One thing I love about living in Portland is that an adventure can be found close to home or a ways away. Freeport, Maine falls into the former. A twenty-minute drive brings you into a town brimming with restaurants and stores that will fulfill almost any desire. My latest adventure brought me to the Jameson Tavern as well as a shopping trip at L. L. Bean. The Jameson Tavern, located on 115 Main Street, serves your typical American fare as well as an assortment of seafood dishes. If you’re looking for a phenomenal deal, you’ll want to order the lobster roll with a bowl of clam chowder. It’s a daily special that costs $19.99.
The Jameson Tavern is open year round, meaning that they cater to locals, tourists, and shoppers. However, depending on the time of year, their hours do change. From May to December, they’re from 11-9 daily, and from January to April, they close at 4 on Sunday. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, while the summer brings a heightened sense of energy. While it’s easy to get a table to get a table during the winter and spring months, the summer months sees an upswing in foot traffic for The Jameson Tavern, though the food is well worth. However, if you’re on your own, you will have better luck squeezing in at the bar. During the colder months, the only seating option available is inside. Typically, there are about thirteen tables and nine barstools, but, during the summer, outdoor seating is available.
The Jameson Tavern offers a wide variety of drinks for people of all ages. However, if you’re looking to sample some local beers, they have a small selection available on tap, as well as brand name beers in a bottle. They also have a wide assortment of liquor as well if that’s more your speed.
Once I had my fill of lobster rolls and clam chowder, I quickly moved on to the main event. L.L. Bean is a massive company with stores all over the world. Founded in 1912 by its namesake, Leon Leonwood Bean, it has grown to be company that has outfitted expeditions to the artic as well as to Mount Everest.
I started in their retail store, as that is where I’m most familiar. L.L. Bean boasts a huge parking lot, which never seems big enough during the tourist season. When you make your way to the one of the main entrances, your eye immediately snaps towards the L.L. Bean Boot. This single, massive, piece of foot ware is not only one of Bean’s most famous products, but it was also built in 2002 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the company’s existence. It also provides an excellent photo opportunity, especially during the summer months.
If you’ve used the entrance by the boot, you’ll find that you are right by the Outdoor Discovery Schools, for lack of a better word, lobby. It’s here where you can learn about the different out door adventures you can go on and where you can sign up for different activities.
The flagship store houses clothing departments for men, women, and children, as well as their monogramming department. For those with children, another photo opportunity presents itself in a fish tank. Not only does this aquarium provide information on the fish within the tank, it also enables people to poke their head inside the tank by way of a plastic bubble. Further into the store, a fishpond sits by the stairs leading to the second floor. It’s a great place to sit, watch the fish, and regroup for a moment.
The first floor is dedicated to shoes, men’s clothes and the customer service area. Men’s apparel ranges from formal wear, to coats and jackets. As a devoted L.L. Bean patron, I love their clothing, as it’s fashionable, comfortable and durable. They also have a clearance section where the same quality products are available for even better pricing. The second floor houses the women’s and children departments. Both offer a vast selection of clothing, shoes and other accessories. All three departments offer fitting rooms to try out your selections.
On the lower level, a coffee shop beckons anyone who needs to prepare or refuel from a day of shopping. As it happens, a local coffee company named Coffee By Design supplies shoppers with their coffee. Patrons can find both coffee and other related accessories to take home with them. Furthermore, this is where someone can find pet needs, as well as a light selection of home goods. If you’re looking for something to read, it’s in this lower level where you can find a light selection of books. They can range from books about coastal Maine to the history of L. L. Bean. The lower level also has access to Main Street.
The Retail store also houses the camping section. As an Eagle Scout, I was impressed with the amount of equipment available for purchase. A sizable section is devoted to backpacks of different styles and colors. It’s here where students of all ages can purchase a backpack of their liking, as well as get it monogrammed. L.L. Bean does their monogramming on site, and at a reasonable price as well. Suitcases can be found in this section as well. The suitcases and duffel bags come in a variety of styles, ranging from rolling suitcases to compact duffel bags. It’s also in this section where boat bags are also found.
The grills caught my eye as I headed deeper into the camping section. There were grills that ran on propane, as well as grills that could be placed over the fire. A shelving unit was also devoted to small propane tanks, as well as a small selection of other fuel sources. L.L. Bean also offered fire pits, which could be used on camping trips as well as any other outdoor setting. As food is a necessity for any camping trip, pans and cooking utensils were also available for purchase, as well as eating utensils, thermoses, and mugs of all sizes. Someone could purchase coolers for food or beverage storage as well. L.L. Bean included a nice touch with a section dedicated to games campers of all ages can play. These games include Monopoly, hacky sack, dominos, and chess.
L.L. Bean offers a wide selection of tents. These options range from tents that can fit a family to screens one would put in their yard. L.L. Bean provides a helpful chart for their tents. This chart shows all the tents L.L. Bean sells, and it includes information on capacity, dimensions, area, height, and price. Furthermore, sleeping bags, cots, and sleeping pads are also available for purchase, including a cot that serves as a bunk bed for children. Camping chairs are also sold, in a wide variety of styles, so there is always a way to camp in comfort.
A vast variety of hiking gear is also available here. Propane and camping fuel, flashlights, backpacks, hiking poles and even picnic tables can be found in the camping store. Finally, for those interested in bird watching and stargazing, L.L. Bean has binoculars, telescopes, and literature about birds.
The Hunting and Fishing store was my next stop. As it happens, the retail store and the Hunting and Fishing store share a building, so getting around is simple. The first floor is dedicated to hunting. L. L. Bean offers a wide variety of bows and guns that will fulfill any hunters need.
The bows L. L. Bean carries are recurve bows and compound bows. There’s an archery range inside as well, so you can get some practice in.
A wide assortment of shotguns and rifles are also available for purchase as well as ammunition. Hunting accessories are very prevalent, ranging from clothing and tree stands, to meat slicers and packers. Should the gun or bow need work, there is a pro shop at the back of the store, with all the services performed in house.
The stairs leading up to the second floor offers a bit of a respite. A sofa with a couple of chairs is available with a selection of magazines to read makes for a welcome sight if you are waiting for someone to finish their shopping. A fireplace adds to the homey feeling to the lounge area. Limited edition collector’s items fill the area as well, with note cards detailing the item, as well as the price.
The second floor is dedicated to fishing. Fishing poles have an obvious prominence here, but fishing kayaks are sold here as well. Whether you enjoy spin fishing or fly fishing, bait for both are available for purchase. I became aware that L.L. Bean did not have live bait available in store. I asked one of the sales associates as to where someone could buy live bait, and he was able to give me a detailed list of stores where live bait could be purchased. As with the hunting floor, fishing accessories and clothing can be purchased here. A flowchart is also available to look over, if you are planning to go on a fishing trip. Not only does L. L. Bean provide with the flow of well known fishing spots, they also have their sources on the board, so customers can find those numbers as well. The Hunting and Fishing store goes a step further in showing a comparative between optimal flows and what the current flow rate is. Since fishing can be done in almost any condition, the Hunting and Fishing store also includes a chalkboard that lists where someone can go fishing year round.
The 1912 Cafe is also worth a visit if you’re shopping in the retail store or the Hunting and Fishing store. It’s situated between the two stores, and it’s another great place to recharge. It offers the typical cafe fare of sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with coffee and other breakfast foods.
Stepping into the L. L. Bean Home Store gave me a pleasant surprise. The essence of Maine was captured in what was sold, and I felt a sense of peace upon entering the store. The first floor had whatever somebody needed to furnish a home, both inside and out. Sofas, chairs, love seats, hammocks and lawn chairs were just some of the furniture sole here. The artwork that was sold here was impressive as well.
However, what caught my eye were the maps of different regions in Maine. Casco Bay, which is where Portland sits happens to be one of the many scenic areas that are included in these maps. The Home Store also sells kitchenware as well. Amongst the pots and pans, jam, caramel sauce, and popcorn poppers can be found, and ultimately purchased. The second floor is solely devoted to bedding. Beds ranging from twin to king can be found here, as well as the bedding that goes with it. There were multiple styles to choose from, so don’t despair if you don’t immediately find what you’re looking for.
