Around New England

Join us this week as we hike one of the most popular hikes in NH, possibly even the US, Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH.  Although Mount Monadnock is attainable for almost any ability, it is still a challenging hike.  Be prepared to have fun, but also make sure you are prepared for a real hike!  It was over 4 miles total, and about 1,650 feet of elevation gain.   Besides this park having a strict no-pet rule, this wouldn't be a very dog-friendly hike anyway.  There are exposed slabs on many of the trails.  The exposed peak offers breathtaking 360 degree views from the Boston skyline to Vermont!  Once you hike this one you understand why it's such a popular hike!  Reservations are recommended, especially in the busier summer and fall months!!  This state park is free for NH State Park license plate holders, but is $15 for anyone else. On the way home we stopped at Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple, NH.  This place did not disappoint!  There's a cool Deli at Maple Station Market which had it all...good coffee, great food, and some of the best MAPLE CREEMEES we've had outside of Vermont!  It was right on the way home from the mountain, so it was also super convenient.  Be sure to stop in and check Ben's out!  It's 100% worth it. Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we hike a local favorite of ours, Mount Major.  This mountain is a great introductory hike for pets, kids, or anyone looking to take a nice step towards the more difficult mountains.   We have been to a few places to eat in the area.  In the summer, we have been to Pop's Clam Shell, right on Lake Winnipesauke in Alton Bay.  They serve seafood and a variety of other fried foods.  You can even eat outside on the deck!  After lunch, there is an ice cream place within walking distance, right in the heart of Alton Bay. This time we decided to try somewhere new.  We went into Gilford to check out the Gilford Village Store.  The sandwiches and desserts did not disappoint! Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

Join us this week as we travel to beautiful Manchester, VT to hike Lye Brook Falls Trail.  The destination of this 4.8 mile hike is one of Vermont's tallest waterfall.  The hike is fairly easy, kid and dog friendly, and the views are worth the mileage!  We saw a wide variety of hikers here.   After the hike we checked out nearby Depot Street Burgers for a delicious post-hike burger & beer.  We also grabbed coffee at Colburn Cafe and the bookstore it is in.  It was super cute and fun to poke around in.  So fun, we ended up missing out on going back to the Vermont Country Store.  We also poked around The Mountain Goat and they had some great deals, even on Patagonia!   All in all, it was a great day in the Green Mountains of Vermont! Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we go to Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, CT.  This family and dog-friendly hike has a cool tower (or castle) at the summit that has nice views of Long Island Sound and the New Haven area.  We did a 4.5 mile loop that included going past the summit and returning a less common trail.  It was not difficult and a lot of fun. After the hike we headed to the world famous Wooster Street in New Haven to try Frank Pepe's and Sally's Apizza.  Which is your favorite?    We also grabbed some dessert at Libby Italian Pastry Shop that did not disappoint!  It's well worth the stop when you are in that area.   Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we travel abroad to Ireland!  We hiked and ate at some fantastic spots that we simply had to share with you guys!  If you are ever fortunate enough to get to Ireland, be sure to take a day to have a hiking adventure.  We booked our trip through Ireland Walk Hike Bike.  We first learned about this Ireland based company on our first trip to Ireland.  We hiked a guided 16 km hike through the Killarney National Park.  We even saw Torc Falls and the hike ended at the famous Muckross Castle!  Once we found out they book entire trips, we knew who to contact when we returned! First we hiked Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, and the views of the ocean and mountains was spectacular to say the least!  It was a little windy, but we otherwise had a fantastic day for this 4.5 mile hike!   When in Connemara, drive around and check out some of the great spots.  We checked out the Pine Island View Point and also made our way out to Dog's Bay Beach.  It's worth the drive for sure!  After our adventure, we decided to check out Connemara Woodfire for some great pizza, burgers and chips (fries).  When we made our way back to Galway, we had to get some tasty ice cream at Murphy's!  It's homemade ice cream from Dingle.  It's very good! Our second hiking adventure put us over on the Aran Island of Inis Mor. Besides a very rocky ferry ride from Doolin on the Doolin Ferry, this was a highlight of our trip for sure.  There are plenty of bike rental options on the island but we decided to do a van tour since the wind was intense.  This van tour took us to some amazing spots around the island but we got to hike up to Dun Anoghasa (Black Fort).  This is a 3,000 year old ring fort that is on top of some jaw-dropping cliffs.  Being here seeing the edge of Europe is pretty intense.   When we stayed in Doolin, we hiked from our B&B along the cliff edge on the ocean towards the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk.  The views are breathtaking but the heights and the drop off to the ocean is not for those afraid of heights.  Once back in town, head over to Ivy Cottage in Doolin for some of the best food we had on our trip!   Two other places we mention that we ate in Galway are The Dough Bros and John Keogh Gastropub.  Both have excellent food and you won't be disappointed.  We love Ireland and were so happy to share a little bit about why we love it so much!   Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

This week we talk about two short NH hikes that are perfect for families that enjoy getting out on the trails!  First we checked out Blue Job Mountain in Strafford, NH.  There are two peaks, with great views accessable by the Blue Job Mountain Loop trail.  Little Blue Job has an exposed peak and nice views of the White Mountains.  Blue Job has a fire tower that is available to partially climb up.   After Blue Job we checked out The Jefferson for breakfast, and it was amazing!  Be sure to check it out if you are in the Strafford, NH area!   After that, head to Barrington, NH to check out the adorable Winnie The Pooh Trail!  This super-kid-friendly trail follows the story, including all the characters' houses.   Finally, head to Calef's to get yourself and the kids a sandwich or treat in an old school country store.  It's a really fun hike, and really fun store.   Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

Today we’re going to break down outdoor activities to do in each season here in New England regardless of when you get to travel. We get this question a lot, "What do you think is the best season to visit New England?" While G loves the Fall, Mike prefers the warmer weather in the summer months.  Both of us agree that each season has its advantages.  Here are just some of the activities we discuss this week and what months we recommend doing these activities in.   January & February - Ski Season  Down hill and cross country skiing Snow shoeing  Ice castles  Winter hiking, but just be careful and prepared!   March & April - Mud Season  There might be some skiing left  Fenway tour Boston  Haunted tour  Beach walks Cape cod  Southern New England Wicked Tulips opens in April Preston- CT & North Kingstown RI March - Maple weekends VT NH and ME Watch for hiking trail reports, it’s  not the best time to hike at all. Post hikes, muddy etc Portland Head Lighthouse Scenic Drives the Kanc, Ocean Drive in Newport and Coastlines   May & June Hiking season has begun weather permitting  Arethusa falls  WaterFire begins on select dates through Dec Cape cod before the summer season  Trolls  Early May- Late Oct the Cog they’re open year round too! Just not to the peak of washington Camping season beginning Suncook family campground    July & August - True Summer Peaks island  Block Island Hiking season has begun Watch the weather thunderstorms and always bring water not matter how short the hike is   September -Summer Then Fall  Beach season   paddle boarding kayaking surfing  at the start of the month Apple picking  Fairy house tour (9/20-21/2025) Fair season; Fryberg, Topsfield & the Big E    October Fall! Peak fall at the start of this month typically first two weeks  Apple picking Pumpkin picking  Cider donuts  Ghost on the banke   November - Stick Season  Gile mountain  Quechee gorge    December  Winter has started  Lots of outdoor light displays.  Lights in Eliot - sandy hill farm  Vin center lights a forest of lights Boothbay Botanical Gardens - lights gardens aglow  Holidays parades  Snow Port Boston outdoor winter market Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we take the puppy on her first RI hike at Lincoln Woods State Park.  This is a great park with many activities available year round.  The price is the best part!  It's free to get in!   Located in Lincoln, but also near Providence, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket, this spot is just a RIPTA bus ride away!  We went in the winter and hiked but this place is a gem in the summer!  You can boat, swim, and even horseback ride here!  Next time you are in Northern Rhode Island, check it out! Afterwards, you can do what we did, and check out Fundati Coffee.  This fun spot has awesome coffee, hot chocolate, and treats.  It's worth the stop. As always, be sure to follow us on social media! Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

This week we take the puppy to Pawtuckaway State Park to see how she does on her first winter hike!  Spoiler alert...She's going to be a great hiking partner!!  Pawtuckaway is great year round.  They have boating, fishing, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and you can even ride your horse there!   Afterwards we had some amazing treats and coffee at Blooms and Brews.  If you are in the Deerfield area, be sure to check them out!  We had some amazing basked goods and coffees.    Don't forget about our social media sites: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we explore a few of our favorite New Hampshire Seacoast hikes, Odiorne Point State Park and Urban Forestry Center.  Located on the Atlantic Ocean, overlooking the entrance of the Piscataqua River and New Castle, NH is Odiorne Point.  This spot has picnic tables, a playground, great tide-pooling areas, nice hiking trails, and of course the Seacoast Science Center.  Don't miss out on this spot when in the Seacoast of New Hampshire!  There are lots of activities here all summer long including concerts too.   Up the road by the old Yoken's sign is the Urban Forestry Center.  This is a great little place to get out and hike!  There are easy trails that go along the Sagamore Creek, and gives a cool point of view of Portsmouth.  If you go far enough, there are even some cool house remains to check out! After a nice hike or two, (honestly, you can easily do both in one day), we give some great recommendations for some of our favorite Seacoast NH restaurants. If you have never been to the Portsmouth, NH area before, be aware the food scene is very good. Street is probably our favorite restaurant in this area.  We go fairly often.  They have a wide menu of global dishes and killer curry fries.   For breakfast we love the coffee at La Mulita Coffee!  They are amazing and it's such a fun vibe to go grab a cup or a pound of coffee.  They serve Rose Foods Bagels too as an added bonus! For bagels, there is a new place in the area.  The Getty Bagel opened in 2025 and they quite possibly might be the best bagels we have ever had.  Go early as they sell out almost every day!   Don't forget about our social media sites: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

