This is the last blog in the library series and has been my favorite one to write!
Community. Village. Network.
Whatever word resonates with you, we have all heard it since we looked at those positive lines on a pregnancy test, whether our own or that of our spouse’s or surrogate, learned that we were approved to foster children, or were finally approved and selected to adopt a child.
Today, when we look at working towards building our community, we are pressured by what we see (or don’t see) on Instagram, paid leave that is abysmal, and our extended family moving farther and farther away. And..all of this leads to having the feeling that the deck is stacked against us because…it is really.
Instagram and other social media platforms make it appear that “finding your village” is as easy as ordering your favorite coffee order from your local coffee shop. And, that is just simply not true.
One of the things that I have always thought but never articulated until today is that…in all of the those prenatal classes, postpartum check up (I mean, the one appointment you get, let’s be real), and even your first meeting with the daycare you are sending your kiddo to, I wish there would be a handout of sentence starters they would give to new parents to make it easier to just take the first step in building your community.
Because (unpopular opinion coming)…the community, village, network, just doesn’t build itself. It takes work. Work from you. You have to put yourself out there, you have to make the attempts. And yes, we can make the argument and say, “oh, I’m fine, I don’t really need to make new friends”. And maybe that’s true for like 2% of us but a lot of us need that community whether we care to admit it or not.
And here is the real reason why it’s hard. It’s really scary to put ourselves out there.
The fear of rejection is real. Now add in some overstimulation, over-tiredness, and the other 100 different emotions we feel as parents, and it can be such an emotionally heightened experience.
To look for real genuine friendship and experience rejection. It gives all the feels.
And here is the other thing…rejection happens.
That’s what I think makes building your community even harder is that, you are going to experience a time where you don’t click as parents, where the other adult isn’t interested in building their community, and that is just a genuine bummer.
I have probably experienced more rejection than having successful connections in attempts to build my community but for the connections I have made, for the sake of sounding so cheesy, it does make it all worth it. Some of my favorite relationships are those that understand the call from school when there is a case of COVID and what a tailspin that will lead me into; equal parts understanding my phobia of germs, providing sarcasm and jokes to lighten the mood, and showing up with food when I’m overwhelmed with it all.
And perhaps it gets better as we and our kiddos get older but as I write this blog on yet another rainy Winter Saturday in Maine, I’m not sure. But what I do believe is that I’m just more seasoned into this cycle of putting myself out there so the feelings that come from it are more like, for the sake of my point, an old friend rather than a new acquaintance.
Puzzling with my community on Girls Weekend
So…if you have made it this far, you are probably wondering how does this relate to libraries?
Well, I think libraries offer the EASIEST place to start building your community. You are most likely to run into families that live in the same area as you, have kiddos the same age, or at the very least, take the same interest in attending activities at your local library.
I always try to make connections when I’m at the library. It’s easy to spot the “family” person at the library; they will be in the children’s section, holding all the jackets, sitting in a chair 3x too small for them, while holding some caffeinated beverage or Stanley mug of sorts.
And, I’m an equal opportunity connector. I’ll talk with parents, grandparents, nannies..you never know who you are going to hit it off with!
I usually have the same approach as I find it’s easier to have the same approach; just like it’s easier to gravitate to those favorite pair of jeans and favorite sweater when you are in a pinch.
It goes something like this: Hi, I’m Natalie. My daughter over there, her name is ________. Do you live around here?
And from there, the conversation will take a friendly chit chat approach. It’s very casual but enough that if we run into each other again, which the likelihood is a bit high that we will, we will have made the connection and perhaps the conversation is more than the location of where we live and if we like our local library.
Hint here: If you do run into each other again, lead with something like: Hi, you were here together last week right? I’m Natalie. My daughter is ________. Always lead with your name.
Usually, one of you is overtired, overstimulated and will probably be kicking themselves the minute they get into the car because they couldn’t remember your name. So always drop your name!
Now..let’s switch gears and talk about us, the adults.
If you are reading this, you are most likely a parent! And if you are anything like me, you are just starting to feel like myself again, 5 years postpartum. However, feeling like myself isn’t about going back to who I was pre-parenthood, it’s about loving who I am right now. It’s loving the person who is building into her schedule a once-a-week gym class, who is interested in volunteering more and competing in 5k runs less, somebody who needs an earlier bedtime and loves a productive weekend morning blogging before everyone wakes up.
And so, if you are feeling like yourself again, or even if you are not, but you are looking to build some community for yourself, libraries are great places for that too! Just like my last blog about children’s and family programming, libraries are growing their offerings for US, the ADULTS!
Credit: Alex Jones/Unsplash
So many libraries across our state are offering yoga, tai chi, and meditation and usually these workshops and programs are FREE to adults. If caffeine is more your thing, libraries have that too and are offering coffee and conversation. And if art is more of your thing, Fiber Art classes are taking off as well!
Again, most of these classes will be FREE, or at the very least, affordable and it’s a great way to meet up with those who have the same interest!
Below are a couple of my favorite family and adult community building opportunities I found while doing research for this series. And, like I shared in my last post, this is just a VERY small sampling of what libraries are offering around our state. Please check in with your library to see what they have to offer you!
Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick is offering a repair cafe where you can bring things that need fixing and someone will be there to help you. Talk about an opportunity for connection and mentorship!
Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor is doing self care fairs where they are bringing in community providers to help people have their best year yet!
Ellsworth Public Library is doing Farm Drops where you can order from a local farm (similar to a CSA, I think) and pick up your order at the library. Also, this is probably the coolest thing EVER!
And to wrap up, Bangor Public Library and Camden Public Library are offering breastfeeding classes with certified professionals. Now, fed is best, in my opinion and experience (my daughter was formula fed from 4 months on) but I think this is a great opportunity to bring together people who probably live in the same town and with babies of the same age. I see this as a wonderful opportunity to build community!
I hope you have enjoyed this library series and have learned something about public libraries in Maine that you didn’t know before. And…if you are able to only take one thing away from these blogs, I hope that you will check in with your library director or library staff at your local library and ask what is available; from free and discounted passes, to whether your library participates in reciprocal use, and to children and adult programs, take advantage of what they offer!
If you are enjoying these blogs, please subscribe to them and they will land in your email about every other week. Your support means the world to me!
In my last two blogs, I focused on the things that get you out of your own local library like free and discounted passes and reciprocal use programs but for the remaining blogs of this series we are going stay at our local libraries and I am going to share with you why I think they are the best place to spend part of your day.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I didn’t love being pregnant. I had experienced a miscarriage prior to conceiving her so most of my thoughts were tied up in just wanting her to get earthside as quickly as possible. However, one thought that brought me a lot of comfort during my pregnancy was when I thought about bringing her to those Baby and Me and Story Time classes that were always advertised at local libraries.
Sidenote about my miscarriage: a little Memorial Day weekend hike to the North and South Bubbles in Acadia National Park literally saved my mental health but…that is a blog for a different day!
When I was pregnant, I probably spent more time thinking about what was going to be our library book bag than our own diaper bag…and, just for the record, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our library book bag and always hated the diaper bag I picked out! Our library book bag is this amazing one-of-a-kindErin Flett bag I scored for being one of the first customers in line at an event she was doing when I was about 6 months pregnant!
