The cat does leave from Portland and also Bar Harbor. Deciding would depend upon what you want to see in Maine. Portland is a beautiful city, and Bar Harbor (Acadia) is a small coastal town. Many in mid Maine refer to the Portland area as the *other* Maine. I think if you are looking to see any of Maine, then it depends if you are looking at visiting a city or spending time seeing scenery, and relaxing. We make an occasional trip to both areas, and I enjoy both, just depends on what kind of mood I am looking for. For scenery, you cannot beat Bar Harbor, although there are some beautiful areas in and around the Porltand area. Hope you enjoy your trip!