"I tell you what, Mabel, next year you and I plan the vacation!"



Were you somewhat disappointed with your vacation accommodations last year? Looking for something a little more 'upscale' and maybe indoors? Have we got an idea for you- a B&B!
Not to say camping isn't an excellent way to spend your vacation. Everyone should have the experience of a camping trip! Even if you're planning a camping trip for this year, we think it's a great idea to 'bookend' your camping with a night at a B&B. 
Spend your first vacation night at a B&B and start your day fresh instead of arriving in the dark and in the rain at your campsite. Have a hearty breakfast and a hot shower before you reach your camping destination. Then, after a week of hiking a 100 yards in the dark to the 'facilities' enjoy another hot shower, en suite bathroom and yummy breakfast before heading home.
Plus, LL Bean is just down the street. You can pick up any camping items you may have lost last year or even upgrade your tent!
"See Mabel, this is exactly what I had in mind!"


White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

Our website has long been a source of information on Freeport and Maine coast events, as well as about things to do near Freeport Maine, and along the Maine midcoast. We've just finished updating it with more events for this year, and there are over 30 events (and many are multiple day events) available for you to participate in, yet this year!

Of course, one of the biggest is the all-year-long L.L. Bean 100th Anniversary, but its Hometown Celebration in its home of Freeport, Maine, is July 4-7, 2012. This includes the Fourth of July celebration, parade, fireworks, as well as activities during the day, and free concerts July 6. July 7 will have the largest fireworks display in Maine history.

Throughout the summer there will be free concerts on select Saturday nights (the L.L. Bean Summer in the Park was formerly called the L.L.. Bean Summer Concert Series), as well as other activities for the entire family.

In addition there are festivals galore! There is the Great Falls Balloon Festival, the Yarmouth Clam Festival, the Moxie Festival, the Maine Lobster Festival, the North Atlantic Blues Festival, the Freeport Fall in the Village Art and Music Festival, the Maine Highland Games, and more!

We'll also have the Lobsterman Triathlon, the Great State of Maine Airshow, the Maine Bike Rally, the Topsham Fair, plus local college Parents and Family weekends, homecoming, orientation, and more!

Practically every week throughout the summer and fall there is something for everyone. Lest we forget, the winter months will also bring Freeport's beloved Sparkle Weekend, with parade (of course!) and Santa riding into town on a lobster boat, L.L. Bean's giant Christmas tree, the L.L. Bean New Year's Celebration, and, as Spring rolls around, the annual Spa, Knit and Spin weekend.

See you here!

Scott & Ruth
Brewster House Bed & Breakfast, Freeport, Maine

There are not many companies around today that can boast being 100 years old.  L.L. Bean is one of the best and celebrates their 100-year anniversary this year, 2012 and we are pleased, and proud, to call the same town “home.”

LL Bean is just one of the many stores here in Freeport and one that is rich in history.  The great success of this company comes from their core values: take care of the customer and the customer will take care of the rest.  For anyone visiting LL Bean for the first time, you will immediatley notice the service level of every employee.  They strive to take care of each and every customer, greeting them as they walk through the doors.  Our guests are often amazed at the attention they receive while in the stores.  This commitment to detail and customers is what has made LL Bean so successful and still standing after 100 years. 

Innovation and the ability to invent new things also help to keep LL Bean fresh and inviting to customers.  The Outdoor Discovery School is one that is a favorite we like to recommend to our guests.  It provides a great opportunity to turn your vacation into an adventure by trying something new; try kayaking, fly-fish casting, archery, or clay shooting.  Each adventure lasts about 2 hours and costs just $20.00/person, all instruction and equipment provided.  The personnel are knowledgable, fun, and truly enjoy their work.  Other adventures include biking tours and paddle boarding.  All for your enjoyment .  Guests who have tried these have really had a great time!

There are many events throughout the year to celebrate this milestone, the big event being around the July 4th weekend.  The town will be all decked out in its “hometown finest” to celebrate, including our parade, amazing fireworks, free concerts in LL Bean’s Discovery Park, and many other events.  All of this to celebrate a great company, a commitment to excellence and the wonderful town we all call home.

