Freeport

It's easy to shop until you drop in Freeport's 200-plus outlet stores, but shopping is not the only reason to visit this town notching the coastline just north of Portland. With a number of outdoor recreation and nature areas in and around town, hikers, bikers, and families with restless feet can find plenty of ways to get out and steep themselves in spring. And as an added bonus, this year marks with 100th anniversary of L.L. Bean so the legendary retailers is celebrating with a slew of activities and events.

It's easy to shop until you drop in Freeport's 200-plus outlet stores, but shopping is not the only reason to visit this town notching the coastline just north of Portland. With a number of outdoor recreation and nature areas in and around town, hikers, bikers, and families with restless feet can find plenty of ways to get out and steep themselves in spring. And as an added bonus, this year marks with 100th anniversary of L.L. Bean so the legendary retailers is celebrating with a slew of activities and events.

Harraseeket Inn 162 Main St., Freeport, Maine 800-342-6423, 207-865-9377 www.harraseeketinn.com What we liked most: Windows that opened, a recycling bin in the room. What we liked least: Dropped acoustic-tile ceilings in guest rooms and dining room. What surprised us: The lack of publicity about the inn's environmental practices. You know you're at the Harraseeket Inn when . . . in one day you can go from shopping to swimming to a beer at fireside and then an elegant dinner -- all without getting in your car. Rates: Doubles $99-$350 depending on size...

Outdoor fire pits flicker at the busy corner of Bow and Main streets. Settle at one of these sidewalk campfires, and you find yourself a customer at Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern. The restaurant opened last July in a former Bath & Body Works. From here you can sip a local beer and scrutinize visitors as they navigate Maine's foremost retail mecca. A few shoppers stride the brick sidewalks in knee-high leather boots, scarves draped around their necks, shopping bags swinging.

FREEPORT, Maine - A white shirt with dark slacks is practically my travel uniform, so I couldn't resist Jill McGowan among the usual suspects of outlet stores on Freeport's main drag. McGowan worked as a patternmaker for men's shirts and has seamlessly transferred her skills to creating distinctive shirts for women. She founded her company in 1994 and her designs are carried in boutiques around the country. After a couple of successful pop-up stores, McGowan opened the Freeport shop (her only retail outlet)

Workers at Freeport-McMoRan's giant gold and copper mine in eastern Indonesia say they are extending their strike into a third month. Most of the mine's 12,000 unionized employees — currently paid between $2.10 to $3.50 an hour — walked off their jobs on Sept. 15 to demand higher wages. Union spokesman Virgo Solossa said Tuesday they decided to remain on strike until at least Dec. 15 after negotiations failed. The two sides will continue talks on Wednesday. The workers are now asking for $7.50 an hour — down from an...

L.L.Bean is booting up its 100th anniversary celebration with a special outdoor collection, a partnership with the National Park Foundation, and the debut of the "L.L.Bean Bootmobile," a 13-foot-high, 20-foot-long vehicle shaped like - what else? - a boot. The preppy Maine retailer was founded a century ago by Leon Leonwood (L.L.) Bean after he returned from a hunting trip with cold, wet feet. He launched the company with a single item, the Maine Hunting Shoe, and it remains one of the merchant's staples.

L.L. Bean Flagship Store 95 Main St., Freeport, Maine 800-559-0747 llbean.com Open 24 hours, 365 days. Directions: Freeport is about 130 miles or 2 1/2 hours north of Boston. Take Interstate 95 into Maine to exit 44, Interstate 295 north, to exit 20. Follow Route 1 north (Main Street) into town. Store is in the village center, parking is free.

Maine environmental officials are giving recognition to three grocers for efforts to reduce their impact on the environment. The Department of Environmental Protection has certified Food City in Turner, Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport and Bathras Market in South Portland as Environmental Leaders. The DEP's Environmental Leader program encourages grocers, restaurants and lodging establishments to voluntarily minimize their impact on the environment. Points can be earned by things such as installing energy-efficient refrigeration equipment,...

Maine’s 31st moose hunting lottery will determine who gets permits for this year’s moose hunting season. The lottery is being held Saturday at the Cabela’s hunting, fishing and outdoors outfitter store in Scarborough. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says nearly 50,000 applications have been submitted for the 3,862 permits that will be awarded. Cabela’s is planning a variety of activities prior to the 4 p.m. drawing, including moose-hunting seminars, a pre-season scouting report and a barbeque contest.

