Experience the way life should be

There’s lots of great hiking in Maine, though we will warn that the good mountainous hikes are ~2 hours away. In the Freeport area there are still some great trails to get outside, like Hedgehog Mtn Trails (5 min drive) and Bradbury Mtn (10 min drive). If you’re looking for something a little more challenging and feel like making a day of it, we suggest Pleasant Mtn, Southern Maine’s tallest mountain (1.5 hour drive).

Maine has been named one of the most bike-friendly places in the country. Not only that, but the terrain and scenery is both diverse and beautiful. For some mountain biking, Black Strap Preserve has 38 trails that include a lot of features more advanced riders will enjoy.

Want something no less scenic, but a little more laid back? Taking the ferry out to Peak’s Island in Casco Bay with a picnic lunch is one of our favorite ways to spend a day.

Between Maine’s lakes, ponds, rivers and of course the Atlantic, there are seemingly endless options for kayaking. For something close to the cabin, try the Harraseeket River in South Freeport. And if you don’t have equipment, Seaspray Kayaking Rentals + Tours in Brunswick will deliver to your location.

The best rock and ice climbing in the state is a bit of a drive from Freeport — a great choice is in Camden Hills, on the west shore of the Penobscot Bay, there are some high quality, although short climbs. For bouldering near the cabin, check out Bradbury Mountain State Park (10 min drive).

There is no shortage of guided outdoor adventure opportunities throughout the state. If you don’t have any gear or expertise LL Bean’s Outdoor Adventures are a great place to start. They have everything from guided birding kayak tours to snowshoeing, stand up paddle boarding, fishing and cross-country skiing.

From mid-April through October, catch a tour with Odyssey Whale Watching or hop on one of Seacoast Tours of Freeport’s Lobster Demo & Wildlife Cruise.

The beaches here are quintessential Maine. There’s nothing like taking a winter walk on a rocky, snow-swept beach or basking in the summer sun, warm sand between your toes after taking a very cold, very short dip in the ocean.

Head north 40 minutes to Reid State Park for long, wide sand beaches and large sand dunes. Or if you are in the Portland/Cape Elizabeth area, a great little spot is Crescent Beach, right down the road from the famous Lobster Shack at Two Lights.

Maine is home to more than 150 golf courses. If golf is your thing, you might want to drive the hour to Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, which has been named one of America’s 100 best public golf courses by Golf Digest. But there are also 3 top-notch courses within a 20-minute drive: Toddy Brook Golf Course, Brunswick Golf Club and Val Halla Golf & Recreation.

There are some fantastic trails for XC skiing and snowshoeing within 20 minutes of the cabin. Two favorites:

Pineland Farms (19 min) with approximately 20 miles of professionally-designed, well-kept trails, 2 warming huts and ski rentals.

Twinbrook Recreation Area (17 min) with more than 4 miles of groomed, wooded trails.

Downhill skiing is one of the most popular winter activities in Maine. The 2 largest ski mountains are Sunday River (1hr 40 min drive) and Sugarloaf (2hr drive).

Ice fishing goes from January 1 to March 31, and although you need a license, these are easy to obtain. Twin Maple Outdoors offers full day trips on remote lakes that include a BBQ lunch and hot cocoa or coffee.

Maine is a winter playground for snowmobile enthusiasts with over 14,000 miles of well-groomed and well-marked trails. Prime snowmobiling areas are mostly located up north. Northern Outdoors is an adventure outfitter located in The Forks, ME about a 2-hour drive from the cabin. They offer both full and half-day rentals, as well as self-guided and guided tours.

Many make the trip to Maine just for LL Bean’s Flagship store and surrounding outlets like Jcrew, Gap and Patagonia, and when you stroll down Freeport’s quaint streets you can see why. Don’t miss out on local shops like the Mangy Moose, Chiltons Furniture and Sea Bags.

Downtown Portland is also chock full of some great shops including Pinecone + Chickadee, Abacus Gallery, LeRoux Kitchen and Simon Pearce.

While Portland is home to (wonderful) mainstays like the Portland Museum of Art, Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, Rockland, an hour and half north of Freeport is known as Maine’s art capital.

In this charming seaside town you’ll find the Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, the Maine Lighthouse Museum and a dozen art galleries.

If you’re a fan of live music, definitely checkout the concert calendars for the State Theater and Thompson’s Point. During the summer, LL Bean hosts an outdoor concert and movie series, while Cadenza has you covered for year-round live music right in downtown Freeport.

Lighthouses dot the coast of Maine, beacons of hope and safety for over two centuries. Some of the most popular to visit in the area are Portland Head Light, Cape Neddick Light and Permaquid Point Lighthouse.