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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 outdoor recreation this season has to offer. This past weekend, we spent Saturday and Sunday at Riverside Golf Course in Portland for sledding and cross-country skiing. The beauty of Riverside is that it offers something for everyone, even your dog, who is welcome on these trails. While cross-country skiing with friends, our kids hit the sleddi

After renewing my annual Portland Trails membership, I received an updated 5th edition PT paper map and was excited to find several new trails on the list! A couple of them were in Westbrook, where my mom lives, so I invited her to explore the Blue Spruce Trail with me this past weekend. It was covered in a blanket of fresh snow, which makes any trail remarkable, but I also enjoyed the hilly path, quiet woods, and the way it hugged the Stroudwater River a good part of the way

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 and no recess, which only happens on "Gold" days. As I empathized with him because I was lukewarm about my work day too, I shared the strategy I often use to make undesirable tasks more fun: I pair them with something good. I've been using this strategy since college when I'd pair studying (a most dreadful task) with sitting in my favorite ca

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 Club" and provided a way to spend time outdoors with friends and family of all ages. I always brought extra hockey sticks, and even crafted skating aids out of PVC pipe for beginners. As with all of the programs I created back then, my motivation was to get my own kids outside and to continue building a community of outdoor lovers to spend ti

Emmons Preserve is located at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust's headquarters, surrounded by trails, woods, and the Batson River. One of the highlights of this property is a wheelchair and stroller-accessible Community Labyrinth, designed in the same 7-circuit pattern found on ancient archeological sites. From early December through January 6th, the path is lit by solar lights after dusk for the holiday season. I'd only experienced the labyrinth under the summer sun and

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...