Kittery is a small town in Maine, directly across from the New Hampshire border, that features a number of outlet stores.
Get in
It's only about an hour away from Boston on I-95 (in good traffic, of course), or a more leisurely, scenic drive on Route 1. The outlet store district is on Route 1, a half-mile north of I-95 (take Exit 3 from the highway).
Beware toll roads in nearby New Hampshire. The highways leading to and from the New Hampshire coast get crowded during good beach weather.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
- Kittery Outlets. Kittery has over 30 national major-brand clothing stores (including maternity, children's clothing, accessories, lingerie, and hosiery), over 20 shoe stores, and a reasonable selection of "active wear" and sports gear. There are over two dozen stores with housewares, plus a handful of miscellaneous outlets (candy, toys, jewelry) and services (fuel, restrooms, phones, banking, coffee, welcome center, etc.).
- Kittery Trading Post, 301 U.S. Route One. Established in 1938, this store has three floors containing the largest selection of outdoor items in New England.
- Mostly Maine, 40 US Route One. Features thousands of items produced in Maine.
- Yankee Candle. Devoted candle fans will want to visit their Disneyland-like headquarters in Deerfield, Massachusetts (unfortunately at the other end of New England).
Eat
- Bob's Clam Hut, 315 US Route 1, +1 207-439-4233. Offers an excellent lobster roll the way it should be served as well as (obviously) excellent fried clams. Food is served from a pickup window with both indoor and outdoor seating area. This restaurant has been around since 1956 and features a bit of New England atmosphere in addition to good food. $10-$20 for most items
- Robert's Maine Grill and Market, 326 Route 1, +1 207-439-0300. $13-25 per item
- Warren's Lobster House, 11 Water Street, +1 207-439-2058. Touts its salad bar as "the seacoast's best". Try the 'Super Bowl of Chowder' (Clam chowder with shrimp, scallops, and lobster). $13-25 per item
- The Weathervane. The first restaurant in the regional chain, as well as its primary shipping point.
- Morrisons Lobsters, 11 Badgers Island West, +1 207 439-2501. Lobsters, clams, and steamers. Fresh, local, cheap, BYOB. Their seafood is served on a deck overlooking the Piscataqua river, with a terrific view of nearby Portsmouth.
Drink
Sleep
There are a number of motels and inns that line Route 1, all conveniently located near the outlet malls.
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