For off-price shoppers or shoppers of any kind, Freeport Maine is a glorious place. Of course, Big Daddy, the L.L. Bean flagship store, led the charge here, making way for Brooks Bros, Cole Haan, Banana Republic, Coach, and a slew of luxury name brands.
But we’ve got a few other suggestions for your getaway just 20 minutes from Portland ME, including a hike along Casco Bay, visiting a coastal desert, and a stay in classic New England Inn with some innovative ideas.
For more dreamy weekends in the State, check out the Mavens’ Best Romantic Getaways in Maine post.
Things to Do In Freeport Maine
SHOP: LL Bean
This is why you come here. With lifetime guarantees on all its products, LL Bean did not become a trusted mega-brand by accident. Its signature Muck/Hunting boot, launched in 1912, turned 114 years old in 2026, and now there are so many more styles to choose from.
The LL Bean complex, open 24/7 all year, is as big as a college campus – with specialty stores around a center courtyard. You can spend hours in them, and then some. (2025-2026 saw a massive expansion and updated complex).
DO: LL Bean Lectures, Concerts and Events
There’s always something going on at the Freeport Stores – mostly out on the “Green” in the center of the LL Bean campus.
DO: LL Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
Get out there, on the water, on the trail. Whether you’re kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, biking, or camping overnight, the LL Bean Outdoor Discovery Program workshops and classes inspire and teach. Plus, they’ll get you and your kids off those screens.
SHOP: Freeport Outlets Luxury Outlet Stores
Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Orvis, and dozens of other off-price shops. You don’t even have to get in your car. Freeport, anchored by LL Bean, is one big outlet mall offering world-class shopping.
VISIT: Desert of Maine
Dunes on the coast of Maine? Yep, they are here, and you can pretend to be Lawrence of Arabia while walking the hills of sand.
The Desert of Maine on the lush New England Coast started out as an oddity at the dawn of roadside tourist attractions. Once a working farm in the 1800’s, over-cultivation, sheep grazing, and loss of topsoil – in other words, mismanagement of the property – exposed the underlying silt and sand left by glaciers during the last ice age, creating sand dunes in the weirdest of places. The farm was abandoned in 1890.
Naturalist, Henry Goldrup purchased the property and, in 1926, opened it as the “Sand Farm” to curious tourists. The 25-acre Desert of Maine has evolved to include a mile-long loop trail with educational and historical stops along the way. Compare grains of silt and sand under microscope, and through sifters in the Geology Lab. Dig for fossils. Hunt for glittery rocks in Gemstone Village, and walk the paths dotted with informational panels. (Be sure to stay off the dunes, however).
There’s a mini-train ride, mini-golf, and ice-cream shop – making this a true, old fashioned, something-for-everyone tourist attraction. Definitely worth visiting. Consult website for hours and dates open, and ticket prices.
HIKE: Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
Care for some intoxicating views on a Freeport ME leg-stretcher? I mean, you can only shop for so long. Head a few minutes out of town for a hike at the 200-acre Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. Best trail? The half-mile Casco Bay Trail, of course, which takes you through the woods, over rocks, and down rocky steps to the waterfront. An easy hike with a great payoff.
HIKE: Bradbury Mountain State Park
Just a short drive from Freeport, Bradbury Mountain State Park boasts a network of well-maintained hiking trails, providing stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside from the summit of Bradbury Mountain itself. Whether you’re an avid hiker or just looking for a leisurely stroll, the park caters to all levels of adventurers.
Where to Drink and Eat in Freeport ME
DRINK/EAT: Breweries in Freeport Maine
Freeport is lucky to have three great breweries serving up tasty – and very good brews…and food.
Goodfire Taproom
Goodfire excels in small batch cloudy New England IPA’s.
Maine Beer Co.
The “OG” for Mainers, Maine Beer Company began in Freeport and its flagship remains here. Ever expanding, you can find their West Coast style IPA’s around the country. Even better, the company is a member of “1% For the Planet,” donating one percent of its gross sales to environmental nonprofits.
Mast Landing Brewing Co.
Mast Landing Brewing was named for Freeport’s original name in the 1700’s, after Europe’s White Pine trees – straight and perfect for ship’s masts – had been decimated, and the British Navy discovered plenty more in this section of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Now, Mast Landing Brewery draws lovers of a medley of IPA’s, including one actually called Medley.
EAT: Locals Recommend
The “unassuming” Freeport Oyster Bar for oysters and cocktails, Mainely Seafood for lobster rolls, Tuscan Bistro for Italian, Kings Head Pub for “great smash burgers,” and Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster for their Haddock Sandwich.
Where to Stay in Freeport Maine
STAY: Brewster House Bed and Breakfast – A Maven Favorite
Located steps from the center of downtown Freeport ME, a short walk from outlet stores and, everything LL Bean, the 7-room Brewster House B&B, owned by couple David Noel and Kelleigh Dulany, is both traditional New England AND a novel, forward thinking inn. With a backyard Nordic-syle sauna and cold plunge, and professional NYC-trained chef, the Brewster House B&B warrants its own page as a Maven Favorite.
STAY: Harraseeket Inn – Freeport Maine
Sprawling and whitewashed, Harraseeket Inn sits on a busy street just a few blocks from the center of town, and bustles with activity every day. The biggest surprise about the old New England-style Harraseeket Inn is its age. Appearing to the world like a hundred-year-old country inn, the bulk of the building was actually constructed in1984.
The Harraseeket changed hands a few years ago, but remains a mainstay in town for folks looking for a full-service hotel.
