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3 days ago2 min read
Cross-country skiing, sledding, and skating at Riverside Golf Course in Portland
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...


Feb 22 min read
Blue Spruce Trail, Westbrook
After renewing my annual Portland Trails membership, I received an updated 5th edition PT paper map and was excited to find several new...


Jan 282 min read
Pair it with something good.
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...


Jan 213 min read
Are frozen turtles under ice OK?
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...


Jan 122 min read
Buck's Ledge Community Forest, Bryant Pond
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...


Jan 52 min read
Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach, Phippsburg
Located within the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, this 4-mile out-and-back hike is among the most stunning in midcoast Maine....


Dec 28, 20242 min read
Skating Ponds in Portland, Maine
Back in 2018 and 2019, I organized regular meetups at Portland skating ponds for multi-generational hockey games. It was called "Skate...


Dec 15, 20243 min read
Emmons Preserve, Kennebunkport
Emmons Preserve is located at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust's headquarters, surrounded by trails, woods, and the Batson River. One...


Dec 10, 20243 min read
Where to cut your Christmas tree in Southern Maine.
Over our 20 years in Portland, we've purchased Christmas trees from a multitude of places, including pre-cut ones from nurseries, gas...


Nov 19, 20244 min read
Pleasant Mountain via Bald Peak to North Ridge Trail (Sue's Way)
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...


Nov 12, 20242 min read
Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield, ME
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...


Nov 3, 20244 min read
Easy Way to Manage Screen Time on the iPhone and Google Pixel
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...


Oct 29, 20243 min read
Mount Major, NH
Mount Major is the easternmost peak of the Belknap Range, located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, just south of the White Mountains...


Oct 20, 20242 min read
Mount Pisgah, VT
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...


Oct 14, 20243 min read
Dog Mountain, Vermont
Located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, this mountain is a utopia for dogs and dog lovers. The place is filled with so much joy and...

Oct 7, 20243 min read
Mount Willard Trail, NH
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...


Sep 29, 20242 min read
Basin Cascade Trail, NH
The Basin is a glacial pothole, 30 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep, located along the Pemigawasset River in Franconia Notch, New...


Sep 17, 20245 min read
Madame Sherri's Forest and Castle, Chesterfield, NH
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...


Sep 7, 20244 min read
Blueberry Mountain and Rattlesnake Pool, Maine
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...

Aug 28, 20243 min read
Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop, Southwest Harbor
This moderate, 2.5-mile hike in Acadia National Park includes incredible views, mossy woodlands, a fire tower, easy parking and...


Aug 21, 20243 min read
Gorham Mountain Loop, Acadia National Park
This spectacular 3-mile loop near Bar Harbor includes a moderate climb to the 525-foot summit of Gorham Mountain with sweeping views of...

Aug 16, 20243 min read
Castle in the Clouds Brook Walk via Turtleback Mountain Trail
This dog-friendly, 1.8-mile loop includes five spectacular waterfalls! The Brook Walk is part of a larger 28-mile trail network located...


Aug 13, 20242 min read
The Pogue Loop at Vermont's First National Historic Park
Explore the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in charming Woodstock to learn the story of generations of families working...


Aug 6, 20242 min read
Thundering Brook Falls Killington, VT
This short 0.5-mile out-and-back trail along a well-maintained boardwalk leads to the sixth tallest waterfall in Vermont, with 140 feet...


Jul 29, 20246 min read
Camden Hills State Park: Mt Megunticook, Maiden Cliff & Mt Battie Loop
This daylong adventure had me on a wild goose chase to find the mysterious monument for Elenora French, the young girl who fell from...


Jul 23, 20244 min read
Champney Falls Trail, White Mountain National Forest
I'm having a hard time containing my excitement about this trail, so get ready for a lineup of exclamation marks! This lollipop loop...


Jul 16, 20242 min read
Cliff Trail, Harpswell
This rugged trail includes 150-ft cliffs overlooking Long Reach Reserve's unnamed island, a fairy house village, a short walk along...


Jul 5, 20249 min read
Outdoor Activities in New York City
The list of outdoor adventures in New York City is endless. I will share some of our favorites after two recent trips to the city during...


