4 Best Shopping in Portland, Maine

An instant mood-lifter, this shop is chock-full of offbeat toys and novelty items that are certain to delight children of all ages.

Shelves here are covered in inspired finds—from ornately printed tea towels and handmade lavender-oat soap to graphic and colorful dinner plates made of bamboo. The baby section teems with unusually darling items—gingham bonnets, quilted bibs in pretty prints, and print-covered footies.

Head to the city's Bayside neighborhood for the Portland Flea-for-All, where you'll find all sorts of vintage eye candy from an ever-rotating array of antiques, original art, and goods from artisan vendors—a fun excursion, whether or not you actually buy anything.

Maine's largest shopping mall (and the second largest in northern New England) is enclosed and has a full stable of the expected national and international retail shops including Pottery Barn, Apple, Banana Republic, H&M, and Sephora. Mixed in, however, are regional and local stores, too. Department stores include Macy's and JC Penney, and the food court offers healthier options like Red Mango and a Mediterranean grill on top of the usual fast food.