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I discovered this loop while doing a Yarmouth search on All Trails and just loved the name of it. Little did I realize until I got here, that these trails are part of the Pratt's Brook Park...and I had been here before. Although I set out to hike the 3.3 mile Bear, Chipmunk, Moose loop, I ended up taking a detour because I was oddly drawn to the Otter Trail when I spotted it on the map. I'm glad I followed my instincts (always do that) because I discovered a quiet trail with

The alewives have arrived. Booyah! Mill Brook hosts the largest fish migration from Casco Bay to Highland Lake, where the fish spawn each year, starting around this time (late May to early June). The best local trail for viewing Alewives is the Mill Brook Preserve. There are several trailheads for this secluded, peaceful trail...which truly tops my list of favorites. I've shared the Perry Court trailhead details with you, so today we will talk about the Mill Brook Preserve So

As a believer in the idea that "less is more," I'm often surprised when I fail to apply that belief to my own life. When it comes to exploring trails, I gravitate towards longer, more challenging hikes. You know, the kind that give a sense of real accomplishment. I'm still unlearning the false belief that life is about accomplishment and productivity. Still learning that play is of equal or greater value. Less truly is more, which brings me to this week's trail - the Blue Po

The Two Lights State Park Loop includes 1.1 miles of gorgeous ocean cliffs, forest trails, wildflowers, a playground, an old fort and a small pond. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on leash. Just an FYI, my dog is wearing a leash, it just may not be attached to my arm. Details... This park has a large parking lot and bathrooms...all the helpful things. I brought a group of kids here and they played happily along the rocks for quite a while. The cliffs offer all kinds of cl

This trail was a total surprise to me. Just gorgeous. What was also a surprise to me, was the fact that I made it back to my car without getting completely lost. I can thank the many kind strangers I met along the way for that fact. I can also thank All Trails for their little GPS map, which I made sure to activate as soon as I realized this would be a somewhat confusing loop. So before I move on, I suggest downloading the All Trails app to your phone. Here's the link for thi

After a temporary closure during mud season, these trails just opened back up and we are so glad they did. This preserve offers prime mountain biking and includes one of our favorite mountain bike paths - the Flow Creek Trail. This trail, built in 2019, is machine built and features step-ups (jumps), rollers (humps), tabletops (flat top humps), and berms (banked turns). It is literally a rollercoaster on a bike. Young bikers should definitely be accompanied by an adult...it c

This is the time of year when we start dusting off the bikes to explore new and old places to ride. Even if you're not into biking pump tracks, or running up and down the rolling hills when no one's looking (I've never done that), this trail has plenty to offer. Including the Seek'em I've hidden for you here. The Lavoie Pump Track is Southern Maine's first. Rob Lavoie was the idea man behind this project, which came to fruition in 2019 through fundraising by the Gorham Conser

Every April, a community Easter egg hunt takes place here, lining these trails with beautifully painted rocks, tucked along the mossy paths. It's well worth a visit during that time. This 1.1 mile looping trail is located off of Littlefield Road in Harpswell. Park at the Harpswell Historical Society, at 929 Harpswell Neck Road. Walk across Harpswell Neck Road and then around 400 feet down the wide, dirt Littlefield Road. The Hackett Trail begins on the right and the Minot Tra

Fort Williams Park is great for all ages because it offers the exploration of old military forts, in addition to a small beach, a lighthouse, and gorgeous scenery. For some history, I checked out the Friends of Fort Williams website and learned a lot. Here is an excerpt from their site. It's lengthy, so feel free to scroll on past this part if history is not your thing: "As the name implies, long before Fort Williams became a town park, it was a military installation. Constru

This week I have an exciting challenge for you: Locate the 11 gnome/elf homes and doorways tucked alongside the trails at the Pride Preserve. I'll bet you didn't even know these cozy little shelters existed here. I sure didn't...until their crafty designer emailed me, clueing me in to these magical little trail additions. This creative soul would like to remain anonymous, so I will honor that request. They were, however, open to the idea of me spreading word about these tin

Finn and I have fallen into a sweet little routine on Tuesday and Friday mornings. After Henry head's off to Longfellow Elementary at 7:40, Finn and I head over to the Fore River Sanctuary to run Romy before he needs to be at Lincoln Middle for 9:40. I once lamented the fact that Henry and Finn's in-person school days didn't have a larger overlap. But as with most events this year, I've learned to adjust my perspective in order to make current situations more palatable. Now t

Oftentimes, a fulfilling hike is less about the trail and more about the company you bring along. Henry and I had one of our better adventures yesterday on a mediocre trail. Why? We slowed down long enough for the natural beauty around us to reveal itself. Sure we had to look past some trash and the occasional Natty Light can. It is an urban trail after all. But what we discovered in our slower pace was quite impressive and definitely a surprise. We chose the Fore River Trail

Today I had to remind myself of the benefits of cold exposure as Romy and I hiked through gusty winds and single digits. Of course, I could have done this trail on one of the warm days we had last week. But as a master of procrastination, I chose to wait until the day I needed to write this email. This is a long way of explaining why I did not take many photos. It was just too painful to remove my gloves. :) This peaceful preserve offers brand new trails created and maintain

This is the time of year when it's helpful to connect with your bliss and do the things that light you up. Lately I've been getting caught in the rapids of adult responsibilities and haven't done as much of what fills me up. In doing so, I've been reminded that "to do" lists are tough to complete when you're wearing multiple hats. I've also been reminded that if I'm not happy tackling those lists, no one around me is happy. No one wins in this scenario. My new plan is to ditc

Since it is school vacation week, I have a couple of extra ideas for you. The first, comedy. Making a pandemic laden February break feel like a "break" is a tall order. We can laugh or we can cry. I engage in both, but prefer the former. Comedy is a great way to remind us that there is humor in everything, even the toughest of times. Here are some of my favorites places to go when I need a good laugh: 1. Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend - the only podcast that consistently has me

It's mid February. How are you holding up? I can't say this time of year brings the same level of euphoria that we all feel in the summer. What I can say, quite confidently, is that being outside is the answer to staying happy in the dark, cold months. Due to the combination of researching trails, running an outdoor program, and having a puppy, I've spent more time outside this winter than ever before. The result has been increased energy, no real mood dips (unless I've just

Located on 6 acres in downtown Gorham, the Frazier Preserve offers .75 miles of trails through wetlands, forests, and along streams. If you are a mountain biker, I'm sure you've already been here because it connects with a large network of Town of Gorham single track trails and includes Southern Maine's first pump track (accessed off of the Week's road trailhead). Originally conserved by Gorham Trails, the preserve was incorporated into the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust in

Every week I wonder whether or not I will find a new trail worth sharing. And every week our gorgeous state of Maine, with its dedicated land trusts preserving endless trail systems, does not let me down. I will never, ever, stop being thankful for the abundance of natural spaces we have access to here. I am also thankful that I get to share those trails with you. We need to do things that make us happy, and this is one of those things for me. Ok, enough with the rambling an

With 55 acres and 3.1 miles of trails that wander through big open fields, through woodlands and along the Royal River, this place is the perfect outing for all ages. To top it off, dogs are allowed of leash. You really can't go wrong by choosing these trails. This Park is located off of Memorial Highway and owned by the North Yarmouth Historical Society. You will know that you've arrived at the entrance to the large parking lot when you spot the Old Town House, a small white

With over 28 acres of woods and paths that wind along the Little River, this sweet spot is the perfect little escape. The woods here include hemlock and aspen, with a variety of wildflowers in the springtime. We walked through a rich forest of ferns and moss, which provided some much needed color during this gray season. The trails here are well marked. From the parking lot, located at 258-260 Gray Road, the trail first enters a thicket, then crosses a field to Aspen Lane (a