After the Foliage in Freeport

While there is still good color in places (our back yard being a prime example), many of the trees have lost most of their leaves. As you drive US-1 or I-295 either north or south, there are still some pockets of trees with spectacular colors, many have faded and the leaf drop is significant (helped along, no doubt, by a wind and rain storm a few days ago).

So, now what?

Things don't stand still in Freeport, Maine.

As we mentioned in a previous post, the State of Maine Tourism Office is kicking off a program called "Shop, Dine and Stay", promoting various activities leading up to the holiday season. We have created a "Shop, Dine and Stay" special for that purpose. The program highlights the late-fall and early-winter activities and the pre-holiday shopping opportunities in Maine (and especially in Freeport!).

Shopping Opportunity is Knocking!

As thoughts turn to the holidays, the November weather provides nice opportunities for some low-key sightseeing along the nearby coast, as well as early Christmas shopping in Freeport's nearly 200 shops and restaurants (including, of course, L.L. Bean's 5 stores - four of which are open 24x7!).

Yesterday we took a walk through town, stopping in many of the shops, both those along Main street in the historic buildings, and also in the new (in 2009) Freeport Village Station. We found plenty of bargains already available.

Many shops are advertising sales from 25-50% off, and we saw some that were as much as 70% off! In addition, there were some one day only sales with markdowns as high as 50-75% off, and some buy one - get one (BOGO) (or even buy one, get two) sales.

All of this is just in time for the Freeport Girlfriends Getaway weekend, November 13-15.

A Thanksgiving Getaway?

Over the Thanksgiving holidays (November 26-29 in the United States) there are some great opportunities. As usual, the Maine Dining Room at the Harraseeket Inn is having its all-you-can-eat buffet Thanksgiving Dinner (reservations required). Also, a number of the Freeport merchants will participate in the Moonlight Madness event again this year, with doors opening at (or after) midnight, in the wee hours of Friday morning, November 27.

Do You Sparkle?

Thanksgiving weekend also kicks of the traditional Christmas shopping season and the lighting decorations and Christmas trees will all be out for Sparkle Weekend, December 4-6. Activities include a parade of lights down beautiful Main St., decorated to look like a scene from a Christmas card, a tuba concert, jingle bell run, craft fair, hot cocoa stops, talking Christmas tree, and of course… Santa!

Get ready for the holiday season! Come to Freeport, Maine and Shop, Dine and Stay!

One More Foliage Report

It was interesting to look at the foliage maps this week, as Scott had opportunity to drive through most of the coastal foliage areas yesterday, on the way to and from a speaking engagement in Blue Hill (the Blue Hill peninsula is just south of Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor).

The Yankee Magazine foliage map shows the Freeport area to be fading and the areas between Brunswick and Camden to be at peak, Camden to Bucksport to be just turning, and the Blue Hill peninsula to be at peak. As of this writing (Wednesday, October 21), the Maine foliage site hasn't updated since the previous week.

The accompanying photo of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge (the observation deck is at the top of the left tower), just before Bucksport on US-1 if you're heading north, shows that area not yet at peak, which seemed to be the case all the way to the Blue Hill peninsula. While the recent winds and rain a few days ago have caused a good deal of leaf drop from Freeport to Camden, it certainly appeared to us that the best is yet to come from Freeport to Camden, and there seems to be a good bit of foliage yet to turn in the Camden to Blue Hill areas.

All that to say, that while it probably won't last more than another week between Freeport and Portland, there is a good amount of color yet to be had over the next couple of weeks as you drive the coast along US-1.

Happy leaf-peeping!

Shop, Dine & Stay (at Brewster House B&B, of course!)

Beginning in about two weeks, the State of Maine will be launching an advertising campaign called "Shop, Dine and Stay" to promote specials and packages throughout Maine for the November-December season.

Joining in the spirit, Brewster House Bed & Breakfast is pleased to announce our new Shop, Dine & Stay package. Our package includes two consecutive nights at Brewster House in Freeport, Maine, a $100 gift card to L.L. Bean (valid at any of its 5 Freeport stores, its other stores, online or by mail order), and a $50 gift certificate so you can dine at Azure Cafe. The package is available November 5 - December 19, 2009. The all-inclusive rate of $499 is for queen rooms, double occupancy (rates for other rooms are also available). Add a third consecutive night for only $100.

If you're starting to think about Sparkle weekend, or planning your Christmas shopping, Shop, Dine and Stay at Brewster House!

New England Foliage Photos

This week we had a number of guests here to see the foliage. Some found themselves captivated by the beauty of Maine's foliage along the rugged coastal areas, and others traveled inland, to New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway.

Below are photos from some of those travels (All photos are copyright by the photographer and used by permission. Where the photographer is not indicated, the photo is copyright Brewster House Inn, Inc.) Enjoy!


Mount Washington, New Hampshire, by Randy Abbonizio


Mount Washington, New Hampshire, by Randy Abbonizio


Bailey Island, Maine


Hemlock Bridge, Fryeburg, Maine


Reflection, Hemlock Bridge, Fryeburg, Maine


US-1, Brunswick, Maine



Stream along Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire


October leaves, Freeport, Maine

Weekly Maine Foliage Report

We weren't planning to devote this space to weekly foliage reports, but it seems that has been the hottest topic of late. Almost every call, and certainly every visiting guest, asks how the foliage is progressing,

Around the Freeport area, and south toward Portland, there are spots that are definitely at or near their peak. There are others, though, that have barely begun to turn. This makes it likely that we'll have another couple of weeks, at least, of good color!

