If you travel along the picturesque coast of Maine you can easily make a stop in Freeport. Just two and a half hours from Boston, Freeport is a shopper's paradise that began in 1911 with the opening of L.L. Bean's store in downtown. Now it boasts over 200 retail shops and businesses including some of of the biggest names in retail and outlet stores as well as charming and eclectic small shops and specialty boutiques.
The very extra large sized Maine Hunting Boot, L.L. Bean's signature product, at the main entrance.
Being a tall family we do tend to have big feet, but even Jasmin's size 9 sneakers look minuscule next to this monster boot!
L.L. Bean's flagship store covers a large area of the town. It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and was just named the state's Top Tourist Attraction drawing 3,500,000 visitors annually.
We didn't plan to 'shop' as the luggage was already bulging and our airline - shame on them - charged for ALL checked bags, each way. However, looking around the gigantic shop I was intrigued by the attractive display of the original sewing machine used to stitch the hunting boots. 
Original L.L. Bean hunting boots.
We were so good................enjoyed the shop but left empty handed. After all, there's always the catalogs arriving in the mail box!
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Love the giant boot!!!
ReplyDeleteHubby and I were in Steve Alford's home town once (He was a basketball somebody from Indiana) and they had a giant sneaker, very similar to your boot.
I thought it was very fun.
You were soooo good to just leave with photos and great memories! Those boots are a hoot..and the sewing machine? Perfection :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine hearing myself say "Oh, it's 3:56 am on Easter morning and I must have new boots..now!"
Crazy..
Some years ago now (acutally 11 years ago) we had a stay over in Boston and visited with my then pen pal, now email pal. We stayed overnight with them and on the Saturday they took us round various places in the locality, we ended up at Freeport......my goodness did we have a good time!! C & P were into making English tea, but they put the tea bags into a cup to make it, I told them the only way to make tea was in a tea pot and I bought them one from a shop there. P tells me they still use it.............
ReplyDeleteI love their things. That was an interesting photo trip. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteQMM
That was a fun trip to the L.L. Bean outlet. My shoes did indeed look really tiny compared to the giant boot I was standing next to. Hopefully there will be some interesting stores (and scenery) to see on our next trip! :D
ReplyDeleteLove,
_-Jasmin-_
Oh wow, I have always wanted to go there. Maybe someday I will make it. I hear they really don't offer bargains though.
ReplyDeleteNancy
I just got a late summer catalog today on my doormat. I love LLBean and could never leave there emptyhanded. I have always said to Jos that I want to go there. One day...
ReplyDeleteIt would be such fun to see the factory. I loved the old sewing machine. How wonderful that they still have it.
Hugs ~
Heidi
Love LL Bean! That book is so cool!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Lisa
Hunting boots never looked so good as in your artistically composed photos! Having shopped LLBean on occasion, it was interesting to see their flagship store.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to travel? Seeing giant shoes is just a part of the fun. Thanks for sharing your travels.
ReplyDeleteI love LL Bean's store in Freeport, try to go there whenever I'm in the US. Have had my photo taken standing by that boot too!
ReplyDelete