L.L. Bean in Freeport Maine Features an Amazing Seven-Acre Retail Campus
L.L. Bean flagship store, Freeport, Maine (Photo credit: Maine Office of Tourism) Many outdoor stores leave us out in the cold with their mixed bag of merchandise, but not the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. This is the grandaddy of all outdoor stores -- including the L.L. Bean retail and outlet stores across the country -- in business more than a century, more than three million visitors a year and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With its famous big boot out front (see picture) and an incredible, organized variety of clothing and outdoor recreation equipment, this 200,000 sq. ft. store and seven acre campus is like the Disneyland of outdoor recreation stores. You'll find separate buildings for hunting and fishing, biking, boating and skiing, and an outlet store. An L.L. Bean home goods store opened across the street in 2009. In addition to the classic, well-made merchandise that made L.L. Bean famous, it's also quite entertaining at the Free...