Also, Erin Flett’s Darlene coin pouches make THE BEST library card holders! #notsponsored #wishIwassponsored.
Ok, back to libraries….
After my daughter was born, #springteacherbaby, we were able to spend several months attending those Baby and Me and Story Time classes before I went back to work. And as cringy as this is about to sound, it was everything that I had hoped it would be. It was fun, simple, and very easy to bring her to the library. She got to coo at the bubbles they brought out in the middle of the program, I got to work on making connections with other local moms (more on that in the next blog), and if it wasn’t going to be a good day (not napping, gassy, diaper blow out, you name it), we had a 5 minute drive back home.
Unfortunately, just as my daughter approached 2 years earthside, COVID hit and all the great programming for that age range shut down at our local library (and probably every other library in the country). So gone were my dreams of spending the weekends and summers doing all the preschool activities. 🙁
However, about 2 years ago, libraries opened back up and programming returned and, in my opinion, are BETTER THAN EVER!
As mentioned in earlier blogs, free and discounted passes are back to being offered at a lot of Maine public libraries, reciprocal programming makes it easier to access libraries across the state, and now even lending has expanded beyond books, DVDs, and video games. At some libraries, games, puzzles, tool lending programs and outdoor gear and equipment rentals are available to patrons.
You are also seeing the expansion of streaming services such as Cloud Library. Cloud Library is a great place for digital materials, ebooks and audiobooks. You might also find libraries utilizing their video/film feature as well. Other popular streaming services that libraries use are Hoopla or Kanopy. These FREE streaming services are great if you are looking to decrease your dependency on more mainstream streaming services like Hulu, Youtube TV. But…my main reason for loving streaming (our local library uses Cloud Library) is…hello audiobooks for those long drives for camping, adventuring, and vacationing!
Some libraries are beginning to transition to being “fine free” libraries too so that families are not charged overdue fees for late books; others are participating in bagged lunch programs during the summer months. You are also seeing homeschool programming being launched and “Books on Wheels” programs being offered (or at least better marketed) for homebound community members.
For children and teen programming, we are seeing an increase in monthly arts and crafts projects, maker spaces, gaming rooms, Lego groups, as well as book clubs and writers groups. I love that these are becoming staples in more and more libraries because they are a great resource to local kids…and they are FREE!!
In doing research for this series, I was so impressed with some of the offerings of libraries from around our state. Here is JUST a sampling of the amazing programs, activities, and materials available to families and children. I couldn’t even begin to blog about the offerings that are available (below represent less than 5% of what is offered all around the state of Maine)…or maybe I could but it would take YEARS to complete.
So…that’s all to say, check out what your local library has to offer you!
The Wilton Free Library in Wilton offers special events like a Fancy Nancy Picnic, Harvest Day, and even a Polar Express Night.
Jesup Library in Bar Harbor offers Unit Studies that pair together a book, movie, and toy that are all on the same theme.
Lithgow Public Library in Augusta offers a monthly event for families called, Food for Thought, where families can sign up to host one session where they choose the food-related books, bring the food as a snack to share, and then discuss the books/recipes and provide a related activity.
Camden Public Library hosts weekly creative afternoons where children can sign up and do a creative, hands-on project.
The Waldoboro Public Library offers weekly classes for kiddos. Think Yoga and Lego clubs. They also will offer Mad Science days at the Library in the summer!
Zadoc Long Free Library in Buckfield offers both morning and afternoon story times to support all those still napping.
Thompson Free Library in Dover Foxcroft offers Text Sets. These are backpacks of books for younger readers on topics like: Art, Dinosaurs, Fairy Tales, Geography, Nature, Poetry, etc. They have a great focus on family events like hosting a monthly Family Fun Night and a Family Book Club (such a cool idea!)
Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook offers Backpack Audubon Adventure Packs for younger patrons.
Brewer Public Library provides therapy dogs and opportunities for younger patrons to read to them.
I hope that you will check out what your library has to offer you! And let me know! Please feel free to leave a comment down below or on The Wandering Chickadee’s Instagram account. I would love to hear what’s available to you!
If you haven’t checked out the other blog in this series, please do! I share all about the free and discounted passes that a lot of libraries offer patrons here in Maine as well as the reciprocal use programs. And..check back here next week for more information on: Building Community at the Library. The library can be a great place to start building (or maintaining) your village of parent friends!
As always, thank YOU for following along! If you love the blogs from The Wandering Chickadee, be sure to add your email address below.
Did you know Maine has TWO reciprocal use programs!?!?
Reciprocal use essentially means that if you have a valid library card from the libraries listed below, you can use your library card to borrow materials from other libraries on the list. How neat is that?! *You must, of course, be in good standing with your local library.
The reciprocal use program is a great way to get out and explore other libraries in your area.
Nothing can change a mood on a bad weather day better than checking out a new-to-you library, exploring what activities, play areas, and books they have to offer. I also love the ease that you can return any materials you check out at the library you visit back at your home library.
Another great benefit of having a reciprocal program is that they can offer a great play date option; especially if you have a parent-friend who doesn’t live in the same town as you. Is there a library on the list that is halfway between you two? Could you meet there for a playdate?
Lastly, and probably my favorite reason for loving the reciprocal use programs in our state is..vacations. Do you have a staycation in Maine coming up? Is the library in the town (or a close neighboring town) that you are planning to vacation in on the list? If so….JACKPOT! Nothing beats visiting a library on a rainy day or on a day that you need a good rest, to help you have a great vacation!
Let’s get into the Reciprocal Use Programs! See below…
This program expands upon the Interlibrary Loan program and allows patrons from participating libraries to visit other libraries in the program and check out books IN PERSON.
And…the BEST part of the program is that you can return materials to home library!
Remember: You need to see YOUR HOME LIBRARY below in order to visit any other library listed.
The libraries that participate in this program are:
This program works in a very similar way to the above program. And again, you need to see YOUR HOME LIBRARY below in order to visit any other library listed.
Libraries for this program include:
Auburn Public Library
Baxter Memorial Library (Gorham)
Belfast Free Library
Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
Brewer Public Library
Central Maine Community College
Dyer Library (Saco)
Edythe Dyer Community (Hampden)
Falmouth Memorial Library
Freeport Community Libary
Friend Memorial Library (Brooklin)
Gray Public Library
Husson University
Jesup Memorial Library (Bar Harbor)
Kennebunk Free Library
Ludden Memorial Library (Dixfield)
McArthur Library (Biddeford)
Merrill Memorial Library (Yarmouth)
Northeast Harbor Library
Northern Maine Community College
Norway Memorial Library
Old Town Public Library
Orono Public Library
Pittsfield Public Library
Prince Memorial Library (Cumberland)
Rice Public Library (Kittery)
Saint Joseph’s College
Scarborough Public Library
South Portland Public Library
Southern Maine Community College
Southwest Harbor Public Library
Thomas College Library
Thomas Memorial Library (Cape Elizabeth)
Topsham Public Library
Walker Memorial Library (Westbrook)
Wells Public Library
Windham Public Library
York Public Library
A couple quick notes about these reciprocal use programs:
These lists may not be the most up to date, so if you don’t see your library listed, be sure to ask your librarian if your library participates in one or both of these programs!
Reciprocal Use Programs typically DO NOT apply to using free/discounted passes at the visiting library. You will need to check out/reserve those at your home library.
