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Family Fun at Thompson’s Point Ice Rink

On a non-snowy day, there are great views of the Fore River!

General Information & Bathroom Lowdown:

With a great view of the Fore River, amenities of a ski lodge, and directly off of 295, Thompson’s Point Ice Rink is a fantastic spot to take your family to for ice skating. With 2-hour skating sessions going from 9am-9pm, on most days, you will be sure to find a session that works for you. Be sure to follow them on social media for more information about fun events at the rink. I can imagine the upcoming Taylor Swift Music Night will be a big hit there!

Tickets can be purchased online or at the rink. Skate rentals (toddler size 8 to adult 13) are available and can be purchased at the rink ONLY.

You will also find food and beverages available for purchase. Think all things hot! Hot cocoa, hot pretzels, hot dogs, etc. You will also find a robust adult beverage line up, if that also interests you.

Parking is available at and close by to the rink. Plan to pay $2/hour for parking anywhere on Thompson’s Point. ‘

With a heated tent with cubbies, a separate, non-heated viewing area, and outdoor picnic tables, there are plenty of areas to leave your belongings.

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Be sure to secure your valuables when leaving items in public areas! Also, label or mark gear with your family name, initials, symbol, etc. as it’s easy to accidentally grab someone else’s gear.

You will find sex-separated bathrooms with a family bathroom as well. These bathrooms are located close to the heated tent.

Thompson’s Point Ice Rink is also a WinterKids Passport location! Children 17 and younger can skate FREE! And…you are able to use the WinterKids Passport up to TWO times here!

To use your Passport here, plan to purchase tickets AT THE RINK. Note: WinterKids is working with Thompson’s Point Ice Rink to allow Passport Holders to purchase tickets online and use the Passport during online check out. Stay tuned for an update.

Thompson’s Point Ice Rink allows for children 4 and under to skate for free as well!

With ever-changing winter conditions and the potential for sessions to sell out, always check their Instagram before heading out!

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Be sure to snap a couple of pictures of your adventures and upload them to WinterKids to be in the running to win some free gift cards to businesses like LL Bean and Kittery Trading Post!

Our Adventure:

We headed out to Thompson’s Point on New Year’s Day and found that many other families had the same idea! We also found other families using the WinterKids Passport and had some sweet moments chatting with them about that. #community

We checked in at the ticket counter to buy tickets and some rentals for my husband. The staff were incredibly kind as I had a hard time loading my WinterKids App. They trusted I had a working Passport and passes still available to use. In these moments, I’m always reminded this is what makes living in our great state of Maine AMAZING!

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Only redeem your FREE/DISCOUNTED passes when you are at the ticket counter, not beforehand. If this changes for Thompson’s Point Ice Rink, I will let you know.

We headed to the heated tent area to gear up and found lots of open cubbies available to put shoes and bags in. Once the skates were laced, my daughter and husband headed out to the rink. I was sitting this one out as I am still rehabbing my left arm from my surgeries this summer.

What I LOVE about the Thompson’s Point Ice Rink the MOST are these ice skate trainers available for kids. There are plenty of them to use and it makes skating around the rink more enjoyable for most kids.

We decided to bring our lunches to the rink for this outing. Bringing lunches and cocoa on our adventures is an easy way to keep these activities budget-friendly. We could have easily spent around $60 for lunch and cocoa at the rink. However, by bringing these things from home, we only spent $13. And…it makes “splurging” on some hot pretzels, like we did, not break the bank.

Note: Our Stanley Thermos, is our favorite cocoa vessel!

With some snow and wind gusts that were NOT forecasted for that day, my daughter was living her best life and we stayed for the entire two-hour session!

Note: It can get a bit breezy on this rink. Plan to bring extra layers, face buffs, etc. to stay warm out there!

Cost:

Important things to note about the cost breakdown below:

The WinterKids Passport program costs $40/family. We are planning on doing ten outings this winter, so I divided the cost of the passport by our intended number of outings. This is how I incorporated the cost of the passport below.

I will be using the government mileage rate to determine the cost of each trip.

Also, in full transparency, as a WinterKids Ambassador, I was gifted the Passport so while this “fee” isn’t a true cost to my family, I wanted to represent the truest depiction of an outing cost as possible.

Ice Skate Tickets: 1 Adult: $12, 1 Child: $0
Rentals: $6
Mileage: $14.50
Parking: $4
Lunch & Cocoa brought from Home: $13
Snacks @ Rink: $10
Passport Program “Fee”: $4

Total Cost: $63.50

For more on our Winter Adventures, as well as all of other adventures, check out my posts on Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you for reading this blog on The Wandering Chickadee!