Jun 29, 20242 min read
Dog-Friendly Hikes in New England
If you enjoy hiking with dogs and exploring quaint towns in Maine and surrounding states, I have news for you. I'm working on a new trail...

Jun 10, 20243 min read
Beech Mountain & Beech Cliff Trails, Acadia National Park
Each year during the first week of June, we gather with 25+ family members in Bar Harbor for several days. We stay in cabins on the same...


Jun 4, 20243 min read
The Best Mountain Hikes in Western Maine and New Hampshire
If you are looking for some larger hikes to plug into your summer schedule, here are 12 of my favorites in Western Maine and New...


May 27, 20243 min read
Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook
All hail the alewives! They have arrived at Mill Brook Preserve to make their annual migration to Highland Lake. These impressive fish...


May 18, 20242 min read
Horse Yoga with Ashley Flowers
If you haven't been to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals or MSSPA, you HAVE to check it out. If you've never done...

May 7, 20242 min read
Chasing Sunrises in Portland, Maine
Lately I've become obsessed with catching the sunrise over the Back Cove in Portland - something I do almost every morning before work....

Apr 29, 20242 min read
Kennebunk Bridle Path
This 5.6 mile out-and-back trail leads to the beautiful Madelyn Marx Preserve near the Kennebunk beaches. The wide, flat trail was once a...

Apr 23, 20242 min read
Raymond Community Forest
The truth of it is, Maine trails and forests are not at their finest this time of year. Shoulder seasons offer dull browns, bare trees...


Apr 15, 20243 min read
Ovens Mouth Preserve, Boothbay
This place was so magical, I just kept waiting for the fairies and mermaids to appear. That didn't happen, but at least we still had...

Apr 9, 20243 min read
Solar Eclipse on Tumbledown Mountain
This is a story about expectations, luck, and a 12 mile trek up a mountain to see a 99% full solar eclipse. In the weeks leading up to...


Apr 2, 20242 min read
The Eastern Trail
This trail is wide, flat and goes on for miles - 28.9 miles to be exact. It includes 22 off-road miles in addition to scenic, on-road...


Mar 23, 20242 min read
Saco Heath Preserve
A visual work of art that includes a one-mile, multicolored boardwalk for all ages and abilities. It's impossible to not fall in love...


Mar 11, 20246 min read
10 Salty Trail Alternatives for Mud Season in Maine.
Here it is, the muddiest time of year: March and April. This season brings a confusing mess of ice, snow, slush and mud to our trails....


Mar 4, 20243 min read
Swinging Bridge Park & River Walk, Brunswick
Just outside of charming downtown Brunswick, is a historic swinging bridge leading to a flat, paved trail along the Androscoggin River....


Feb 5, 20243 min read
Florida Lake Loop, Freeport
This adventure was serene, scenic, and soul filling...thanks to the good company of my friend Courtney and her sweet dog Oso. But if you...


Jan 30, 20243 min read
Payson Park & Connecting Trails, Portland
It's thrilling to discover that two trail systems you've been walking for years are actually connected. This happened last week when I...


Jan 21, 20244 min read
Valentine Farm, Bethel
I love finding accessible trails, but it's even more exciting when I stumble upon one by accident. This preserve in Bethel offers 1.2...


Jan 9, 20244 min read
Raising Outdoor Kids
I returned from my dog walk with Romy early this morning to find Henry waiting eagerly with this question, "Can I go on your morning run...


Jan 1, 20241 min read
Falmouth Nature Preserve
This property includes 4.25 miles of trails that wind through a mixed forest of hemlock, beech, maple and birch. Two main trails lead to...


Dec 26, 20231 min read
Hinckley Park, South Portland
These dog-friendly trails provide a variety of routes, looping around two ponds fed by Kimball Brook. An outer loop winds through fields...


Dec 17, 20233 min read
Shaw Cherry Hill Farm, Gorham
One of the secrets to getting my kids on trails, is to pair our nature walk with an activity they enjoy. Last Saturday, that meant...


Dec 3, 20231 min read
Stroudwater Trail, Portland
This 3.3 mile trail follows the banks of the Stroudwater river and includes packed-earth, boardwalks, bridges, wood and stone stairs....
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