With over 15 groomed trails ranging from beginner to advanced, you will be sure to find a trail that meets your cross-country ski and/or snowshoe ability at Five Fields Farm. Five Fields Farm also maintains groomed trails on the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve with snowshoe accessibility to the summit of Bald Pate Mountain.
Trail passes can be purchased at Five Fields Farm’s heated lodge (720 S Bridgton Rd, Bridgton, Maine). They also have cross country ski and snowshoe rentals for adults and children available.
Speaking of the lodge, you will be able to leave your gear in the wood stove heated lodge. You will also find flush toilet bathrooms available in a small building just outside the lodge.
With ever-changing winter conditions, always check the trail conditions before heading out to see what trails are open!
WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Cell service can be spotty here and really drained my phone’s battery. Be sure to bring a car charger with you or power down your phone when you can.
Five Fields Farm offers plenty of cross country ski and snowshoe rentals!
Our Adventure:
We headed out to Five Fields Farm on a early Thursday morning and were rewarded with PERFECT skiing conditions! Blue skies, warm temps, and perfect snow conditions!
We checked in at the lodge with Five Fields Farm employee, Nathan, who gave us a rundown of recommended trails and helped us with my daughter’s cross-country ski rentals. He was so lovely to work with!
And after bringing in our gear to get suited up for our day, I made the lovely (not really) realization that I had forgotten my daughter’s ski pants at home (!!!). Not having a waterproof bottom layer was going to be problematic.
After trying to rig something together with a pair of gaiters that Nathan found, I decided that a 15 minute drive to the Reny’s in Bridgton was probably our best option. So off we went.
Reny’s proved somewhat successful. They had just turned over their seasonal gear and our only option was a pair of size small women’s rainpants. So…we cinched them as much as a could around the waist, rolled them up three times, and headed back to Five Fields Farm.
WinterKids Ambassador Tip: Forgetting things happens to the best of us. To minimize forgetting things, before an adventure, create a list of items you will need to take with you. Double check this list before you head out.
When we returned to Five Fields Farm, another WinterKids person had checked in at the lodge and left my daughter a WinterKids hat. It was a fun gift that we wouldn’t have received, if we hadn’t had our ski pants debacle.
And while we were never able to find this person on the trail, I’ll say it here: THANK YOU. My daughter really appreciated being able to match me with her hat!
A perfect day for cross country skiing!
I initially picked an easy 2 mile loop on a trail called the Graveyard Loop (trail #4 on the map) but my daughter isn’t a fan of downhill sections on her cross-country skis so we ended up staying on the top part of the trail and going back-and-forth where there was a gentle grade and she could practice getting a little more speed.
While I would have loved to complete the loop, it wasn’t worth the tears that came when I tried to push her outside of her comfort zone. And, if I’m being completely honest, it was way more fun having little races in the classic tracks at top of the orchard than dealing with tears just trying to do the loop I planned for us.
After our lunch and cocoa break in the sun on the chairs outside of the lodge, we switched over to our snowshoes for a short hike through a different section of their orchard.
WinterKids Ambassador Tip: If looking for easier trails at Five Fields Farm, the top of the orchard and the groomed trails on the shared land with Loon Echo Land Trust are a bit gentler.
Perfect day to soak up the sun during our lunch break.
Trail Recommendations:
Five Fields Farm Trail Map
For cross country skiing: I recommend Graveyard Loop (trail #4). There is a little downhill section on the southeastern side of the trail but otherwise, it is pretty flat.
For snowshoeing: I recommend Back to the Barn (trail #7) and a small loop that includes some of Graveyard Loop (#4) to Bitter End (#9) to Ashfield Field (#10)
In the cross country ski world, lodges are hard to come by. Five Field Farms’ lodge was just PERFECT!
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 (*$4/outing). 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.
Colored rice is one of my favorite things to make for sensory play. It is very easy to make and there are a bunch of activities that you can do with it! When making colored rice, I like to make a BUNCH of it. Usually 8 cups of colored rice will last a whole year!!