This week we talk about the Thomas Dambo trolls located in Rhode Island.  We already recorded an episode on the trolls, but some have been added since our original troll podcast.  There are 2 located in Ninigret Park in Charlestown, 1 located in Arcadia Management Area, 1 located in Ryan Park in North Kingstown, and 1 located at Kettle Point Peir in East Providence.  All are unique and fun to check out.  Of course there are plenty of great food places in Rhode Island as well. First down in Charlestown, go to Ninigret Park to see the first two.  After that, grab a muffin and coffee at Dave's Coffee before heading to Arcadia to see the next one.  There isn't too much in that area for food and drink. Next head up to North Kingstown to Ryan Park to check out the next two.  There is plenty of food options here like Gregg's and Jitter's Cafe.  We enjoyed a nice breakfast at a super-cute Shanya's Place.   Finally, head up to East Providence to Kettle Point Pier for the final troll.  This one is really pretty on the water, with great views of Providence and towards the Narragansett Bay.  We wanted to check out Cafe Zara but it was a Sunday and they are closed on Sunday sadly.  We went to The Grind at Crook Point instead.  We had the dog with us, so we just grabbed a few drinks to go before heading home.   We hope you enjoyed the RI trolls as much as we did!  Don't forget to listen to the first troll episode here to catch up on all of the New England Trolls.  Thanks for listening! Don't forget about our social media sites: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Welcome to this year's Vermont Winter Weekend!  We stayed in Williston again as we really enjoyed the location right off 89.  It's easy to get to Burlington or Bolton Valley.  We starte off at Bolton Valley to downhill ski.  G had a lesson as part of the Learn To Turn program by Indy Pass.  Mike had fun skiing some more challenging trails and skiing in the woods while G had her 2 hour lesson.   After skiing we met a friend at Burlington Beer Company.  This place had a great vibe and awesome food!  If you are in the Burlington VT area, we highly recommend this place.   The next day we decided to try cross country skiing at Rikert Outdoor Center.  We had a lot of falls but even more laughs.  We can't wait to try it again, perhaps when the feel like temp is higher than -15!  Rikert Outdoor Center had a really cool vibe and we would go back!   On Tik Tok, we asked for recommendations and one recommendation, thank you Baird Farm!, was to go check out Brandon, VT.  We stayed at the Brandon Inn.  It's a beautiful historical hotel that is right in the center of town.   We stopped in at The Bookstore, and of course we checked out Sweet Sappy's for the obligatory Maple Creemee and G tried their sapagato, their version of an affagato with coffee and maple creemee.  It was so good, the wind chill didn't even bother us!  This shop is adorable, with many cute Vermont made gifts.  We bought an adorable painting that spoke to us too.   For breakfast the next morning we headed over to Mendon, VT to eat at Sugar & Spice for breakfast.  This place was well worth the wait.  We went on a very busy Sunday morning, but it was so good.   Finally we went through Woodstock, Vermont on the way home where we had some really good drinks at Mon Vert Cafe!  They are well worth the stop!  We had such a fun weekend checking out different ski areas.  Thanks for joining us! Check out our social media sites here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us as we discuss all of our favorite hiking gear and where we shop as well as where you guys have recommended.  We discuss all clothing choices from shoes, socks, pants, tops, and outerwear.  This isn't the same as our blog about the 10 essentials, but a list of our own essentials that we try not to hike without. We talk a lot about our favorite items of clothing and where we got them from.    A few of our most frequented stores.... LL Bean Kittery Trading Post Zappos Lululemon Hidden Outlet Since this podcast isnt about a specific location, we wanted to give you several food recommendations around New England.... Maine Beer Company  Wicked Fresh Craft Burgers Street 360 BRGR Bar Caffe Kilim La Mulita Coffee Don't forget about our social media sites: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

This week we head towards Boston for our new Puppy's first hike at the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Medford, MA.  Known as "The Fells", this park is surprisingly large at over 2,000 acres! There is access from other surrounding towns, but we went to the Medford parking lot.   There are so many trails, it truly is a choose-your-own-adventure type of hike.  We did the skyline trail which had white blazes on it.  We hiked to Wright's Tower where we saw an amazing point of view where you see all of Boston for Logan to Fenway and beyond.  It's an easy hike, not much elevation gain, and it was a great introduction for the puppy "Pemi". After our hike, we checked out an adorable new coffee shop nearby called Locolito Cafe!  This place is amazing!  Mike had an amazing hot drip coffee and a Chocolate Nutella Croissant.  G had the Spinach & Feta Croissant and a latte.  We both can't wait to go back.   As we were leaving, G noticed that we happened to park in front of the Medford location of the legendary Modern Pastry.  Mike had cash on him, so we had plenty of desserts!  If you have never been to the one in the North End of Boston, this is much easier to get to but it is cash only like the location in the North End. We are excited to share this little adventure with you! Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we head to Gillette Castle in East Haddam, CT.  This beautiful castle was built in the early 1900's for William Gillette, best known for being the first person to be Sherlock Holmes in theater.  His home is amazing and is free to walk around.  Tours are available from daily during the summer, and weekends throughout the fall.  There is even a cool holiday showing.  We went when they were closed for decorating for the holidays. The hike around the grounds was a lot of fun.  Gillette was passionate about trains and even had his own electric train that went all around the property.  A train, some stations, and some amazing stone bridges are still on the walking trails to check out.  We did a little over 2 miles, but you can choose-your-own-adventure here and make it longer or shorter if you wish. This one is dog friendly (on a leash).  You can even fish by the boat launch on the Connecticut River!  The state of Connecticut owns this park and it is open from 8am to sunset everyday.  There are even nice bathrooms available year round.  There is about 350 feet of elevation gain if you walk down to the river and back. After the hike, we checked out our first ever cat-cafe.  We went to Two Wrasslin' Cats Accord.  The atmosphere was adorable with cat decorations everywhere!  We unfortunately did not have time to visit with the actual cats, but we really enjoyed the iced maple latte, iced mocha latte, and raspberry coffee cake.  All of it was amazing.  CHeck them out!   Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