Kiwi Tart
Cool, refreshing tart for a summer picnic or brunch!
Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pie dough (9") 8 oz cream cheese (block, not whipped) 3 tbsps sugar 3 tbsps milk 1 1/2 tsps lemon zest 1/2 tsp vanilla 3 ripe, not mushy, kiwis
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Let pie dough sit out for about 15 mins to make it easier to handle.
Lay pie dough in a low-sided tart or quiche pan (a straight-sided pie dish would also work). The dough will come up over the sides, fold the dough inward to form a slight roll at the top. Prick dough lightly on the bottom and sides. Line with tin foil and place pie weights on top. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. If you don't have pie weights, bake the pie crust without them and gently press the baked crust down with the back of a spoon. The dough will be flexible enough to do this without cracking the crust, if you do it immediately after taking out of the oven. In lieu of pie weights, you can use a cast iron fry pan that fits inside the tart pan. Be sure to use the tin foil between the pans.
If your oven is slow to heat up (like mine is!) you can do the following while waiting:
Mix the cream cheese, sugar, milk, lemon zest and vanilla in a bowl until well-blended and smooth. Peel and slice kiwis. I get about 8 slices per kiwi and you need 24 slices for the 9" pie.
Remove the baked pie crust and let cool for 20 minutes. Spoon cream cheese mixture into the baked pie crust and spread out to the edges. It will be about a half inch thick. Place the kiwi slices on top slightly overlapping. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Bring to room temp before serving if you have refrigerated the tart. It really does taste better if not cold.
Overnight tips: Follow all directions except placing the kiwi slices. Cover tart with plastic wrap, refrigerate. Bring tart to room temp before serving and lay the kiwi slices on right before serving.
Making it pretty: serve with sliced strawberries or whole blueberries on top.

Printable recipe.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

Many people often associate Freeport with shopping and are delightfully surprised to find out how much there is to see and do throuhout the area.  They are also surprised to learn how much history there is in Freeport and the part Freeport played in the War of 1812.

One of the peculiar aspects of the War of 1812 was government licensing of private armed vessels.  Commonly known as privateers, each vessel received a “Letter of Marque and Reprisal” signed by the President.  These privateers, although not part of the fledgling United States Navy, were nevertheless authorized “to subdue, seize and take” enemy vessels as prizes and to keep or sell the “apparel, guns and appurtenances.”  They were essentially licensed pirates

Freeport was home to a famous Privateer, The Dash.  Dash was built at Porters Landing, Freeport, Maine in 1813 by master builder James Brewer for Seward, Samuel, and William Porter, all born and raised at Porters Landing and part of a family which included twelve brothers.  Most were involved with the sea in some fashion.  Dash, a fast topsail schooner, was designed to evade the Embargo keeping American shipping bottled up in harbors all along the East Coast and the Canadian border.  She was successful in breaking the Portland blockade and made several quick runs to the West Indies, where she  exchanged lumber and other local crops for profitable cargoes such as coffee and sugar cane.

During 1813 and early 1814 she made three voyages, successfully evading the Royal Navy and United States port restrictions.  At some point during this period she was re-rigged as a hermaphrodite brig with a special “ringtail sail” to increase her already impressive spread of canvas.  She was fast!

Dash, under the command of John Porter, continued to take other prizes on subsequent voyages during the fall of 1814.  A total of fifteen prize vessels were taken without a single injury to any of her crew.

After a short layover in Portland in January, 1815 Porter took Dash to sea.  With her was the new privateer Champlain, a schooner from Portsmouth, waiting to test her own speed against that of Dash.  Dash gradually pulled ahead over the next day.  When a heavy winter gale came on, Champlain changed her course, but Dash kept on.  She was never heard from again.  It is assumed that Capt. Porter underestimated his speed and lost his vessel on the treacherous shoals of Georges Bank.  Sixty men, including John, Jeremiah, and Ebenezer Porter, and thirteen others from Freeport, were among those lost.

Dash was known as a lucky ship.  She never let a chase escape, and she was never injured by a hostile shot.  With seven voyages under four captains taking fifteen prizes, she was one of the most successful privateers of the War of 1812.  Her record was never equaled.

