On a recent trip up North, Girlawhirl knew that she couldn't leave the state of Maine without spending an afternoon checking out the outlets of Freeport, which include L.L. Bean – one of the town's most prominent businesses. Heading into town, Girlawhirl first passed the huge corporate complex with warehouse and offices, then the new outlet store that's just on the outskirts of town, and finally right smack in the middle of the bustling downtown area, surrounded by likeminded outlets from Patagonia, The North Face and Horny Toad, the multi-store complex called LL Bean…
The L.L. Bean main store isn't an outlet – but there are great bargains to be found. And for reasons that Girlawhirl and her Super Pals can't quite figure out, it's also open 24 hours a day every day of the year, even holidays!
Girlawhirl and her Pals were in Freeport to check out the often talked about outlets, and what they found was a fun mix of great bargains, cool clothes with an athletic twist, a splash of fashion and plenty of snacking along the way. In the downtown area, most of the shopping is centered around Main Street, with plenty of parking behind the stores that line the street. There's no need to drive from store to store. Once the Pals parked they left their car for the day and stopped back every now and then to fill up the trunk with bags.
Their favorite outlets, like Banana Republic, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren and the Gap were there, along with Coach, Anne Klein, Burberry, Cole Haan and Nine West. So they made sure to cover those as they made their way up and down Main Street. Even more fun were the unexpected stores, like The Beadin' Path where they spent almost an hour ogling the stones, crystals and beads, and left with all they needed to make their own earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Across the street is Buttons & Things, where they were overwhelmed with all types of buttons.
When Pigs Fly, already a favorite for their famous Chocolate Bread, recently opened a store on Main Street where everyone gets to taste – because it would be impossible to choose among the 20 odd varieties of bread, from sweet to savory, without taking a bite first. There's a Ben and Jerry's for ice cream treats, but what Girlawhirl likes second best – after the Chunky Monkey – about this Ben and Jerry's shop are all the posters that advertise local events. It's a great way for visitors to find out about what's going on in Freeport.
What makes Freeport even better than the typical collection of outlet stores are the local shops that are thrown into the mix. Edgecomb Potters Galleries carries glass, wood and jewelry from some of the most talented craftsmen and craftswomen around the country. Wilbur's Candy Shoppe carries award winning homemade chocolates and chocolate covered blueberries and cranberries. And Sherman's Books & Stationery has been part of Freeport history since 1886!
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| Sep 1, 2006: | Girlawhirl chills out in Bar Harbor Maine. read full entry |
| Jul 31, 2006: | Portland Maine shopping. read full entry |
| Sep 22, 2005: | Child Like Chocolate. read full entry |