Maine State Park system celebrates 75 year anniversary in 2010. Lots of programs, tours and more all throughout the year. Many events happening in Freeport or Pownal.

Experience why we say, 'Freeport...you can get there from here.'

Selected Upcoming Events:

August:

• Cruise nights- Stop in at the Topsham Fair Mall (15 minutes from here) every Monday night (weather-permitting) for Cruise Nights. See fabulous cars, listen to the music, relive the 50's, 60's, 70's and more!

• Cruise nights at Classic Convertibles- Wednesday nights, starting in May, going through the summer. Come by and show off your ride!

• Shakespeare in the Park- The Tempest, 7:30 PM, Free, Discovery Park, August 3-6

• Maine Lobster Fest- Aug 4 - Aug 8, Rockland

• MSMT (Maine State Music Theatre)- Chicago, July 21- Aug 7

• LL Bean Summer Concert- Mike Doughty & Christina Courtin, 7:30 PM, Free, Discovery Park, August 7

• Beach to Beacon Race- Aug 7, Portland

• Fiber Arts Tour Weekend- Farms, artists' workshops and more are open statewide from 10 AM - 5 PM. August 6, 7 & 8. Tour map with locations and hours on Maine Fiber Arts website.

• Topsham Fair- Aug 8-14, Topsham

• MSMT (Maine State Music Theatre)- Spamalot, August 11- August 28

• Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show- Boatyard Dog Trials, art, food, fun, oh, and BOATS! August 13-15, Rockland

• LL Bean Summer - Dog Days of Summer- fun for dogs and owners Discovery Park, August 14

• 33rd Annual New England Auto Auction- preview August 18-20, auction on August 21. Owls Head Museum

• Great Falls Balloon Fest- August 20-22, Auburn

• LL Bean Summer Concert- Ingrid Michaelson, 7:30 PM, Free, Discovery Park, August 21

September:

• Labor Day Weekend- the unofficial 'end of summer.' If you haven't been to Maine yet this year, this is the weekend!

• Owl's Head Museum- Vintage Motorcycle weekend, Sept 4 & 5

• LL Bean Summer Concert- Joshua Radin, 7:30 PM, Free, Discovery Park, September 4

• Lobsterman Triathlon- Freeport, September 18

• Fall in the Village Art Show- Discovery Park, September 18

• Owl's Head Museum- Earth Movers & Shakers, Sept 18 & 19

• Cumberland County Fair- September 26-Oct 2

October:

• Bowdoin College Homecoming Weekend- Oct 1-3

• Maine Marathon- Oct 3, Portland

• Patrick Dempsey Challenge- Oct 3, Lewiston

• Fryeburg Fair- Oct 3-10

• Bates College Parents Weekend- Oct 8-10

• Columbus Day Weekend- Oct 8-10

• Owl's Head Museum- Foreign Auto Festival, Oct 9-10

• Canada Thanksgiving Day- Oct 11

• Bowdoin College Parents Weekend- Oct 22-24

• Harvest on the Harbor- Oct 21-23 (Portland)

• Ghost Walk Tours- TBD

• Owl's Head Museum- Great Falls Auction and Flea Market, Oct 30-31

For additional info and for photos of many venues, please see our blog.

College Happenings at Bates, Bowdoin & Colby: All information is from college academic calendars
and subject to change at the college's discretion. Please verify with your student before booking your room!

• Wolfe Neck Woods nature hikes: different themed nature hikes every Sunday at 2 PM, 1 hour, weather permitting. Call 207-865-4465 after 10 AM for program updates and trail conditions. 3 miles from here. Admission to park is $1.50 for ages 12 to 64, no charge other ages. Programs vary each week. Birding, plant identification, mushrooming and more.

• Maine Birding Trails: devoted to finding the perfect birding locations in Maine! Lists guide services, self-guided walks, lodging, migration routes and seasons.

• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: The largest botanical gardens in New England. Over 300 acres. (45 minutes from here in Boothbay.) Select our 'Choose Your Own Adventure' package which includes 2 adult admission tickets!

• Acadia National Park: Park opens April 15. Trails from easy to difficult. (3 hours from here) Book our Inn to Inn package and stay in Freeport AND Southwest Harbor!

• The Seven Wonders Of Maine: Seven fun, scientific, educational and enjoyable sights to see in Maine. Maine's largest waterfall, Maine's 'Grand Canyon', Swan Island and four more 'wonders of Maine'.

• Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory: Visit Fort Knox and ascend the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory. Small admission fee to Fort and Observatory. (2 1/2 hours from here taking  Rte 1, seasonal) Photo courtesy of Friends of Fort Knox.