While my February Break Guide encourages families to adventure out of the house, I also recognize that it’s not always possible for us to leave the house with our kids.
I’ve been there with an illness arriving into our house just in time for vacation! And while I’m a teacher so my time off matches my daughter, I also recognize that many parents must work during this week.
So…whatever your reason may be for needing to stay home this week, I have a fun budget-friendly play dough activity that, with a little prep work, offers up endless hours of play right in the home!
And…a huge bonus here is that, with proper care, this play dough and bonus activity will last for many months, or in our house years! My daughter still loves when I put together a fun play dough activity for her!
Homemade Play Dough:
I can take NO CREDIT for the recipe below. I received this recipe as part of a children’s event put on by Birth Roots many years ago and…it’s a FANTASTIC recipe! I like to triple the recipe so I can make enough for a couple batches of different colored dough. And, if you buy the ingredients listed here, you will have PLENTY of it to make play dough in the future.
All the ingredients you need for home-made play dough.This recipe is THE BEST!
Food Coloring (you are going to want to make blue, green, and brown (or natural) play doughs for the bonus activity below)
Salt (you will need two of these if doing more than 3 batches)
When dough is completely cool, I like to wrap it in plastic wrap and then seal it in a plastic baggie until ready for use.
3 batches = 16 minutes to make!
Now, if making homemade play dough is not your jam, need not worry. If you are a local Mainer, hit up your local Reny’s for some good deals on the Play-Doh brand.
Winter Woodland Themed Sensory Playscape:
If you want to elevate your homemade play dough and try your knack at creating a sensory playscape, here is one that my daughter LOVED!
For this activity, you will need the playdough you made earlier and the following items:
You can absolutely substitute any of the above items with things you have around your household and….anything you can find around the house is going to reduce the cost of this activity!
One of the things I do with the supplies to help keep the costs down for me is to keep these supplies out of the regular play bins. This helps me turn a “winter playscape” into a “spring social” or “summertime soiree” theme.
Below is a “recipe” of sorts for how to put this activity together.
On the cookie sheet, create a landscape that includes creating a stream with the blue playdough, some grassy areas with the green playdough and some dirt/hill with the brown/natural playdough. Also, leave a little playdough on the side so your kiddo can add what they want to the playscape.
Add the animal figurines. Grab them from your kiddo’s bins, or if you need a themed set or a refresh of animals, I love these ones.
Add some fencing (kids love fences!) in the dirt/natural areas and some trees. If you want to add shelter, I love using party hats and creating an opening for creatures to move in and out of.
The last step here is KEY: KEEP IT SIMPLE. The more simple this playscape is, the more imagination play can happen. As much as it is tempting to add all the animals, ice cubes or cotton snow balls to the playscape, a less is more approach encourages creativity and problem solving. And, if I’m being honest, it encourages them to play with the sensory activity longer than if the creativity was supplied for them.
To use this playscape over multiple days, be sure to add/take away things each day to give it a refresh. *Be sure, if you are leaving your playdough on a cookie sheet, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out.
Cost Breakdown:
Homemade Play Dough: $20
Sensory Playscape: $55 (for everything linked) You will likely have many of these things around the house and the more you can use from home, the more budget-friendly this activity will be.
Homemade play dough is a very budget-friendly and fun way to bring some sensory play into your home! Add in a playscape with as many materials sourced from inside your home as you can, and you will find an activity that fosters imaginative play, creativity, and interest that can last for hours.
Stay tuned for more indoor activities to drop all week long!
Over the past couple of years, we have had the privilege of being able to check out the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine. This is a great option for families who want to take in some great lessons on the maritime heritage and culture of this region!
Maine Maritime Museum Overview:
The Maine Maritime Museum is located in Bath, Maine and is about a 40 minute drive from Portland or about a 45 minute drive from the Augusta area. It is located on about 20 acres of land just past Bath Iron Works and you can visit 15 different structures on the property that are full of permanent and rotating exhibits.
Note: Most of the structures on the property close for the winter. If coming in the winter, plan to explore the main building and one outbuilding. These seasonal closures do not impact any of the children exhibits located the main building.
The Museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Google Map directions are accurate and once you are in the town of Bath, there is excellent signage directing you to the Museum’s location. There is general parking as well as parking further down the property for larger vehicles or perfect if you are towing an RV.
Service animals are welcome on the premises but pets and supports animals are restricted to the South End of the campus and not permitted in any of the buildings. Dogs must be leashed, and please clean up after your pet.
Prior to even heading into the Museum’s primary building, there is a wonderful exhibit on the sidewalk that shows how vast and far the Kennebec River travels through the state of Maine. My daughter and I had a great conversation about fresh water and she enjoyed following the river from Moosehead Lake to the Sea and back to the Lake!
Once inside, there are several exhibits that we found to be very child-friendly. They include:
Into the Lantern; A Lighthouse Experience: This exhibit is able to recreate Portland Headlight using a makeshift lighthouse and visual technology. My daughter was fascinated by how real the exhibit felt.
The Tugboat exhibit: This exhibit is where children can pretend they are the captain of the boat. This exhibit gives off a more quiet pretend play v. children’s museum vibe.
She loves to hang out in the Tug Boat exhibit.
The Chris Van Dusen exhibit: If you are looking to step into any book that Chris Van Dusen has authored, than this exhibit is for you! With artifacts from his early illustrations to a “Circus Ship” itself, there is a bunch of areas for your child to explore here.
Maybe we have a budding illustrator on our hands!
And our personal favorite is the rotating exhibit wing. In years past it has been:
The SeaChange: Darkness and Light in the Gulf of Maine. A very interesting and neat eco-arts exhibit with a crafting space.
Upta Camp: A history in the rise of Maine’s sporting history and leisure camp traditions complete with a “cabin” in the exhibit for children to let their imaginations run wild.
And currently, it is an exhibit called “Re/Sounding” that explores re-measuring our institutional understandings of our maritime history with Indigenous and Black perspectives. The interactive part of this exhibit is geared more for adults than the 10 and under crowd. My daughter’s feedback is that this is not as “fun” as the previous ones.
Old school rotary phone is just FUN.
There are PLENTY of maritime heritage and culture items to look at and read about in the main building of the Museum. However, we didn’t check everything out because… even 7 year olds have their limit on listening and looking at artifacts! If you love looking at artifacts and reading about the history, in order to take in all that the museum has to offer, I would suggest bringing an extra adult for easier tag teaming; or come back solo as your admission ticket is good for another visit back (as long it’s within 7 days of initial purchase)!
In the summer, once outside, there are an additional 14 structures to visit! Be sure to grab a campus map so you can make sure you don’t miss any sites on the property!
Sample Itinerary:
Here is how we traversed the property:
Part One:
After visiting the main building, we went outside for some more exploring. The first thing my daughter was interested in was the Ship Launching Demonstration down by the river. Afterwards, we hung out at the Pirate Ship Playground and checked out the Lobstering and the Maine Coast building and exhibits. There are also convenient bathrooms near the playground as well.
Part Two:
One Hour River Cruise with a BYO lunch.
*Read about the River Cruise under the splurge options down below!
If you choose to forego the River Cruise but would like to eat lunch on the campus. They have plenty of beautiful picnic tables under some amazing trees that provide excellent cover from the sun. They do offer some seasonal food on site provided by Flight Deck Brewing.
Once off the River Cruise boat, we finished up by visiting the caulker’s shed, mould loft, blacksmith shop, paint shop, mill and joinery, the Donnell House, the boat shop, and small craft exhibits.
In all, we spent 4 hours at the Museum with 1 hour being on the River Cruise. I will definitely say that this adventure works for those kiddos that are a bit older, 5 years and up, or those who are very young and content to sleep through it all in a Baby Bjorn. 🙂
If you were to ask my daughter about her favorite things from our visit here, she would say: boat ride, ship launching demonstration, and the Chris Van Dusen exhibit.
Boat Launching Demonstration with this AMAZING volunteer who had a knack with kids!