I hope that if you see your library listed in one or both of these programs that you will take advantage of these programs. If you do, please feel free to leave a comment down below or on The Wandering Chickadee’s Instagram account. I would love to hear about your experience with these programs!
If you haven’t checked out the first blog in this series, please do! I share all about the free and discounted passes that a lot of libraries offer patrons here in Maine.
As always, thank YOU for following along! If you love the blogs from The Wandering Chickadee, be sure to add your email address below.
February 2026: Under Construction. Stay tuned for an UPDATED 2026 list.
Credit: Caleb Woods/Unsplash
As the days get a little colder and outdoor adventures can be hard to come by, depending on our weather, nothing screams a library day like a cold, rainy day! We love hitting up the library! With activities, at our local library ranging from a kid-friendly monthly project, to scavenger hunts that have us going all over the children’s section of the library to coloring pages, games, puzzles, toys, etc, we can easily spend 2 hours and…we eventually get to hunting for good books!
With all these amazing things to do at the library, my FAVORITE thing about our local library is that offers FREE AND/OR DISCOUNTED PASSES to local museums, state parks, and gardens.
Do you know that A LOT of libraries in Maine offer these passes to their members?!
We have used our local library for some passes to the Coastal Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor, the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, The Children’s Museum of Maine in Portland and the process is so simple..and saved us hundreds of dollars! It is important to recognize that, in most cases, you MUST BE A MEMBEROF THE LIBRARY to access these passes.
Shout out to the following libraries for having 10 or more (!!) different kinds of passes available to their patrons:
Berwick Public Library
Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick (with the most passes at 14!!)
D.A. Hurd Library in North Berwick
Lithgow Public Library in Augusta
Rice Public Library in Kittery
Raymond Village Library
South Portland Public Library
Southwest Harbor Public Library
York Public Library
Below, you will find a list of libraries that offer museum passes to their patrons.
This list is currently being updated and libraries may change their offerings, add offerings each year, etc. so please, if you do not see your library listed, please call them! Additionally, some libraries did not return my phone calls/emails prior to updating this list in February 2026.
If you find that your local library does not offer passes, chatting with your library director is always helpful to learn what the barriers may be that prevent your library from offering them.
If your library does offer passes, let your library director know what you think of them! Your feedback is always so helpful as usually museum passes are purchased through a small allotted amount of money from their budget or from donations from associations like a “Friends of [insert library name]”. So…they want to make sure that passes are put to good use and your feedback helps!
And who knows, perhaps it’s your feedback that helps to get museum passes added to to your library’s offerings or continued to be offered!
In doing research for this blog, and as you will see for yourself below, the more densely populated a county is, the more libraries are likely to offer passes to families. It does not go unnoticed by me that rural towns and areas will likely not be able to offer their patrons these passes for several reasons; most likely logistical and financial in nature and this makes sense to me. I am disappointed that free/discounted passes are not available in all libraries.
I think that just by offering even one pass to community members, it can remove a barrier for a family to get out there and explore what we have to offer in our State. My crazy pie-in-the-sky idea would be that the Maine State Park Pass be able to be offered at all Maine libraries (free of charge to libraries, of course).
So..while you may not see these libraries offering free and/or discounted passes below, that DOES NOT mean they aren’t a vibrant and pivotal resource for their community. A lot of these libraries offer plenty of activities for patrons of all ages!
Please check out my other blogs in series to learn why I think libraries are absolutely MAGICAL:
MaineGear Pass: Each pass can be used to gear up 2 adults and any children (up to 4 per adult) accompanying them on the trip.
Chocolate Church Arts Center: Free admission for 2 people to a show.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Maine Discovery Museum: Free admission for up to 4 people.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two Adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Boothbay Railway Museum: Free admission for up to 2 adults or Seniors, and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
New England Aquarium: Each pass admits 4 people per pass with a reduced admission of 50% off per person.
Boston Children’s Museum: Each pass admits 4 people per pass with a reduced admission of 50% off per person.
Boston Museum of Science: Each pass admits 4 people per pass with a reduced admission of 50% off per person.
Pejepscot History Center: Free admission for up to 2 adults and 4 children to the Pejepscot History Museum, Joshua Chamberlain Museum, and Skolfield-Whittier House.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Maine Wildlife Park: Reduced fee ($5.00/per person) for up to 7 people.
Maine Historical Society: Free admission to museum for 4 people, $5 tickets to Wadsworth Longfellow House, 50% off fee to use research library, 10% of purchases in store.
USM Planetarium: Free admission for up to six people.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Maine State Aquarium: Discounted passes for up to 5 people
Boothbay Railway Village: Free admission for up to 2 adults and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Boothbay Railway Village: Free admission for up to 2 adults and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
Center for Maine Contemporary Art: Free admission for up to 2 people
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Boothbay Railway Village: Free admission for up to 2 adults and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Boothbay Railway Village: Free admission for up to 2 adults and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive a 50% discount on admission for up to four people.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Boothbay Railway Village: Free admission for up to 2 adults and all accompanying children and/or grandchildren.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
The Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine: Visitors will receive free admission for up to six people.
Maine Wildlife Park: Reduced fee ($5.00/per person) for up to 7 people.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Maine Maritime Museum: Free admission for up to 8 people within a single family.
Portland Museum of Art: Free pass for up to 2 adults and 6 children.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Penobscot Marine Museum: Free admission for 2 adults and all children in party.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Coastal Botanical Gardens: Free admission to the Gardens for two adults in the same household and their children or grandchildren under 18.Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Farnsworth Art Museum: Free admission for two adults and all children and grandchildren through the age of 18.
Penobscot Marine Museum: Free admission for 2 adults and all children in party.
Maine State Park Pass: Free admission for up to 17 people in one car.
Washington County:
*At the time that this blog went LIVE (1/2/24), no libraries in Washington County confirmed that they had free/discounted passes available for their patrons. If you live in Washington County, please check with your library director to see if your library offers passes!
Behind every perfectly captured holiday photo is a different story…Am I right? Photo Credit: Sabri Tuzcu/Unsplashed
I’m going to be highlighting a few events that are taking place this holiday season. They are broken down by town and then further down you will see options for train and sleigh rides. Also, I’ve included a great idea in the Boothbay Harbor section if you head out to the Gardens Aglow.
But before I do, I’m going to share how my family and I had to slow down for the holidays and how that allowed us an opportunity to do the holidays just a bit differently…
Let’s get into it!
The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is one of my most favorite times of the year.
For our household, it is a time of tradition and a time to slow down. Sure, there is the Feast of the Seven Fish, homemade spaetzle and German food on Christmas Eve and smaller traditions in between but it is the slow down that I look forward to the most; the time to relish in the beginning of the winter solstice and being ever present with the ones you loved.
Snuggled up watching the snow fall or.. the reality that it’s a remote learning day for me, no school for her and the compromise to not napping while momma is taking a virtual meeting is playing house by the Christmas tree to stay quiet.
I know it sounds like I’ve been watching too many reels on Instagram about Hygge, and maybe I do enjoy those ones, but I found slowing down during the busiest and most hectic times of the year… by accident.
Nothing I love better than the warm glow of holiday lights and candles after everyone goes to bed. And..the reality is, the darkness hides the chaos and messiness of the house.
I found it through a case of Hand/Foot/Mouth my 1 year old daughter came down with the day before Christmas Eve in 2019.
No joke.
A case of hand, foot and mouth disease and a pair of hand-me-down Christmas jammies
As a result of this loving virus, my husband and I had to change all of our plans for a jammed packed two days of holiday festivities. While initially disappointed to be missing out on some of my favorite holiday gatherings and seeing our friends and family, it turned out to be a lovely time, just the three of us and with our favorite Chinese food takeout.
Fast forward to a Covid Christmas. This slowed down another holiday season and I started to enjoy this pace.
I also made the realization that my then 2 year old daughter had known no difference than this slower pace to the holiday season and I thought to myself, maybe this is how it should be, maybe this is how I want it to be.
A Christmas morning walk around the neighborhood
So, now..as we approach the 2023 holiday season, slowing down is what we’ve come to like as a family. We still hold onto family traditions and our days at home are filled with baking, Christmas crafts I scored 75% off from the last season, watching movies and reading the pile of books that only make it out for this season and, at the same time, Christmas cards usually don’t get sent, Halloween candy still sits on the kitchen island, and I also forget to order those Christmas jammies.
Behind all the pictures of that “perfect” holiday photo is this: kitchen chaos, leftover Halloween candy, a broken Christmas ornament, and a bag of gummies used to bribe our then 3 year old to use the potty.
And what’s crazy..is that it is OK.
It’s OK because I’m present with my family, with my daughter. I’m not rushing from baking cookies for colleagues to eating dinner at a lightening pace so that I can sit on my computer to create holiday cards that need to be finalized by midnight to get that free shipping.
Making peanut butter balls (and in the background..a half finished dinner and plates still needing to be brought to sink)
I’m just..not rushing. And it’s been great.
And here’s the thing…just because I’m not rushing anymore doesn’t mean that our days move at a glacial pace and are filled with sitting on the couch with a book and a steaming mug of cocoa (because that would be #hygge).
It’s actually the opposite. We have found more time to adventure out and enjoy some of the really great local holiday events and festivals.
From checking out the Sparkle Celebration in Freeport, to scoring tickets to drive through a holiday light show to signing up our daughter for a Gingerbread House event that doubles as a date night for us, it’s in the slow down that we find the time to explore some great events together as a family.
So to wrap this up…
Maybe you swap out making cookies for your colleagues and spend the afternoon on a sleigh ride? Or maybe you get some side dishes catered for your holiday party and you get an afternoon off to enjoy some caroling?
This holiday season, I encourage you to think about how you can be present with your loved ones. What can you slow down with? What can be skipped this year?
Follow me on Instagram @thewanderingchickadee where I’ll be keeping it real with you throughout this holiday season with posts and stories about all the stuff that never makes it into those perfectly captured holiday photos.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with whatever makes you happy!
From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!
-Natalie
Holiday Events and Festivals (by town):
Bangor:
Saturday, December 2nd: Festival of Lights Parade beginning at 4:30pm and a tree lighting at the end of the parade.
Bar Harbor:
Friday, December 1st: The 14th annual Village Holiday celebration. Saint Nick will light the tree in the Village Green at 5pm and then to the Mount Desert Island YMCA for crafts, games, pics with Santa, and a ride on the sleigh. After 8pm, Midnight Madness takes over the town with discounts at many stores, bards and restaurants until midnight.
Bath:
Saturday, November 25th: Celebrate Santa’s arrival at Gazebo Park @ 4pm with cookies and opportunities to take pictures to Santa himself.
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23rd: Jump on the trolley from 4:30-8:30pm (with stops every half hour) for caroling around town.
Saturday, December 8th: Explore Bath’s Gingerbread Downtown with a fun Candyland style game. Enjoy late evening shopping with cocoa by the Bath Elementary PTA and live music by the Salvation Army Brass Band. Santa and Mrs. Clause along with other costumed holiday characters will be wandering the town too
Boothbay Harbor:
November 18-December 31st: Gardens Aglow. Returning for 9th season, the celebration includes new walking routes and paths to explore as well as the return of the old friends. With more than 750,000 lights woven through 14 acres, this is definitely a fun feature of the holiday season. Tickets sell fast, so be sure to grab yours!
December 15th-17th: The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor hosts the annual Gingerbread Spectacular. Amazing gingerbread houses, castles and more that are created by novice and professional bakers alike!
Boothbay Harbor also hosts smaller events through the holiday season so be sure to check out their web-page for more information!
Solo Adventure Idea Here:
Get a 2 night hotel reservation in Bath (the Hampton Inn is within walking distance of downtown Bath) and go up the first night for a little ALONE time. Grab some friends and head to dinner in Brunswick or Bath. Our favorite dinner spots are Little Tokyo and Richard’s in Brunswick. Next, wake up and grab a coffee at Cafe Crema or brunch at Mae’s Cafe and Bakery then do some shopping on Bath’s cute Front Street or head to the Maine Maritime museum for some exploring and learning.
Have the family arrive after lunch on the second day to the hotel for some playing in the pool, grab an early dinner (The Cabin is a great family spot) and then head up and enjoy Gardens Aglow.
You will be well rested, the kiddos will enjoy some pool time, and you can all enjoy the idyllic event of the season!
Camden:
December 1-3rd: Christmas by the Sea has a little bit to offer everyone: A holiday parade, tree lighting, music, cookie decorating, story time, horse and carriage rides and so much more!. Check out their Facebook page for a breakdown of the three days of activities!
Freeport:
Friday, December 1st: Sparkle Celebration kicks off at 6pm (rain or shine) with the Sparkle Celebration Parade of Lights. The event concludes with the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the talking Christmas tree. Fun continues all week with lots of events throughout the week so be sure to check their schedule of events.
November 18-December 31st: Enjoy the fun at the LL Bean’s Northern Lights event with lots of daily and special activities throughout the season.
Houlton:
Saturday, November 25th: The Holiday Light Parade is held at 6pm. Local businesses decorate floats with lights, costumed walkers sign and dance through the parade route and Santa and Mrs. Clause light the Christmas tree and listen to children’s Christmas wishes.
The Kennebunks:
November 30-December 10th: Christmas Prelude is a 2 week long event and complete with its own Instagram account. There are several featured events and they include:
Friday, December 1st: Tree Lighting at Dock Square @ 5:30pm followed by the Cape Porpoise Lobster Trap Tree Lighting @ 7pm.
Saturday, December 2nd:
Annual Hat Parade @ 3pm
Village Tree Lighting and Stroll @ 5:30pm
Christmas Candlelight Carolling at the Franciscan Monastery @ 6:30pm
Thursday, December 7th: Storybook Christmas @ 4pm. A reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to children, gingerbread making event with Mrs. Clause, and creating sparkling snowflakes with elves. Treats and cocoa will be available. Readings will be @ 4:15pm, 5pm and 5:45pm @ the Kennebunk Conservation Trust.
Friday, December 8th:
Prelude Family Street Festival @ 4pm. Carolers, ice sculpting, food vendors, live music, entertainers and more at this family-friendly festival.
Annual Christmas Fireworks Display @ 6:15pm
Ogunquit:
December 8-10th: Christmas by the Sea is a 3-day festival that includes tree lightings, concerts, craft shoes, children’s activities, a parade, bonfire, fireworks, Santa and much more. Be sure to check out their schedule for a complete list of activities and times.