• Lighthouse Tour: Start here with your copy of the 'Discovering Maine's Lighthouses and Harbors' guide. Lighthouse maps and directions with photos and history of lighthouses up and down the coast from Kittery to Calais. (.pdf file, requires Acrobat to view)

• Ride the Rails, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad: On the waterfront in Portland, 20 minutes from here.

• Tourmaline hunting: Gather Maine tourmaline at various locations across the state. Permission of land owners is required.

• Wine Tasting- 3rd Friday of every month at Freeport Cheese and Wine on Bow St. (2 blocks from here)

• Historic walking tour of Freeport.  Take a stroll through Freeport using this illustrated guide with map.  Find out what all those outlet stores used to be in their previous lives!

Every Saturday morning join the folks from Freeport Wild Bird Supply on a guided bird walk at a local park or nature preserve.

On a motorcycle? Follow one or more of the routes on the Maine Motorcycle Rides Map. We're located at the confluence of Rides 1, 6 & 7. The perfect starting or stopping point for any of those rides! Paved, lighted, off street parking.

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Still not sure what to do while in Freeport, Maine? We've taken the liberty of planning some itineraries with some of our favorite things to do and see. We hope you'll enjoy them, too!

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4 days/3 nights trip planner: Day One: Check in and grab a cookie and some tea. Review the Freeport map and plan your shopping. Browse the restaurant menus; think lobster! Head out for superb outlet shopping. Take a tour at Cold River Vodka Distillery. Day Two: Start your day with a scrumptious breakfast in the sunroom. Head out for those last few shopping items. Stop in at LL Bean and sign up for a Walk-On Adventure. Plan a 'tea for two' at Jacqueline's Tea Room or a late lunch at Morrison's Chowder House. After tea, take a drive to Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop just 2 miles from here! Don't miss Georgetown Pottery.  Then it's time to put your feet up and enjoy the rest of the afternoon before heading out for local brewpub, Gritty McDuffs. Day Three: Another different scrumptious breakfast! How about a day on the Bay?  You can head to Portland and hop on the Casco Bay mail boat. The cruise leaves the Portland waterfront and runs approximately 3 hours. This scenic trip around the Casco Bay is complete with ongoing travelogue and makes stops at the islands to pick up and drop off mail. This inexpensive 'cruise' is a guest favorite! Arrive back at the Inn, head over to Freeport Cheese and Wine for a special bottle of wine. Have cheese and crackers and a relaxing glass of wine on the porch while deciding what sounds good for dinner. Casual dining at the Broad Arrow or Jameson's or Turkish delights at the Mediterranean Grill? If you're here in the summer, you won't want to miss the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster at the Town Dock. Get there before the season ends! (Last lobster hits the pot Columbus Day weekend!) Day Four: A 'wicked good' breakfast awaits! Quick check of your room, drop off the key and head out for the beach. Our favorite one is Popham Beach State Park. Check the tide map before you go to be sure you get there at low tide to walk out to the Fox Islands (due to tidal changes, it is no longer possible to walk to the islands). Stop at the Old World Deli on the way out of town and pick up a picnic lunch to go. Also a guest favorite for a quieter beach is at Reid State Park, just across the Sagadahoc Bridge in Georgetown. Great spot for lighthouses and surfing! Looking for something in town? Check out Goldenrod Garage for truly amazing antique and collectible cars and trucks.   Only here overnight? Here's a list of other things to do in and around Freeport: Freeport area dining guide. Lobster and more. Quilt shops in Maine, close to Freeport- Stock up on your stash! Fall foliage drives in Freeport Hiking and Biking in and around Freeport Raft Maine- Check river conditions, find a guide, reserve a trip. Maine Maritime Museum Children's Museum of Maine Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum (see artifacts from 'Capt Dan's' expeditions) Other day trips include whale watching, cruises, lighthouse tours, kayaking, bird watching, golfing, skiing, snowshoeing, Freeport Community Theater, Portland Pirates Hockey, Portland Sea Dogs Baseball, hiking and biking. Check the official state tourism website for more details, or give us a call and let us help you plan.   Here in Maine for a college tour or interview? These colleges are within 20 to 60 minutes' drive (listed in distance order, nearest to farthest): Bowdoin College, Brunswick Southern New Hampshire University, Brunswick Campus Maine College of Art (MECA), Portland Bangor Theological Seminary, Portland Campus New England Bible College, Portland Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, Portland Southern Maine Community College, South Portland Husson College, South Portland Bates College, Lewiston Andover College, Lewiston University of Southern Maine, Portland University of New England, Biddeford/Portland Colby College, Waterville Thomas College, Waterville St Joseph's College, Standish University of Maine (UMA), Augusta New England School of Communication, Bangor   Member, Historic Freeport Bed and Breakfasts   Traveling to Camden, Maine? Stay with our friends, Karen & Dave (and Caffrey!), at Timbercliffe Cottage B&B just off the High Street.