If you have children in tow, L. L. Bean ensures that you’re covered. Right outside the Home Store is a play area called Woodland Village. Forest creatures can be found scattered around the playground, as well as the houses they “live in.” There’s even a Ben & Jerry’s on the L. L. Bean campus. It’s open year round, so whether you go in December or July, you can buy some ice cream. During the summer months, the Ben & Jerry’s has a window where you can place and pick up your order. This is especially useful if you brought along your dog.
The final stop I made on the L. L. Bean campus was the Bike, Boat, and Ski Shop. As I went in April, the two floors held bikes and boats, as the skis have been packed away for the season. For that reason, the first floor was entirely made up of bicycles. Like the Hunting and Fishing Store, there was a workshop where repairs can be made. As I browsed the bikes, I came across a bike whose tires were unusually thick.
I asked one of the associates as to what possible purpose these tires can serve, and his response surprised me. It turns out that there are people who would take these bikes onto the beach, and the thick tires work particularly well on the sand. He also mentioned that he has known people to use those tires on snow as well. A small portion of the second floor was dedicated to bikes, but the vast majority held a selection of boats, accessories, and paddles. A surprise that turned out to be twofold was in store for me. The first was that The Bike, Boat, and Ski store sold surfboards. The second was that Maine has a surfing community that resides in the southern part of Maine. Such towns as Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk, and even Portland provide surfers with ample waves.
With my trip winding down, I left the L. L. Campus, and made the short trip to the L.L. Bean Outlet store. Located less than a quarter mile away in the Freeport Village Station, the Outlet store manages to draw in a crowd in it’s own right. It offers much of what the retail store has, at discounted prices. There is a small selection from other stores as well, but the vast majority of product you’ll find is clothing and shoes. One major difference between the outlet store and the other four stores is that, while the four bigger stores are twenty-four hours, the outlet does have a much smaller range of hours. Monday through Friday, the outlet store is open from nine am to seven pm. Saturday and Sunday sees expanded hours, with the store opening at nine am and closing at nine pm.
L. L. Bean has so much to offer shoppers, but as I’ve touched on before, there is so much more to do.As I’ve mentioned before, L. L. Bean offers the Outdoor Discovery Schools. There are a wide variety of programs you can sign up for, ranging from weekend camping trips to snowshoeing. I went snowshoeing in December of 2016, and it was a lot of fun and great exercise. The two leaders were very knowledgeable about L.L. Bean as company, snowshoeing, and the great outdoors. Coupons were even handed out at the end of the trip. If the Outdoor Discovery Programs sounds like fun, the link is included.
L. L. Bean also offers a wide variety of events during the year. During the summer, there are concerts, as well as a host of other activities. The link for 2018’s event schedule is here. There is quite a bit to do during the holiday season as well. While the event schedule has not been posted for 2018’s holiday season, the link to 2017’s holiday event schedule is here.
The five main stores are open 24 hours a day, year round, while the hours of the outlet store do differ. Monday through Saturday, the store is open from 9am to 9pm, while Sunday’s hours are 9am to 7pm.
While I’m most familiar with L.L. Bean and the Jameson Tavern, Freeport has so much to offer. From great restaurants to a whole slew of other outlet stores, Freeport, like the state of Maine, has so much to offer. On that note, I ask myself; where do I go next?
***UPDATE***
I went back to L.L. Bean in December to check out the skiing equipment available, and I have to say I’m impressed. A sizable area is dedicated to skiing, and the prices tend to vary, ranging from about $100 to the $400 range. L.L. Bean also does most, if not all of their own work in house, making repairs and tuneups easier for customers.
I was also went through the Northern Lights exhibit on the L.L. Beans campus, and I had a blast. There are lights strung up along the trees, and the kids can visit Santa and his reindeer. There’s also a warming hut so if you’re feeling the chill of winter in Maine, take a few moments to stop in. The schedule if found here.
themerrymainer 