The Kittery Outlets - Let's Go Shopping!

Those who like to shop till they drop will be happy, happy, happy at the Kittery Outlets.

Just a few minutes down Route 1 South from York, Kittery Maine is the first town you encounter when entering our state from New Hampshire on Route 1 or 95.

And what do we greet you with when you enter Maine from the south?

Serious bargain shopping!

Route 1 goes straight through the Kittery Maine Outlets, where you'll find over 120 stores – women's clothing, men's clothing, children's clothing, kitchen stores, hardware stores, jewelry stores, restaurants and more.

At the outlet malls in Kittery, you'll find Swarovski crystal and used guns. Claire Murray rugs and goldfish crackers at the Pepperidge Farms outlet (they have Godiva chocolate there, too).

You can get a great price on a diamond engagement ring at Zales, or a kayak at the Kittery Trading Post.

You could probably do ALL of your holiday, birthday, Father's Day, Mother's Day and anniversary gift shopping in one day at the Kittery Outlets.

Since Kittery borders York and I can drive there in less than 10 minutes, I find myself at the outlet malls A LOT.

Took the kids there just last night, because it's the closest McDonald's or Burger King to York and every now and then we like a double cheeseburger...and we just happened to hit the tent sale at the Kittery Trading Post, too.

More of our pages to enhance your trip to the Kittery Outlets:

• Complete List of Kittery Outlet Shops
• Kittery Maine Lodging Guide
• The Town Around The Kittery Maine Outlets

You know what else we do from time to time at the Kittery Outlet malls?

We walk over to Le Gourmet Chef next to McDonald's and sample everything they have out for sampling – my oldest is very partial to the raspberry honey mustard. Then we go over to Harry & David, which has some of the better gift baskets in Maine, and happily accept the friendly staff's offer to sample some of their latest treats.

When the children were very little, I even took them trick-or-treating at the Kittery Outlets, since they always have one night near October 31 set aside for that. The store staff seem to enjoy the children in their costumes as much as the children enjoyed trick-or-treating in the stores!

Oh, chocolate heaven is trick-or-treating at the Lindt chocolate outlet store in Kittery.

And – in a move that almost seems like they asked me before they did it – when Starbuck's went into the Kittery Outlets, they put it practically next door to Yankee Candle!

I can't even tell you how much clothing I've bought over the years at The Children's Place outlet, for my own children and as gifts for nieces, nephews, and baby showers. When The Children's Place outlet has a sale, it's yard sale pricing!

One of my very favorite times to go to the outlet malls alone or with a girlfriend, though, is the days right after Christmas. The markdowns on Christmas items are sometimes hard to believe...

What is it about shopping that wears us out after awhile? Really, it's just a lot of standing around.

But when you've had enough shopping and just HAVE to sit down and have something to eat, the outlet malls in Kittery don't disappoint.

Noel's Coffee Shop near The Children's Place outlet has, among many other things, raspberry lime rickeys. If you've read the page on this site about York Beach, then you'll know what a raspberry lime rickey fan I am.

For fried seafood, Bob's Clam Hut is a Kittery institution, and just a stone's throw away is Bob's Clam Hut all grown up – Robert's Maine Grill (both places owned by the same folks).

Robert's bar is also the only place I know (so far!) that will make me an “all grown up” version of my beloved raspberry lime rickey!

Both Bob's Clam Hut and the Weathervane Seafood are great when you have that craving for fried clams or other seafood.

As for Robert's, it gets an honorable mention for its beautiful, very contemporary bar, the all-you-can-eat oyster nights.

Don't forget to check out the Tuesday community suppers at Robert's, either.

A little farther north you'll find the Freeport, Maine outlet stores; home of perhaps the most famous of all Maine retail shops – L.L. Bean.

When you're up at 3 a.m. On Christmas Eve and you desperately need that pair of high quality galoshes, the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and Freeport, Maine is only a little over an hour's drive from York. You'll be back before they even wake up...

The Kittery Outlets are always a great shopping experience – but so is shopping in York. York's retail stores are little less of the brand names we all know, and a little more of the locally owned, one-of-a-kind shops.

And shopping for antiques in York is second to none in the country!

Become An Inside York Maine Vacations Fan On Facebook - News, Tips & More!

Return From Kittery Outlets to Inside York Maine Vacations Home Page