L.L. Bean

To us, Freeport Maine = LL Bean. The retailer built its first and largest store on Freeport’s Main Street over a century again. Since then, it has drawn those who like LL Bean’s products from all over. Shopping at the mothership for its vast range of outdoor clothing and other items is a totally different experience from leafing through a catalog. It provides a good opportunity to try on clothing for fit before buying. And, heck, you never know when you might want to make an impulse purchase for a crossbow.

But Wait, There’s More

For those who have never been to Freeport, it is an outlet shopper’s paradise. Hundreds of other companies, looking to capitalize on the 24-hour a day traffic that Bean generates, built outlet stores in the town. While this has turned Freeport into something of a zoo, you can now literally, shop until you drop.

Interspersed with to the brand name retailers’ outlet stores are fun little local shops. You can find pretty much any type of clothing and accessories you may want in Freeport.. The town also has plenty of family-friendly entertainment and, of course, restaurants. Our favorite restaurant is a short drive down to the South Freeport harbor to the Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Co.. You can buy live lobsters or purchase food for indoor and outdoor seating. We couldn’t resist chowing down on a very good lobster roll, fried belly clams, and a large slice of decent blueberry pie. Our only disappointment was the overly battered onion rings. Next time we will stick to lobster and clams.

And if You Are Not Into Shopping

Tired of shopping? You can find nice drives along the coast and hikes to walk off the lobster and clams you just ate. The area also has the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment a sustainable coastal farm that contains a demonstration farm, oceanfront campground, wooded trails, and historic buildings.