~Natalie

Explore Snowshoeing at Pineland Farms

View of Mount Washington at Pineland Farms

General Information & Bathroom Lowdown:

With over 20 kilometers of picturesque snowshoe trails, views of Mount Washington on a clear day, and a Market stocked with yummy snacks and lunch options, Pineland Farms is a great spot to head to for any snowshoe adventure. Tickets for the trails can be purchased at the Market (15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, Maine). There are NO rentals available at Pineland Farms.

The hub for many of the cross country ski and snowshoe trails are close to the Market. Plan to park close to it for easy access to the trails. Speaking of parking, while some lockers are available to skiers and snowshoers in the hallway of the Market, the Market is NOT a lodge so…. plan to gear up at your car.

You will find sex-separated bathrooms with a confirmed baby changing station located in the women’s bathroom. This is the only available bathroom near the trails.

Pineland Farms is also a WinterKids Passport location! Children 17 and younger can ski or snowshoe for FREE! And…you are able to use the WinterKids Passport up to TWO times here!

Note: Pineland Farms allows for children 6 and under to ski and snowshoe for free as well!

With ever-changing winter conditions, always check the trail conditions before heading out to see what is open!

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Be sure to snap a couple of pictures of your adventures and upload them to WinterKids to be in the running to win some free gift cards to businesses like LL Bean and Kittery Trading Post!

Our Adventure:

Sunlight through the trail at Pineland Farms

We headed out to Pineland Farms on a relatively warm Sunday morning and found that everyone else had the same idea! It was great to feel the energy of everyone getting out on their skis and snowshoes, perhaps for the first time of the season!

We checked in with the Market staff who were excited to see us using our WinterKids Passport app. Some of the staff had never seen the app so we were able to walk them through using it.

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Only redeem your FREE/DISCOUNTED passes when you are at the ticket counter, not beforehand.

We headed back to our car to gear up. I like to bring a couple of towels with me so that we can sit or stand without getting wet from any melted snow. Once we geared up, we headed to the trail hub just across from the Market.

Using a towel to keep us dry while changing in/out of gear

I like to allow for extra time for my daughter to try to get her snowshoes on herself. And…on this outing, she did NOT need any of my help! That was such a cool moment to watch her and share in her excitement of doing it all by herself!

We opted for a moderate 2 mile trek that I could build in a couple of bailout options (see below for my recommended loop). We used one of the bailout options after having to break in a trail ourselves; which was a bit shocking given we were on the trails 5 days after the snow fall.

After a little walk back to our car, we headed into the Market for some yummy lunch. Don’t forget that if you are a Pineland Farm Season Pass holder (for the education barns) you can receive 10% of your Market purchases.

WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Always bring a map! While the snowshoe trails at Pineland Farms are marked, I do wish there were more trail markers periodically on the trails.

Yummy lunch at the Market @ Pineland Farms

Trail Recommendations:

Head out from the Market on Muskrat Hollow and follow this trail until you come to Otter Run. Turn right onto Otter Run. Follow Otter Run as it crosses Valley Farm Road. Continue on Otter Run until it meets up with Wildlife Way. Turn right onto Wildlife Way and make your way back to the Market.

This trail loop will start with gradual descent into the woods with a couple of benches available on the trail courtesy of the being on one of the disc golf courses. Plan for one small hill prior before heading onto Otter Run. Otter Run has a gradual incline as it crosses Valley Farm Road. Once you reach the road, you are about halfway done the incline which is why I built in the bailout options.

Once Otter Run reaches Farm View Drive, you will be on flat and sometimes descending terrain.

Bailout Option #1: When Otter Run crosses Valley Farm Road. The Market parking lot is less than ¼ mile from this location.

Bailout Option #2: When Otter Run runs alongside Farm View Drive. The Market parking lot is about a ¼ mile from this location.

Cost:

Important things to note about the cost breakdown below:

I will be using the government mileage rate to determine the cost of each trip.

Snowshoe Tickets: 1 Adult: $12, 1 Child: $0
Mileage: $11.20
Snacks brought from Home: $6
Lunch @ Market: $21
Passport Program “Fee”: $4

Total Cost: $43.20

For more on our Winter Adventures, as well as all of other adventures, check out my posts on Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you for reading this blog on The Wandering Chickadee!

~Natalie

A Beginner’s Guide to Easy Snowshoeing

Getting ready for our first snowshoe of the season!

With minimal gear needs and no requirement to learn a new skill, snowshoeing is a very easy and affordable way to enjoy winter in Maine.