This week we head to Bridgton, Maine to check out Pate Mountain Reserve.  Be sure to listen to hear how to pronounce it!  ;) This area is maintained by Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT)and they do an incredible job!  It's a great hike to get a variety of trail experiences.  Bald Pate reminded us a lot of Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine.  Listen to our podcast about it here.    The Bridgton Maine area is a very cool.  It's home to a ski mountain, Pleasant Mountain, which we can't wait to check out soon!  It's also not far from Naples, Maine where our friends go camping every summer at Loon Haven Family Campground.  Perhaps we'll join them this summer!!   Of course we had some dinner in town after the hike, and it did not disappoint.  We had some amazing burgers and beers at The Standard Gastro Pub.  Don't skip on this place.  It was an amazing way to cap off a fun day hiking! Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us as we hike out 8th New Hampshire 4,000 footer, Mount Hale.  Located off 302 near Bretton Woods, Zealand Road is a seasonal road that accesses several great hiking trails including this hike.  The road is closed in the winter, so check conditions prior to arriving.  The road closure would practically double the mileage on this one!  When we did this one, it was November.  The road was still open but there was plenty of snow on the trails.  The road actually closed about 10 days after we hiked this one.  We checked the conditions prior using several sources like All Trails, The Higher Summits Forecast, and New England Trail Conditions.  The best bathroom options are the AMC Highland Center.  There are bathrooms at the entrance near 302 and at the trailhead of Middle & North Sugarloaf, but they are closed in the winter.   After the hike we decided to check out North Conway.  We loaded up on dessert (for the couch that night) at Cafe Italia.  This place is LEGIT!  Check them out for awesome atmosphere, amazing Italian treats, and good Italian coffee. Now that dessert was secured, we moved on to the main course.  We went to Wicked Fresh Craft Burgers, and this place is another gem!  The hand cut fries are awesome and their smash burgers are great!  Definitely check them out! We also have a hard time going through Conway without stopping for a beer or a pizza at Tuckerman Brewery.  This has been a favorite of ours for a long time, and they even occasionally have a non-alcoholic beer of their own!   Don't forget to check out our social media accounts to keep up with what we are doing currently.   Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Thanks for joining us in our Season 2 opening episode where we talk all about our 2026 hiking goals and of course, Mike wants to talk skiing.  This year Mike is taking G skiing on the Indy Pass.  This is the first in many seasons that G has tried skiing again.  Listen to her adventures while taking her first of her three lessons, including if she made it out unscathed or not. We both have the Indy Pass and she has 3 lessons to use this season via the Learn to Turn pass.  This program is fantastic for beginners like her. If you haven't joined, or click here if you would like to join the waitlist. Similar to when I skied at Bolton Valley when we went to Vermont in Season 1, we will get out to ski as many resorts as possible this year.   After G's awesome lesson at Tenney Mountain, we went to the Last Chair Brewery in Plymouth, NH for some great Apre's ski!  When we went to Lost Valley a few days later, we stopped at The Pub at Baxter Brewing in Lewiston, Maine.   Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

For our Season 1 finally, We hiked a hike that has been on our bucket list for a long time.  We hiked the Lincoln - Lafayette Loop in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  This hike was outstanding!    We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Lincoln with hopes to hike on one of the 2 morning we were there.  We paid close attention to the Higher Summits Forecast from the Mount Washington Observatory.    Once we decided Saturday was our hiking day, we decided to go to the Common Man in Lincoln for a healthy but hearty pre-hike meal the night before.   This hike is very popular, especially in the fall when we did it.  We arrived at the trailhead at 5:30am to get an early start and we are glad we did!  There is a Hiker Shuttle from Cannon which we thought was really cool!    Besides miles of exposed ridgeline, this hike also has an awesome spot to take a break!  The Greenleaf Hut is on the descent from Lafayette.  The AMC does an amazing job keeping these places up!  This loop is the trail that has the most rescues in New Hampshire.  Many ill prepared hikers end up needing rescued.  This is a good reminder to renew your Hike Safe Card every January!   As we have done with every 4,000 footer we have done yet, we have enjoyed some of the best burgers in NH at BRGR Bar.  Takeout on the couch was a perfect way to start our recovery.  Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok   Thank You so much for sticking with us for Season 1.  Stay tuned for announcements on Season 2 of Around New England!!  Keep exploring one trail at a time!   Mike & G

This week we venture off to some cool family friendly spots in the Portland, Maine area.  We head to Mackworth Island State Park for some quiet views of Casco Bay.   Next we headed to Fort Williams Park to see the famous Portland Head Light lighthouse and walk the cliff walk. We finally had to check out Crescent Beach State Park where you can rent paddle boards!  another spot we recommend is Fore River Sanctuary.  This is a beautiful hiking area that leads to Jewel Falls, Portland's largest waterfall. When we explored most of these spots, we did it off season to beat the crowd.  G mentions The Hidden Outlet on the Route 1 Bypass in Portsmouth, NH as a great place to grab some good deals on outdoor clothing. There are SO many great places for coffee and food in Portland.  Here is a list of places we mention: Taco Escobarr Portland Pie Company Otto Pizza Rose Foods (introduced to us by La Mulita Coffee.  The best in the Seacoast of NH!!) Flatbread Company Black Cow Burger & Fries Bard Coffee Salt Yard Cafe & Bar   Don't forget to check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us as we explore Block Island which is a small but beautiful island just 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island.  It is accessible by The Block Island Ferry.  Book your trip early, as this place gets very busy in the summer!   When you arrive, you will see some of the bluffs that are visible from the mainland.  As you enter the Old Harbor to dock, Ballard's Resort which is a really cool place to grab a drink, a meal, or even to stay overnight.  The time we stayed overnight, we stayed at an adorable B&B, The Sea Breeze Inn.  This place was amazing!  We discuss all the benefits of staying here in this episode. Just a few other beautiful landmarks to see are Southeast Lighthouse, which is on top of the Moheghan Bluffs.  This is another must-see spot!  Abram's Animal Farm has unique animals that you can see for free.   Bring your bike.  This island has tons of cool spots to explore.  We checked out a beach on the west side of the island.  We had lunch there and could see NY, CT, & RI!  We even saw people horse back riding from Rustic Rides Horseback Riding.  It's magical.    The town beach is a great family friendly place.  The Fred Benson Town Beach has a pavilion with concessions and showers! Our favorite meal on island was at The Surf, located in the Block Island Beach House hotel.  The food was awesome, and the location and view are great! We often wait until we get back on the mainland to eat.  One of our favorite places is right by the ferry.  We always enjoy Champlin's Seafood  There are so many good options in Narragansett, RI that are good seafood.  There is George's of Galilee, Iggy's, and Aunt Carrie's.   Which is your favorite? Check out our social media here: Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

