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Before Patrick Dempsey became Dr. McDreamy, he was a boy who grew up near Portland, ME, loving the outdoors much like his "Grey's Anatomy" character. Dempsey has since moved to Los Angeles, but his aff ection for the area remains, and he takes his family-wife, Jillian; daughter, Tallula; and twin boys, Darby and Sullivan-to the farm he owns there as oft en as he can. "I think I am who I am because of where I come from," he says.

How has Portland changed since you were growing up in the area? "I think Portland has changed profoundly. It's become much more family friendly since the 1970s and early '80s, when I was growing up. It has become more quaint. I like walking the streets; I really love the architecture. I love the cobblestone streets of downtown and the Old Port, the historical part of town. Something that makes Portland personal for me is that locals own the shops. When you buy something there, it's from a friend."

Where would you take a first-time visitor? "I would take them down to the Old Port and have them explore that area. To learn about the history of Portland, I'd recommend the Old Port Walking Tour (www.portlandlandmarks.org). This gives a wonderful history of the town and allows visitors to step back in time and see what Portland was like a hundred years ago. To take the time to explore all the shops, and sit and watch the people is always great fun. I'd also recommend one of the land and sea tours given by Portland Discovery (www.portland.discovery.com). Also, people should see the Portland Observatory (www.portlandlandmarks.org). It's not just a great museum; it also has a beautiful view of Casco Bay."

What is your favorite part of Portland? "I love Old Port. It's an amazing blend of the old and the new. The warehouses have been restored and there are shops, restaurants and pubs there now. The influences of many cultures are in Portland. It has a strong Irish showing, but it also has a strong French Canadian influence."

What are your favorite restaurants in Portland? "My favorite restaurant isn't actually a restaurant, but a market on Merrill's Wharf in Old Port called Browne Trading Company (www.brownetrading.com). It's kind of a gourmet place. A lot of the restaurants in Portland, and around the world, serve seafood from Browne's. I like to go there to get some caviar, crab and lobster. I'll take my snacks and sit in one of the parks nearby to watch the bay or the people as they walk past. Portland has some beautiful parks and I love to people watch. I'm also a fan of Old Port Tavern (www.oldporttavern.com) in the Mariners Church Building, one of the oldest buildings in the city."

What are local Mainers like? "The people of Maine are incredibly hardy, and 'persevere' is one of their key words. If there's a crisis, at any moment, they're right there for you. Your neighbors are strong. They give you the privacy you need, but they're there and they're watchful."

Why does visiting Maine remain an important part of your life? "I bought a farm in Maine, [fulfilling] a promise I made many years ago to my mother-that I was going to become rich and famous and buy a big house in Maine. It's not a big house, but it's on the coast in Harpswell. By embracing where I came from, I found myself again. I found that I didn't need to be successful, I just needed to be okay with myself. Maine brings me back to my family, and it reminds me of how much I need to get my family back there and allow my boys and my daughter to experience the land and the people."

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