Presque Isle:
Saturday, December 2nd: 34th Annual Holiday Light Paradekicks off at 6pm. Enjoy music, floats, and hot cocoa as the parade moves from the University of Maine @ Presque Isle to where North Street meets Main Street.
Rockland:
Rockland Main Street sponsors several holiday events during the week after Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 24th:
Downtown Rockland’s Early Bird Event from 7-10am with most shops opening at 7am with special promotions.
Santa arrives at Middle Pier @ 12pm
19th Annual Lobster Trap Tree Lighting @ 6pm
Saturday, November 25th:
Festival of Lights Parade on Main Street @ 5pm.
Sunday, November 26th:
Breakfast with Santa at the Elks Lodge from 7:30-9:30am.
York:
The Town of York Parks and Recreation presents The Festival of Lights with events happening during a two week span. Be sure to check out their page for a full list of events!
Saturday, November 25th:
Nubble Lights: The light of Nubble Lighthouse @ 4pm with music from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra from 3:30-5:30pm
Lighting of the Anchorage @ 7pm. The Anchorage Inn unveils their holiday light display and there are fireworks over Long Beach
Saturday, December 2nd:
Ornament Making with Firefly Pottery from 1-2:30pm @ York Beach Fire.
Festival of Lights Parade @ 4:30pm
Sunday, December 10th:
Tea with Mrs. Clause from 9-1pm. Registration required!
Free Holiday Concert featuring the Seacoast Wind Ensemble from 3-4pm
Holiday Trains:
CPKC Holiday Train is making 3 stops in Maine this year on Tuesday, November 21st: Hermon, Brownville, and Jackman Maine.
Narrow Gauge Railroad in Portland offers trips to the North Pole on 17 different dates. Advanced reservation/tickets are required.
Railway Village Museum in Boothbay Harbor offers trips to the North Pole for 3 weekends in December. Advanced reservation/tickets are required.
Santa Express in Unity offers trips to the North Pole on 7 different dates. Advanced reservations/tickets are required.
Seashore Trolley Museum in Arundel offers trips to the North Pole on 2 different weekends that coincide with Christmas Prelude in Kennebunk. Advanced reservation/tickets are required.
Victorian Christmas Train and Market in Alna (just outside of Wiscasset) offers trips to the local Christmas Market and opportunities to meet Santa for 3 Saturdays in December.. Ticket prices include a train ride, visit with Santa, hot beverages, ornament meeting, parking at Sheepscot, and admission to the SeaLyon Christmas Market. Advanced reservations/tickets are required.
Sleigh Rides
Bethel Inn in Bethel, Maine. Call the Bethel Inn for reservations.
High View Farm in Harrison, Maine. Call for reservations AFTER December 1st.
Winterberry Farm in Belgrade, Maine. Call for reservations. Reservations include a 2 hour sleigh ride, campfire with cocoa and tea, and even a pot of soup! Ice skating and sledding is also available.
A bench under a beautiful tree makes for a great snacking stop!
This week, we are going to stay with the theme of preserves and head to the Pleasant Hill Preserve in Scarborough, Maine managed by the Scarborough Land Trust.
Last week, I was yearning for some time in nature and after early morning swim lessons, my daughter and I headed out for a walk around the Pleasant Hill Preserve. While this Preserve is only 20 minutes from our house, and we drive by it every day on our way to school, we have never been! And…It did not disappoint!
A walk in the wood is sometimes the best medicine!
The Pleasant Hill Preserve is located on Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough. See Google for more detailed directions. You’ll find one parking option at the trailhead that can accommodate about 10-12 cars.
The Preserve is comprised of about 161 acres of land and features open fields, woods, wetlands, the headwaters of the Spurwink River, and abuts the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Over 100 bird species have been recorded here!
There are several trails throughout the preserve that total 2.4 miles in distance and my FAVORITE FEATURE…a Universal Access/ADA Trail! Eleanor’s trail, as it is called, is designed to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices. It is about 1/2 of a mile in length with beautiful views of the property!
Eleanor’s Trail an ADA accessible trail at the Preserve
A Little History of the Land:
Scarborough Land Trust purchased this land from the Benjamin family in 2014. The land had long been used for farming; being passed down from family to family. A metal barn, affectionately named the Swallow Barn for the Barn Swallows that use this as part of their habitat, located at the end of Eleanor’s trail, is a remnant of those farming days. You cannot enter Swallow Barn due to being unsafe (plenty of signs warn you of this along with signs for surveillance cameras monitoring the barn).
The Swallow Barn at the Pleasant Hill Preserve
The main trail here at the Preserve is Monty’s Trail, which is a 1.25 mile loop that begins and ends at the Swallow Barn. There are several smaller trails off of Monty’s trail. For our first visit here, my daughter and I traversed Eleanor’s trail, the Swallow Trail and then hooked up with Monty’s trail in a counterclockwise fashion. We did our loop in about 1 hour with a stop to build a fairy house in the forest, of course!
Trail Map
There are several boardwalks on the property that always make exploring Preserves and hiking so much more fun with little ones in tow! Hiking sneakers are definitely recommended as the wetland portions of the trails can be..well..wet!
Another recommendation is to do a tick check after traversing the property. There is is plenty of wooded and brushy areas along with tall grass and leaf litter in the Preserve and these are ideal environments for ticks. While it’s encouraged to walk in the center of mowed or cleared trails to avoid brushing up with this type of vegetation, it can be unavoidable sometimes; especially with little ones.
Should you find yourself or a loved one with an embedded tick, check out my favorite tool for tick removal down below. Also, you can submit this tick to the University of Maine’s Tick Lab for testing for a $20/fee. Note: This is open to Maine residents ONLY.
One of two boardwalks we found
Some other items worth mentioning are that dogs MUST be leashed on Eleanor’s trail and can be off leash on the other trails on the Preserve. Bicycles are not allowed and drones are NOT permitted on the property. The Preserve is open year round and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are encouraged!
The Bathroom Low Down:
Be prepared. There are NO bathrooms on site.
Additional Options:
With the trails taking anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to traverse with little ones, there are lots of options to add on to your adventure before or after the Preserve in the area!
Be sure to check out three state parks within a 20-25 minute drive of the Preserve! If heading out in late October some facility features like the bathrooms may be closed for the season.
Two Lights State Park offers additional trails to explore, picnic tables along the rocky coast, and playground and bathroom facilities.
Kettle Cove State Park is adjacent to Crescent Beach State Park and is a much smaller but still sandy beach (and our personal favorite). There is a walking trail on the property. A bridge to be able to make the walking trail a full loop was damaged in a storm last year and was NOT repaired as of August 2023.
Fort Williams Park is located about 25 minutes from the Preserve and you will be able to access the famous Portland Head Light along with walking the old fort roads. There is also a playground, tennis courts, swings, and beach access. Bathroom facilities are porta-potties. There is a fee to park here. Tip: park near the playground and you do NOT have to pay!
Pond Cove Elementary in Cape Elizabeth has a FANTASTIC and EXPANSIVE playground that is open to the public during non-school hours.
Be sure to also check out the Thomas Memorial Library that is adjacent to the playground (think bathroom access!) for some great children’s activities. The Thomas Memorial Library participates in the Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program. If you have a valid library card from any of the libraries that participate in the program, you can use your card to check out materials from other libraries on the list when you visit them (goodbye meltdowns for not being able to bring a book home!).
