"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle in your boots and shoes Wiggle,…read morewiggle, wiggle, you got nothing to lose" (Bob Dylan) Ever since I stumbled upon a Yelp listing for something as awesomely named as "The Wiggly Bridge", I knew I just had to make a visit happen one of these days. Pulling off that visit was difficult, because following the address we had put us in the middle of a residential neighborhood with "Permit Parking Only" signs galore. We parked off to the side, held our breath, crossed our fingers, and looked for the Bridge, which was nowhere to be found. Luckily, a gent was walking near us, and he directed us to a long circuitous walk down an elevated path, under the road, and across a marine walkway. As we walked and walked and walked, we finally caught sight of the big green spires that told us we had found the elusive Wiggly Bridge. The Wiggly Bridge is just 75 feet long, and I've seen a few sources claim it's the smallest suspension bridge in the world. And yes, we can confirm that when you walk across it, it most definitely bounces, wiggles, and flexes under your feet. I can also confirm that on a rainy day (like today), the Bridge should really be named "The Wiggly and Slippery Bridge", because it was slippery as hell.

The Wiggly Bridge is a narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that stands in York, Maine. Located just…read moreoff of Maine State Route 103 (Lilac Lane), the 75-foot-long bridge crosses the tidal flow from Barrel Mill Pond to the York River. Built in the 1930s, it is believed to be the smallest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge provides access to the Steedman Woods Nature Preserve and is a popular feature of the Fisherman's Walk trail. Originally known as the "Barrel Bridge", local lore claims that it earned its current name from a perceptive group of Girl Scouts who noted the bridge's "wiggly" nature. When walked upon, the deck bounces and flexes, banging back and forth in the anchorages. Many native southern Mainers can share their own childhood memories of leaping over the edge into the water and being pushed underneath with the current, one way or the other depending on the tide. This practice, as well as clam digging and any other possibly damaging activity, is now discouraged due to the erosion of mudflats. The Wiggly Bridge stands out as an iconic landmark and a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in York, Maine's unique charm and natural splendor. Steedman Woods is also a great place to visit. A nice stroll on the trails in this lush and tranquil forest offer scenic viewpoints and picturesque spots that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Maine coast. Parking near the Wiggly Bridge is limited, so you may need to park on the side of Route 103 or in a nearby harbor lot, keeping in mind some spots may require a permit or have time restrictions. It is also possible to walk to the bridge from nearby York Village.

My two boys (ages 3 1/2 and 6) and I visited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in late…read moreOctober. It was a crisp and cool Saturday morning, and we had the place nearly all to ourselves. I wasn't expecting much beyond a few caged native New Hampshire wildlife and a good walk. Instead, we were totally blown away. First, the nature center is organized in such as way that it really is a walk through the woods. Paths and boardwalks wind their way through the compound, preserving the natural environment as much as possible. The animal displays themselves are first-rate. The enclosures are well designed to allow for both easy viewing and a sense of the animal's natural environment. The displays also include both information and activities for the kids. My boys enjoyed seeing the big cats, the deer, the raptors, and most of all the bears! Because it was a little cold we didn't have a chance the hike the trails, but when we go back in the spring we will take a picnic lunch and make a day of our visit.

Serious Concerns About Emergency Signage and Safety I…read morevisited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on August 2, 2026, with my 9-year-old daughter. This was our first visit, and before entering I asked the staff if there was anything we needed to know. I was simply told, "Just enter and follow the signs." About halfway through our visit, we stopped at the Gordon Interactive Playscape: A Predator-Prey Adventure. After about 15 minutes, I looked around and suddenly couldn't find my daughter. I immediately began searching the indoor play area and calling her name. No answer. I went from one section to another, becoming increasingly desperate. Then I started looking for an exit sign so I could figure out how to get out and find help. I couldn't find one. When you're looking for your child and don't know where they are, every minute feels like an eternity. After approximately 10 minutes of searching, I finally found my daughter. What a relief! At that point, I decided to leave. On my way back, I started paying attention to the exit signage and counted only one clearly marked exit sign. At the gift shop, I explained my experience to a staff member and asked how many exit signs there were throughout the park. She told me there were two. I asked, "Do you believe that's enough, given the size of the park?" There was no response. My concern isn't about blaming an individual employee. It's about emergency preparedness. If a parent is desperately trying to locate a child during an emergency--or if another emergency requires visitors to leave quickly--people should be able to immediately identify where the exits and escape routes are. Clear, highly visible emergency signage is not a luxury. It is indispensable, vital, and essential. I strongly encourage the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center to revisit its emergency escape routes, exit signage, and wayfinding system. I hope the center takes this feedback seriously and makes improvements before another family finds itself in a frightening situation like the one I experienced. Thank you for your time. Eds Santiago

