White elephant in a green valley
Here at Evergreen Valley, the outside temperature is 12 degrees, but a full 28 degrees warmer, at 40, inside our “villa.” We lost power yesterday (2/17), late in the afternoon […]
Family and Kids
family life, activities, family travel
Winter dreams of summer days on Mount Washburn
On this cold winter afternoon in Maine, I am dreaming about summer days on Mount Washburn. The temperature is even colder today at Mount Washburn, but this past August, we […]
Exploring Caves and Climbing Ladders in the New Hampshire Lakes Region
Our only regret is that we have arrived at the cave too late. This roomy cavern, formed by boulders and slabs of rock that fell from the mountain long […]
In the Wild River Valley, a November blizzard, deep snow, and a man who perseveres to save his cat
We are hiking along Blue Brook and up the Basin Trail through a golden forest of beech trees, the color made more vibrant by the gray background of an overcast […]
Rangeley days, now far away
Every summer, the town takes us by surprise. We crest the hill on Route 4, catch our first view of the lake, and descend into an unlikely enclave of commerce: […]
A ghostly perspective on Fort Constitution and Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
Motivated by my son’s interest in the paranormal, we joined a “haunted lighthouse tour” at Fort Constitution in Newcastle, N.H. on a recent summer evening. The tour of the Fort […]
Rock scrambling on Welch-Dickey Loop Trail
After a mile of hiking at a moderate grade, we burst into sky as we reach the open ledges on the side of Welch Mountain. My three 11-year-old hiking companions […]