Over our 20 years in Portland, we’ve purchased Christmas trees from a multitude of places, including pre-cut from nurseries, gas stations, and high schools, along with cut-your-own trees from a friend’s family farm in Bowdoinham. Last year, we tried a local tree farm and cried laughing while cutting down one of the remaining trees - tiny with a flat top, leaning slightly to the left…and costing a small fortune. I did love this quirky nugget, always appreciating things that ar

My husband suggested I create a hiking checklist for myself, since I have a loooong history of forgetting important items when setting out on my adventures. Like the microspikes I forgot to bring on our recent hike in the snowy Whites. Or my wallet, which I left at home while traveling to Vermont for hiking research. Lists have become my life-line, because my brain is not always functioning like that of a full-grown adult. If you’re anything like me, I hope this hiking hack h

Follow this popular route partway or all the way to the summit of Mount Washington. Hermit Lake and Tuckerman Ravine. Photo credit: Henry McMahon Options are a beautiful thing. I love a trail that offers a variety of lengths and levels of challenge, and Tuckerman’s certainly does. This hike features an additional bonus: it brings you to an iconic backcountry ski destination where you can watch brave souls trek up an insanely steep bowl with skis on their packs, to enjoy a thr

A newsletter about hiking can feel trivial at a time when people are fighting for their human rights and basic needs. But then I have an experience like last weekend - watching 100 high school students start hiking at 5:00 am to share a spectacular sunrise from Mt. Battie in Camden. I’m reminded that disconnecting from the chaos to spend time outdoors ignites the motivation to continue valuing, fighting for, and finding refuge in our messy and beautiful world. Hiking is one o

I've done this hike with groups several times and can confidently say it's an ideal adventure for a range of ages, abilities, and dogs....

Calling all mountain bikers! This gorgeous 64-acre parcel includes up to 4 miles of beginner-friendly trails winding through mixed forest...

And they're celebrating 80 years of life-changing, outdoor experiences. One of the best parts of my new job with Teens to Trails is...

If you’re new to Cathedral Ledge, it’s a 700-foot-high rock wall just outside of downtown North Conway, NH. The cliffs are popular for...

Guest Post by WinterKids. Photo by Theresa Hanten DIY Summer Adventure Journal Good to Know: Suitable for: PreK - Grade 2 Can be...

To all the fellas, I'm really glad you're here, but this post is for the women. I dedicate this post to all the female hikers who...

This was my second hike up Deer Leap and my fourth trip to Vermont in less than a year, thanks to the trail guide I’m working on. Living...

Me below Piazza Rock. Photo by Jaime Gagnon. The jaw-dropping reward at the outer end of this hike evokes wonder for nature’s majestic...

If you've never heard a dog scream, watch a 120-pounder, who can't swim, fall in a lake. Lucky for Romy, I was able to pull her out by...

I’ve admired this gorgeous barn for twenty years, driving past it countless times during trips to Mount Desert Island. Situated between...

A must-see waterfall if you're in Stowe! Less than 5 miles from the Sterling Pond Trail , which I shared details on last week, is an easy...

A moderate, 3-mile loop featuring grand views, cascading streams and stone stairs. Just outside of downtown Camden in Midcoast Maine, the...

We went to Stowe this past weekend to research my final three Vermont hikes for the Dog Hiking New England guide I’m working on. With a...

Since our boys were little, most of our vacations have involved camping or trips with extended family. Last summer, we rented a lakehouse...

Photo by Northern Outdoors (Post originally published in August of 2023) White water rafting offers unrivaled family fun. Lucky for us,...

Last weekend, I joined eleven women in a large cabin heated by wood stove, and there was no cell phone service. It was the perfect reset...

This shorter day hike offers an exposed summit with 360-degree views, including a clear shot of Mount Washington. For that wide-open...

Photo by Henry McMahon This moderate 3.5-mile loop is located off the Kancamagus Highway near Conway, NH. The trail begins with a walk...

Photo by Brian Threlkeld (Photography For The People) March in Maine means slushy trails, soft skating ponds, and muddy cross-country ski...

Amy Niemczura-Sowa was the first person to ever complete the entire Maine Mountain Guide. Here is the story of her remarkable achievement.

Once again, I am wowed by the fact that I'm still finding new trails to explore in our home city of Portland. I have explored over 150...

Photo by Courtney Cronin What the heck is WFA, you may be asking? Pronounced "Woofah," it stands for Wilderness First Aid, and it's an...

With all the fresh snow we've had this past week, I feel like a kid in a candy shop! Finally, winter has arrived, along with all the...

After renewing my annual Portland Trails membership, I received an updated 5th edition PT paper map and was excited to find several new...

Our 14-year-old woke up on Monday morning, lukewarm about school because his schedule said it was a "Blue" day. This meant French class...

Maybe I was a strange child, but I had a pet cemetery under a tree in the backyard of my childhood home. It wasn't for our family pets...

Located just 15 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, Buck's Ledge is a quick hike to open views of Mount Abram, The Mahoosuc Range, and...

Located within the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, this 4-mile out-and-back hike is among the most stunning in midcoast Maine....

Back in 2018 and 2019, I organized regular meetups at Portland skating ponds for multi-generational hockey games. It was called "Skate...

Emmons Preserve is located at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust's headquarters, surrounded by trails, woods, and the Batson River. One...

This post was written in April 2022. I learned three things today: 1. Adventures in large groups can be fun - as long as you're...

For a shorter day hike, this mountain offers great views and a steep ascent with 1,420 feet in elevation gain. I've done this 3.8-mile...

This pic was from 2018, many moons ago before either of our boys had a smart phone. Now they're 13 and 16, so we've had years to flounder...

Mount Major is the easternmost peak of the Belknap Range, located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, just south of the White Mountains...

This 4.5-mile out-and-back hike involves a steady ascent to stunning views of Lake Willoughby, one of the deepest lakes in the...

Located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, this mountain is a utopia for dogs and dog lovers. The place is filled with so much joy and...

For a relatively short hike, this trail offers a stunning payoff. The 3.3-mile out-and-back reaches the summit of Mount Willard with...

The Basin is a glacial pothole, 30 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep, located along the Pemigawasset River in Franconia Notch, New...

When I first saw a photo of the free standing arched staircase tucked in the woods of New Hampshire, it was promptly added to my list of...

Located near Stow in Western Maine, this out-and-back hike is just over five miles with an elevation gain of 1,257 feet. The summit...

This moderate, 2.5-mile hike in Acadia National Park includes incredible views, mossy woodlands, a fire tower, easy parking and...

This spectacular 3-mile loop near Bar Harbor includes a moderate climb to the 525-foot summit of Gorham Mountain with sweeping views of...

Boardwalk leading to "Falls of Song" waterfall This dog-friendly, 1.8-mile loop includes five spectacular waterfalls! The Brook Walk is...