Portland, Mainenew england charm

Sixteen miles north of Portland, the town of Freeport is more than just the world headquarters of famed outdoor retailer (and beloved Maine institution) L.L. Bean. Its downtown is a veritable circus of outdoor outlet shopping that bustles in the warm months. Find outlet stores from North Face, The Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Jill McGowan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Jockey and dozens more. There’s no shortage of drinking and dining locations, either, including the upscale farm-to-table dining room at the Harraseeket Inn. On summer weekends, an outdoor stage at the center of the L.L. Bean campus hosts concerts and performers (including big-name acts such as Amos Lee, along with Shakespeare in the Park and children’s events), and there’s a farmers market on Friday afternoons.