L.L.Bean is booting up its 100th anniversary celebration with a special outdoor collection, a partnership with the National Park Foundation, and the debut of the "L.L.Bean Bootmobile," a 13-foot-high, 20-foot-long vehicle shaped like - what else? - a boot. The preppy Maine retailer was founded a century ago by Leon Leonwood (L.L.) Bean after he returned from a hunting trip with cold, wet feet. He launched the company with a single item, the Maine Hunting Shoe, and it remains one of the merchant's staples.

L.L. Bean is taking its four-wheeled hunting shoe on a road trip to the big city. Bean's president and CEO, Chris McCormick, and senior manager for manufacturing, Jack Samson, unveiled the L.L. Bean Bootmobile on Tuesday to workers at the Maine plant where the real boots are made. Later, the Bootmobile made a brief stop in Freeport before heading south toward New York City. The Bootmobile, which is more than 20 feet long, was built to help the Maine-based retailer celebrate 100 years of being in business.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and other gold producers declined as the precious metal dropped for a fifth straight session, the longest losing streak since October 2009. Worrying traders are signs of weaker demand in India and China, the biggest consumers of bullion. Freeport-McMoRan fell 4.1 percent; Barrick Gold Corp. slipped 2.8 percent, and Yamana Gold Inc. fell 3.8 percent.

Workers at Freeport-McMoRan's giant gold and copper mine in eastern Indonesia say they are extending their strike into a third month. Most of the mine's 12,000 unionized employees — currently paid between $2.10 to $3.50 an hour — walked off their jobs on Sept. 15 to demand higher wages. Union spokesman Virgo Solossa said Tuesday they decided to remain on strike until at least Dec. 15 after negotiations failed. The two sides will continue talks on Wednesday. The workers are now asking for $7.50 an hour — down from an earlier demand of $17.50 to $43. The company...

Maine environmental officials are giving recognition to three grocers for efforts to reduce their impact on the environment. The Department of Environmental Protection has certified Food City in Turner, Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport and Bathras Market in South Portland as Environmental Leaders. The DEP's Environmental Leader program encourages grocers, restaurants and lodging establishments to voluntarily minimize their impact on the environment. Points can be earned by things such as installing energy-efficient refrigeration equipment, having an anti-idle policy for trucks...

FREEPORT, Maine - A white shirt with dark slacks is practically my travel uniform, so I couldn't resist Jill McGowan among the usual suspects of outlet stores on Freeport's main drag. McGowan worked as a patternmaker for men's shirts and has seamlessly transferred her skills to creating distinctive shirts for women. She founded her company in 1994 and her designs are carried in boutiques around the country. After a couple of successful pop-up stores, McGowan opened the Freeport shop (her only retail outlet)

L.L. Bean is taking its four-wheeled hunting shoe on a road trip to the big city. Bean's president and CEO, Chris McCormick, and senior manager for manufacturing, Jack Samson, unveiled the L.L. Bean Bootmobile on Tuesday to workers at the Maine plant where the real boots are made. Later, the Bootmobile made a brief stop in Freeport before heading south toward New York City. The Bootmobile, which is more than 20 feet long, was built to help the Maine-based retailer celebrate 100 years of being in business.

The moose may be Maine's state animal, but a more appropriate symbol of Freeport is the shopping bag. Unlike shopping at a typical outlet mall, bargain hunting in this coastal town is not a cookie- cutter experience. Located about 15 miles north of Portland, Freeport has been a shopper's destination since Leon Leonwood Bean opened the original L.L. Bean store in 1912. Even with its 170-plus shops and businesses, Freeport is the antithesis of a strip mall. The town has maintained its charming New England character by strictly enforcing zoning regulations to preserve the simple architecture along Main Street.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the largest public copper producer, said a strike that began Sept. 15 at an Indonesian mine will cost it about 3 million pounds of copper a day. It will also lose about 5,000 ounces of gold a day. And union officials said it is likely its copper miners in Peru will strike. Metal mine workers in several countries have gone on strike this year, seeking better conditions and pay.

Maine’s 31st moose hunting lottery will determine who gets permits for this year’s moose hunting season. The lottery is being held Saturday at the Cabela’s hunting, fishing and outdoors outfitter store in Scarborough. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says nearly 50,000 applications have been submitted for the 3,862 permits that will be awarded. Cabela’s is planning a variety of activities prior to the 4 p.m. drawing, including moose-hunting seminars, a pre-season scouting report and a barbeque contest.