Ravenwood Haunted Farm opened this year at Chris' Farm Stand in Haverhill and it's well worth a…read morevisit! My wife and I are big fans of haunted attractions and have been to them all over the world. Ravenwood is a moody, artfully executed take on the haunted farm/corn maze attraction found in New England. What makes it unique is the attention to detail in the design of the props, sets, and costumes, all of which come together to create a beautifully haunting atmosphere. The location helps to set the mood. We drove down dark and windy country roads and arrived at a farm with a large white barn in some state of disrepair. Parking attendants guided us to park in a field up a hill. There is a bit of a walk from the parking area to the attraction and it is almost all downhill on dewy grass, so consider this when picking shoes to wear. At the entrance, there were several vendors selling doughnuts, cider, hot dogs, and even a bacon-themed food truck! We purchased premium tickets but, in retrospect, did not need to do so because the line was not very long. Actually, it was surprisingly quiet there for a Friday night. However, reading other reviews suggests that we just lucked out as the lines can be much longer at times. After waiting for a few minutes, we were led to a tractor-pulled hay wagon for a ride to the attraction with a dozen other people. From there, we were whisked (okay, towed) to the attraction at the edge of the woods. The attraction itself featured several parts, including woods, several buildings, a "cemetery," and a corn maze. Most of these were executed very well. At times, I found myself in awe of the eerie beauty created by the lights, mist, and woods. The actors and costumes were excellent, and most seemed very into their roles. There were a few places which could have been helped by more actors, such as the corn maze, which felt a little long by the end. Overall, it was a fun experience and I would recommend it. The people who built Ravenwood have created an impressive attraction that should only get better as it becomes more popular. I look forward to going back next year.

Yep...this is a thing and it's kind of cool!…read more The name fits for sure...and I suppose the name is easy, entertaining and folks are used to it. But I couldn't help but wonder if it had a history of some sort and/or another name. I had to do some asking around and research to find out the original and/or real name of the statue and it is Chief Passamaquoddy. As the story and/or history of the statue goes: Once upon a time there was a Trading Post/Company (Casco Bay) where the Indian still stands today and it was put up by the owner, Julian Leslie. Apparently, Julian was a jovial person who liked to put junk cars in the parking lot to make it look busy and attract customers. One day he was having lunch in Boothbay and saw their fisherman statue and decided he wanted a statue...and an even bigger statue. He contacted the creator, Rodman Shutt and the rest is history. The statue was erected on 26 Aug 1969...it stands approximately 40 feet tall and weighs around 1500 pounds. He has been repainted a few times over the years, but for the most part he remains the same. The Trading Post is gone, but this piece of history still stands waiting on and greeting visitors today. And if you are wondering what replaced the Trading Post...I don't know, but there is the El Jefe restaurant nearby today. I thought it was pretty cool myself since I like unique things, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. It is, however, located on US 1 and a lot of folks take this corridor for exploration. For us, we were not only trying to take US 1 to explore, but it was literally in the area we were visiting, so it wasn't really out of the way for me/us. If you are on a road trip and/or visiting the area and this is in your path...why not stop and take a quick look? It is our interest that keeps things like this intact.

Went to see the carousel last night and I had a great time. The staff were exceptionally friendly…read moreand even offered free rides when it wasn't too busy. Felt like a kid again.

From the owner: One of only a few in the country, the Salisbury Beach Carousel features 44 original carvings,…read moreincluding goats, giraffes, zebras, chariots, and of course the beloved horses, both jumpers and standers, featuring hand-painted details that are sure to dazzle and delight riders. Playful organ music and cool ocean breezes complete the joyful experience. The antique Carousel, which was created in 1909 is well preserved in its new home, The Salisbury Beach Pavilion, a majestic landmark that welcomes visitors year-round to Salisbury Beach. Additionally, the Pavilion features private event space - the perfect setting for a birthday party or any celebration for both the young and the young at heart. $4 = 1 Ticket = 1 Ride Come, enjoy the ride!

We had THE best time here, getting to know Anna and Eli, listening to their immense knowledge and…read morefun stories and of course, snuggling with the lambs!! I highly recommend doing this, it's therapeutic, these babies are just so sweet and full of love, and it's wicked fun! We can't wait to go back and snuggle more babies!

Anna & Eli are amazing! They have taken a property that I grew up knowing, and transformed it to…read morethe next level. I enjoy being able to bring my daughter (4) to their farm to experience the animals and learn about farm life. We've been able to enjoy a tour of the farm and most recently a lamb snuggling session. An experience like none other! Thank you Anna & Eli for opening your home to us

What a great place! We stopped here to see what it was all about. We had ice cream, we saw cows,…read moreand we paid to go into the area where there was lots of animals. We even fed goats and deer. We pet babies, we loved seeing the different birds. There were peacocks! It was fun, relaxing, cool in the shade. The food part is big enough to eat and relax. Ice cream was delicious. I would go back! People that worked there were really nice too.

