Maine’s largest cities are frequently cited as great, safe places to raise a family. These rankings are positive, but not exactly exciting. Now, the state, through its biggest city, Portland, has gotten high marks from the adventure-sport set. The state should find ways to capitalize on these accolades.

The August issue of Outside magazine ranked Portland as its premier city on the East Coast. The annual ranking of the 30 best towns to live in boasted locales that are “fit, fun and packed with adventure.” Rockland also got a mention. Last year, Bar Harbor ranked a “next best” behind Bellingham, Wash., as the best place for avid paddlers to live. Portland got top billing in 2005 as well.

The magazine gushed about the city’s cultural scene, casual attitude, uncrowded streets and, naturally, proximity to adventure venues, such as the Back Cove Trail for running, East End Beach for kayaking and Long Island for bicycling.

Some residents who live north of Portland will ignore this as just more praise for a part of the state that doesn’t need it, but what boosts Portland helps the state as a whole.

The high marks come from a magazine with a subscriber base with a median age of 40 and median annual incomes of $72,000, three-quarters of whom have gone to college – the type of people that the state says it hopes to draw here for vacation and residency.

Steve Lyons, director of the State Office of Tourism, says Maine can’t afford to advertise with niche magazines like Outside because it has a limited budget. The office’s annual $3 million advertising budget goes toward ads in general travel magazines, big city newspapers and on television. The office also works with magazine and newspaper travel writers to pitch stories about Maine.

Maine’s domestic advertising budget ranks about average nationally, according to the Travel Industry of America. For 2006-07, Maine’s $3.4 million ranked it 29th among the 50 states. The top spenders were California at $15 million and Colorado and Missouri at $12 million apiece. Neighbors Vermont and New Hampshire spent $2 million and $3 million respectively.

With more people turning to the Internet to find information and book trips, Maine may be able to find lower-cost ways to attract visitors. Highlighting the rave reviews from Outside would be a good place to start.