Oh Maine!
Although I have never lived in Maine , my visits there feel like returning home. Yes, I have an Aunt who lives there (whom I frequently stay with while visiting) . And Yes , I have visited many times now , but there is an familiarity about that state that reminds me of coming back to the place where I grew up in Ohio. My aunt and my cousin recently moved their families to Freeport Maine which is an interesting town to describe to outsiders. If I told you what the town is basically made up of , you would think it was one big strip mall. It's about 70% high end Outlet stores (plus L.L. Bean which is open 24 hours! Don't ask why, it has something to with selling a lot of boots a long time ago) , 15% places to eat , and another 15% made up of hotels and bed and breakfasts. BUT , most everything there is either designed or uses existing buildings from the turn of the century or earlier. And most everything is based around the Main street center.
In 1982, McDonald's made plans to tear down an 1850s Greek Revival house to build one of its standard stores. Outcry from residents caused the town to adopt new ordinances concerning what businesses could and couldn't do with their buildings, and McDonald's built the restaurant inside the house, maintaining the exterior appearance. This was one of the first times that McDonald's had been forced to change its restaurant design to fit local requirements. And just like that everything built there after exists in some older structure. The Abercrombie and Fitch store is in the old library , the Starbucks is in a small Cape Cod home (complete with a creepy looking cellar) , Banana Republic in a beautiful Brick Home and so forth. You would think there would be a limitation to the building of stores, but Freeport Village now has more than 100 shops!
I assume if you visit the southern part of Maine , Freeport is on the standard list of places you should travel to. Only 25 minutes north of Portland it is quaint place to shop and get some excellent food. Heck , stay the night in the 7 or so Bed and Breakfasts scattered throughout town. I have no idea where the Bed and Breakfasts movement originated , but it feels like the start of it lay here in Maine. It just feels like something they have been doing forever. Special thank to the owners of the Kendall Tavern Inn for the brief history of their fine establishment which happens to be my Aunt's neighbor. Loved hearing the history of their B&B. If you happen to stay there , ask them about their month long car trip to San Diego in a station wagon.
I will see you again Maine. Hopefully in less time than the five years it took me to get back this last time!