Inside the Pirate Ship Playground
Lobstering and the Maine Coast Exhibit
Accessibility and Accommodations:
It is very obvious that they want to make the museum available for ALL. While I will do my best to highlight my favorite features, I strongly suggest checking out their website for more information!
The campus has a mix of paved and gravel sidewalks along with large grassy portions. Any kind of stroller will have no problem traversing the campus. While you will not have any issues in the main building of the Museum with your stroller, some of the historic buildings on the campus will be slightly harder to navigate given the uneven floors and stairs to upper level features.
Golf cart services can be arranged at Guest Services should you need that too.
The Museum also offers Sensory Friendly Hours about once a month where they modify the lighting and volume levels as well as provide additional signage throughout the high-level audio-visual areas to create a more inclusive and accessible experience.
They also offer sensory bags for both adults and children with headphones, fidgets, and additional items. They are FREE and available at the front desk at any time.
Note: The sensory bags are part of the Museum’s ongoing certification work with Kulture City. Kulture City works with businesses and organizations to train staff on sensory inclusion, sensory bags, and app integration.
Costs for Museum:
Adults: $20 (off-season, $14)
Seniors: $18 (off-season, $12)
Children 17 years and younger: FREE
Members: FREE (if you plan to visit more than 3 times, it might be worth looking into a membership).
Budget Friendly Options:
Check to see if you and your family could benefit from any of the below options:
Blue Star Museums: FREE admission for active military and their families.
Museums for All: FREE admissions for up to four adults for those receiving SNAP benefits.
New Hampshire Public Radio MemberCard Holders: 2 for 1 admission, one time per year.
Counsel of American Maritime Museum Member: FREE admission
North American Reciprocal Museum Association Member: FREE admission
And be sure to check out your LOCAL LIBRARY. Many libraries offered free admission to the Maine Maritime Museum.
The Splurge Option:
The splurge option here is taking advantage of one of the numerous boat cruises they have! The cruise will take you by Bath Irons Works and to banks of the City of Ships (Bath) and then down the river to the two most popular lighthouses on the Kennebec river: Doubling Point Light and the Kennebec Range Lights. They offer 1-hour and 3-hour cruises and with little ones in tow, a 1-hour is perfection!
This cruise was definitely a hit with my daughter. She still talks about this cruise and we did this almost 3 years ago! We are planning to go again this summer!
Patiently wait for the Cruise Boat to the leave the dock.
While I was interested to learn about the history of this part of the river, my daughter was enjoying seeing the eagles, osprey, and jumping fish. By the end of the cruise, my daughter snuggled up in my arms and was lulled into a relaxing state that only a slow boat cruise can do!
The cost for a ticket on a 1 hour cruise will be:
Adults: $20
Children 6-17 years old: $21
Children under 6: $6
*If you use any of the discounts above, you will just pay for the boat ticket. You must purchase admission to the museum to buy a boat ticket.*
Eagles were everywhere!
Accessibility Note: If choosing a boat cruise, the floating docks can be reached via the accessible ramp. Strollers will be limited to the main cabin, and on-board restrooms are not wheelchair accessible.
Also, the stairs to the top deck are very steep and while not as challenging to get up, I would advise waiting to be the last ones down to alleviate any stress of holding up the line to help a little one down. 🙂
The Bathroom Low Down:
There are three convenient inside bathroom locations during your visit to the Maine Maritime Museum
In the Main Campus Building. These are sex separated bathrooms. In the bathrooms you will find infant changing situations.
By the Playground: There are two all gender/single user bathrooms in a building just up from the playground. There are stairs heading up to the bathrooms so taking a stroller to these bathrooms may be problematic. Both bathrooms are very large and have infant changing stations in them as well.
You will see showers in both bathrooms. At first I couldn’t make sense of why but if you are coming to the Museum by boat and are docking overnight, you have access to these facilities for showering and laundry services.
On the Cruising Boat: There is one all gender/single user bathroom aboard this boat. It is NOT handicap accessible and while it works, it’s a tight squeeze.
Bathroom Situation Rating: A-
With 3 separate indoor bathroom locations, you will be sure to be close to one if you need it!
