Fun Things For Families To Do In Freeport, Maine

Freeport, Maine is a charming little tourist mecca on the beautiful Maine coast. With opportunities for shopping, fine dining, hiking, boating, and other tourist attractions, Freeport is the perfect place for a family vacation. Hotels and campgrounds are nearby and there are plenty of fun attractions for people of all ages.

Just 20 miles from the larger city of Portland and about 2 hours from Boston, MA, Freeport is easy to get to, but after being there for only a few hours, visitors will find it difficult to leave. Perhaps the one attraction Freeport is most known for is L.L. Bean. This century old establishment houses its flagship store in Freeport, as well as its factory store and hunting and fishing store. Families will enjoy browsing the clothing, footwear, home furnishings and outdoor equipment, as well as trying out the hiking hill in the footwear section and the rock climbing wall in the children’s section. Children will love watching the giant trout swim casually through the indoor trout pond, and upstairs there is a small coffee stand offering delicious home made cookies and treats. Perhaps the best part is that L.L. Bean is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

A short drive to South Freeport will take families to the home of Atlantic Seal Cruises where everyone in the family will enjoy a short boat ride. Cruises include seal watching trips, lobstering demonstrations, fall foliage viewings, and trips to Sequin Island Lighthouse and Eagle Island, the home of Admiral Peary. If a family enjoys light hiking, picnicking and camping, Bradbury Mountain State Park is only a few miles from the town of Freeport. Bradbury Mountain has a scenic woodland picnic area with a playground, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and a covered pavilion. The mountain itself offers several trails to the summit, the longest only about a mile, and the shortest about a quarter mile in length. The summit is a large, flat rock where visitors will enjoy the panoramic views of the woods below, local farmlands, the town of Freeport, and Casco Bay. For such an easy, short hike, Bradbury Mountain offers incredible views.

For hiking along the coast, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park offers hiking trails and bird watching opportunities right on the coast of Casco Bay. Nearby Wolfe’s Neck Farm is a 600 acre farm dedicated to raising completely natural beef without hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. The whole family will enjoy seeing the herd wander in and out of the barn, watching the sheep graze in the meadow, and visiting the small gift shop and grocery store.

The people at Wolfe’s Neck Farm are friendly and visitors are always welcome. History buffs will want to pay a visit to the Freeport Historical Society on Main Street, set in the beautiful Harrington House and gardens, built in 1830. The Historical Society offers walking tours, educational programs, and maps, and it has regular exhibits, photographs, artifacts and publications available to visitors. Families will learn much about local history through the historic buildings, and special mementos can be purchased at the gift shop. Freeport offers a plethora of dining opportunities, from eclectic restaurants offering unusual and amazing delicacies to family restaurants and fast food. Families will certainly want to visit the many area ice cream shops; Ben & Jerry’s is just outside L.L. Bean! The shopping in Freeport is legendary. Outlet stores abound, as well as historical shops, art galleries, candy shops and specialty shops. The entire family will find something in Freeport to take home with them.

Enjoy your family visit to Freeport, Maine this year, and discover why the locals say Maine is “the way life should be."