In quest of Sox, hot dogs, and subs - no, not that kind

KITTERY, Maine - If you live in New England, you will visit Kittery one day. It's inevitable.

The Pine Tree State's southernmost town is the gateway to everything else and one of the Northeast's great outlet shopping capitals.

But what if you're not a shopper? What if your wife tells you, "Drop me off at the Polo outlet," and expects you to pick her up in three hours? There's more to keep you busy than you would have thought.

Kittery Trading Post: Don't be too hasty to flee the outlet zone. The Trading Post on Route 1 has been around since 1938 and is the real deal when it comes to almost any kind of outdoor activity. Sure, there are tourist trinkets and clothes for all, but it's a great place to indulge yourself when it comes to most guy stuff, from hunting and fishing to camping, climbing, and kayaking. How authentic is the Trading Post? In recent years it still accepted animal pelts in hunting season for store credit. (301 Route 1, 207-439-2700, 888-587-6246, kitterytradingpost.com, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10-6.)

Flo's: While you're there, and since no one is around to tell you what to eat, you may want to head over to Flo's hot dog stand next door. The original Flo's in York long ago attained cult status, and this stand is run by the same family. Though it offers other goodies such as homemade chili, go for the dogs and order them with mayonnaise and Flo's secret hot sauce, and nothing else. (Route 1, Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday till 6.)

Black & Decker Outlet: Don't even think of leaving the shopping zone without stopping here. The place is filled with all manner of gewgaws but specializes, of course, in tools - hand and powered - that are often on sale for ridiculously low prices. Walk through the aisles and you'll want to make those grunting baboon noises Tim Allen uttered in "Home Improvement." You'll see an "Alligator Lopper," a powered hand saw, or a ropeless pruning stick, and at some point you'll say, I don't even know what that does and I want it! (Tanger Outlet Center I, Route 1, 207-439-5681, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m-9 p.m., Sunday 10-6.)

Robert's Maine Grill and Market: If the Red Sox are playing, head over to Robert's on Route 1. The bar's a great place to sit while the game is on. And the lobster pizza with basil, herbed cheeses, and caramelized onions will make you wonder why more places don't offer this terrific dish. (326 Route 1, 207-439-0300, robertsmainegrill.com, Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday till 9:30, Sunday till 8:30.)

Dog House: If you missed Flo's but hot dogs are still on your mind, then drop by the Dog House at the Kittery Traffic Circle. The spot offers dogs - steamed or grilled - with fries, onion rings, cheese steak, and more. There's no indoor eating, but it's good eating. (Kittery Traffic Circle, 207-439-1559, Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday till 3.)

Kittery Historical & Naval Museum: Less than five minutes from the outlets is this little space just off Route 1. It's worth the admission fee just to sit through the 20-minute video that provides an intriguing capsule history of Kittery - Maine's oldest town - and its longstanding shipyard. There's more to the museum than the video, however. It's model ship heaven for fans of that painstaking art. The models come in all sizes, detail, and American eras. Other historical items range from World War II naval memorabilia and the remains of a local Colonial garrison house to all manner of boating flotsam and jetsam. (Rogers Road Extension, 207-439-3080, Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through October, adults $3, families $6.)

Fort McClary State Park: This rugged fort was manned in five wars over the course of 275 years and has a commanding view of the Piscataqua River. A walk around the very "picnicable" grounds allows you to see three lighthouses, no easy feat. The blockhouse, the last one built in Maine, serves as the focal point and is still open to visitors. It's also where you'll get a self-guided history tour. Walk through the earthworks, the barracks, the magazine building, and the riflemen's houses to an earlier time. (Route 103, Kittery Point, 207-384-5160, geocities.com/Fort_McClary/index.html, daily 10 a.m.-dusk, adults $2.)

USS Albacore Park: Head south on Route 1, and after you cross the bridge over the Piscataqua River into New Hampshire, take your first right. You'll be in the parking lot of Albacore Park in Portsmouth, where this retired naval submarine is permanently docked. Built locally, the sub was once the fastest in the world and was commissioned in the US Navy from 1953-72. It never fired a weapon, never went to war. But it's still a remarkable piece of technology. (600 Market St., Portsmouth, N.H., 603-436-3680, ussalbacore.org, open daily 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Columbus Day, adults $5, ages 7-17 $3.)

Dean Johnson can be reached at DCJGlobe@aol.com.