This is just a small piece of Freeport history but certainly one of the more significant, especially as it is the 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812.  If you would like to learn more aobut Freeport during your visit, just ask.  A great place to visit to learn more is Freeport Historical Society, located right on Main Street.  Throughout Freeport there is also wonderful signage, “Heritage Trails,” offering glimpses into the people and places of Freeport’s past.  Take some time to check it out and take a piece of history home with you.

Many people are aware that Freeport Maine is the home of outdoor retail giant L.L. Bean, and still others are aware that Freeport can be said to have been something of a town filled with shops and outlets. However, neither of these statements adequately conveys what a delightful and special place Freeport is. For those of us who live in Freeport, it is easy to forget that so many people (even throughout the New England region, let alone the rest of the USA or worldwide) have never heard of Freeport or L.L. Bean.

Because of that, instead of writing, as we often do, about things to do in or near Freeport other than shopping (including our recent article for the Maine Innkeepers Association blog), this time we wanted to provide more information on the five L.L. Bean stores, and the other shops and outlets in Freeport. 

Following Freeport's time as a shipbuilding town, it became a shoe manufacturing town. Later, young Leon Leonwood Bean started a mail-order catalog featuring his Maine hunting shoe. That small family business has grown into a huge enterprise, with 5 stores in Freeport (four of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - only the L.L. Bean Outlet closes at night and on Christmas Day). Eventually, Freeport reinvented itself as an outlet town (before America had outlet malls in almost every city). As outlet malls became more common, Freeport changed again, into an unusual mix of outlets and retail, with many local Maine-owned stores, interesting retail shops.

 In addition to the five L.L. Bean stores (the flagship store, the Hunting and Fishing Store, the Home Store, the Bike, Boat and Ski Store, and the L.L. Bean Outlet), Freeport is home to many other shops and restaurants. In fact, it feels a bit like living in a huge, outdoor, shopping mall. Many of the shops are members of Freeport USA, Freeport's marketing organization, and therefore are included on the Freeport USA map. Many others, however, are not included on the map, yet do a thriving business in Freeport.

According to Freeport USA there are well over 140 shops and restaurants in Freeport. They range from L.L. Bean's five stores to small shops like Isabella's Sticky Buns. There are well-known clothing and shoe stores, like Talbots, Jones of New York, Banana Republic, Polo, and J. Crew, Clark, Bass, Nike and 9 West. There are specialty shops like Georgetown Pottery, Cuddledown, Freeport Knife & Kitchenware, The Mangy Moose, and Cool As A Moose. You'll find fine jewelry, like R.D. Allen or Brown Goldsmiths, and crafts such as the Beadin Path. From the Pet Pantry to the Coach Factory Store, there is something in Freeport for every member of the household.

 Let's not forget the many restaurant, specialty food and candy shops, and more. There's Wilbur's of Maine for local chocolate, When Pigs Fly bakery, and Wicked Whoopies for a whoopie pie. There is coffee and tea from Starbucks to Coffee By Design to Jacqueline's Tea Room, serving a formal tea, as well as selling teas. Restaurants include Azure Cafe, Jameson Tavern, the Broad Arrow Tavern, the Maine Dining Room, the Mediterranean Grill, and more. You'll find lighter fare at Corsican, or just stop in for a cup of chowder at the Freeport Chowder House or Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern.

These are just a few of the wonderful shops and restaurants you'll find when you visit Freeport. Don't just allow a couple of hours to walk through the shops. First time visitors often tell us they had no idea there was so much here! Plan at least a day, just to walk through all the stores.

 Ruth & Scott
Brewster House Bed & Breakfast, Freeport, Maine

One of the most common things visitors to Freeport Maine want to do, it seems, is to visit our Maine lighthouses. We love lighthouses, so we completely understand. Nevertheless, there are over 60 of them in Maine (and some are miles out to sea), so seeing more than a few can be quite a challenge. However, our lighthouse map will help you find a way to include most Maine lighthouses on your tour.

If you click on the lighthouse icons, you can get driving directions to any of the lighthouse from the Google map below.

 
View Maine Lighthouses - Brewster House Bed & Breakfast in a larger map

We find the most effective way to make use of your time is to establish a base of operations in an area that is centrally located to several lighthouses. That way you can visit several lighthouses without having to move yourself from place to place too often.

For example, if you stay in Freeport, you can visit several lighthouses within an hour or so drive either to the north or south. A two- to four-night stay in Freeport will give you the opportunity to visit up to 13 lighthouses (and see at least three more offshore). Some of these lighthouses are in extremely picturesque locations - by their very nature, they are on high points overlooking the ocean, so these places are all great fun to visit, and to take photographs, in their own right.

Bass Harbor Head LighthouseA hop up the coast to visit our friends in Camden, at the Inns at Blackberry Common, will give you an opportunity to see several more lighthouses in the mid-coast region (though some, like Curtis Island Lighthouse, can only be seen by air or from the water). While you're in that area, don't forget to stop at the Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.

If you stay on, or near, Mount Desert Island (whether in Bar Harbor, or one of the other lovely villages nearby), there are wonderful lighthouse on the island, or farther north, even up to Lubec, on the Canadian border.

Of course, as we've noted previously, you can actually make a visit to Lubec, and West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (the easternmost point in the United States) a day trip from Freeport, though it is a long day - about four hours each way.

If you are interested in lighthouses, Maine is the place to visit, as there are so many lighthouses, and they are remarkably accessible.

Scott & Ruth
Brewster House Bed & Breakfast, Freeport, Maine

Guests continuously ask where they can find the best lobster.  The good news; some of the best lobster shacks can be found in and around the Freeport area.

Depending upon what people are looking for, there are a number of places we recommend.  While lobster can certainly be found in the finer dining establishments, lobster shacks are what many are looking for when thinking about lobster.  A favorite, Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster, can be found at the South Freeport docks, less than ten minutes from James Place Inn.  This lobster shack sits right on the water and the lobster doesn’t get any fresher.  Depending upon how hard you want to work for your food, you’ll find a full lobster dinner, complete with corn-on-the-cob, or great lobster rolls.  The lobster rolls are delicious and what I call “lazy man lobster;” all the benefits without all of the work.  The fried clams here are also some of the best around.  For you mussel fans, these are delicious as well, as is the clam chowder.  You really can’t go wrong here.  The Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster is also “BYOB,” making it a bit different and a fun dining spot on a warm summer’s night.

For folks heading north from Freeport, the reportedly most famous lobster shack in the state is just about 35-40 minutes away and well worth the journey.  Red’s Eats boasts a lobster roll containing one full pound of lobster meat, claws and all!  Put a little melted butter on the top and you have a real treat.  The wait here can be long however it is well worth it.  The town of Wiscasset, home of Red’s Eats, is delightful to browse through.  It sits along the Sheepscot River and provides great views and some wonderful architecture.  You won’t be disappointed with a visit to this gem in Maine.

A short trip south of Freeport to Cape Elizabeth provides two pleasure in one: Two Lights Lighthouse and State Park and The Lobster Shack at Two Lights.  The lighthouse is available for viewing at the end of Two Lights Road, conveniently located by the lobster shack!  (The lighthouse is not open to the public).  The view is wonderful, the food great, and the Atlantic ocean hits against the rocks, providing a great, and ever-changing, backdrop while you dine. 

Some like to try as many different places as possible, looking for the ultimate lobster roll, fried clams, clam chowder, or even lobster chowder.  For those that are not seafood eaters (and there are plenty of you as well), all of these places offer non-seafood alternatives.  If you are a “divided household,” one seafood eater, one not, there is something for everyone.  And one of the best rewards of these lobster shacks are the views of our beautiful Maine coast.  You’ll be glad you stopped!

We always love to see the spring flowers begin to bloom.

Planning your summer vacation often includes a visit to the beach.  Maine can boast to having some of the best beaches anywhere.  Miles of soft, sandy beaches, often stretching for miles.  Tides that make the beaches interesting and fun in that there is great exploring to be done during low tide, where many small islands suddenly become accessible to walk out to, tidepools are visible to explore, horseshoe crabs can be found.

