I'm not entirely sure how I ended up at Knight's Pond Preserve... a free afternoon on a sunny…read moreautumn day tends to inspire me to get outside and play, and before I knew it I was driving down what seemed like a very long driveway (Greely Road Extension) that eventually deposited me at a parking lot. The 300-acre preserve is the largest undeveloped parcel in Cumberland and was "created" in 2015 after conservation efforts led to the acquisition of a major portion of the land. The preserve features a 46-acre pond with an adjacent smaller pond that seems dammed-in (the trail doesn't lead to the stone wall that holds the water, but you can walk over carefully to see) that connects during wetter seasons - there's a wooden bridge to cross into the woods over any water that may be there, a fantastic trail system with great signage through dense woods (there's enough variety here that you could make your hike as short or as long as you like - personally, I like the White trail to the Blue trail, a digression to the FAA tower, to the Red trail, back to the White trail), views of Casco Bay and Mount Washington (on super clear days) from the ridgeline, an FAA radar tower, tons of birds... it's just a very, very nice spot. I came just to walk around and don't feel like I had the opportunity to see everything making me really excited to come back and explore more. Apparently in the winter it's a great spot for pick-up hockey games and ice skating, as well as snowshoeing! I'll be inside drinking bourbon and hiding from the cold then, but if you start to feel like you're getting cabin fever know this is an accessible spot year round!

One of the many wonderful things about Portland is how much of the lovely outdoors we have right in…read morethe city! If you want to go for a walk in the woods but don't have time to trek to points north or west, Baxter Woods is a wonderful little escape. The woods are located in the Deering neighborhood, between Forest and Stevens Avenues. The main trail is less than a mile walk around, but you're surrounded by trees--right now, at peak leaf season, gloriously ablaze in red and orange and yellow--and it'll feel like you're miles away. Practicalities: the main entrance is on Stevens, and there's plenty of street parking; it can get busy on weekends, but I've never had trouble nabbing a spot. (That's a bit trickier on the Forest Ave. side.) I've also parked on Hartley (the residential street on the south side of the woods), and there's an entrance to the trail around the middle of that block. The trail is flat but be on the lookout for roots and rocks; there are also plenty of benches and tables and logs and other places to sit and rest or just chill out and get your forest bathing on. And since you're in the neighborhood already, I highly recommend stopping by Norimoto Bakery or Rwanda Bean coffee on the way there or back!

I feel similar to Baxter Woods Park as I do Thorncrag in Lewiston (see here:…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/thorncrag-bird-sanctuary-lewiston). What an absolutely lovely spot right in the middle of the city! It's like an unexpected, secluded oasis ("a pleasant or peaceful area") of nature. I've lived nearby for years and I only recently discovered it! I can walk from my house, across Forest Ave (definitely the scariest part), through Baxter Woods, across Stevens Ave (much less scary), and then into Evergreen Cemetery! I don't know why it took me sooooooooo long to come here; I think it's because it presents as a little sketchy. There's graffiti on the trashcan/information board and a lot of loiterers smoking at the entrance of the park/trailhead. But once you get past that, it's charming really! Baxter Woods is a 30ish acre nature preserve with loads of big, beautiful pine trees that offer shaded mostly easily accessible/walkable well maintained trails, a little pond, some streams, a meadow with wildflowers, an area that looks like it could be an outdoor stage/presentation area (there's a line-up of log benches), and lots of bird watching/bird listening opportunities! This is not a destination for tourists; this is really cool spot for locals to stretch their legs, let their dogs and kiddos play, and immerse themselves in nature. I'm excited to walk through here again to see what it looks like in autumn AND winter! Stay tuned!

This park was a great find with plenty of area to enjoy. Please note, there is limited amount of…read moreparking. I didn't realize this importance of this area until I had read the plaque. Great memorial to the USS Portland. Yes, there are still couple of cannons. The views are beautiful overlooking the ocean. If you have time, take the stairs to the wooded area and to the water. Enjoy this great park.

The fort overlooks some nice looking water. The park itself offers a small amount of parking, no…read morefacilities of note, and a bit of a historical exhibition. There are stairs leading down to the waterfront. This spot is nice for the aesthetics, but will be a brief stop for most.

I don't know what it's like to be a fairy or a gnome, and I'm often jealous of their woodland based…read morelifestyles (houses made in and of trees, drinking water out of flowers, riding on the back of squirrels... you know what I'm talking about). Widegon Cove Trail, however, has given me a sneak peek into that world. This unexpectedly beautiful path is a wonderfully maintained loop that cuts through thick, tall forest and circles past a cove with lovely pine tree and water views regardless of tide (although low tide offers more bird watching). It's well marked, and the trail itself is charming...at some points the ground is lined on either side with fallen trees to keep you on the path, parallel planks, and stone walkways too. Want to stop and take it all in? There are many wooden benches to stop and take it all in from. Does this sound like every other trail? Maybe. But there's really something charming and whimsical about this particular one. I don't know if it's the variety of trees, the ravine like parts, the moss and mushrooms, the abundance of wildlife, but I felt like I spent my entire walk (which was admittedly short; the whole loop is maybe half a mile?) smiling... and expecting Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to come out of nowhere and begin singing to me.

