Maine retailer L.L. Bean has a well-earned reputation for exceeding expectations, and the free L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series at the company's flagship store in Freeport, Maine, is no exception. One of the highlights of my family's summer last year was seeing two shows at L.L. Bean's Discovery Park over the 4th of July holiday. Here are 10 tips for attending a concert, along with the L.L. Bean Summer Concert schedule for 2009.

Coming Up: Family favorite Dan Zanes Saturday, July 11 and Canadian jazz singer Matt Dusk Saturday, July 18.

More Great Places to See a Concert in New England:

• Tanglewood
• Infinity Hall
• Higher Ground

_{L.L. Bean Summer Concert photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.}

Whether you're a seasoned nudist or you've wanted to experience the freedom of clothing optional recreation for the first time, here are 10 New England campgrounds, resorts and inns that cater to the less than fully clothed.

Only want to dip a toe into nude recreation? This Saturday, July 11, you can help set the Guinness World Record for skinny dipping at one of four New England sites participating in the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) coast-to-coast record-setting event.

Poll: Would you stay at a nudist resort? Cast your vote, and see what others are saying. Is your wife the only thing standing between you and a nude vacation?

More Cool Ideas for Hot New England Days

• Visit the Hurricane Harbor Water Park at Six Flags New England
• Keep Cool in Caves and Waves
• Chill Out at Connecticut's Largest Water Park
• Tour Howe Caverns in Upstate New York
• Pretend It's December at Santa's Village
• Try Whitewater Rafting
• Go Tubing on the Farmington River

_{Photo: Getty Images / Vincent Besnault}

When Boston Harbor welcomes the world's tall ship fleet, it is truly a spectacle to behold. Sail Boston, an event which has not been held since 2000, gets underway today as 50 ships from 20 countries visit New England's shores.

More Events This Weekend in New England:

• See a Civil War encampment, a concert by Asia, fireworks and much more free this Saturday at Hartford Riverfest.
• Watch colorful hot air balloons, fireworks and mud bog races at the Hillsborough Balloon Fest & Fair in New Hampshire.
• Celebrate the Champlain Quadricentennial at the Burlington International Waterfront Festival in Vermont.
• Enjoy rides, crafts, a car show and continuous entertainment on six stages at the Whaling City Festival in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
• Hear gospel music, partake of a spaghetti dinner and more as the nine-day Maine Potato Blossom Festival gets underway in Fort Fairfield.
• View flicks made by Maine and New England filmmakers at the 12th annual Maine International Film Festival.

_{Boston Harbor photo © 2007 Kim Knox Beckius}

New additions this week to Kim's New England Deal Sheet:

• The Cape Ann Whale Watch package at Comfort Suites in Haverhill, Massachusetts, is just $129.95 per night including two whale watch tickets (a $90 value!);
• New Hampshire's Fairfield Inn Nashua Merrimack offers an eBreak rate of $59 per night this weekend; and
• Maine's Sebasco Harbor Resort has a Lighthouse & Lobsters package featuring lighthouse lodging, lobster dinner and more.

Follow @newenglandgirl on Twitter for breaking deals and more New England travel tidbits.

_{Comfort Suites Haverhill photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius}