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Cathedral Ledge Our Way
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...
Aug 17, 20252 min read


On Belay's Outdoor Adventure Programs
If your family has been impacted by cancer, you'll want to know about this. I learned about this incredible organization when a mutual...
Aug 4, 20253 min read


Bondcliff, NH
This was a hike of dreams. My hiking partner, Jaime, finished her NE 67 (hiking all of New England’s 4000+ footer mountains) on Bondcliff at sunset, and I got to witness it. For two years we’d been talking about this 20-mile out-and-back hike ending at the iconic Bondliff summit, a rocky outcrop with a flat top for standing - and if you dared, looking over the edge of the 4,698-foot summit to the valley hundreds of feet below. I’m terrified of heights, so figured I’d just cra
Jul 30, 20254 min read


How to Start a Summer Adventure Journal.
Guest Post by WinterKids. Photo by Theresa Hanten DIY Summer Adventure Journal Good to Know: Suitable for: PreK - Grade 2 Can be modified for children in higher grades. DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS AND PRINTABLES HERE Includes five printable blank outdoor journal pages: ● Cover Page ● Journal Page (sketches & notes) ● Journal Page (sketches only) ● Journal Page (notes only) ● Transition Word Suggestions This activity is great for children who are in Grades PreK – Grade 2 and ca
Jul 21, 20253 min read


A Giant Mountain of Lady Problems
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 continue to get out there and do the thing that makes you feel most alive - through periods, pregnancies, perimenopause, menopause, and all of the hormonal fluctuations that make us soft and strong, vulnerable and powerful, friendly and fiesty. I hope you hike through all of the beautiful and challenging stages of a woman’s life. Because we know we
Jul 15, 20254 min read


Deer Leap Overlook Trail, Killington, VT
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...
Jul 7, 20253 min read


Piazza Rock via Appalachian Trail
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...
Jun 22, 20252 min read


Silver Lake Trail, Vermont
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...
Jun 16, 20253 min read


Stone Barn Farm, Bar Harbor
I’ve admired this gorgeous barn for twenty years, driving past it countless times during trips to Mount Desert Island. Situated between Crooked Road and rolling hills with wild lupine, this historic farm dates back to the 1840’s. The iconic barn is en route to downtown Bar Harbor from the coveside cabins we rent for our annual family reunion each June. Last year, I noticed trailhead parking near the farm and this year, I got to explore the trail leading from it. Purchased by
Jun 9, 20251 min read


Mill Trail to Bingham Falls, Vermont
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...
Jun 1, 20252 min read


Ocean Lookout Loop at Camden Hills State Park
A moderate, 3-mile loop featuring grand views, cascading streams and stone stairs. Just outside of downtown Camden in Midcoast Maine, the...
Jun 1, 20254 min read


Sterling Pond Trail in Stowe, VT
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...
May 28, 20252 min read


Exploring San Francisco with Teenagers
Since our boys were little, most of our vacations have involved camping or trips with extended family. Last summer, we rented a lakehouse...
May 18, 20256 min read


Rafting the Kennebec River in The Forks, Maine
Photo by Northern Outdoors (Post originally published in August of 2023) White water rafting offers unrivaled family fun. Lucky for us, we have access to three places to raft in Maine: the Kennebec River, the Dead River and the Penobscot River. 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. I've never rafted the Penobscot, bu
Apr 14, 20254 min read


Megunticook Cabin at Camden Hills State Park
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...
Apr 8, 20252 min read


South Moat Mountain, Conway, NH
This shorter day hike offers an exposed summit with 360-degree views, including a clear shot of Mount Washington. For that wide-open...
Mar 24, 20253 min read


Boulder Loop Trail near Conway, NH
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...
Mar 16, 20254 min read


Unity Woman Is the First Person to Hike the Entire Maine Mountain Guide
Amy Niemczura-Sowa was the first person to ever complete the entire Maine Mountain Guide. Here is the story of her remarkable achievement.
Mar 4, 20254 min read


Virginia Woods, Portland
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 local trails in Southern Maine, but did not know about Virginia Woods until spotting it on my updated Portland Trails map recently. This new-to-me trail was a mere 8-minute drive from my house, so it was an easy one to fit into a busy weekday. As it turns out, these quiet woods connect to the larger network of trails at the Ocean Avenue Recrea
Feb 25, 20252 min read


Women's WFA weekend in a backcountry hut
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...
Feb 16, 20253 min read
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