If you are looking to get out there this winter on snowshoes, here are 5 TIPS to help you get into the sport:

Tip #1: Snowshoes are very affordable.

Basic snowshoes will start around $100-120 for adults and $60-80 for children. I use LL Bean Winter Walkers and my daughter uses G2 snowshoes. Snowshoe sizes are based on weight ranges. For example, size 16 inch snowshoes are for kids who weigh 50-100lbs. So, in theory, you should be able to get 3 or more years out of a pair for your kids.

And here is an insider tip: You can find gently used snowshoes at outdoor gear consignment stores like the Woods + Water Exchange in Brunswick for a STEAL. Most children’s snowshoes at consignment stores will be deeply discounted. Look to score a pair for less than $40. Head to consignment stores at the beginning of the season for the best selection.

Not quite ready to purchase snowshoes? Check out gear libraries like the Maine Gear Share or the Katahdin Gear Library where you can rent snowshoes for $10 or less.

AND…many public libraries are growing their Library of Things and you may be able to check out snowshoes for FREE. I recently spotted 5 pairs of snowshoes available for checkout at our local library!

Tip #2: Poles are optional.

If you are getting a brand-new set of snowshoes, they will often come with adjustable poles. As a beginner, you are probably (or should be) setting out on some pretty easy terrain. Poles are typically used on uneven/steep terrain, uphill climbs, deep snow, or when breaking a trail. So for our easy treks out on flat, usually broken in trails, poles are really optional for us.

However, my daughter always loves the idea of using her poles….for the first ¼ mile of our adventure (!!) and then prefers to go without them. Instead of us both carrying poles, I bring my adjustable ones so she can use mine when she wants

Nothing kills my mood more than feeling like I am a luggage trolley for my daughter. 🙂

Tip #2: Snowshoe with good waterproof shoes.

While winter boots (I’m looking at you, classic LL Bean boot) are great for shoveling snow and adventuring out to meet friends for coffee, they are not usually great for snowshoeing. Consider a winter WATERPROOF hiking boot or winter sneaker that has good ankle support. My preference is to use my Merrill hiking sneakers or my LL Bean winter sneaker boot with a snow gaiter.

And then…there is my daughter. We have tried a couple different winter sneakers and boots, but prefers her Bogs classic boots for snowshoeing.

Tip #3: Plan to get sweaty.

You will get a sweat snowshoeing. Base layers are a must for snowshoeing, in my opinion. Base layers are designed to wick sweat away from your body, which is essential for staying warm. My go-to brand for base layers is Hot Chillys.

From there, your mid layer, the insulation layer, is dependent on the weather temperatures. Mid layers can range from fleece jackets to down vests or down jackets or to a combination of any of these. I prefer a fleece jacket with my Cotapaxi down vest. My daughter will often use her insulated winter jacket as her mid layer here.

Some people will add a shell layer, the waterproof layer, while others don’t. I usually do not add a shell layer because we are pretty fair weather snowshoers.

For socks, you will want to invest in some good wool socks. My preferred brands are Smartwool, Farm to Feet, and Darn Tough Socks for both my daughter and myself.

As you can see, how you choose to add mid and shell layers to your snowshoe adventures is a very what-works-for-you choice. My only suggestion here is to bring all the options with you. You will never regret having the option to add more layers.

Tip #4: Use a backpack.

As you get into snowshoeing, any backpack will do. This will keep the cost of getting into the sport more affordable. Choose a backpack where you can load up water bottles, snacks, a first aid kit, and give you room to bring along extra gloves, hats, etc. and space to shed any clothing layers. There will ALWAYS be shedding of layers by someone in your group!

Tip #5: Short, Slow and Simple Adventures

Snowshoeing is a very easy and fun way to get out there and enjoy the winter season here in Maine. But for anyone just starting out, and especially for little legs, snowshoeing can be an adjustment. Walking on snow, even with snowshoes, can be exhausting.

Opt for SHORT, easy terrain trails when just getting started. Think 1 mile or less. Yes, that does seem short but having everyone end their adventure with smiles is better than the alternative.

Go SLOW. If you are taking little ones along with you, let them set the pace. Plan to take water and snack breaks in short intervals.

Keep it SIMPLE. Opt for trail systems that are close to home when getting into snowshoeing. Local land trusts and city/town parks are a great place to start out.

Once you get into your rhythm and routine with snowshoeing, you can start to add distance, pace, and taking your adventures farther from home won’t seem so daunting.

To keep up with all of our budget-friendly winter adventures this season, follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

Thank you for reading this blog on The Wandering Chickadee!

