Category Archives: Family and Kids

family life, activities, family travel

Lives lived, and lost, at the Kittery Town Forest

Sometimes when I walk in Kittery’s 72-acre Town Forest, I wonder what became of Ella Hill and her girl Annie. From 1891 to about 1897, Ella and Annie lived here at the Town Farm, or Poor Farm. In 1891, the … Continue reading

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Rediscovering the beautiful silence on Coppermine Trail

The car thermometer read two degrees as we pulled on gloves, strapped on snowshoes, and set out on the Coppermine Trail to Bridal Veil Falls. The trail began flat and easy on a road transformed into tunnel of trees and … Continue reading

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Wandering in the wilderness of Mount Paugus

In New Hampshire’s heavily visited White Mountains, solitude often seems like a lost dream on beautiful autumn weekends, when throngs of people climb popular peaks. But not far from the beaten path, in the Sandwich Range Wilderness, intriguing Mount Paugus … Continue reading

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Gray jays, great day: A fall hike on Mount Waumbek

Hiking on the Starr King Trail to 4,006-foot Mount Waumbek, it’s hard to believe that this off-the-beaten-path peak once was part of a proposal for a mega-ski resort stretching across several mountains. On the beautiful Columbus Day weekend when we … Continue reading

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A Ride on the Wild Quiet Side: Exploring Acadia’s Schoodic Peninsula

Schoodic Peninsula is one of those out-of-the way Maine destinations that provokes conflicting emotions: I want to share its beauty, but also hope it remains off the well-beaten path. On the warm September day that we visited the Schoodic Peninsula, … Continue reading

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Remnants of the Gilded Age at Brave Boat Harbor

Kittery Point, Maine — I dip my paddle in the water, push the kayak into the channel, and glide away from the causeway.  I’m paddling into the marsh, heading out to Brave Boat Harbor for high tide. At least once … Continue reading

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Island living, Adirondack style

In July, an opportunity arose to camp with a friend for several nights on a quarter-acre island on Middle Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park. My friend warned me that she didn’t do a lot on the island. We … Continue reading

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Presidential aspirations: You can’t always get what you want

I have long held Presidential aspirations — that is, to complete the Presidential traverse hike across the highest peaks of New England including Mount Washington, Jefferson,  Adams, and Madison. I love the high open alpine terrain of these summits, and … Continue reading

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One hike, many discoveries: A plane crash, a fire tower and stone-age couches

Would we find the plane crash? That was the motivating question as I hit the road early one morning in late June with three middle-school boys. More than 40 years ago, on June 18, 1972, a small plane bound for … Continue reading

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Three generations, ten springs of exploring Cape Cod

For ten years now, I’ve made a spring pilgrimage to Cape Cod with my son and mother, for a few nights over the April spring vacation week or on a weekend in May. We take advantage of off-season rates at the Ocean … Continue reading

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