Heading north along US-1, in the coastal areas, the status is much the same, with perhaps a bit more that has already turned and is at or near peak, but still a good bit in only the early stages.

It is a bit different as you head inland, however. There most areas are at full peak now, with only small amounts left to turn, or just beginning. We had guests who went across the inland areas of Maine, near Sebago Lake, to New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway, and found nearly the entire area in full color. Their photos were spectacular, with Mount Washington's snow-capped summit shining brightly above the hillsides of vibrant color! Truly this is one of the wonderful times of year to visit this area!

Much of the responsibility for this year's wonderful season of color is borne by the very wet, cool spring and summer months we experienced, then the cold snaps we're getting as the autumn proceeds.

Looking out the office window, our big maple in the back yard is only about 50% red and yellow, and the rest is still green. Sure signs of a long foliage season!

More Maine Foliage Around the Corner!

Not too surprisingly, we have received quite a few calls asking how the foliage is progressing, and when to expect the peak in the Freeport area.

It is always a bit of a guess, but the trees help us out, as they change at different rates, so a group of trees along Main Street (US-1 in Freeport) will be in full color, but just a bit further another group is just starting to turn, and yet another has not even begun.

According to the Maine Foliage site, which had not yet been updated for this week at this writing, we're just beginning to turn, but that report was posted last week (September 30). Even the Yankee Magazine foliage map, which updates more frequently, shows that peak for us is at least a week or more away.

Not to be disagreeable, but what we're seeing out the window and driving a few miles either way from Freeport doesn't match up too well with these reports. We would say the foliage we've seen is in the 30-50% range in most places at this point. That still means the peak isn't yet here, so there is a lot more color to come.

The maps make it look like the Midcoast area (just north of Freeport) is not much farther along, but from what we've seen, and heard from others, it is farther along than the Freeport area.

All that to say, that if you're thinking about viewing the wonderful 2009 fall foliage, or even taking us up on one of our Fall Foliage packages, you still have time to make your plans, and get here before the end of the month, and you should still be able to see some wonderful fall colors!

Our next two weekends are nearly booked up, but later in the month, and during the weekdays, we still have plenty of rooms available, including our first floor twin room, our queen rooms on the second floor, and our two 2-bedroom suites on the third floor.

If this is the year you want to see Maine's foliage, the time to make your plans is now!

After Autumn, then what?

Often guests express surprise when we tell them that we, like most B&B's (at least in the southern half of Maine) are open year 'round.

The natural assumption is that our season from November through April is fueled by either skiing or shopping. In Freeport, of course, shopping is always available, with the five L.L. Bean stores (four of which are open 24-hours a day, 365 days each year), and over 160 other shops and restaurants, most located in historic buildings, and almost all within a few blocks walk.

Downhill skiing is a bit trickier, though there are plenty of places for cross-country or for snowshoeing in the area. Probably the nearest downhill ski area is in Camden, about 90 minutes up US-1, with real mountain ski slopes about 2 hrs away in the western part of Maine.

So what is there to do (in addition to the shopping) between November and April? Plenty!

November:

Freeport's Girlfriend Getaway is November 13-15, with special lodging packages and activities. L.L. Bean's Northern Lights celebration begins November 20, running through New Years' Day. This includes the huge L.L. Bean Christmas Tree, carriage rides, and activities throughout Freeport.

Thanksgiving weekend (November 26-29) starts the "offical" Christmas shopping season with an all-you-can eat buffet at the Maine Dining Room in the Harraseeket Inn, Christmas decorations, and more. Moonlight Madness shopping begins at midnight on November 27.

December:

December starts with Sparkle Weekend in Freeport - always the first weekend in December, and filled with winter fun! There is a Christmas parade, with Santa arriving on a lobster boat, a talking Christmas tree, a tuba concert of seasonal favorites, the Freeport Community Players present "Radio IV", a long-time favorite drama, and there are sales and other events to charm every visitor.

New Year's Eve is traditionally a magical time at L.L. Bean in Freeport, with entertainment for the whole family, storytellers and music, and a midnight fireworks display.

And, of course, with all the magnificent shopping in Freeport, there is something for every budget and every taste in the stores and shops, both before Christmas, and with the after-Christmas sales.

January:

If you think you've seen good after-Christmas sales, wait until you visit Freeport in January (and even into February). We've seen unbelievable markdowns as merchants clear the way for the next season's merchandise.

January, with its snows and often clear days, makes a wonderful time to visit some of your favorite lighthouses, and get those rare photos of them with a dusting of snow on the rocks around them.

February:

Like January, February brings sales to town, and of course, special opportunities for short breaks and getaways with Presidents' Day weekend, Valentines Day, and more late-season sales.

The lighthouses and coastal scenes are still beautiful, with wind, water, waves and snow.

March:

In March the snow begins to melt and the first signs of Spring appear. It can still be a great time for seeing the new growth around the coastal areas and lighthouses, but it is also a good time for some early-season shopping.

April:

Like March, April can have some wonderful photo opportunities with new foliage and flowers appearing, melting snows, and beautiful, rugged, coastlines.

April is also the month for Flavors of Freeport, a wonderful food-inspired event, with all kinds of activities to enjoy.

So, yes, there is life after autumn in Freeport! Try one of our beautiful off-season months and enjoy off-season room rates, specials and activities!