This post may include affiliate links. If you click on one of them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

~Natalie

Discover Sebago Lake State Park: Activities Year-Round

Sebago Lake State Park is a 1,400-acre park that was one of the five ORIGINAL state parks and opened to the public in 1938.

If you are looking for a lake-side park that offers swimming, fishing, camping and boating in the summer, along with cross-country skiing and snow shoeing in the winter, then you MUST check out Sebago Lake State Park!

Read more below for details about the Park (excluding camping..more to come on that later) and my thoughts on the bathroom situation, hiking trails, playground, and why this is one of FAVORITE parks to visit in the Fall.

Sebago Lake State Park has two locations; one in Casco and the other in Naples. The Naples location is where you can access the campground and additional trails. For this review, we will be focusing on the day-use location in CASCO (excluding the group camping area).

Parking Details:

You can access the day-use location from Route 302. Be sure to turn into 11 Park Access Road in Casco. There will be two parking lot options upon arrival. The Songo Beach parking lot and the East Area one. The Songo Beach lot is significantly larger.

During the fall, parking will NOT be an issue but do keep in mind that during nice weather in the summer months, these parking lots can fill up and there is sometimes a wait at the ranger station to enter.

Playground Details:

There is a playground at this park and it’s in good condition. There are several slides, swings (baby swings, too!), monkey bars, and several climbing structures. There are picnic tables and benches nearby and the bathrooms are just a short walk from the playground.

There is also a cute playhouse near the Pine Grove Reservable Group Picnic Site that was a really fun time for my daughter. Think completely immersive imaginative play for like an hour or so!

Hiking Trail Details:

There are several trails available to you at Sebago Lake State Park and they are all very kid-friendly. My daughter and I did mostly the trails listed as “ungroomed” on the map. If you are looking for more significant trails than just a walk along the lakeshore, the outer loop is a good one here.

The day-use side of the park has very easy trails. Always bring a map as signage can be lacking or confusing…or both!

We also found, during our recent trip, that Sebago State Park is utilizing a public photo-monitoring of the beach erosion. This program allows you to take pictures at certain spots and upload them to the site so that officials can monitor this situation in almost real time.

If looking for more extensive trails, be sure to check out the system at the campground/Naples location. I have yet to explore those trails!

For both locations, be mindful that some of these trails LACK good signage. Come prepared with a good paper map and never rely on your phone!

Beach Details:

There is so much beach access at this park. With lots of picnic table options that include being directly on the water to options that are more tucked into the shade, any place you decide to set up for the day, the water will be just a short walk away.

We love playing at the water’s edge in the fall months!

Again, this park is VERY different in the summer compared to off season times. In the summer, avoid peak hours as you may have to wait to get into the park and picnic tables will be at a premium.

HINT: One of my favorite summer activities is to head to Sebago Lake State Park around 3pm for late afternoon swimming and bring some dinner to grill up on one of the many charcoal grills available.

Picnic Details:

Sebago Lake State Park is filled with picnic tables! During the off season, you will have your choice of tables right close to the sandy beach, in the pines, or tucked away for even more privacy.

This day-use location also has six RESERVABLE group picnic sites and shelters with varying amenities. Sites will cost $35/day and shelters with roofs will be $150/day.

Perfect group sites for birthdays, celebrations, and family gatherings!

Location of the Passport Station:

If you are working towards collecting stamps for the Passport Program, you will be able to find the Passport Station at the concession stand at Songo Beach.

Fees:

Adult Maine Resident	Adult Non Resident	Children 5-11 Years Old	Children under 5 & Adults 65 and older	Senior Resident	Senior Non Resident
$6.00	$8.00	$1.00	FREE	FREE	$2.00

There is a ranger station/entrance station at this Park and it is sometimes staffed. Plan to bring exact change so if you need to drop your fee into the canister, you can!

*Maine libraries often have free Maine State Park passes available to their patrons. Check my blog to see if your library participates!

If you don’t see the pass listed with your library, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask them. Libraries frequently add museum and park passes to their offerings!

Bathroom Low Down:

The bathroom situation at Sebago Lake State Park is good! You will find a large building at Songo Beach with flushing toilets and another bathroom facility at the East Area Parking Lot. Water fountains and spigots are available nearby as well.

The bathrooms are usually closed up during the off-season as are the water fountains and spigots.. However, don’t worry..You will still have bathroom access during the off-season by accessing the privy near the group picnic area.

Privy at Group Picnic sites is available during the off-season.