Although it is only April, our family has already visited the beach twice this year, taking advantage of these warm days.  One of our favorite beaches is Popham Beach, part of Popham Beach State Park.  There you will find tidepools, miles of soft sandy beaches, dunes, and plenty of space to stretch out and take in the beautiful vista.  Truly one of the most beautiful beaches you will find anywhere and just about 35-minutes from James Place Inn in Freeport.  We love to pack a picnic lunch, some beach toys and make a day of it.  Clean restrooms and changing areas make the park very user-friendly.  You can also visit Fort Popham while you are there, taking in a bit of local history.

Heading south of Freeport will offer even more beach options.  Scarborough Beach is another gem of a state park.  Beautiful soft beaches, perfect for a walk.  Great views of the Maine shoreline, looking over onto Prout’s Neck and Cape Elizabeth.  A great way to spend an afternoon.

Another favorite beach of ours is Kettle Cove, located near Crescent Beach on Cape Elizabeth.  Kettle Cove is small and very much a local’s hangout.  You will see a lot of divers here, quite a few new to the sport and getting instruction.  This beach is a great place for kids as it is small enough for them to roam safely yet there are a lot of rocks for climbing and tidalpools to investigate.  You can also visit lighthouses while here in Cape Elizabeth and hit a great lobster shack, Two Lights, while you are at it.  Top it off with some ice cream and you have a fun and full day!  (One of the great treats of both of these beaches is the great ice cream shop located just outside of the entrance to the parks.  It is surely one of our favorite stops after a fun day in the sun)!

Higgins Beach is another favorite among the locals.  Located just south of Portland, Higgins Beach is in a quiet area.  A bit smaller but still a delightful beach, soft and sandy.

Looking for a bit more action?  Old Orchard Beach is the place for you.  The community of Old Orchard Beach has plenty to do in-seaon.  There are shops, restaurants, carnival games and rides, and a boardwalk to explore.  Miles of soft, white sands are at Old Orchard Beach and the water has a sandbar that seems to go on forever.  The one thing you will have to contend with at Old Orchard Beach are the crowds.  It is a favorite for those looking for a lot of activity instead of the peace and quiet.  Driving and parking can be a challenge.  It is part beach, part people watching, part amusement park.

All of these beaches are within 30-45 minutes of Freeport, making them ideal for a day-long visit.  Those in Portland make for an opportunity to visit lighthouses as well.  These beaches really are a treasure and one to be enjoyed on your visit.  So many opportunities and pleasures await you when you get to Maine.  We’ll look forward to seeing you soon.  And remember to call and we’ll be glad to help with planning.

 

Freeport Conservation Trails are all around town. One of them encompasses E. B. Mallett's former granite quarry. There are sheer granite cliffs along the 'Quarry' section of the trail.
Granite quarry.
Bridge across ravine at the start/end of the trail.

Monolith in the woods.
Hiking notes: this trail is a loop of 1.5 miles. Very uneven ground throughout the whole trail. One steep section midway through and another steep section at the end (only if you get to the trail from the school). Short section off main trail to get to quarry. Trails are marked with white, blue and green blazes. Check out the school projects along the trail!
Wildlife: I've seen game birds, woodpeckers, robins, chickadees and nuthatches as well as squirrels (red and gray) and chipmunks. (But I make a lot of noise, so I probably scare most wildlife off!)
To get to the trail: From downtown Freeport take Bow St to Lower Mast Landing Rd. Turn right on Lower Mast Landing Rd, go approx .3 of a mile until you see a large woodchip pile on the right side of the road. This is the trail head. There is no parking area, pull off the road. (You may also get to the trail by walking from here to the end of the sidewalk on Bow St and crossing to the school path on the opposite side. Follow the winding path down to the parking lot, cross, go down the stairs and find the start of the trail just past the left side of the pond. This access is only available outside school hours.)

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

Spring has arrived in Freeport, and at James Place Inn we are busy making preparations for all of you planning to come see us this summer and fall.  Now that the weather has turned to warmer days, we are busy wrapping up our indoor projects so that we can start the outdoor beautification.  Much painting has been done to the inn, giving it its yearly sprucing up.  Soon the heavy comforters will come off the beds in favor of the lighter quilts of summer.

