2 Best Places to Shop in Western Lakes and Mountains, Maine

This welcoming grocery sells fresh produce and pork from the owner's Grasshopper Hill Farm in Rangeley as well as meat, seafood, and produce from other Maine farms and suppliers. Some offerings are organic, and the store is well stocked with specialty grocery items and cheeses, including Maine-produced foods. You can get pickles from a jar, olive oil from a barrel, and cheese from a huge wheel that greets shoppers. There's also fresh-baked pies, breads, and baked goods—cinnamon rolls on Sundays! Look for pumpkins out front come fall; in summer, get an ice cream cone from the seasonal stand by the picnic area.

A cheery red door welcomes customers to this hip, cozy grocery that sells specialty, organic, and Maine-produced foods. There's also a great selection of wines and domestic craft and imported beers, and the helpful staff can suggest picnic items or what to cook for dinner at your lodgings like the “heat and eat” meals and to-go salads—don't forget the whoopie pies for dessert. You can also order take-out sandwiches, soups, and salads, and even in winter, the store's outdoor Smokin’ Good BBQ ( www.smokingoodbarbecue.com) serves slow-smoked poultry, pork, and beef offerings from an orange trailer.