Visitor Accessibility:

The Maine State Parks and Historic Sites are rated on an overall basis with a 1-3 star rating and then individual aspects of the park assessed with a description of accessibility and a 1-5 star rating.

For my rationale for including this in the blog and the definitions for the descriptions of accessibility, head to my State Park Series Intro Blog where I share why it’s important to include this and how you can help make Maine State Parks more accessible for future generations.

Below is the accessibility rating for Sebago Lake State Park::

Individual Aspect	Description of Accessibility	Rating
Parking	Accessible	★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Restrooms	Accessible	★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Picnic Tables	Accessible	★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Picnic Area	Generally Accessible	★★★★ out of 5 stars
Playground	Somewhat Accessible*Uneven ground	★★ out of 5 stars
Bay Views	Generally Accessible	★★★★ out of 5 stars
Trails	Accessible with Assistance	★★ out of 5 stars
Group Use Area	Accessible	★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Group Picnic Area	Accessible	★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Overall Accessibility: ★★★ out 3 stars

Overall Impression:

We have been to Sebago Lake State Park several times and I think heading out there in the FALL is still my favorite time to go! The crowds basically do not exist, the views are still exquisite, and while it’s probably too cold to go swimming, you can still manage to fill up a good part of a day exploring this park.

We love the playground, trails, playing at the water’s edge and having a picnic at one of the numerous tables available.

Off-season tip: If heading up to Sebago Lake State Park in the FALL be sure to pack your hunter orange. Check out my favorite vest here!

For additional adventures, consider checking out the historic Songo Locks (and grab another passport stamp!) and/or bring your bikes and head up to the campground side of Sebago Lake State Park to ride along the roads and do some additional hiking.

My tips for this park are pretty simple: pack a fabulous picnic lunch and water, some sunscreen, and enjoy this park!

Happy Adventuring!

~Natalie

This post may include affiliate links. If you click on one of them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

Discover Longfellow Playground: A Gem in Midcoast Maine

Wooden playground elements? Check. Ample shade around the playground? Check. Minutes from a cute downtown area in midcoast Maine? Check.

Longfellow playground checks off a lot of boxes for me and has easily become, what I think is, one of the best playgrounds in midcoast Maine!!

The Longfellow playground has been a playground that I have wanted to check out since I learned of their upgrades earlier this year. Thanks to generous support from Bowdoin College, this playground underwent an awesome renovation in the fall of 2024 and had their official grand reopening this past June.

Located on Longfellow Avenue in Brunswick, Maine and just minutes from the downtown area, this renovated playground is the perfect spot to spend a morning or afternoon and a great addition to a day-long adventure in the midcoast area.

Read through the blog for an in depth look at our experience or head straight to the summary at the bottom for quick information.

General Information:

The playground is open year-round and there is ample, free parking along Longfellow Avenue along with bike racks. There are several picnic tables and benches spread throughout the playground and the tree grove is the perfect place to bring a blanket and enjoy your picnic lunch under the shade of the tall trees.

It consists of three general areas: the paved basketball court, the upgraded playground, and the tree grove. The basketball court area is freshly paved and also includes outlines for foursquare games. The tree grove serves as a great place for a game of tag or to let the imagination run wild with the abundance of tall trees all around.

However, the highlight of the space is the playground. It is a beautifully constructed playground; probably one of the best that I have seen in a really long time. With its wood construction, risky play elements, and upper body features, this playground is really fun for the five and older crew.

A little sidenote about risky play:

In the late 1980s, playground manufacturing companies drastically reduced and/or discontinued their risky play elements in fear of being sued after a case out of New York City found that a playground element was incorrectly installed and resulted in the death of a child.

Angela Hanscom’s book, Balanced and Barefoot, really opened my eyes to the history of the changes to playgrounds and why more than ever we need these elements and features back on our playgrounds.

We all remember those risky playground features of our childhood, right!? Those giant metal slides that if you timed it just right could launch you onto the dirt piles at the bottom or those merry-go-rounds that you held on for dear life?

All of these types of elements positively enhance the vestibular system (think balance and spatial orientation that is built in the inner ear). Add in that these elements help develop decision-making skills and build muscle strength and endurance, I am really excited to see that these elements are slowly starting to make their way back to our playgrounds.

Hanscom is an Occupational Therapist and the founder of Timbernook, and in her book, Balanced and Barefoot, she goes into great detail, which is supported with research and data, about why some of these elements should be returned to the playground. I highly recommend Balanced and Barefoot and thought it was a fascinating read!