*They recently changed the path to a one way for the busy holiday weekend. Please feel free to follow Cannon Mt Instagram where they post updates.  We hiked the famous Flume Gorge and Artist Bluffs on an incredible fall day.  The foliage was popping, and the people were out at some of New England's most popular spots.  Some of these people could benefit from reading our blog on trail etiquette!  Both of these activities are also on our NH Weekend Blog. When we were done at the Flume Gorge, we went to the parking lot of Cannon Mountain to hike Artist Bluff.  On this day we could see all of the notch, the trails on Cannon and the Tramway was even running when we were there.   After our adventure, we stopped in Lincoln at the Moose On the Run Cafe for some iced coffee drinks.  We were excited to see they sold Mad River Coffee House coffee.   Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us as we embark on an adventurous hike up Mount Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In this episode, we explore the challenges and rewards of this steep trail, share insights on the best gear for the journey (spoiler alert, we love LL Bean!) , and delve into the rich history of the Metacomet Ridge. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this episode offers a blend of practical tips and stories. Don't miss our post-hike visit to Nourish Wellness Cafe for a refreshing treat. Tune in for an engaging exploration of Western Massachusetts' natural beauty and history. #HikingAdventures #MountTom #ExploreNewEngland Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us on our first adventure in Connecticut as Around New England!  We went to Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve in Berlin.  This hike had a little more grade than we thought we signed up for, but it is still a family and dog friendly hike and is only about a 30 minute drive from Hartford.  We even saw cool wildlife on the trail! This hike is also part of the New England Trail, which is a hiking trail from Long Island Sound in CT all the way to the Massachusetts - New Hampshire boarder.   After the hike, G found Provisions State Coffee nearby.  They feature Little Wolf Coffee from Ipswich, MA and that was very good, however....the pumpkin pop tarts and the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie both were to die for and both are made at Provisions State Coffee! Don't forget to keep track of our social media so you don't miss out on the photos we mention, including a few of Mike's slight panic attacks.  Thanks for listening! Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

Join us on our 5th 4,000 footer, Mount Moosilauke, but first we talk about some equipment failures like we had during the Mount Pemi episode!  Our day was perfect thanks to planning using New England Trail Conditions.  We hiked Mount Moosilauke and added the loop to hit South Peak.  The views on both peaks were phenomenal and the hike between peaks was an exposed trail that offered stunning 360 degree views!  This section is also a small part of the Application Trail. On the way home we tried a maple creemee (spelled creamie in NH??) at The Maple Creamery in New Hampton, NH.  It hit the spot and the vibes in this spot were cool!  We were exhausted after the hike, so we hit up our favorite local post-hike takeout place, BRGR Bar.  As always, they didn't disappoint.   Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to check us out on social media below!  You can also check out the Around New England Blog about all 4 of the 4,000 footers we have done so far.   Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Today we chat about our last two days in Vermont. To begin the episode we chat about the Indy Pass waitlist experience & if I got my own Indy Pass to ski this winter. We also correct ourselves from last week’s episode, Burke Mountain is an Indy Pass this year! A couple other Indy Pass resorts we mention that are in northern Vermont: Jay Peak, Von Trapp Family Lodge, Catamount Outdoor Family Center.  Episodes we mention you can go back to: Vermont Winter Episode. Mt Gile Episode Places we ate at that we mention- Parker Pie Company Movement Coffee Roasters Ben & Jerry’s Our Socials & website- AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com Instagram TikTok Facebook

This week we discuss our last day in the Burlington area, and we head to check int our Airbnb in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom for the remainder of our trip.   We start the dat renting E-bikes from Local Motion (thanks to another great recommendation from Hello Burlington!).  These E-bikes were great.  We rode them all the way out to the bike ferry station at the end of the causeway across Lake Champlain.  The ferry take you and your bike over to South Hero.  We look forward to doing that next time when we plan more time for this adventure. On the way out of town we tried Al's French Fries to see if they lived up to the hype.  Then we headed through Stowe on our way to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.  We had a delicious lunch at American Flatbread.   This was the start of another amazing part of our trip.  Stay tuned for more Vermont adventures!     Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we talk about our second day on our Vermont family vacation. Thanks to Hello Burlington for the great recommendations on family friendly hikes, we decided to hike Mount Philo in the morning.  This place was really cool.  There is an auto road to the summit, but we decided to hike it.  Fun fact, that road was originally build as a bridal path by the owners of the Mount Philo Inn.  They would take guests up to the summit by horse drawn carriages back in the mid 1800s! After the hike, we checked out the Shelburne Museum.  It was a really cool experience where we even had the opportunity to meet one of the photographers from the circus exhibit.  That was special! We tried hard to fit it all in but we tried hard!  We had so much fun at the Shelburne Museum, we found it hard to leave, so we had to push bike rentals onto the next day....Stay tuned for that soon! For dinner, we went back to Zero Gravity Brewery!  They haven't disappointed us yet!  The food and the beers are great.  Their non-alcoholic Rescue Club is one of Mike's favorites!  For dessert, we were on another Maple Creemee hunt!  We had a recommendation from a friend (who is a local) to try Little Gordo's Creemee Stand.  Unfortunately they are closed on Monday and Tuesday so that didn't work out.  We can't wait to try them next time!  We decided to try Ice Cream Evans by the water.  It wasn't too bad. This day was an amazing part of our trip and we are very excited to share it with you!  Thanks for listening!  