In Summary:
The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine offers an engaging experience focused on the region’s maritime heritage, ideal for families.
Spanning 20 acres, the museum features 15 structures with diverse exhibits, including child-friendly attractions like a lighthouse and a tugboat exhibits as well as an entire exhibit highlighting Maine author and illustrator, Chris Van Dusen.
Seasonal closures limit access in winter, but the main building remains open year-round. In the summer months, visitors can enjoy scenic river cruises (which was THE highlight for my daughter).
The museum is accessible and provides sensory-friendly hours and resources. Bathrooms are conveniently located and easy to navigate for those with young children.
Admission fees vary. PLEASE check to see if your local library offers FREE passes to the library. If not, check out the other programs above to see if you qualify for free/discounted passes. A visit with children typically lasts anywhere between 1-4 hours, depending on the season, and this museum is ideal for children ages five and up.
Have you been? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
And….If you want the latest episode of The Wandering Chickadee to land in your email, be sure to add your address below!
Get wait to get some more snowshoe adventures in during February Break!
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At the beginning of each year, I really like to see how budget-friendly I can make February break for us. And this year…you can do all 5 activities, depending on what you have for equipment, and if you can score some museum passes from your library, for as little as $40 for the whole week!
OK, let’s dive into 5 activities that you can do with kids if you are staying local during February vacation.
And…be sure to tag @thewanderingchickadee on Instagram in any of your adventures so we can see that budget-friendly adventure in action!
Ice Skating:
With skate rentals and aides, bathrooms, a heated indoor area, and good tunes, Thompson’t Point Ice Rink is a great outdoor skating option for the family! Thompson’s Point is also a WinterKids Passport location! Kids are able to skate for FREE (valid twice per child).
These skate aides at Thompson Point Ice Rink are AMAZING!
WinterKids Ambassador Tip: The WinterKids Passport Program offers 8 additional discounts to skating centers across the state (and one in New Hampshire!), so be sure to check them out!
For a comprehensive list of skating rinks in Maine, check out the Maine Tourism Association’s website. They include admission rates, if skate rentals are available, and open skate times!
Budget Costs for a family of 4: Varied ($0-$72) depending on the rink, if you need skate rentals, and/or are using the Winter Kids Passport Program.
Snowshoeing:
Snowshoeing is a very EASY way to get out there and enjoy the snow! Never tried? Be sure to check out my Beginner’s Guide for some tips.
If you need rentals, be sure to check out Maine Gear Share and consider renting snowshoes for the WHOLE week, which will cost around $45 for a children’s rental for the week….OR check out some places that offer rentals.
Many smaller centers also offer snowshoe rentals (sometimes FREE) and be sure to check in with your library to see if they offer rentals as well.
Looking for some FREE trails? My latest favorite is Libby Hill Trails in Gray! Thanks to a great tip from a local mama, I have fallen in love with these trails!
These trails have quiet moments of serene wilderness; trickling streams under snow and ice, deer meandering through the woods.
I went with a friend to Libby Hill and didn’t snap enough pics for an “official” Wandering Chickadee review but…I can say that these trails are well labeled, maps are available at every trail intersection and you can make a trail plan that includes short, medium, and longer loops should you want to extend or need to bail.
With ample parking, and a Hannaford close by if you need a bathroom, this is a great FREE option!
WinterKids Ambassador Tip: The WinterKids Passport Program offers 14 additional discounts to snowshoe and cross country ski centers across the state (and one in New Hampshire!). So again, be sure to check them out!
Budget Costs for a family of 4: Varied ($0-$158) depending on the center, if you need rentals, and/or are using the Winter Kids Passport Program.
The Library Switch Up
You all know how magical I think libraries are and…they are even more magical when you go to a new one! One of my favorite things to do is to visit a library nearby. There is just something fun and unique about exploring the new-to-us children’s book areas, play spaces, and reading nooks of libraries you don’t frequently attend. 🙂
With many of your neighboring libraries participating in not one, but TWO of the reciprocal use programs in our state, this means that if you have a valid library card from a library participating in the program, you can use your library card to borrow materials from other libraries on the list.