The first trip to the local nurseries is one of my favorite times of year – so many choices!  What to put in the window boxes this year?  Where to move those perennials that need to be cut in half this season?  What herbs to go in the herb garden, used in breakfast every morning?  (Our chives are already enjoying a head start and are doing nicely).   We will make numerous trips to our favorite local nursery before the outdoor transformation is complete.   As an added bonus, there are often many hummingbirds buzzing the hanging baskets.  What fun!

We have also been busy testing some new recipes.  We have many frequent visitors, so we are always looking to add new recipes to our existing favorites.  Robin has added a wonderful new bread to his collection.  It is a nice sourdough wheat, perfect for toasting (and a little butter)!  Homemade biscuits with homemade jams, new frittata combinations, fresh-made yogurt.  No worries to our regular guests who have favorites they come back for time and again – they are still being made!  We just like to be sure we always have something new and enticing to offer.

As you will see when you arrive, a lot of care and attention goes into anticipating your arrival.  This is your hard-earned vacation and all in the area work hard to make it special and memorable for you.  Need help planning?  Our sample itineraries will help give you some ideas and get you started.  Or give us a call – we are here to help answer any questions and help you make the most of your visit.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

 A fast, fun recipe for anytime!
Ingredients:
3- 6 oz containers of your favorite flavor yogurt (without fruit). 1- pkg of flavored gelatin (the same flavor as the yogurt or unflavored) Fruit for topping
Line a mini muffin pan with foil liners. (The paper ones get really soggy.)
Mix yogurt and dry gelatin in a microwaveable glass measuring beaker. (I used a 4 cup beaker, it makes it easier to pour into the muffin tins.) Microwave on high for 2 minutes, remove and stir. All the gelatin should be dissolved. But you don't want to cook the yogurt.
Immediately pour into the muffin tins. Fill about 3/4 full. Put in fridge to gel. Can make the day before but be aware the the wiggles will shrink if left uncovered for a couple of days. Yields about 10-12 wiggles.
To serve: Remove muffin tins, plate, top with fruit. 
Great seasonal treat! I used key lime for St Patrick's Day. You can make them in strawberry or raspberry (see below) for Valentine's Day or a patriotic holiday.

Printable recipe here.


White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

It seems early to be thinking about fall foliage, doesn't it? In much of the northeast, except for that weird week or two recently when the temperatures were near 80°, we're just beginning to finish mud season and head into spring.

However, one of the most common questions we've received in recent weeks is "When is the best time to visit for fall foliage?"

The short answer is "it depends" but since we're essentially talking about the weather, that should come as no surprise.

The State of Maine has a foliage website which not only reports the current status of foliage from about mid-September through the season, but it also has a chart of historical foliage data, showing when the foliage changed for each of the various regions of the state.

Freeport is in Zone 1 on the chart, so a quick scan shows that our peak foliage has historically been between the 14th and 20th of October.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind about the dates, however. First, the foliage season in Freeport usually extends from about the first of October (sometimes the last week in September) through the end of October (sometimes slightly into November). That means that there will usually be good foliage viewing in our area for at least four weeks, though the peak may only last a few days.

Second, as the chart on the Maine foliage website makes clear, the peak foliage occurs at different times in the different regions of the state. In a very general way, the peak moves from north to south and west to east. Having said that, there are areas in each region that will appear "out of step" with this pattern, due to the temperature, amount of sun or shadow, etc. Consequently, all through the foliage season there can be areas of beauty that are either early or late for their region.

Finally, one other thing to consider is the calendar. Since the peak foliage season is near mid-October, it conflicts with several other dates. Three local colleges have homecoming or parents' weekends between late September and late October. That can make competition for available lodging very stiff. Add to that the Columbus Day (US - Candadian Thanksgiving) holiday in the middle of it, and you'll find it more difficult than usual to find a bed and breakfast.

Our late-September and October weekends already have some bookings, but as of this writing there is still plenty of availability for our foliage weekends. Check our availability and book early to get the dates you want. Don't forget to consider our Fall Foliage Surf & Turf special - called "A steal of a deal" by Smarter Travel magazine.