This week we travel to Vermont to start our family trip!  We are so excited to share all the fun things we did in the Green Mountain State!  Our first stop was to the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS) Center in Quechee.     After exploring the VINS, we were hungry!  We stopped by a restaurant we've been meaning to try out on the way.  Worthy Burger in South Royalton did not disappoint!  It was fantastic and we can't wait to go back! After that we stopped by a really cool book store in Rochester, Vermont called Sandy's Book and Bakery.  This place was so cute!  We waited out a rainstorm inside here before heading to a really cool natural watering hole.  There were plenty of people swimming and taking advantage of this amazing place called Warren Falls!   Finally, we hit up the famous Cold Hollow Cider Mill on the way to check in to our hotel. We had our first (of many) Maple Creemees.  If you don't know what a maple creemee is, be sure to give this episode a listen!   Day 1 was huge success!      Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Join us this week as we explore Bear Brook State Park.  No, we didn't find any bodies in barrels.  If you don't understand that joke, listen to Bear Brook Podcast narrated by Jason Moon (right after you listen to ours).  This 10,000+ acre state park is a fantastic way to get out in the woods without going too far.  They are even one of the only parks around to have a new Track Chair that allows handicap people to explore more of the parks! After our hike we found the most amazing coffee shop in nearby Pembroke, NH!  The Vintage Coffee Cup Company was soooo good!  Their caffeinated drinks were amazing but the star of the show were the donuts!  These donuts from Brother's Donuts in Franklin, NH and they were amazing.  If you know donuts, these are on par with Allie's Donuts in Rhode Island.  The cruller was great too.  It isn't like the ones at Lil's Cafe (Although those crullers are in a catagory of their own really)!  We can't wait to return!  Thanks for listening! Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

This week we go Glamping at Suncook River Campground!  That's right, glamping, like glamorous camping!  We are very excited to share all about our weekend with you all.  Even as inexperienced campers, we had a blast here.  The owners of this campground revived it a few years ago and are still making many improvements to make it even better!  Our dome style tent had A/C and a king size bed!  That's our style of camping! Hopefully you have fantastic weather like we did.  There is really no need to leave the campground!  They have all the amenities that you might need or might have forgotten.  Just shoot the main line a text, and they will deliver whatever you need to your site and charge the credit card on file.  Easy Peasy!!   The campground is centrally located in southern New Hampshire, so if there is bad weather, there are many things to do.  The Currier Museum and the See Science Museum are both in nearby Manchester.  Even the seacoast of New Hampshire isn't too far.  The Seacoast Science Center is another great rainy day activity.   Bear Brook State Park is a very short drive from the campground.  We hiked about 4 miles there and barely scratched the surface of the 40+ miles of hiking the park offers.  Stay tuned for our podcast about our hike at Bear Brook State Park. Before our hike we really enjoyed our breakfast at the very cute Shirley's Kitchen in nearby Pembroke, NH.  We highly recommend checking out all these fun spots.  Thanks for joining us!   Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok  

This week we explore Rockport, Massachusetts including Bear Skin Neck and Halibut Point State Park.  We also talk about Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich.   Our first spot was to check out the quarry, the hiking path, and the rocks on the bold ocean facing the Atlantic Ocean.  Halibut Point State Park has some interesting history, the quarry business was run from the mid 1800s until the great depression in 1929.  Back then they didnt have the technology that is used to harvest granite now.  Mike talks about the history.  The trails are fun and the views are incredible! For lunch we went to a delicious lunch at Fresco's Seaside which was located just outside of the Bear Skin Neck area of Rockport.  The food was awesome and this place had the  classic New England vibes. The Crane Estates is another incredible place in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  This place is jaw-dropping.  We discuss a wedding we went to this year, and the beautiful grounds. As always, thanks for listening and keep exploring New England one trail at a time! Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

This week we headed back up to Crawford Notch State Park and checked out two of New Hampshire's most beautiful waterfalls, Ripley Falls and Arethusa Falls.  We first stopped at the AMC Highland Center to use the bathrooms and to check out the gift shop of course!  The AMC staff is always super helpful and are more than willing to talk to you about your hiking plans.  On this day, the staff member gave us a good recommendation for a fun side adventure.  It had rained a lot during the week prior to us hiking, so we were in for a treat! The first spot was Ripley Falls which was a short but steep hike to a unique type of waterfall.  This one kind of slid down a 45 degree rock face and the views were really cool!   Arethusa Falls is probably the most popular waterfall in New Hampshire.  It is also the tallest at 160 feet!  This trail is longer and a little more challenging than Ripley Falls.  On the way down, we took the advice of the AMC staff member and took the Bemis Trail down.   On the way home we stopped in North Conway at Frontside Coffee Roasters for some caffeine and sweet treats.  Then we strolled down the main street to one of our favorite spots to poke around, Zeb's General Store.   One last stop in Conway at Tuckerman Brewing for a quick beer.  It was a fantastic day with the family seeing some amazing views in the White Mountain National Forest.  Who could ask for anything else? Around New England Website Instagram Tik Tok