Hanging out by my daughter’s favorite feature of Kettle Cove Beach State Park: the stream!
Local Food Options:
Kettle Cove Ice Cream and Shack offers fantastic ice creams and lots of yummy lunch options at the Shack. Check the website to see the season and hours (they take cards!)
C Salt is a good lunch spot right in Cape Elizabeth and not far from the Pond Cove Elementary Playground.
What’s in my car or backpack for this visit?
This is my FAVORITE tool for tick removing! The keychains options are great but I have always found ticks in my daughter’s hair or behind ears and those tools do NOT help in those situations.
Another thing that will be in my backpack for this trip is cash for the State Park fees!
Key Takeaways:
The Pleasant Hill Preserve, managed by the Scarborough Land Trust, in Scarborough, Maine is a
Leashed dogs are allowed on Eleanor’s trail and dogs are allowed OFF LEASH on all other trails.
Make it an adventure and check out the other things to do that are all within a 25 minute drive from The Pleasant Hill Preserve!
Always check for ticks!
Thank you for reading this blog post on The Wandering Chickadee! Follow along on Instagram for more content with @thewanderingchickdee!
Like I shared in my last blog, I have a group of girlfriends I met when I first started teaching almost 16 years ago! This was another site we visited during our weekend together last year. I can imagine this preserve is amazing in all seasons but we explored this preserve in the fall and…it was STUNNING! We could not stop commenting on how beautiful, breathless, and picturesque this preserve was!
The La Verna Preserve is sandwiched between the villages of Round Pond and New Harbor, Maine on the historic Route 32 on the Pemaquid Peninsula in midcoast Maine. I highly recommend driving this portion of Route 32 between the two villages..the ocean views and historic homes are impressive!
Directions to the La Verna Preserve can be located on the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust website. You’ll find one parking option just across the road from the trailhead.
NOTE HERE: Parking on Route 32 is prohibited and they DO ticket cars that do so. Route 32 is not very wide and parking on the shoulder can definitely create some unsafe driving conditions in this area. I would recommend having a Plan B and Plan C should you find the parking lot full. I will provide some recommendations for those a bit further down.
Forest bathing at its finest!
The Preserve is almost entirely forested, with the exception of when the trail meets the ocean’s edge. Therefore, heading here during peak foliage season is a MUST. With lots of oak, red maple, red spruce, white birch, and white pine, the forest is ALIVE with color in the fall.
Fallen oak and maple leaves cover the forest floor
Within the forest, you will find Meadow Brook with some sedge meadows and shrub swamps and there is also a vernal pool trailside.
Meadow Brook
There are two options for trails on the Preserve; a 2.6 mile option or 2.9 mile option. Both are lollipop loops. The slightly longer one bumps out for a little extra mileage along the perimeter of the preserve. Both options will combine near the ocean’s edge to give you those amazing panoramic views of Muscongus Bay!
A downloadable version of this map can be found here.
Some other items worth mentioning are that leashed dogs are permitted and there is some poison ivy near the shore. If you need a refresher on what poison ivy looks like and how to handle if contact is made with it, check out this great overview from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The best way to minimize the rash and pain when you know you have come in contact with poison ivy is cool water and soap. If you do not have soap, apply rubbing alcohol to the site. Therefore, always travel with a first aid kit that has rubbing alcohol. The one I love does!
Ocean’s Edge Panoramic View
The Bathroom Low Down:
Be prepared. There are NO bathrooms on site.
Options for a Plan B or Plan C:
The best time to get to the La Verna Preserve is first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon. If you head the Preserve and find the parking lot full, here are a couple of options to explore on the Pemaquid Peninsula:
The Granite Hall Store: Here is a great little store in Round Pond that sells penny candy, home goods, gifts and toys. The store is about a 10 minute drive from the La Verna Preserve.
The Forts at Pemaquid: Located in Pemaquid Harbor, this a great opportunity to explore several historic sites at the mouth of the Pemaquid river. It is about a 15 minute drive from the La Verna Preserve
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park: Located at Pemaquid Point, this is a great spot to check out the lighthouse, climb the rocks along the short, and grab lunch at one of the various picnic tables around the site. It is about a 25 minute drive from the La Verna Preserve
These are also great to add on to your trip after you finish hiking the Preserve as they are not far from the Preserve itself. Also, sometimes a candy store visit can be a great motivator to finish a hike for those with little legs (or even those with bigger legs, like me!).
Also, don’t forget to check out the Whaleback Midden Historic Site in Damariscotta on your way to or from hiking the Preserve. Be sure to check out my blog on the Midden Site!
What’s in my car or backpack for this visit?
Key Takeaways:
La Verna Preserve offers some great hiking trails through a forest with unbelievable ocean views!
If heading there between September 15th and December 15th, remember to wear your hunter orange!
Leashed dogs are allowed.
Watch out for poison ivy. Bring a first aid kit that has rubbing alcohol to minimize pain and rash.
Have a Plan B or Plan C if the parking lot is full!
Thank you for reading this blog post on The Wandering Chickadee! Follow along on Instagram for more content with @thewanderingchickdee!
This week, I am going to share about this unique historic site in Damariscotta!
I have a group of girlfriends that I met when I first started teaching almost 16 years ago! We have remained friends through many of life’s ups and downs (think marriage, divorce, infertility, miscarriages, babies..you name it, we have supported each other through it all!). We all now work in different school districts and get together twice a year for some epic adventuring! I got to visit the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site on a trip we all took to the midcoast region last year!
The Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site is located in Damariscotta. Directions to the site can be located on the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust website. You’ll have two parking options to access the site; parking is available at the Conservation Trust’s headquarters or closer to the Whaleback midden site. The Whaleback Site is owned by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and is operated cooperatively with the Conservation Trust.
The historic site contains a massive oyster shell heap, or midden, that was formed over a period of more than 1,000 years by Native Americans. Eventually, the shells were processed for chicken feed in the 1800s, and now only a fraction of the original mounds still remain. What is amazing is that even though a fraction of the original Glidden Midden (see picture above) remains, it is still one of the largest intact middens on the east coast!
The white you see on the ground are discarded oyster shells that form the Whaleback Midden Site
There are several trails throughout the historic site. The trail that leads down to the midden site has storyboards that will give you historical information along with stories about the Damariscotta River. You can also opt to take a small trail through an historic orchard. The 100+ year trees are impressive and still bear fruit!
A downloadable version of this map can be found here
The entire trail system on the historic site is roughly 1.5 miles long. They recently added a connector trail that is gently graded and finished with stone dust. This trail is perfect for strollers! The connector trail will get you access to both the midden site and the historical Darrows barn that was once part of the Round Top Farm.
Once down at the Midden Site, there are some benches and a picnic table along with a smaller network of trails that lead you around the Site. You will have great views of the river and some points along the trail you can get on the rocks close to the water of the river. It is amazing to see the riverbed still covered in oyster shells.