Our Experience:

We had a wonderful time at Longfellow playground. My daughter particularly enjoyed the wobbly bridge and nearby stumps and rocks that made for an excellent game of Hot Lava with her cousin. She also loved the spinning feature and slide. Something that I particularly enjoyed was how quiet and serene the playground felt even though Bowdoin College was bustling with students and traffic.

She and her cousin had a hoot of setting up a “Kids Only” lunch in the grove of trees.

We easily spent two hours at this playground and only left after my daughter was extremely overtired. Remember how I loved that this playground was quiet and serene?! Well… those two elements can really amplify your child’s meltdown as I got to experience first hand. Ha!

Bathroom Rating: D

There are NO bathrooms located at Longfellow playground. The closest bathroom most likely will be at the Brunswick Hannaford (just minutes from the playground). While Bowdoin College is adjacent to the playground, their bathroom facilities will be dependent on their hours of operation

If risking whether the bathrooms are open at Bowdoin College or taking a quick drive to Hannaford isn’t your jam, I highly recommend the Oxo Tot Travel Potty and liners.

The only slide (wish there was one more!)

Local Food Options:

You will not be short of options for food in Brunswick. There are plenty of coffee shops and breweries and below you will find my favorite places to grab a bite to eat while adventuring with kiddos in this area.

Big Top Deli offers a variety of sandwiches with an online ordering option and is located right in downtown Brunswick. During lunch hours, seating can be limited so if you have a big group plan to order take away.
Wild Oats offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, soup, and grab and go items. They also have a good assortment of gluten-free options. Located on the former Naval airbase, this is a great place to go if you have a large group.
Portland Pie & Ottos offer a great assortment of pizzas.

Additional Adventures:

Looking to add on to your adventure to Longfellow Playground? Here are a couple of options you add to your day on the midcoast:

Harpswell Heritage Land Trust: With 15 trails to choose from, the HHLT is my go to for hiking trails in the midcoast Maine area. I would recommend the Curtis Farm Preserve, Skolfield Shores Preserve, Houghton Graves Park, Hackett and Minot Trails. For more of a challenge, try the Cliff Trail. And if looking to explore a historic site with trails and opportunities for swimming and shore exploration, check out Mitchell Field. If you do hike on the HHLT trails, be sure to reward yourself with getting ice cream at Tammy’s Parlor just past Mitchell Field.

The Maine Maritime Museum: With a Chris Van Dusen exhibit and a recently updated Maine cabin area for kids to play in, a trip to the Maine Maritime Museum is a great add-on. Kids get in for free and adults are $22. Once done, be sure to head back to downtown Bath to check out the quaint downtown area and a really cool picnic spot along the shores of the Kennebec river just down from Main Street.

The Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College: Located just minutes from the playground, the Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College is another great opportunity to take in some history and the best part is that it is FREE!

Smitty’s Cinema: After spending the day at the playground and then hiking some trails or hitting up a history lesson, consider ending your day with a movie at Smitty’s Cinema in Topsham. On Tuesdays, movies are $6 all day and Wednesdays they have family night deals.

Summary:

Longfellow playground is one of the best playgrounds in the midcoast Maine area. With wooden structures, risky play, and upper body elements, this playground should entertain the five and older crew for several hours.

There is ample shade, benches, and several picnic tables available for use. There are NO bathrooms on site. Bowdoin College and the nearby Hannaford will be your closest options for a bathroom. Consider packing Oxo Tot Travel Potty and liners.

Consider spending the day exploring the great midcoast Maine region and definitely add this playground as a stop on your itinerary! We surely will!

Happy Adventuring and thank you for reading this blog post on The Wandering Chickadee!

~Natalie

This post may include affiliate links. If you click on one of them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

Healing Journey: Latest Updates on My Health

This blog is long overdue for some health updates so let’s get into them.

All of our Boston visits continue to bring welcomed good news!!

First, all of my sutures have been removed. All 80+ of them are gone and that feels really good. All surgical sites are healthy and healing well. I have now transitioned to post-op checks in Boston on a more sporadic basis.

Second, is that Boston gave the greenlight to start physical therapy on my arm. This was not intended to start until after radiation, but because I am healing so well, and that I advocated for some soft tissue work on my shoulder and wrist, I get to work on the whole arm (yah!!). It is an intense course of physical therapy that I do three times a week.

Let me tell you guys, getting mobility back in a shoulder, elbow and wrist, all of which have not moved in approximately nine weeks, is not for the weak. Doing the smallest of movements and exercises feels like I’ve competed in a Strong Man competition on a weekly basis for the past six weeks. Good thing I love my physical therapist!

