The Dining Car

You know those wide seats on Amtrak? Think of them as chariots designed to bring you home from a weekend of extravagant dining in Portland, Maine, a small city that's shining brightly on the national culinary map. Stop at the Portland Public Market (portlandmarket.com) to get into the mood and maybe find a snack of regional produce, cheeses, and wines. Then plan your meals around the city's most notable restaurants. At Fore Street (207-775-2717, from $125 for two), the specialty is apple-wood grilling and roasting. Cinque Terre (207-347-6154, from $110 for two) is a den of northern Italian dining, set off a cobblestone alley. Hugo's (207-774-8538, from $140 for two) features a tasting menu from a chef-owner who's an alum of the famous French Laundry in Yountville, California. Amtrak (800-872-7245, amtrak.com, $42 round trip) runs four Downeaster trains daily between North Station in Boston and Portland. - Wayne Curtis