Woodbury Nature Sanctuary: White and Blue Trail Loops

Bradbury mountain has ample parking and multiple trails that lead around the mountain and up to the summit.  We took the Northern Loop, which is the longest trail up the small mountain. It is a gradual incline of 407 ft over 1.0 mile. It is a perfect out and back trail just to get outside for a bit and give the snowshoes some use. The trails at Bradbury State Park are well groomed and perfect f...

Try shooting a gun with L.L. Bean's Discovery Sporting Clay course. You can book courses in the morning or afternoon and will meet at a specified location (the range) where you will meet with the guide and other participants. You will be introduced to the sport of shooting a gun at artificial targets in the air and then have the opportunity to do it in live action. It's incredibly fun and teach...

Pemaquid Lighthouse is situated above a spit of granite jutting out into the Atlantic, and it has all the look and feel of a classic Maine lighthouse. For photographers, it's hard to go wrong. The granite is grained such that all the rocks seem to be pointing towards the lighthouse, so there are leading lines everywhere. Bring a wide angle lens (24mm or wider) and hike towards the tip of the po...

1.4 mile Out-and-Back trail hike is family friendly and provides spectacular views, especially at sunset. Trail closes right after dusk though, so be careful to not wander too long. Turn onto Hawk Mountain Road, and drive until you see the parking lot on the left and trail head on the right, about one mile from turning onto the road. Definitely something for all ages. There is an area for campe...

This kayaking adventure begins at East End Beach at the Eastern Promenade in Portland. There is an easy boat launch zone if you have your own sea kayaks, but if you need to rent, Portland Paddle is right at the launch zone! It is $45 for 2 hours with a tandem sea kayak, which is what we opted for.If you are not familiar with sea kayaking or how to a recover a capsized kayak, it is best to stay ...

Peaks Island is the closest of the Casco Bay Islands to Portland, ME. It is a residential island that fills up with tourists in the summertime. If you visit the Peaks mid-spring, you can count on fairly decent weather and fewer crowds. There is a hotel and three or four restaurants on the island, most of which close in the off-season.  You'll be able to find a map of Peaks in any number of Port...