You scream. I…read morescream. We all scream... for site made ice cream on a working Maine dairy farm ! This is a special place... a farm on a hill with their own farm shop featuring glass-bottled milk, sandwiches, and most importantly... Ice Cream ! Starting mid-April or so, they open up "The Barnyard" which is a nice little petting zoo for the kids... and occasionally a "Goat Yoga" spot for adults... which is just so uniquely crazy it almost makes me wish I did yoga. Not into yoga...? I get you. Lucky for us, they also have a hardware store / lumber yard, so you could feasibly come for Mocha Chip and stay for the 4x4 milled posts, and that's not an experience you'll soon get at a national big-box lumber store. Or a Baskin Robbins, for that matter. This place is an experience. The farm is gorgeous, the staff are friendly, the animals are fun, the lumber yard is definitely there, and the product... well that's where it's at... it's excellent. There are a few working dairy farms like this one dotted around the state, and I encourage you to check out each and every one. Smiling Hill Farm is that extra special sort of place, where it's only a few miles drive outside of Portland, but it feels worlds away and it's so, so worth the effort to get to. They also have ready-to-go quarts in the freezer, their various dairy offerings, and rotating, seasonal farm shop fare. Support your local farmers! Also... I've found the local barn cats to be super friendly and just a treat to hang with. YMMV

Came here for the strawberry festival and it was a really nice farm outing. U-pick quarts were $11…read moreand very much worth it for the sweet and juicy strawberries. They had a tractor that took you up the hill to some newly opened patches, but the line was long. We opted for the patches within close walking distance that still had a lot of strawberries. There's plenty of things to do for both adults and children. A fun obstacle course, giant sandbox, tire swings, and chicken feeding for kids. Hard cider, live music, a couple food carts, a mini craft pop-up and farm market/bakery for adults. There was also a strawberry shortcake and fresh cider donut stand. The pulled pork from the PitchFork food cart was plentiful and affordable. Lots of seating with umbrellas and it never felt super crowded. Parking across the street was easy. Only comment is wayfinding signage for the U-pick could be improved. More festivals like pollinator and cherry will be in the coming weeks, and we'd definitely return. We went to the beach afterwards (~15 mins) to take full advantage of the beautiful day.

Love it here and keep coming back for more. From bider donuts, to fresh veggies. My favorite is PYOread more

Very underrated from the information we found online but we were in the area so decided to go. I'm…read moreso glad we did !! Beautiful walkway along the ocean, cliff top area. It's not a very long walk but we had kids with us and very easy for little legs.

If you are on Bailey Island I recommend a stop at Giant's Stairs Trail. There are directional…read moresigns to get you there once you are fairly close. I parked by the McIntosh Lot Preserve where there is a small parking area on the side of the road. Stay on the path and be respectful most of the area is private property. The rock formations are magnificent, i was in awe of what I saw. Pictures cannot do it justice.

Quite a magnificent natural wonder - highly recommend if you're visiting the area. The Madison…read moreBoulder is a ~5,000 ton glacial erratic made of granite - which makes sense since it's found in the Granite State lol. Of course, the pictures don't do it justice and you can't really fathom the size just by reading the stats alone - it's an awe inspiring sight that you have to see to believe! The boulder measures 87 feet long, 23 feet tall, and 37 feet wide. Also, the boulder is partially buried at about 10-12 feet underground! And recently scientists have been able to determine that the boulder is around 14,000 years old. Left behind all those years ago by a retreating glacier. You'll find it down a dirt road with a small, rough dirt parking lot - there are some large, deep potholes so I recommend to drive slow and careful, especially with low clearance vehicles. But it's doable. A short, very flat hike is required along a dirt road but it's well maintained and easy - about 1/2 mile one way. If you visit in fall, you'll be treated to some lovely colors along the way! I visited twice - mid to late October 2021 and early October 2023. Mid to late October had much more colors than early October but it also varies from year to year. You'll find the boulder on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest and only a few miles away from The Kanc - a famous highway in NH for the fall colors. And there are lots of other attractions in the area - lots of rivers and vistas and things like that - as well as the historic Albany Covered Bridge which is a must see (less than 10 miles away). It's free to visit and park - be aware there aren't any restrooms in the area. Google maps will take you right to it - but signal is nonexistent in the area so I recommend to download offline maps before you come. Sadly, on my last visit, someone had put graffiti in several places on the boulder- but a park ranger was there to clean it up. Hopefully they were able to get it removed. I'll never understand why people feel the need to deface natural wonders like that - breaks my heart every time.

After a short trail hike, you'll see the boulder around a bend. It is massive and interesting to…read moresee. The road getting to it is gravel and very rough but manageable.