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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 must-see ruins on hiking trails. Two years later, I finally checked Madame Sherri's castle off my bucket list and it was well worth the almost three hour drive from Portland. There are many hiking options in these woods, but I'm going to share the 4+ mile Ann Stokes Loop and Daniels Mountain Loop. For other routes in this network, visit the

For you, your kid, and your grandpa. I’m about to offer you a rule-free guide to finding yourself a trail name. If you’re new to the concept of trail names, they’re nicknames given to backpackers and long-distance hikers, and they’re usually earned somewhere on the trail. Hikers have trail names for a whole handful of reasons. Here are a few: for fun to own an alter ego for privacy and anonymity to embrace thru-hiking culture for easy recall Some examples of trail names are:

2,000 college athletes, no referees, and the best of humanity The Middlebury "Pranksters" huddle before a match We spent last weekend watching two days worth of frisbee at the Maine Ultimate Lobster Pot Tournament. Our son’s college team was playing, along with 96 others (men’s and women’s) from across the Northeast and beyond. The teams filled South Portland’s Wainwright Fields with exuberance, chants, songs, dances, camaraderie, friendly competition, and pre and post-game t

A ghost chimney, covered bridge, accessible trail, and mini ropes course. This hidden gem is located in the heart of downtown Bridgton, Maine. The 66-acre park includes 2.3 miles of trails, winding through woodlands, streams, old stone walls, ruins, and natural playgrounds. The property was conserved by the Loon Echo Land Trust and Lakes Environmental Association in 2012, then gifted to the town of Bridgton. Parking The main entrance for this park is off of Depot Street behin

The Most Enjoyable Way to Summit Mount Washington View of Lower Lake of the Clouds with the hut behind it AMC huts are rustic, backcountry lodges run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. There are eight huts in the White Mountains, spaced 6-8 miles apart along the Appalachian Trail. They’re only accessible by foot. These huts provide bunkhouses for overnight guests and a place to rest, use the loo, and refill water for day hikers. In the summer season, AMC huts are fully staffed

At 212 acres in size, this is the largest undeveloped property in Cumberland (163 acres) and part of North Yarmouth (50 acres). It includes a 46-acre great pond with two smaller ponds, forested uplands, a network of connecting trails, wetlands, streams and views of Casco Bay and Mount Washington. This is a critical wildlife habitat and a great place to kayak, canoe, hike, bike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and ice skate. This spot includes ample parking and is less than 12 mi

Mount Katahdin is Maine's highest mountain at 5,269 feet. Hiking it requires an elevation gain of over 4,000 feet. This makes for an extremely strenuous climb, but the views are spectacular. Located within the 209,644-acre untouched wilderness of Baxter State Park, Katahdin is well known as the northern terminus of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, which starts in Georgia. Named by the Penobscot Tribe, Katahdin translates to "The Greatest Mountain." It is viewed as a spiritua

All you need is a tent, boat, and WAG bag. Monroe Island in Owl's Head Two of my "work days" last week included primitive camping on an island near Rockland. If you're new to this term, it describes staying in remote areas without access to potable (drinkable) water, bathrooms, or trash cans. While primitive camping on the mainland, you'd dig a cat hole in the ground to dispose of human waste, but on islands, that is not allowed. The soils are too shallow and easily eroded a

My entire family was away last weekend and I had two hours before our kids would return from their cousin’s camp in Belgrade Lakes. Two hours to explore the first half of Portland’s Forest City Trail: a 10-mile route across woods and neighborhoods, featuring 9 trails, school campuses, several parks, an historic cemetery, and two waterfalls. I’d hiked the second half of the trail a few weeks back, leaving from my house and winding my way to the Presumpscot River Preserve (read

North Moat's Red Ridge Trail. Photo credit: Jaime Gagnon Those seeking challenging hikes with breathtaking summits usually head to the White Mountains' Presidential Range, western Maine's Mahoosucs and Bigelows, or Baxter State Park with it's endless, glorious peaks. But I want to tell you about a lesser-known option that's just as satisfying - and much easier to reach if you live in southern Maine: the 10-mile, Red Ridge and North Mountain Loop in North Conway, New Hampshire

These easy trails wander through open fields, wetlands, 15 acres of bog, mature woods, and frontage on the Nonesuch River. You'll find three, flat loops here and the one I completed was about 1.5 miles. You would never know this quiet hiking area lives just off of Payne Road between Eight Corners and Cabela's. I discovered it, because my son and his friend needed a ride to the Throttle Car Club on a Saturday morning and since I look for (and always find) trails wherever I go,

Last Wednesday, our kids left for a trip to Quebec City with their uncle and cousins, and they wouldn’t be back until Sunday. In 18 years of parenting, Tim and I had never had the house to ourselves for five days. I’m pretty sure the longest kid-free stretch we’d ever had was two. As much as we enjoy our boys, this felt like a huge gift...and we were giddy about it. We spent the first few days together, enjoying things like reading books at the beach, not cooking, and leaning

There are few things I enjoy more than sitting around a campfire after a day of hiking with a group of good women. As with most hikes, however, this journey was not all butterflies and rainbows. My college friend, Melzy, was visiting from San Francisco and I had a weekend of hiking and camping planned for us in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Hiking together wasn't something we'd done back in our college days, but she'd since caught the bug, recently tackling a list of

Less than a mile north of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, is an easy and accessible trail that's also dog-friendly (on-leash). The wide, gravel path follows a 1-mile loop that winds through coastal forest and along the salt marsh, with distant views of the ocean. You'll find benches, boardwalks, and viewing platforms along the way, plus 11 interpretive signs for a self-guided tour of the ecosystem. It's always exciting to find a trail available to all ages and abilities, but w

There are three big rivers for whitewater rafting in Maine: the Kennebec, the Dead, and the Penobscot. The Kennebec and Dead Rivers converge at The Forks in Somerset County and include class 2 - 4 rapids. The Penobscot River runs through Baxter State Park and is a bit more intense with class 5 rapids. In mid May, I spent a weekend at Adventure Bound, a whitewater rafting and adventure center in Caratunk, Maine (The Forks), with 140 high school students and their outdoor club

In case you're wondering, he did make it across. The last thing you'd expect to find tucked within a bustling city of 70,000 people, is a roaring waterfall, but this is exactly what you'll discover at the Presumpscot River Preserve - and this is why we love (and live in) Portland, Maine. To be accurate, Presumscot Falls is technically a series of rapids and cascades, but I call it a waterfall because it's as breathtaking as those with steep, vertical drops. My kids viewing th

My niece, Lily, on Bald Peak Distance: 2.8-mile loop Elevation Gain: 676 ft Difficulty: Moderate Time: 1 hr 30 min Features: Rock scrambles, a few iron rungs, sweeping views Dogs Allowed on Leash: Small dogs will need assistance over large rocks If you're looking for a family-friendly hike in Acadia National Park, this loop offers two peaks with panoramic views from open granite summits, some fun rock scrambling, and easy parking with an outhouse at the trailhead. Scrambling