And when you are ready to return the books…just drop them off at your home library. It’s that simple!
Our favorite activity from February Break 2 years ago was visiting the Freeport Public Library and participating in this “real life” Candy Land game!
Libraries often run some special vacation programming and events too! So be sure to check out their website and social media accounts before heading out!
Budget Costs for a family of 4: FREE
Museums are fun!
Yes, children’s museums are great fun but….this year, I am talking about the “ADULT” museums!
The Chris Van Dusen exhibit @ the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine
It has been well researched that museums provide memorable and immersive learning experiences, spark imagination, and introduce them to new worlds, perspectives, environments, and more for children. And in Maine, we have some excellent options!
Many of the following museums offer reduced admissions and/or participate in the Museums for All. And…please check your library on this list to see if they offer FREE/DISCOUNTED passes!
If you don’t see passes for the museum you want to visit, please call your local library. I will admit this list is due for some updating from me!
*=children specific activities, exhibits, and/or interactions.
The Upta Camp interactive children’s exhibit @ the Maine Maritime Museum is *chef’s kiss* perfection!
And don’t forget the COUNTLESS historical societies that you can visit as well! This is something we are looking forward to doing this February Break! We just moved to a new town and can’t wait to see the history behind our town.
Budget Costs for a family of 4: Varied ($0-28) based on the museum, discounts, and/or the use of library passes.
And so is swimming!
Swimming is a great opportunity to burn off some energy and a fun family event that is very affordable. Some pools are even offering fun aquatic obstacle courses for those with solid swimming skills (I’m looking at you, Bangor YMCA and the Richards Pool in Cape Elizabeth!)
We love the Davan Pool in Westbrook, Maine!
And..here is the best part! If you are not a resident of a town with a community pool, you can still access the facilities by paying just a slightly higher fee than their resident fee. Here is just a small list of community pools here in southern Maine:
Also, all YMCA locations in Maine offer day passes (and reciprocal use passes if you have any out of towners visiting who are members at their local YMCA).
Total Cost: Varied ($22-40) depending on the pool.
In addition to the week’s worth of budget-friendly activities, here are 3 quick tips to making this week even more affordable:
Bring your own hot cocoa! While it seems so silly, this is a cost that can really add up! Hot cocoa for a family of 4 can cost around $20 at most places while a canister of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa only costs $8 and has over 31 servings. We love our OG Stanley thermos! It keeps the cocoa hot all day long!
Bring your own lunches! Nothing beats a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the money you’ll save by doing so! We also love to do some lunchtime charcuterie with: meats, cheeses, nuts, hardboiled eggs, hummus, carrots, and grapes. While not an exact match to our lunch containers, these containers are close
Make the carpool cool again! Headed somewhere a bit far for an adventure with friends? Maybe it’s just you and kids? Consider the carpool. It’s a great way to save a little bit of money, there is built-in entertainment with friends in the backseats, and you get some good adult conversation for the ride.
I hope this February Vacation Guide gives you some inspiration for activities you can do with your kiddos!
And… if you get out there and enjoy these activities, be sure to tag @thewanderingchickadee on Instagram! I would love to see you enjoying your adventures and give you a virtual high-five for saving some $$!
As always, thanks for following along and happy adventuring!
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
I love the look of fresh ice!
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.
Cubbies in the heated tent
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.
These ice skate trainers are MAGIC!
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.
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.
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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!
Independently putting on snowshoes!!
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.
Headed out toward Muskrat Hollow
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.
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.
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.
Source: North Shore Visitor
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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.
Playground is in good condition!
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!
We loved this little house so much!
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.
Monitoring beach erosion at the PArk
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.
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.
Passport Location
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.
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!
Love that there are LOTS of swings!
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
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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:
Brand new swings
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.
Freshly paved basketball court
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.
Love all these risky play elements!
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.
My daughter LOVED this wobbly bridge!
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.
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.
Fun climbing feature
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.
So much shade!!
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.