All of that said, I am seeing real improvements with my mobility and range of motion in my arm. I still have LOTS I’ve work to do and will not be done with physical therapy until June 2026.

As for radiation, I have completed 1/3 of my radiation treatments and they have been going well. The hardest part of radiation, if I am being honest, is the waiting room. I feel like I try to bring joy into all aspects of my cancer journey, and a radiation therapy waiting room is where I feel like joy goes to die. It’s filled with people who I feel like cancer has robbed their joy, and that makes me incredibly sad and mad and angry. Joy, it is the one thing that I refuse to surrender to cancer. So, I just sit in my car until the last possible minute before my treatment session. 🙂

Thank you all for your continuing support! All of your kind words, check-ins, and cheering me on means more than you’ll ever know!

Talk again soon, Natalie

Radiation Treatment Decisions: Finding Comfort at Home

Sometimes the best made plans have to change, and in those moments of change, you have a choice; you can be angry and disappointed, or you look to find the positive.

And I…. did a little of both. 🙂

You see, the original plan was for me to complete my radiation treatments in Boston. It would be something I was going to be doing solo; living at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Boston while completing my radiation treatments at Mass General Hospital. In June, when we created this plan with the Boston team, it felt very doable and the right thing we needed to do to tackle this aggressive cancer.

However, post skin flap surgery, this once “in theory” solid plan was slipping away. We did not realize the level of limited mobility I would have on my right leg a.k.a. the donor site for the skin flap. To give you perspective, two weeks ago walking 25 yards to the mailbox and back in my driveway felt like I had completed a marathon and navigating Mass General Hospital for post-op appointments still required the use of a wheelchair. Oh, and let’s not forget that even as I write this today, I still require help putting on my socks and other things.

So… navigating radiation treatments in Boston solo was looking more and more like an impossible task.

And at the same time, the universe was dropping little hints that perhaps completing radiation at home was exactly what I needed.

Obvious things like getting a green light to do physical therapy on my leg, an OK to resume working with my acupuncturist, chiropractic doctor and massage therapist (in areas away from my surgical sites), and being about four weeks away from getting off a waitlist to work with an oncology-focused mental health counselor, etc.

And there were plenty of not so obvious things; things like sleeping in my own bed, the good belly laughs you get from being around family and friends, and being home to see the beauty of foliage in Maine. This list could go on and on.

Last, and most importantly, being home for radiation treatment would mean I would be home every day and that that stability for my daughter would mean a lot for both her and me.

So… after my husband and I made the decision to re-examine radiation up here in Maine, it was full steam ahead and advocating with my Boston team that doing radiation at home was exactly what I needed.

Thankfully, I am advocating to work with a radiation oncologist, who trained with and under some of the doctors on my Boston team and this past week, we got to meet with him. We learned radiation treatments would not look much different than what I would get in Boston and that he was willing to consult with the Boston team to ensure things like vectors and laser placements would be as close to identical as what the Boston team would use.

And with all of this information, we felt comfortable completing radiation treatments at home. I also think it’s important to note here that the Boston team is also supportive and understanding of the need to change this part of the treatment plan.

Well, it will still be as intense and hard as if I were completing my treatment in Boston, I know, at a level that I can feel in my bones, that being home to do radiation will be the best thing for me.

Thanks for all the well wishes and continued support!

Much love, Natalie

Second Surgery for Myxofibrosarcoma is Done!

Home.

It feels so good to be home. To be with my family, to be with my creature comforts, and to sleep in the silence that you often take for granted until you spend night after night, listening to the moans and groans of a roommate and the annoyance of alarms going off at all hours.

This second surgery for myxofibrosarcoma, the doozy that I have been dreading, was another successful one. One that went so well that I was able to be discharged one day earlier than anticipated.

But don’t let the successfulness or the early discharge fool you, it was still a doozy. My left elbow is now covered with a 5 inch skin flap taken from my right upper thigh. A skin graft of my inner left forearm was completed to move an artery from my inner left forearm to my elbow to support blood flow of the skin flap.

And…I have over 80 stitches between my left arm and upper right thigh, drains to support healing, and a splint to ensure that my arm is immobilized for several weeks.

To be honest, the hospital stay was probably the hardest part of the surgery. I have never needed to stay in the hospital before the way that I needed to stay as part of my recovery from this surgery. It was equal parts humbling, scary, and comforting to stay there.

The care I received while staying on Ellison 14 was phenomenal. Gil, Garry, Ryan, Tia, Jasmine, and Madison along with Marie and Wilma are just a few of the nurses and patient advocates that took care of me. These wonderful people helped me when I was at my worst and laughed with me during the fun moments. Their kindness is what I will always remember long after the memories of catheters, splints, and relentless Doppler checks fade away.

