Discovering your “Maine Thing” means going off the beaten path to get back on track and finding hidden treasures out in the open, around every corner, discovering a place that wraps its arms around you and welcomes you like no other. Every day in Maine is a chance to encounter something new.

If you ask about the top spots to shop in Maine, most locals will likely point you to Freeport — and rightly so. L.L. Bean anchors this coastal village of more than 100 outlet stores. The Kittery Outlets in Kittery about an hour’s drive south offer even more bargain hunting. Then there's charming Portland, one of Maine’s most popular vacation destinations. Stroll in and out of perfumeries, clothing boutiques, bookstores and vintage shops. From antiques to boutiques, Bangor has plenty of shopping opportunities as well. Stroll the outdoor markets in the downtown historic district or visit Bangor Mall for its mix of major retailers and locally owned shops.

More Than Just Shopping

The rugged coast of central Maine draws people with its craggy natural beauty. The breathtaking scenery on Mount Desert Island (part of Acadia National Park) lures hikers from around the world to its scenic trails. You can also explore via bicycle, horseback or horse-drawn carriage — or hop in a car and drive the 32-kilometre Park Loop Road, the park’s main attraction. Its twists and turns reveal stunning vistas and wind past lakes and ponds on the way down to the rocky coast. The road loops back to the island’s highest peak, Cadillac Mountain. The island is also home to two golf courses, including one of the oldest in the USA, opened in 1888. Boat tours offer a unique vantage point of the park. Pick up a kayak or join a boat tour in the village of Bar Harbor on the island, or on the mainland near the entrance to the park. Guided tours of the park are offered daily in season.

Highlights Include:

• Souvenirs: There’s something about Maine that makes you want to take a piece of it home with you. Several pieces, most likely. You’ll know it when you see it. Find a unique memento to commemorate your visit, or the perfect gift for someone else. It might be a trinket you buy at a boutique store, a few blocks from the harbor — where you laughed with the shopkeeper, heard her story and the story of her shop.
   
• Antiques: Or it might be an antique sale inside an old barn in the countryside, where you learned the story of the local ceramics created from the rich clay of Maine, and the stories of old sea captains who came into town to barter their goods from overseas. Then check out the two-story Antiques Marketplace and Cafe in Bangor for shopping and some lunch.
   
• Local and Handmade Items: You can always take home something more practical—a jacket to keep warm while skiing, a hand-hewn board for surfing the waves, even a wallet or bag made from recycled sailcloth. It’ll be both useful and a reminder of how much fun you had exploring Maine. For more local flavor, the Portland Flea-For-All is a three-level shopping mall featuring Maine-made items, wood furnishings and more.