Maine's coastline has a ton to offer starting with one of the first towns you enter as you cross over from New Hampshire.  In this episode we highlight our favorite places in a town that is very special to us.  We discuss many hotels in York including the York Beach Surf Club, York Harbor Inn, Stage Neck Inn, Union Bluff Hotel, and the stunning Cliff House overlooking the cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean.   There are many activities for any age group within York.  Check out our previous podcast about Mount Agamenticus and Vaughn Woods (Located in nearby South Berwick, ME) for some hiking ideas.  The beaches are the main attraction in York during the summer.  Long Sands and Short Sands are the popular ones, but don't sleep on Harbor Beach next to the Stage Neck Inn.   Regardless if you hiked all day, shopped, or even just chilled at the pool or beach all day, you gotta eat, and this town has you covered!  For breakfast, St. Joe's Coffee is a great way to start the day.  Bagel Basket is another "must-stop" for us when we are in York.  Anthony's Food Shop is surprisingly good for grabbing some quick food for the beach.   Some great lunch and dinner spots that we mention in York are York River Landing, Fat Tomato Grill, and the famous Goldenrod, where you can see them making the salt water taffy right in the window.  It's classic, pop in even if it's just to try a piece of the taffy!   If its a rainy day, maybe some shopping in the Kittery outlets is in order.  Kittery has some amazing food spots to check out too.  You really can't go wrong with any of these that we mentioned; Pepperrell Cove, Bob's Clam Hut, Robert's Maine Grill, When Pigs Fly Pizzeria, Lil's Cafe, Beach Pea Bakery, Carl's Meat Market, and Golden Harvest.  Seriously, this area has some amazing food options! Book that trip to York, Maine today.  It really is "The way life should be"!

Join us as we hike another 52 with a view, Mount Cube.  We loved this hike from the start to the end!  Both peaks had views but the south peak had the best views of the day!   We were pressed for time this trip so we couldn't stop for food but we found a place that we can't wait to try soon!  The Last Chair Brewery looks like it's our vibe and it has good reviews on google.   Until we try it ourselves, we can always recommend Biederman's and Cafe Monte Alto when in the Plymouth, NH area.  Both are great!

This week we go to Western Maine and explore Grafton Notch State Park in Newry Maine!  There are many different areas we explored right off the road.  Table Rock trail was the main hike we did and the views at the top did not disappoint!  We even hiked a small section of the Appalachian Trail! We also stumbled upon an amazing little roadside bakery stand called Puzzle Mountain Bakery.  Be sure not to drive by without stopping on the way home!  It is right on the road that the park is on.  The treats were amazing, but the wild Maine Blueberry Pie was to die for!   They take cash and Venmo!! We also grabbed a great round of post-hike appetizers and beers outside on the patio at Steam Mill Brewing.  This dog-friendly brewery has many outdoor activities to do while enjoying your food and drinks.  It was a great way to refuel for the ride home!   

We tackled our 4th NH 4,000 foot peak!  Actually....G explains why it's barely on the list.  Mount Tecumseh is the mountain that Waterville Valley Ski Area is located.  We talk about our experiences including some excellent views from the ski trails!   After the hike, we went to a favorite amongst many hikers and skiers, Mad River Coffee.  The drinks, scone and the molasses cookie were top notch! You can also check out the Around New England Blog about all 4 of the 4,000 footers we have done so far.   Articles G Mentions: Still 48 4,000 Footers? A 4,000 Footer Controversy     

This week we check out a few different segments of the East Coast Greenway.  The section in Maine is called the Eastern Trail.  We went from Kennebunk to Saco and back.  The trail goes through the woods and even crosses over Route 95 near the rest area in Kennebunk.  The segment in New Hampshire is called the Seacoast Greenway.  The sections from Portsmouth to Hampton have been completed so far.   In the morning, we finally checked out Rover Bagel.  They have great bagels, and even have some gluten free options.  After our biking adventures, we decided to check out Lucky Pigeon Brewery in Biddeford.  They have a great selection of gluten free beer and snacks. Another favorite of ours in that area is the Hidden Cafe in Arundel!  Don't sleep on the mini churro donuts!

Join us as we check out the locations within New England that have some of Thomas Dambo's famous trolls.  We explore Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine and Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI.   One of our absolute favorite places for coffee and a snack after checking out the trolls, or before the beach is Dave's Coffee! Best Beaches in RI Blog Bar Harbor Weekend Podcast

What an amazing adventure up The Cog Railway we had!  Join us as we tell you about how we ended up being invited to share our experience with all of you.  This locomotive has been taking people to the summit of the highest mountain in the northeast since 1869!  It has grades as steep as 38% which makes it the 2nd steepest railway in the world.   This is an excellent way to see the summit of Mount Washington without putting in the hard work of hiking it.  The Cog is near the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, one of the originals of the 33 grand hotels spread across New Hampshire.  The hotel is iconic from the ground, but is even more impressive when you see it from the summit of the mountain.   After the Cog, we decided to go to Bethlehem, NH to The Place Above The Notch for a coffee and snack!  It was so good!  We had a tasty lunch at Rek'lis Brewing Company.   After lunch we headed over to Littleton to poke around.  We love that town!  Listen to this episode for more details! AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com Around New England Hiking Instagram  

This week we are prepping for summertime activities with a visit to Plum Island off the northeast coast of Massachusetts.  This beautiful island has a park with many short walkabouts that we explored one trail at a time.  The dunes, beaches and salty marshes are a sanctuary for bird watchers (or birders?  Is that really a thing?).  We discuss the different trail options including some spectacular beach access spots.   After exploring the park for quite some time, we definitely needed to get caffeinated and maybe grab a little snack.  We discovered the amazing Changing Tides Cafe and it did not disappoint!  Take a listen!  

