2013 Visitor's Guide

{ GI FTS & GOODI ES }

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Outlet shopping in Freeport and Kittery is sure to put a smile on your face during the holidays, and all year long.

Photo: Main Street, Freeport, courtesy FreeportUSA

SHOPP ING It’s easy to see why so many people add shopping to their list of reasons to come to Greater Portland; from handcrafts to haute couture, the pleasures of unearthing unique items and plentiful bargains are numerous.

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The Old Port district of Portland is lined with one-of-a-kind boutiques featuring authentic Maine-made and imported goods. Stroll the cobblestone streets, duck into a café, and smell the salt air roll in from the bay. You’ll find shops and galleries occupying revitalized warehouses with exposed brick and beams; sometimes the stores themselves are as unique as the wares they display! Portland has specialty shops for fashion divas, vintage collectors, those who love to cook (and eat!), and for connoisseurs of all types of art and handcrafts. The state’s largest shopping center, The Maine Mall, is located in South Portland with over 140 of your favorite stores and restaurants. The surrounding mall area contains many smaller shopping plazas

and eateries, and all of it is just 10 min- utes from downtown Portland. Several Greater Portland stores have become destinations unto themselves such as DeLorme in Yarmouth, where you can view the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe while checking out the most up-to-date navigational products. At L.L. Bean in Freeport, one of the most well-respected outdoor outfitters in the world, you’ll find all the gear and clothing to make your outdoor adventures comfortable and successful. Take advantage of free in-store clinics on everything from birding essentials to basic kayaking strokes. Searching for a great souvenir of your visit? Bring home a touch of Maine

with a piece of exquisite tourmaline jewelry fashioned from beautiful gems unearthed in the state’s western moun- tains. Or a hand-knit garment made from alpaca yarn raised and spun in Maine. Or a retired sail turned into a fashionable tote by Sea Bags at its workshop on Custom House Wharf. Outlet shopping has become a major-league sport in Maine with Kittery at the state’s southern entrance, and Freeport, just 20 minutes north of Portland, offering scores of designer and name brand outlets. Before your visit, check out visitport- land.com for shopping coupons to extend your dollars. And be sure to leave some room in the car.

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