A day isn't really long enough for all Freeport, Maine has to do, but here are some ideas to get you started!
Shopping at LL Bean

Shopping. Yup, Freeport is the outlet shopping capital of Maine. Lots of well-known brand name stores call Freeport home. Of course, we can't forget LL Bean! We encourage you to take some of the side streets in Freeport to find local artisans and smaller shops. For a list of shops in Freeport, check our Freeport Shopping page.
Wine, beer and vodka tastings and tour: Cold River Vodka has its manufacturing facility here in Freeport. Head over for a tour! Grittys Brew Pub has the silo on Lower Main Street with a small brewing facility and gift shop inside the restaurant. Wine tastings happen around town at different shops (Freeport Cheese and Wine and Bow Street Market) mostly on Friday or Saturday.
Hiking in Wolfe Neck Woods.
Hiking: Freeport has hiking trails all over the town and even one wooded trail right in downtown. Check out the osprey in the spring. the seasonal colors in the fall, and the many different trails maintained by the Freeport Conservation Trust all year long. Can't forget our Desert of Maine, either!
Long walks in Winslow Park.

Kayaking: Kayaking instructions and guided tours are offered by LL Bean and Lincoln Canoe & Kayak. Lincoln and Ring's Marine also offers rentals.
Bicycling: Freeport is at the confluence of 3 different bike trails. You can rent bikes at Ring's Marine, have service done at LL Bean and purchase bikes and gear at LL Bean and Freeport Ski & Bike.
Biking trails nearby.

Dining: You're bound to get hungry with all this activity! Almost all the restaurants are a short walk from White Cedar Inn. Park the car and stroll into town! Here's a list of Freeport restaurants.
Music, theater and the arts: Many restaurants feature live music on the weekends (and during the week in the summer) and LL Bean has the LL Bean Summer Concert series most Saturdays in the summer at 7 PM. Live theater has a home in Freeport at the Freeport Factory Stage and with the Freeport Community Players. Looking for movies? Head over to the Nordica Theater on Depot St. Art walks occur throughout the year on the third Friday of the month. In September the Fall in the Village Arts Fest takes place downtown.
Desert of Maine.

History: Follow the Freeport Historical Society's Heritage trail signs around town to get a taste for Freeport's maritime, shoe-making and farming history. Visit Memorial Park for a little Civil War history.
Memorial Park.

Winter sports: Snowshoeing and x-c skiing are great outdoor activities in the winter! Head over to the parks (Wolfe Neck Woods, Winslow or Bradbury Mountain) or hit the conservation trails for gorgeous views through pine woods and along coastal waterways.
Winter in Freeport- hiking, skiing, snowshoeing.
Tired yet? Then it's time to lay your head down in a comfy bed at White Cedar Inn! Check the White Cedar Inn calendar for rates and availability.
Capt Dan's Room.

There are so many other things to do right in Freeport, but here's hoping this little sample helps you decide that your 'home base' in Maine can definitely be Freeport! More 'Day Trip' stories are in the works. All an easy drive round trip from here.
White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

The osprey have returned to Freeport this spring. Maybe without the fanfare of that well-publicized group, the swallows, but the osprey have their own quiet following. Here then, without further ado...Pandion haliatus...

As always, click the photos to enlarge.

Perfect landing
Fresh seafood dinner. Osprey dive at their prey and then quickly reverse to catch fish with their talons.
Caught these 2 alighting on the nest as I rounded the corner. Taking off!

Scanning the horizon.
Guarding the nest. For more information on the habits of osprey, check the Maine Rivers website.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

When folks are inquiring about things to do in our part of the Maine coast, one of the questions they ask is where they can find the nearest beach. If you've never been to the Maine coast, it is understandable that you would ask, since most of us associate beaches with coastline, perhaps picturing a sandy beach with the warm wind wafting over the dune grasses, much like you might find in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, or elsewhere, where you can wade into the warm waters and relax.

In Maine, our coast is a bit different. Most of it is rugged and rocky, pounded by the wind and waves of the North Atlantic (often with lighthouses perched on the rocks). It also averages about 10-20° F colder than the water temperature in the Carolinas, so the beach experience in Maine is a bit different than you'll find farther south.

With all that in mind, there are indeed some sand beaches not far from Freeport that make for a very enjoyable visit.

Winslow Park, Freeport. In Freeport you'll find Winslow Park - a large park with acres of grass along Freeport's harbor, with excellent views of the nearby islands, and a tiny sand beach area. The grass makes it a perfect spot for activities, but the beach is not large enough for many people to share it.

