Freeport's Fun Other Side

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Those who think Freeport is limited to large retail miss the chance to see that the outlets are interspersed with a treasure trove of locally owned stores too often overlooked by shoppers.

SHOPS Tucked in a brick courtyard just off Main Street, (1) Puzzles & Games, Etc. (58 Main St.; 207-865-4185) stocks old standbys like dominos and chess, as well as Red Sox and, heaven forbid, Yankees - checkers and a surprising array of adult drinking games. Edible - and drinkable - gifts are the order of the day at (2) Freeport Cheese & Wine (27 Bow St.; 207-865-3993), where owners Eric and Aly Fullagar and their staff write their own insightful tasting notes for almost every wine they stock. (3) Earrings & Company (2 Mechanic St.; 207-865-3097) specializes in handcrafted - and surprisingly affordable - jewelry, with an emphasis on Maine and New England artisans. Pick up a stroller for your shih tzu, along with more prosaic supplies for dogs, cats, fish, and other small creatures at (4) Pet Pantry (140 Main St.; 888-772-9392). Whether you're looking to gut a deer or dice shallots,
Freeport has quiet nature trails and sea views.

(5) Freeport Knife Co. (148 Main St.; 207-865-0779; www.freeportknife.com [2]) has the sharp implement you need. And if someone on your shopping list has been especially good, stop in at (6) Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers (149 Main St.; 207-865-4519; www.thomasmoser.com [3]) for a gorgeous piece of handcrafted furniture.

LODGING Enjoy the fireplace, the indoor pool, and the newly renovated bathrooms at Freeport's home for hospitality, the (7) Harraseeket Inn (162 Main St.; 207-865-9377; www.harraseeketinn.com [4]). The (8) White Cedar Inn (178 Main St.; 207-865-9099; www.whitecedarinn.com [5]), the boyhood home of Arctic explorer Donald B. MacMillan, offers a Christmas shopping weekend package, complete with a complimentary bag of gift-wrapping supplies.
DINING The doner kebab (also known as a gyro) and babaghannush (pureed eggplant mixed with garlic and spices) are among the fresh, tasty treats served with style at the (9) Mediterranean Grill (10 School St.; 207-865-1688; www.mediterraneangrill.biz [6]). There's something for every appetite in the cozy Broad Arrow Tavern at the Harraseeket Inn. Kick back with a pint of ale and a burger or a dish of shepherd pie at (10) Gritty McDuff's (187 Lower Main St.; 207-865-4321; www.grittys.com [7]). Make reservations for one of the seatings at (11) Jacqueline's Tea Room (201 Main St.; 207-865-2123), which serves a four-course lunch complete with finger sandwiches, scones with Devon cream, and all the tea you can drink.

ACTIVITIES When you tire of all the getting and spending, clear your head with a walk through the grounds at (12) Pettengill Farm (207-865-3170; Pettengill Road), a nineteenth-century saltwater farm owned by the Freeport Historical Society. Or traipse your choice of wooded and coastal trails at (13) Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park (207-865-4465; off-season, 207-624-6080; 426 Wolfe's Neck Rd.)