Oyster shells in the Damariscotta River. Photo credit: Girls Weekend Team Member
Blogger in the Wild (the white you see on the ground are the discarded oyster shells that form the Whaleback midden site)
Important Note regarding the Glidden Midden Site: There are TWO maps on the Conservation Trust’s website that label the location of the Glidden Midden as part of the Glidden Point Reserve and the other map refers to it as the Salt Bay Preserve. The map that lists it as part of the Salt Bay Preserve shows a trail (boots recommended) to access the Glidden midden site while the map with it listed as Glidden Point Preserve DOES NOT. If interested in heading to the Glidden midden site, please contact the Conservation Trust for more information on whether or not it’s accessible.
The Bathroom Low Down for Historic Site:
There are NO bathrooms on site. The Damariscotta Hannaford is within walking distance or a very quick ride and will probably be the closest place for a bathroom.
What’s in my car or backpack for this visit?
As we head into fall in Maine, safety is my NUMBER ONE concern. I never head into the woods without some hunter orange on. I always stock up on 2 or 3 of these hunter orange beanie for my daughter. I throw these into my car, our backpack, and camper. They are a bit oversized, and definitely not fashionable, but they do the trick.
My other ABSOLUTE is going to be my favorite-go to: the Oxo-Tot Travel Potty. Without a bathroom on site, this will automatically be in my backpack for this trip.
Key Takeaways:
Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site is a great addition to a visit to the Damariscotta or Pemaquid regions. If bringing my daughter, this would be a fabulous place to incorporate into a BYO lunch stop.
As an historic site, please avoid taking home a “souvenir”. While it was definitely a moment to be able to handle something that was hundreds of years old, if everyone took a piece of the remaining oyster shells, the midden would be no longer.
Come prepared for NO BATHROOMs. The Damariscotta Hannaford is a short trip from the entrance to historic site and probably your closest bet to finding usable bathrooms. If that’s too far, consider the Oxo-Tot travel potty.
As we approach fall, consider always having some hunter orange gear in your car or backpack. If your kiddo doesn’t like hats, consider a vest. Always go a size larger to fit puffy jackets and layers.
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.
This week, I am going to share our two favorite apple orchards that offer very different experiences for families. I think apple orchards, like Christmas tree farms, bring about a very nostalgic feeling for me. It’s always hard for me to change my habits and try a new place because I’m so afraid of the disappointment a new orchard or farm may bring; like what if they don’t have the wagon ride with hot cider or those amazing pumpkin donuts, right?! So I’ve come to a place in my life with this, where I have a few favorites in rotation and the two apple orchards I will share with you in this week, offer completely different experiences from one another.
Orchard Overviews
Brackett’s Orchards:
Located in Limington, Maine, Brackett’s Orchards offers that quintessential Maine experience. Think cider, donuts, tractor rides, and that Maine hospitality I hope never disappears. For example, you can call, or even text, the owner, Guy Paulin, with any questions you have! And…Brackett’s U-Pick location could be a photo shoot location for the Fall catalog of LL Bean or J. Crew, no joke.
Photo credit: Maine Pomological Society
Brackett’s Orchards has two locations. Their farmstand is located at 224 Sokokis Avenue in Limington and their U-Pick location is just a bit past the farmstand at 32 Staples Road in Limington.
Brackett’s Orchards Farm Stand
U-Pick Location/Photo Credit: Maine Pomological Society
The U-Pick location is at a 12 acre orchard on a hill-top. After picking apples, feel free to take a ride on the tractor & wagon or try your hand at the apple sling-shot. Most weekends, they offer donuts and hot mulled cider and for the 2024 apple picking season are trying to have a food truck vendor serve lunch here. Well-behaved dogs, on leashes, are welcomed here.
Along with your apples, you will also be able to purchase apple cider at the U-Pick location.
I highly recommend stopping at their farm stand on the way back to grab other yummy goodies like homemade blueberry jam and, of course, some pumpkins!
Be sure to check their Facebook or website for hours of operations before heading out to their farm stand and orchards.
The Bathroom Low Down for Brackett’s Orchards
Brackett’s Orchards offers one all gender/single user bathroom at the cabin at their U-Pick hilltop location. While it is small, and fitting a stroller into it would be tight, it is better than a porta-potty situation. As a reminder, please do not use a travel potty or change diapers near the apple trees for sanitation and hygiene purposes.
Libby & Sons U-Pick Farm:
Located in Limerick, Maine, Libby & Sons U- Pick Farm offers a festival atmosphere with a side of fruit picking. For example, most weekends, they offer music, 1-2 food trucks, a balloon animal vendor, and lots of yummy food like donuts, smoothies, slushies, and kettle corn.
Picking some macintosh apples with Dad
Blueberries Galore
Libby & Sons offers lots of fruit for picking and if you head out there in September there is a good chance you could pick peaches, blueberries, and raspberries along with your apples! Be sure to check their website, Facebook page, or Instagram for their “What’s Picking Today” update.
In order to head into the picking fields, everyone must have purchased picking containers or be added on as a Guest Pass which can make picking at Libby & Sons a little more expensive than Brackett’s Orchards. Again, I would encourage you to check out their website for more information about their Pre-Purchased Container policy.
While I shared that it can be a little more expensive to pick apples at Libby & Sons, we really enjoyed our experiences (and I think my husband slightly prefers this location over Brackett’s). If you asked my daughter what her favorite thing to do here is, she would tell you it’s being driven around the orchard in the golf cart. This orchard does shuttle patrons to different parts of the orchards with golf cart-like shuttles and it’s just another fun aspect of the orchard experience here.
On their pavilion, they offer a shaded picnic area where patrons can listen to music, eat some freshly made donuts, or grab lunch from one of the food trucks on site.
No dogs are allowed. Service animals trained to help people with disabilities are always welcome.
Libby & Sons are located at 86 Sawyer Mountain Road. Google maps and Waze will try to have you use Norton Road. Avoid using that road along with Coffin Hill and Staples Road. They are NOT shortcuts. Your best bet is once your navigation gets to Route 11 in Limerick to just follow their U-Pick signs.
The Bathroom Low Down for Libby & Sons U-Pick Farm
Libby & Sons offers two all gender handicapped accessible/family bathrooms in their main building and a sex-separated, multi-room facility between their main building and golf cart shuttle. It’s one of those fancy trailer bathrooms you might see at a wedding or other outdoor venue. Again, as a reminder, please do not use a travel potty or change diapers near the apple trees for sanitation and hygiene purposes.
Looking to add on to your apple picking adventure?
If looking for an additional activity to add on to your apple picking adventures, I would highly recommend heading to this Rest Area in Limington. Locals call it the Limington Rapids Rest Area, Google will call it the Bonny Eagle Recreation Area, and I will call it a neat spot to explore and eat some lunch. Located at 11 Ossipee Trail W Limington, you will pass this spot if using Route 25 to head to either of the orchards mentioned above.
Photo Credit: Rodney Konkel
Photo Credit: Michael Isabelle
Photo Credit: Ravikumar Tamanampudi
We checked this place out during our 2022 apple picking adventure and it’s a great BYO Lunch spot and offers some exploration for kiddos 4 years and older. While this spot would have some very active rapids in the Spring, we felt quite safe exploring the calm waters around this unique piece of land. While they have outhouses and porta potties on site, all were locked when we went in September so I suggest using facilities prior to departing the orchards.
Consider bringing extra clothes and shoes as, with any great exploration near water, kiddos could end up a little wet.
What’s in my car or backpack for this visit?
