big city" experience. Are we better off choosing another spot to end our trip?

We're in our late 20s, looking for shops, walking and restaurants. Thanks.

Portland would be perfect for "shops, walking, restaurants". Same goes for Portsmouth, NH. There's wonderful live music nights, too, in both.

Portland is a lovely small city, lacking in the usual "hustle bustle" of larger, more populated locations. It has a restored area on the waterfront and a nice downtown, as the earlier poster described. You can stop in Boothbay Harbor or Bath on the way down for a half-day excursion, as well.
Portsmouth has a small-town feel to it and is more like a seaside village than anything else. It has a Sheraton hotel in a good location. It is a charming place and well worth visiting, but much smaller, of course, than Portland.

Portland is a great place to stay. There are many fine restaurants, shops, coffee shops, clubs, etc. You'll love it. You can take a drive out to Portland Headlight, take a ferry out to the islands (Peaks, Chebeague, Long, etc.) or just take a leisurely drive north or south on route 1. I've lived here for 6 years and absolutely love it. Have fun!!

We enjoyed our day trip to Portland but stayed outside the area. Our last stop was KennebunkPort and loved it. It was only a hop skip and jump from Portland.
Kennebunkport Inn is a lovely inn that sits right on the water and a bit outside of the main drag. Wonderful restuarnt on premises. Kennebumport has great shops and old buildings.

Shar, I'm wondering if you mean the Colony Inn in Kennebunkport. The Kennebunkport Inn is right in Dock Square, you can see the river but it's not exactly on it...and the main drag: do you mean the Maine Turnpike? The Colony is indeed on the ocean with a fine restaurant on the premises, away from the hustle and bustle of the Dock Square area

Oops-you are right it wasn't the Bennebunkport Inn but it was the Cape Arundel Inn. It has a full view of the water and just down the street from Walker Point (Bush compound). It is an old mansion and the restaurant is very good on the premises.

Portland is a wonderful place to end your trip - stay in the "Old Port" area - it is perfect for people in your age group. Tons of little shops, cobblestone streets, lots of bars/nightlife and great food. Just my opinion, but the Old Port is a million times better than Portsmouth !! Have fun!

If you do decide to go to Portland, try to make it out to the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. Its a beautiful lighthouse and state park.