And while I will always be appreciative, too, of the renowned plastic surgeons that were able to put my elbow back together in what feels like some twisted version of Humpty Dumpty, I hold a special place in my heart for a first year resident, a Dr. Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez helped me advocate for myself on several occasions, probably going out on a limb that I’m not sure he had with more senior doctors about my requests to do things. And when the memories fade here about the things that he helped me advocate for, what will always stay with me it’s the way that I felt heard when we talk.

And my one regret is that I never thanked him. He wasn’t on rounds on the day of my discharge. 🙁

So..I am home now and grateful to have the last surgery now behind me. These next several weeks are pretty low-key as my job is to heal both my Humpty Dumpty elbow and the donor site on my thigh.

The next step is to get cleared to begin moving forward with setting up radiation. But until then, I am enjoying being with my family, with my creature comforts, and sleeping in the quiet and stillness of my own bedroom.

If you were looking for ways to support me and my family during this time, please click on the link here to see ways that you can help us. Your generosity, your help, and your yummy meals mean the world to me and my family. Thank you!

Good News: Clear Margins After First Surgery

Good news.

This week, we received the pathology report back much sooner than we anticipated and it was filled with good news. The margins for this first surgery were clear of cancer! My team in Boston planned on needing a second, and possibly a third surgery to get clean margins, so to get this kind of news, and to get it early, is amazing!

I knew we would get clean margins in this first surgery. I can’t explain how I knew we would. It was just a deep feeling in my bones, an intuition of sorts, that told me it was a successful surgery.

I knew the good news would quickly move on to the overwhelming organizational nightmare that it is this upcoming second surgery. So I made sure to take space and relish in the moment that part one of this three-part treatment was done. 33% complete!

So what’s next? Part two of my treatment is what is next. And part two… Is a doozy.

I will have my second, and hopefully final, surgery as part of the treatment plan. This surgery will be with the plastic surgeon and will involve a skin graft on my elbow. The surgery is quite intense and intricate and…very long. My surgery is expected to take 6 to 8 hours. I will be spending a week at Mass General recovering and being closely monitored to make sure the skin graft takes on my elbow.

You heard that correctly: a one week stay at a hospital. The sheer volume of my to-do list to prepare to spend a week in Boston, while my daughter remains here in Maine is, to say the least, overwhelming.

Fingers crossed that I will be able to get fresh air each day. Being cooped up in a hospital for a week is not my idea of a good time but I understand why I need to remain there. So… Send all your good energy and vibes to Boston that I get to get outside for a little bit each day!

Once I am discharged from the hospital, I will have a 4 to 6 week long recovery here at home. And if I’m being honest, it is this recovery that I’m looking forward to the most. To put all the surgeries behind me and to prepare my body as much as I can for the upcoming radiation feels like a good spot to be in.

As always, thank you for following along! ~Natalie

Thank You for Your Support: How to Help Us

Thank you, thank you for ALL your support!

Help. Such a simple word but it can be, at times, so hard to say and even harder to ask for it.

Before I share some ways to help us, I need to acknowledge this community. You have shown up and keep showing up for us. I am deeply moved by all the help and generosity this community, this village, has wanted to give me and my family. From family and close friends, to colleagues and networking connections, from our school community and to those of you I have connected with through The Wandering Chickadee on social media…THANK YOU!

And with that, we do need help. Below are some ways that, if you are moved to help us, would be much appreciated!

Hotel and Gas Funds: Unfortunately, we have many, many trips to Boston ahead of us and some that will require overnight hotel stays. Thankfully, we receive the hospital rate at many of the hotels near Mass General so that helps us a bit. If you would like to help us with these costs, the easiest way to help is to donate to us through Venmo. We are choosing Venmo as our preferred vendor as other platforms, like GoFundMe and MealTrain, take a portion of each donation.

Venmo Username: @skrmaine
- Last 4 digits of cell phone: 9399

Conversations: Any distractions are much appreciated during this time! Please reach out via email (natalie.anneliese.flynn@gmail.com) or text me to coordinate dates and times.

Food: If you are someone who is local, loves to cook, and wants to whip up a meal, please do! My only request is for meals to be gluten free. Check out the meal train link to see some times that we could use a meal.

*If a gift card is more your vibe, please no Door Dash and Uber Eats ones. Unfortunately, it’s incredibly hard for these businesses to locate our house. 🙁

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your help and support! You have no idea how much it means to us!

Forever Grateful,

Natalie & Family