Driving through Berwick and needed to stretch my legs quick from long days drive. This is a cute…read morelittle spot just off of the main road with bench seating and small parking area to do just that while listening to the waters roll over the dam. No restrooms here but there is a gas station just up the street to grab a snack and take care of business if needed. Quick drop in launch location perfect for kayak or paddle board with slow moving waters after the dam. Pack in and pack out as there is no trash can here either. Perfect stop for a quick break before continuing the journey!

This quarter-mile long crescent-shaped beach is not far from the Nubble Lighthouse though you can't…read moresee it from here. The park has public restrooms (closed because of the pandemic), seasonal lifeguards, metered parking, a playground, basketball courts and a gazebo. A walkway follows the beach and includes several benches if you'd like to have a seat and look at the water. [Review 14906 overall, 408 of 2021, number 88 in Maine.]

Historical cemetery, close to the harbour includes information on 'note worthy' residents. Many…read moreexamples of early New England headstone motifs. Easy to walk to from Prescott park. No parking in the area. There is a turn style to enter and exit making it *not* ADA accessible. This feature also prevents pets from entering, fyi.

Established in 1671, this is one of the oldest cemeteries in New Hampshire! I'm obsessed with…read morememento mori and this burying ground had so many fine, surprisingly well preserved examples of early headstone artistry by many local sculptors - it's so impressive that I visited twice during my time in New England! The oldest headstone I found dated all the way back to 1682! There are records of earlier burials here, but any headstones prior to 1682 were destroyed by cattle grazing from the original land owner's cattle, Capt John Pickering II. But there are several headstones still very well preserved from the late 1600s and early-mid 1700s - it's amazing! Another popular draw to this particular burying ground is rumors of it being very haunted!! The first ever house fire to be reported on in a newspaper in America tragically claimed two victims buried here - Elizabeth Elaston and Elizabeth Rogers - and supposedly they haunt these grounds - and their headstones are joined together and very beautifully preserved. It's one of the smaller burying grounds around New England - but it's beautiful and surrounded by a huge park right on the picturesque Piscataqua River - also right next to the Strawberry Banke museum and a few other small museums - so there's a lot to do in the area. Parking can be a challenge as it's mostly street parking but if you're visiting the Strawberry Banke museum they have a lot of parking. Pro Tip: grab a most delicious lobster roll and slice of homemade pie right down the street at Geno's - you won't regret it!!

This is just a patch of woods behind the John F Hill Grange Hall. Just a patch of woods that…read moresomehow feels like the ever so charming, whimsical, and enchanting Hundred Acre Wood AND a creepy horror film set where some ominous presence looms just beyond (beyond what? you're imagination? an actual tree? you'll never know until it's too late) at the same time! In all seriousness this is a fantastic quick walk (less than a mile and almost entirely flat) in a patch of forest and wetland that has very, very, very tall trees (when its overcast, it feels like they're looming; but when sun streams through them it feels almost fairytale like). In sections, the trees are also PERFECTLY in a row with each other. Was this extreme linear placement intentional? I don't know but it's fascinating. The trail features a variety of habitats, streams, and wooden planks/bog bridges. If you're passing through the area, and wanna stretch your legs and get some fresh air I'd highly encourage you check this spot out. I know it sounds like just another stroll through the woods, but honestly there's just something different happening here. Something palpable in the atmosphere, some secret the trees themselves only know, but I'll be making this a regular haunt during late October.

The perfect Maine wedding venue. Amazing food and the service couldn't be any better. Definitely…read moreget the raw bar as it was beautifully arranged and was incredible. The rooms are divided but it made having a conversation that more easier and our guests loved to be able to actually talk to each other. Highly recommend you checking this out!

