fran

Is Freeport going to be totally congested the first week in October? And is there a "historic" part to the town or is it all outlet shopping?

soused clam

ayuh,ayuh, can't get there from here.

Bert

At peak leaf-peeping time I'd avoid Freeport like the plague. Of course, I'd avoid Freeport like the plague anytime. Why not just go shopping on Manhattan? The prices are better and you'd avoid the crowds and traffic. It's really a shame what they've done to a once-beautiful town. You can get that outlet stuff anywhere - if you're in the southern Maine area and want a more eclectic shopping experience I'd recommend the Old Port section of Portland - better restaurants as well.

joebob

Yes. it is going to be totally congested. You made it all the way up there from Salem, and now you are going to sit in traffic for an outlet mall? Keep on going up the coast and stop in Acadia/Bar Harbor.

LoisLane

Avoid it...not only will it be congested it will be packed with buses!!
Whatever else might be in Freeport is obscured by the outlets. Drive on by.

fran

OK, I am convinced. We will go to Salem, then on to Kennebunkport for a night, and then to Bar Harbor for four days, then a night in Portland before our flight home.

Patrick

Years ago we went through Freeport and I saw the brand new McDonalds. I was truly impressed because it didn't look anything like a McDonalds, but was carefully designed to blend in with the local architecture. Last year I went through Freeport again. Oh my god, it was one huge long outlet mall. How could they?

Bert

Wise, very wise.

Parrot Mom

If your coming down from Portland leave time for the outlets in Kittery, Maine..much funkier.. and wll within a mile or two...

Ann

Last summer with some time to kill before a clambake at a state park in Freeport (can't remember the name but it was beautifull) I insisted we discover the non-commercial Freeport, assuming it existed! We drove north of town, then down some small road heading toward the coast. We discovered a beautiful area of coastal farms and interesting homes, etc. I don't know that I'd send someone out of their way but I did enjoy seeing the "other" Freeport. Not a bad place if you enjoy exploring back roads.

joebob

Fran- your "new" itinerary is much better, if you must do outlets you can reach kittery from Salem in under an hour or just do that on your way to kennebunk.

fran

I don't know where everyone got the idea I want outlets! I'm trying to avoid them. I had an opportunity for a great deal at an inn in Freeport, and that's why I was thinking of it.

Kath

Is it just an LL Bean outlet or is it some huge outlet mall with a bunch of stores. I had always wanted to stop by LL Bean for some reason, but I care not to visit outlet mall central.

Bert

The center of town is dominated by the large LL Bean retail store, which I hate to admit is rather nice, though not nearly as nice as the original yellow LL Bean clapboard facility that originally was on the same site. The remainder of the downtown area consists of older buildings that have been taken over by the various outlets - there's not really a mall there, per se. There are, however, some malls that have sprung up some distance out of town. Also, on the way into town from the south you'll notice a few largely unsigned buildings to the right that are about the size of, and just about as attractive as, aircraft hangars. Those are what is now the REAL LL Bean, where the mail orders are processed.

It's just a mess, really. And particularly so for those of us who fondly remember the old store, with the retail part upstairs and the mail order downstairs and that long walk up the stairs under Fred Bean's stuffed moose head . . . (sigh) Oh yeah - and I miss the way you could call them up and they'd send you what you wanted and then a few days later a bill would arrive in the mail . . . (sigh, again).

Kath

Sounds pretty awful actually. That's too bad. In my mind I had pictured it as you described the way it used to be. LL Bean is not what it used to be in a lot of different ways.