Mount Apatite is unlike many other networks of trails as it offers some really interesting…read moreabandoned quarries. These mining areas used to be rich in apatite and tourmaline, but mostly are abundant in quartz and mica now. You will for sure see families chipping away at boulders and panning in the water for gems and even gold. There was an area where you could crawl into the ground/under the enormous boulders and see a car-sized quartz amidst tree roots. Very, very cool. As was the beach-like/snow-like slag piles and the opportunity to get pretty high on the quarry ledges. I do a lot of hiking/nature walks/trail exploration and my biggest frustration with Mount Apatite is the underwhelming amount of signage. For example, there's no kiosk with a trail map; this wouldn't necessarily be a problem if the trails were properly marked, but they're not and there's only two: blue and red. The blue trail is 99% marked; the red trail is 99% not marked. Despite being seasoned, we still somehow ended up in people's backyards more than once. Just some "Private Property" signs on those dead end trails, or even some wooden signs pointing to the quarries or height of land would be appreciated. Also - the abundance of trash was pretty off-putting. CARRY IN, CARRY OUT. The amount of plastic bottles, Dunkin cups, and food wrappers was astounding. All in all, I probably wouldn't explore this particular spot again, but definitely love that such an expansive, unique spot exists in Auburn.

Need an adventure that not only takes you past military vehicles, hikes you up a small mountain,…read morebut also gives you a mining experience?? This is the place! With a short walk straight up the main trail you will find numerous dig spots that hold numerous types of rocks including Apatite, Tourmaline, and Quartz. Some of the quarries have filled with water and are speckled with frogs and other creatures. This became a fascination to my friend's son who I had with me as the frogs were in their froglet stage. He spent time counting and recounting how many he could see (we got up to 40), skipping rocks, and walking around the edge to explore. We hit up several dig spots, each one of them was cooler than the previous according to my buddy. There was many "Whoa, Miss Mary, check this one out". We brought garden tools to chip away and dig up our treasures. Our last spot we hit also had a nice view of the Auburn area. On the way down we explored one of the many side trails that many mountain bikers use. I guess I see a reason to coming back soon!

Great hiking area in Oxford County, ME. Visited this hiking spot during a recent camping trip at…read morePapoose Pond in Waterford, ME. Only a 15-20 minute drive from the campgrounds. Super quiet hiking spot early in the morning during the week but weekends may differ. About a 25 minute hike up, 20 down. Definitely recommend!!

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. If you're looking for a morning/afternoon hike not too far out of Portland - or, are visiting the Sebago Lake area - I'd strongly recommend this place over other spots (I'm looking at you, Douglas Mountain). Actually, come both here and Rattlesnake Mountain via Bri-Mar Trail for a really lovely day in the woods (especially in the autumn)! Raymond Community Forest offers a network of around 3.5 miles of trails. There are four main paths: - Spiller Homestead Loop (around 1 mile; it leaves from the parking lot and is mostly a flat walk through the woods - I often see families here). - Grape Expectations (around 1 mile; it extends off Spiller and is more mostly flat woods walking) - Pismire Bluff Trail (.7 miles; it's across the street and goes directly uphill - expect rooty trails and some minor rock scrambling - to Pismere Bluff which overlooks Crescent Lake) - The Highlands Loop Trail (around 1 mile; it extends off Pismire and offers some rooty, windy woods walking) If you love taking long walks in the woods or birdwatching, definitely check out Spiller, Grape, and Highlands trails (the first two include randomly placed placards with information about local flora and fauna). If you're looking for a quick workout to get your heart pumping, go straight to Pismire. The view really is exceptional, but it's important to note that there isn't a lot of space on the rocks (reminder that a "bluff" is a broad, rounded cliff that appears to be higher than it actually is) to enjoy said view. So come early, or be patient as people enjoy themselves, the surrounding landscape, and maybe breakfast too (I hiked up here once with an iced coffee and croissants... totally doable!). Please note: this area is full of hunters starting in October. WEAR BLAZE ORANGE. WEAR BLAZE ORANGE. WEAR BLAZE ORANGE.

There are multiple improvements this year. The park is newly paved from the main road to the beach…read morearea. There are new entry booths far from the main road effectively ending the back up in the main road. I highly recommend the state park pass.

We've camped all over the state of Maine, but keep coming back to this campground right in our…read morebackyard. It's priced at a premium over other Maine state parks, $10 more per night, but worth every penny. And I much prefer it to the campsites that cost three times as much that have cable hook ups and far too many conveniences. Nice balance between modern conveniences and good old fashioned family fun.

Taking the hairpin turn and driving up the very steep hill was worth it. The views are…read morebreathtaking! I could have had a blanket to enjoy the view with a picnic. There is an outhouse there which is nice to have if you're planning to spend the day. Plenty of area to park at the top and turn around before heading back down.

This was a great trail, plenty of parking . Beautiful views of the lakes and surrounding area. A…read morefairly easy hike . We did encounter an angry bird on the trail we must grave gotten too close to a nest or something. Not crowded at all when we were there.

Short sections can be combined in different combinations for a short or longer hike. A nice mixture…read moreof flat wide trails and rocky, forest trails. Lovely views from the summit, not to be confused with the 'Lookout' (a different view area of a different lake! As is usual, a bit windy a chilly at the top, but very calm and comfortable on the way up and down.

The food at pineland Farms never fails. It's always fresh and delicious. I got a coffee, scone and…read morea breakfast sandwich. When bringing my own large travel coffee mug, the price for hot coffee is $2.78. There's a large seating area near the counter to enjoy your meal. There's also a dining area off the market which offers gorgeous westerly facing views. The staff is courteous and helpful. We also bought a few items in the market section of the store. It is stocked with many local and unique items, gift things along with food.

This week's review of Pineland is for their tulip bloom! Which was at peak the day after I visited,…read moreof course! I love to visit their "Secret Garden" various times throughout the season, as things grow. It was a little quiet this trip. But so peaceful and I thoroughly enjoyed my walk and the fresh air.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? *Extremely* limited. Loop trail? No. Well marked signs? Sporadically.. Element of surprise? Kind of. There's no view from the summit of this mountain. It's just a sign in some trees that says RATTLESNAKE MTN, ELEV, 1035FT. That being said: the views from the trail (which is around 2.5 miles back and out again) up to the summit - specifically the second ledge you'll come to - are absolutely stunning! It looks out over Panther Pond, Sebago Lake, Crescent Lake, and into Maine's mountains. No matter what time of year you come, it's really something special. (That being said, there really is no reason to walk the extra half mile to the summit, unless you're the completionist/achievement hunter type I guess... I mean, I am). The ledges overlooking the scenic views can be slippery when wet, so please be careful! Some other things to know: 1. There's maybe four parking spaces here, and they *will* tow if you aren't in one of them. 2. Dog are *not* allowed. 3. This has some mild rooty areas, but I wouldn't say it's very rock-scrambly.

Amazing experience... Carl, Margaret, and family have a real love for what they do! The goats are…read morefabulous animals, each with their own names and characteristics ! All ages will love this adventure!

Called to see if they had any fresh cheese while we would be diving by - lucky they did. Karl &…read moreMargaret invited us in to feed the baby goats and bought a tub of fresh chèvre that was delicious with some cracker and local honey. Just a great experience!