Popham Beach State Park. The Maine mid-coast area is made up of islands and peninsulas, so very few things along the coast are also near the primary north-south road up the coast, US-1, and Popham Beach is no exception. From Freeport, you travel north just a few minutes to Bath, but then turn right and go out a peninsula past Phippsburg, to Popham Beach State Park. The park is quite large, and contains a large beach (with some of the grasses and dunes people expect), and is very popular with families during the summers. There are also a number of interesting antique shops and coastal villages to explore on the way from Bath to Popham.

Reid State Park. Bath is on the south side of the Kennebec River. Crossing the bridge to Woolwich, on the other side of the river, you turn right and cross a small bridge to Georgetown Island. Driving nearly to the end of the island, you come to Reid State Park. Almost directly across the river from Popham, Reid is another State Park with large, sandy beaches, as well as other areas for hiking and exploring. Nearby is Five Islands, where you'll find the Five Islands Lobster Company, and it's wonderful lobster shack. Georgetown Island is also where you'll find Georgetown Pottery and the Robinhood Free Meetinghouse - a fine dining establishment run by a former Maine Chef of the Year.

The beach experience in Maine is unlike any other. If you are open to something different, you'll find it along Maine's rocky (and sandy) coastline!

Ruth & Scott
Brewster House Bed & Breakfast

Another fun, odd natural phenomenon in Maine...the reversing falls. The reversing waterfall activity is caused by the strong tides rushing in and out of the Cobscook, Dennys and South Bays. Although beautiful to look at, the area is off limits to swimmers due to the extreme tidal pull.

In season it is the perfect area for viewing seals, bald eagles and marine birds.

Reversing Falls
The last glacier. It was 86 degrees the day we were here. In March!
High tide.

Shells are everywhere around here, even in the woods!

 This map is provided for the overhead view of the falls. Click on 'view larger map' below to see how the falls look from the air.


View Larger Map

How to get here: Rt 1 north to Pembroke. Turn right between the Post Office and the gas station. At the stop sign go right. Immediately up the hill, turn left at the IOOC building. Stay on this road (correct, none of them have signs) for 3.2 miles until you see a hand-lettered 'FALLS --->' sign. Turn onto this road. (If you miss the turn and the road turns to dirt, you've gone too far) You will pass a cemetery on your right. At the end of this road turn left and follow road into park. Take the left fork for the best views.
Add this onto your trip to Eastport or Lubec!
(Why Maine does not label its road with signs- if you don't know where you are you don't belong here.)

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

Lubec Channel Light- the Sparkplug
The Lubec Channel Light is known as a 'sparkplug' lighthouse because of its shape. Another lighthouse with the same general outline is the 'Bug Light' in South Portland. The Lubec Sparkplug is made of brick-lined cast iron.
The lighthouse can be seen from a variety of locations including from the bridge to Campobello and along the road to the West Quoddy light (which is where this photo was taken).

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032Copyright White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

There is always something happening in and around Freeport and this year proves to be no exception.  With LL Bean turning 100 years old this year, there will be plenty offered to do.  There are events planned for all of the LL Bean stores however, most of them are taking place right here in Freeport.  There is something for the whole family to enjoy, from biking to camping to kayaking.

New to the Outdoor Discovery School at LL Bean this year is Stand-up Paddleboarding.  Personally, I need to work on my balance a bit before giving this one a try however, there are a lot of people enjoying this new sport. 

While planning your vacation, or just a long weekend away, consider trying something new.  Paddle the coast, cast a fly, archery, or try sporting clays…it is all great fun and an opportunity to try something different.  These outdoor events can be for two hours or two days.  Serious about learning your new sport?  Classes are offered, usually lasting about two days.  When not practicing, take advantage of other events here in Freeport, enjoy a great meal or a casual lobster roll; visit a lighthouse, or stroll our friendly streets and do a little shopping.  There really is so much to see and do, you’ll want to plan at least three days here before moving on.  We know great places to visit and dine.  Let us help you make the most out of your Maine vacation.  We’ll be happy to help you plan and you’ll be happy you asked!