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? Kind of. Well marked signs? Kind of. Element of surprise? Eh, kind of? "Welcome to the Hilton-Winn Preserve... this 48,000 acre area is the largest, intact (minimally fragmented by roads coastal forest from Acadia National Park to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. A unique confluence of northern and southern species of plants and animals lie here, making it the most biologically diverse region in Maine." That's what the sign says when you arrive. How cool sounding!!! All of that may be true, but I have to admit that I actually have no idea what's going on here; because whatever you see online or at the information kiosk (under "Trails & Rules") regarding the trail map is not totally the truth. Yes, there's *a lot* of signs, but there's *a lot* of signs for trails that don't exist on the map. Does that make sense? Like, I started on Boardwalk Trail (very clearly labeled both on the map and on the trail itself) through forested wetland, went to Hilton Lane (very clearly labeled both on the map and on the trail itself), went to Loop Trail (which was actually pretty cool because it crosses the Ogunquit River twice -- there's a sturdy cable connecting trees on the opposing banks of the river to help you navigate your way across; when I came, however, this was unnecessary because there was no water in the river at all [August in Maine; everything's dried up due to the drought]) and then this is where things got weird. Because Loop Trail should have "looped" back to Hilton, but it didn't. So I backtracked all the way to the original part of Hilton I deviated from and this time walked up to River Trail (clearly labeled both on the map and on the trail itself), which seemed misnamed: does it follow the Tatnic Brook? Maybe, but again - no signs of water whatsoever. This then brought me to Breen-Norris Farm Trail... and then to Grandma's Wishing Bridge (which was collapsed), Imagination Pond (which was definitely not real no matter how hard I tried to believe), Stone Wall Way (there were no stone walls), Holding Pen (a collapsed wooden "pen"), an enormous field, and Green Horse Trail (there were no green horses; I'm guessing they escaped the pen, kicked the stone walls down, drank the water from the pond, destroyed Nana's bridge, and are living their life somewhere in that giant field). I took pictures for proof, and also: none of that was on any map. Was it an adventure? Sure. Did I sweat? A whole lot. Would I come back here? Nope. Too scared about where the horses may or may not be.

This trail starts out walking parallel to what I believe is the on ramp to 295. It's kind of…read morestrange to be in the woods but be able to hear cars zooming by at the same time. The front part of the loop was a nice wide path, no mud in sight, easy to follow. When the first leg of the loop is done, you are spit out into a field. We followed the beaten foot path to find our way to a sign to continue the loop, but it wouldn't hurt to include a directional arrow here. The back half of the loop was a bit of a mess. We've handled our fair share of mud but there's usually a way to maneuver around it or boards/bridges set up to help you get by without submerging your feet. Many of the muddy areas here had thick branches, clearly setup by walkers, to help you try to quickstep across. They weren't ideal for anyone, but certainly better than stepping directly into the muck. We completed the trail and had a nice walk, but this route could use a little facelift on the back end.

A last minute day off with the hubs and a date day with our 14yr old dog while shipping the younger…read moreones to doggie day care led us to look up and explore a new trail. We wanted to do a trail by Sacobaytrails.org simply due to proximity and how well laid out their trails are. They are generally well marked and the kiosks have maps and useful information. We needed an easy hike so we headed to one that we found on the website nearest home but was not listed a closed in the information; we found out when we got there. Not to worry! I quickly used trailfinder.com to find the next closest to us and it landed us here at the Sylvan Trail. The parking area is spacious and located at the highway over pass on Flagg Pond Road. The kiosk was informative and even pointed out that there was treasure to be found in a geocache along the trail! Off we went to explore. Please note: Saco Trails does have trails that dogs are not allowed on, please check the rules as each trail is not listed as pet or non-pet. They also ask that you leash your pet. Keep in mind that some of these lands are privately owned or border lands that are and some allow trapping and hunting so it is for your pet's safety as well as the wildlife. I do have a couple of pictures of our dog at the trail head without his leash yet on. Please abide by the rules of the trail. Ok, with that said, we set off in to the woods. This is a dirt path that is fairly flat and has roots and rocks and such. Extremely well marked trees are not hard to find. The early morning light was beautiful. I really liked the spider webs lit up with the morning light, but it difficult to snap a pic of. This trail was easy for sure... the roar of the highway gave way as the trail split and we ended up coming out in to a lovely field and the sounds of the insects took over. A HUGE bird... a hawk of some sort perhaps, flew up the trail in front of us. Part of the trail was a bit wet and marshy, another was walking along the edge of a field, yet another was a tote road and lastly was the short hike along the rooted path near the entrance. The trip was just shy of 2 miles, listed on the website as 1.7 miles. It was a great walk for an old dog and would be perfect for children as well. Bring your bug spray for sure and this is definitely a place that is a tick breeding ground so bring your tick spray for your furry pal too. Lovely trail!

This small ski hill is about the size of McIntyre, maybe even smaller, but lift tickets are only…read more$5.00!! Yes, it is only a rope tow and a few short trails, but there are jumps available and a trail through the woods. They have a small lodge that sells hotdogs, drinks, and snacks-cash only, including for the lift tickets. It is so perfect for my son to work on skills, and when I am tired I can watch him from the bottom. Perfect place for beginners to learn. I can't believe the price-I am so glad to have found this place. We would love to ski the big mountains every weekend, but could never afford to...so this is a wonderful supplement. I believe it is owned by the Town and run by volunteers, and everyone there is so nice. There is also a big sledding hill right next to it. Not too crowded on the trails either, and the line at the bottom isn't bad at all. We have been a handful of times so far, and had a blast every time.