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Casco Castle - Freeport’s original rusticator’s hangout.

Is enjoying the great outdoors hiking, kayaking, beachcombing or just hanging out with a good book in a comfy chair under the trees your idea of a real vacation? You’re a rusticator!

Rusticating became a ‘thing’ back in the late 1800’s into the early 1900’s as New York’s rich and famous fled the city in the heat of the summer to play at being ‘hicks’ in Maine. Tough to do when you brought your own train car and a good chunk of your worldly possessions with you.

Rusticating inspired the era of the Maine cottage. You know, those big old houses you admire perched on a bluff above the ocean. That’s a Maine ‘cottage’. Poland Springs, Bar Harbor and Moosehead Lake saw many hotels and cottages built for rusticators.

Freeport had the Casco Castle. Built by the trolley companies as a destination for day trippers and overnight guests the castle had it’s own zoo and amusement park. You can get an excellent panorama of the remaining stone tower at the end of Winslow Park at Staples Point. Or, check out the view from a kayak on your way to Pound of Tea, Sow and Pigs, or The Goslings.

We’d like to bring back the age of the rusticator. So, come and enjoy the laid back, relaxed atmosphere here at White Cedar Inn. Sit in a chair under the trees. Read a book. Go for a hike. Paddle around in Casco Bay. Walk on the beach. Disconnect to reconnect. Become a rusticator.

Check out our rooms. Give us a call.

Pulled together a little list (with a map!) of different places in Freeport where you can find antiques, uniques and fun Maine gifts. It seems like this spring was the time Freeport got its own little corner of the antiques market. All of a sudden shops were opening along Rt 1 taking advantage of the larger spaces and easier parking than we sometimes encounter in downtown.

It’s now pretty simple to plan an antiques roadshow of your own with White Cedar Inn as your home base. From Freeport to Brunswick (Cabot Mill) to Montsweag (flea market) to Wiscasset (Avalon Antiques) and south to Portland (Flea for All and Portland Architectural Salvage) you can find the parts to build your house and then furnish it. Plus having great dining within walking distance and coastal hikes to clear the cobwebs from your brain.

Plan an antiques and uniques trip to Freeport today!

Here’s the map of Freeport antiques and uniques.

You can take an old dresser and refresh it pretty easily with paint and new knobs as I did over the winter. The sky’s the limit when you use a little imagination. And these antique shops will give you plenty of ideas! Even repurposing clothing can update your look in a flash.