Water
Changes of clothes and shoes
We just purchased this tablecloth and bench cover set for our camper. I’m loving the bench covers!! They are great to bring along and come in a bag to put everything in!
Key Takeaways:
Brackett’s Orchards is going to offer a quieter, more Maine quintessential experience with great views from their hilltop orchard. Well-behaved dogs on leashes allowed.
Libby & Sons U-Pick Farm is going to offer a festival-like atmosphere where you can pick additional fruits with your apples. Only trained service animals are allowed.
Consider checking out the Limington Rapids Rest Area for a great BYO Lunch spot. Bring this table cloth and bench cover set in case of less than stellar picnic tables!
Check out Maine Pomological Society for an interactive map of all the orchards in Maine and a county-by-country listing of them.
Thank you for reading this blog post on The Wandering Chickadee!
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Desert of Maine Overview:
*Updated August 2024*
If you have grown up in southern Maine you may remember the Desert of Maine being an outdated tourist destination for those traveling through Freeport on their way to LL Bean.
However, in 2018, a family acquired the property and spent around 2.5 years sprucing up the place and it’s AMAZING! The Desert of Maine has essentially had a much-needed makeover!
NEW 18 hole mini golf
New to the Desert of Maine is a Welcome Center, 18-hole mini golf, and a centrally located playground and huge commitment to maintaining the history of the desert and educating it’s visitors. You will find history walks and placards all over the property explaining the hows & whys of the Desert.
Climbing structure at the playground
Other new features within the dunes for children are a fossil dig site, the relocated gemstone village, a secret sandbox, and a storybook walk.
There are also some climbing and play structures near the gemstone village! A “train” that runs the perimeter of the desert making stops at convenient locations. Check out the map of the Desert of Maine to acquaint yourself with all the features.
Digging for bones at the new fossil exhibit
Further out on the property, a 1800s renovated farmhouse sits on the property and serves as a quaint museum for the sit, a historic spring has been uncovered, and a replica gas station with an old Model-T Ford that kids can climb on are available to explore.
Model-T Ford
The campground has also had a make-over and now offers 6 different varieties of glamping. Sorry, there is no longer any tent or RV camping here!
Source: Desert of Maine
What hasn’t changed is that the desert, with all its sand, is still there, along with that iconic camel statue and the gemstone dig (albeit, both have been wonderfully relocated to a different section of the desert and given a MUCH DESERVED make-over).
The Gemstone Village has a little maze feature with different areas to hunt for gems
NEW for 2024: A scavenger hunt that will take you all over the park with opportunities to learn about the history of the Desert and the Tuttle family and a slide built into the dunes. Rumor has it that more play structures will be in place near the slide for 2025!
New for 2024! A slide on the dunes!
They are open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm. Dogs on leashes are allowed on the dunes and ADA designated service dogs are allowed on the golf course. Some hours/days may vary at the start (May) and end (October) of the season.
There is a snack shack here called the Oasis that offers hot dogs, drinks, and ice cream. If you are planning to stay for lunch, I would suggest bringing your own.
There are some many picnic tables and mostly all have umbrellas
If your child/ren love digging, hunting for gemstones, and rolling down the sand dunes like my daughter does, you can easily spend 2 hours visiting the Desert of Maine. By adding in mini-golf and eating lunch on site, this could easily be a 3 hour adventure for your family.
At the end, grab an ice cream at Mainely Custard just down the road on Route 1 in Freeport. They have custard (vanilla, chocolate, and rotating featured flavors) along with soft serve and vegan ice cream!
Tips for Exploring:
Consider visiting on a cloudy and cooler day. If that’s not possible, try to go at 4pm instead of a 11am because..It’s a desert so on a hot summer day…it’s HOT.
There is A LOT to explore at the Desert of Maine. Try to save the playground and mini golf for the end. These are two places that have the MOST shade and a great spot to end after spending a good portion of your adventure in the sun.
Bring lots of water. I love filling my 64oz Stanley jug with ice and water and leaving in my car for when re-fills are needed.
If you are going to bring a stroller, a jogging/3-wheeled is a MUST here and be prepared for some heavy pushing. Again, it’s a “desert”. Forgot yours at home? Don’t worry, they have strollers available to borrow including a beach wheelchair.
The Bathroom Low Down:
New for 2024: They have a single composting toilet near the gemstone village and the fossil digging area!
A NEW composting toilet near the gemstone village and fossil dig!
The other bathrooms are centrally located at the Welcome Center. They have two all gender accessible restrooms and they are NICE! I mean..very NICE!
There are changing tables, an additional table to put your bags on, wonderfully placed hooks for you to hold your stuff. Also, they are BEYOND CLEAN! So if something was to drop on the floor, my gag reflex wouldn’t kick in here. Another bonus, there is room for you to bring your stroller into.
There is also a port-a-potty located by the mini golf area
Bathroom Situation Rating: B+. Revised for 2024, the rating is now A+!
Accessibility:
Another highlight from the new owners is that they devote a whole page of their website to informing patrons what they can expect to find (or not find) for accessibility features on site.
They are transparent about making the Desert of Maine as accessible as possible for all people and welcome feedback and suggestions on how to ensure an inclusive experience. I love that this is a goal for them and they are welcoming to feedback and suggestions.
One thing they are miss in the video and on their website is information on the accessibility of the playground. And…I will say, the playground is not designed for those under the age of 5 and is not very accessible for anyone with mobility concerns; which is such a bummer but it is what it is.
Costs:
Adult: $19
Children (ages 4-18): $15
Children (ages 3 and under): FREE
*If you are a family of 4 and plan to visit the Desert of Maine 3 or more times during the year, a family season pass may be your best option here.
Budget Friendly Option:
You may qualify for some discounts the Desert of Maine offers:
10% off for seniors (65+)
10% off for active duty military
20% off for groups of 20 or more
50% off for SNAP/EBT/WIC/Mainecare program participants
If you are a resident of Freeport, head to the Freeport Community Library to reserve your tickets. Freeport residents can purchase admission tickets for $6/per person for up to 6 people!
The Splurge Option:
Some add ons to your adventure to the Desert of Maine could include purchasing mini golf tickets. There is a small discount available when you purchase a combo pass (Admission to the Desert and a round of golf) too.
We recently went to this golf course and it’s…really, really nice! The golf course is high quality and quite challenging!
Or, if you really want to splurge, you could choose the stay at one of their glamping sites. They have 6 (!!!) different options of glamping with more to sites to come in 2025! Reservations are required but what I love is that you can do a 1-night stay!! A 1-night stay in Maine during the summer is unheard of!
Source: Desert of Maine
Any camping reservation will get you a discount on general admission to the Desert of Maine and Mini Golf too!
Did you know that putting a little dusting powder on your dry skin is a great way to get the sand off? Several years ago my good friend Amy gave me this suggestion and it has been a lifesaver for me..and my car!
Key Takeaways:
The Desert of Maine is a 20 minute drive from Portland and is a great spot for families to check out. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours exploring all the features of this property.
The property is quite expansive. Plan to bring a jogging stroller or borrow one of theirs for littles who might need a ride.
Dogs on leashes are allowed on the dunes and ADA designated service dogs are allowed on the golf course. Please follow these rules!
Admissions costs are not exactly budget-friendly. However, they do offer a variety of discounts for people including Freeport residents.
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Credit: Alexander Wende/Unsplash