Follow this well maintained trail through woodlands to a beautiful view of Widgeon Cove…read more The parking lot is on the left heading when heading out of Brunswick and has enough space for four cars. The dirt was still loose near the road and I needed a slight angle to get out of the parking lot. There is the another one of the HHLT trails just before you get to this trail. If you are looking to lengthen your hike, you can walk or drive up to the other parking lot to check out the other trail. The following is taken from: www.hhltmaine.org/conserved-land/public-access/widgeon-cove-trail/ Ownership: Harpswell Heritage Land Trust trail on privately owned land Features: hiking, scenic view, benches, dogs allowed Length: .6 mile loop with cutoff trail Difficulty: moderate Hiking Time: 30 minutes Click here to download a trail map and brochure. Description: This half-mile loop trail is the perfect way to take in beautiful Widgeon Cove on Harpswell Sound. The path winds through woodlands, across ravines and along the shoreline where there is a dramatic view of the cove. At this scenic viewpoint, visitors can enjoy a picnic with family and friends, take pictures or just sit quietly to observe waterfowl, wading birds and other wildlife that frequent the cove. The Widgeon Cove Trail is part of the 88-acre Dunning Farm Conservation Easement. This privately owned property will remain forest and working farmland forever. Directions: From the intersection of Rt 123 and Bath Rd at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, follow Rt 123 south for 7.4 miles. Immediately after the Wilson's Cove Trail parking lot on the right, look for the Widgeon Cove Trail parking lot on the left. Visitor Guidelines: Carry in, carry out. Pedestrian use only. No overnight parking. No open fires. No camping. Dogs must be on a leash. Carry out all dog waste. Please respect wildlife, neighbors and other users. This trail is on private property. Please respect the owner's privacy. Power driven mobility devices are not allowed.

Exploring the piers of Portland, ME, can be both discouraging and enlightening. From DiMillo's…read morefloating restaurant to J's Oyster, there really isn't much to view at the water's edge, mostly since you can't even get to the water's edge. But if you have the motivation to walk a few piers further through the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal and toward the wall adorned with life sized whales, you will come to The Maine State Pier, featuring the Whale Wall and featured along the Harborwalk map. Walk all the way out to the water's edge over the wide concrete dock for an exciting and under-appreciated view of the Portland Harbor. Gorgeous sailboats dock at the end of this pier for day trips and overnight trips and if you're lucky enough, you can watch the crews set sail. Locals equipped with bait, tackle, and fishing rods, sit over the pier's edge waiting for a bite (of seaweed, a shoe, some other unexpected discovery). Young boys dare each other to jump into the water from the dock below for a refreshing (I think) yet salty dip and trust the others to pull their soaked and energized bodies out of the cloudy waters. A grandfather tries to coax his grandson into learning a bit about the sails, but the boy is too distracted by the others trying to cool off. I felt a cool breeze from the end of the pier, solace from the stuffy air on Fore Street and despite the steaming ground, I was content.

Amazing trail that follows the river near stroudwater village. The water is super calm and there's…read moreplenty of places to dock and set off on a canoe or kayak, right in town. It feels secluded from everything until you get to I-95, which as of 2020, June, is the end of the trail due to construction. Its super level and sprinkled with bridges, benches for resting/enjoying and plenty of little outlooks to the water. Parking is super limited and there's no street parking allowed if you come in from Congress st.

This trail is about 3.5 miles around Back Cove and is beautiful to experience! Today was gorgeous -…read morenormally a nice breeze, plenty of people walking dogs, riding bikes, etc. Trail is kept clean and continues to draw people in!

Back Cove - it's DEFINITELY NOT CALLED "Back Bay", and when you say that we know you're not a local…read more- is a 100+ year old 3.5 mile multi-use, tree-lined, accessible/mostly flat path around a tidal estuary basin that offers skyline views and birdwatching. There's also a recently renovated athletic field and very new/in exceptional shape/varied fitness course area! So fun to see people playing here again; over all, this trail is great for ambling, dog walking, running, and biking. Some things that are great: - The art (both city installed and citizen "installed"). Some of the old informational placards now house paintings, you might find handmade birdhouses, and other various structures! - The half of the trail that's *after* Tukey's Bridge, passing Payson Park, around the Boulevard (which is closed to vehicles on Sundays in the summer), all the way to maybe Vannah Ave is spectacular! Some things that are not great: - there's a *large* trash problem here from the parking lot across the Hannaford, near the 295 off ramp after the athletic fields, going up the include to the bridge, segue... - crossing Tukey's Bridge is never a pleasant experience; it's *so* loud because of the highway traffic speeding by, segue... - there's not a ton of lights, and this area doesn't feel particularly safe at night

Wide open spaces…read more Memorial Park is a cool park nestled in between the ocean and the Libby Library. Definitely not a bad location for a park, this one just seems small at first but just keeps going. All kinds of things in the park, tennis courts, basketball courts, a nice gazebo, a memorial for veterans and even a nice little lighthouse model at the main entrance. Gentle, rolling hills makes Memorial Park a great place for a gentle walk in your bare feet. During the summer there is a Summer Concert Series of music as well as other events and activities. This is a very popular park and you see all kinds of people during all kinds of things. Some playing sports, other strumming on musical instruments and some just laying on the grass catching the sea breezes. In the winter people even use the park for cross country skiing, snow shoeing and some sledding for the little kids on the small hills. A very nice park in an extremely nice location.