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Harbor Fish

Straight from central casting, this busy fish store on scenic Custom House Wharf, off of Commercial Street in downtown Portland, is the stuff of any seafood-lover's dreams. In business since 1968, it has a reputation far and wide for supplying one of the best selections of fish around—everything from just-picked lobster meat and sweet Maine shrimp to smoked brook trout and seasonal catches such as bluefish. It will pack anything—including live lobsters—for travel. But even if you aren't in the market for food, it's fun to browse the retail shop's bibs, marinades, and T-shirts under the watchful eye of a shapely mermaid figurehead.

Insider Tip: In an effort to keep the fish fresh and clean, the muck-booted staff is liberal with its rinsing and hosing, so it's advisable to avoid open-toed shoes so as to not be bothered by the fishy trickles that often cover the store's concrete floor.