Camden Maine is not only one of our favorite little seacoast towns to visit, but it's a great place to get some fun hiking in too!  Join us as we hiked around Camden Hills State Park.  We started by going up Mount Megunticook to the Ocean Lookout via the Megunticook trail, then headed over to Mount Battie via the Tablelands Trail, and returned to the parking lot via the Nature Trail.  Although the weather wasn't ideal, we enjoyed the hike and our timing was perfect for a few breaks in the clouds to get some nice views of Camden Harbor. As soon as we finished, the rain started as we hit up Camden.  We found some delicious treats and coffees at Owl and Turtle Bookshop!  This place is so cute, and the food and coffee were great.   Delicious gluten free beer Lucky Pigeon Find More info on our Website or visit our Instagram or catch our videos on TikTok

We hiked Mount Jackson mid April. There was a still a lot of snow and ice, but it was beautiful! Listen to why getting the NH safe card is a good idea, accidents can happen to anyone anytime. Why packing a headlamp, spikes (is that what they're called?) and some Tylenol in your bag is also a good idea!  Our after hike meal was at my personal favorite When Pigs Fly restaurant in Kittery, ME. If you're heading up to Maine this summer stop by and check them out, they're amazing!!  #mtJackson #nh48 #hikenh

While G is away for work, Mike gets out and does some solo hiking, and decided to do a solo podcast about it too!  He explored three fun NH Hikes that were new to him.  First he discussses Artist Bluffs along with Bald Mountain.  A fun loop that hits two mountains and a beautiful lake was next at Pawtuckaway State Park.  Lastly he finally conquered the famous Mount Monandnock!  Listen to hear about his adventures, his ratings of each hike, and some tips on what to do and not to do as a solo hiker.

A hike perfect for the entire family, Mt Roberts located in Moultonborough, NH. This hike has great views from the parking lot and it continues to get better.  If you're interested in the book we mention follow this link to purchase Ken MacGray's book: 52 with a View.  This book is a great resource for hikers in NH! We visited Tuckerman Brewery for lunch dinner. They have amazing pizza and beer go check them out. They have had some of their own non-alcoholic beer in the past. Mike talks about how he learned about their process to remove the alcohol.  We also chat about Whalers Brewing in RI & their fun vibe.  Lago's for ice cream, trust us it is the best!

Hiking one of NH 48 4,000 footers was a success. We hiked Mount Pierce Aril 4, 2025. We experience weather changes and maybe all 4 season in one day on one hike.  We also chat about the huts you can rent from the AMC. Have you ever stayed at one? Check out trail conditions HERE around New England. After the hike we headed home for a well deserved dinner. We got burgers from our favorite burger place around BRGR-BAR. Go check them out for amazing food and drinks!  We have more info on our website: AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com  For pictures of each episode you can find them on our Instagram: Around New England Hiking

This week we discuss a classic New England landmark, Fenway Park! Being lifelong New Englanders, we are biased but we agree Fenway is the coolest ballpark! We discuss the history of the ballpark, some facts about the Red Sox, some of our own baseball memories there, and of course our favorite....The Fenway Concert Series!   Boston is well known for their food.  If your schedule allows, We recommend hitting up the North End prior to arriving at Fenway.  Galleria Umberto has some of the best pizza around.   There are plenty of options for great food in and around Fenway Park as well. Some of our favorites that we discuss are; Blaze Pizza, Time Out Market, Trillium, Sweet Cheeks Q, El Jefe's Taqueria, Sweet Green, Cava, Yard House, & Tasty Burger.

Today we chat about our experience with Maple weekend in the state of Vermont. This is a statewide event in March. You can checkout VermontMaple.org for upcoming events and a list of farms and sugar shacks.  We visited two farms Baird & Bourdon Farm. Baird Farm is in in North Chittenden and you can schedule your free tour on their website! We also visited Bourdon Farm in Woodstock, VT. Not able to visit Vermont? You can order maple syrup from either place on their website! Visit Our Website:  AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com  Pictures from each episode can be found on our Instagram: Around New England Hiking   

Join us for an incredible weekend away in Bar Harbor, Maine! On the drive up we stopped at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to see the trolls!   Check out Thomas Dambo website for more information on the artist who creates the trolls. Once we arrived in Bar Harbor the timing of the tide allowed us to hike across to Bar Island.  We had dinner at the Upper Deck which was close to our Airbnb. The next day we went to Acadia National Park and hiked The Bubbles and Jordan Pond then enjoyed a drink at Paddy’s then had a great meal at Geddy’s!   The next day we were tired, so we enjoyed a car ride in Acadia National Park.  There is a loop that has several stops where you can explore.  Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, and Cadillac Mountain are all on the loop and are lots of fun to check out! We had a great meal at Mainely Meat BBQ for dinner.  It was a really cool spot. What trip to Maine would be complete without a stop at L.L.Bean?! A must do when driving through Freeport.  Bar Harbor is an amazing part of Maine that we would recommend anyone to visit. It's truly an amazing part of New England!   Our website: AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com  Our Instagram: Around New England Hiking     

A couple of our favorite local to us hikes Mt A & the Vaughn Woods.  We talk about the trails at each place. And how these are great family friendly hikes for any ability and age. Mt. A in York Maine does have an access road so if hiking ins't in your day dirve to the top and check out the views. While Vaugh Woods is in South Berwick Maine. A little more off the beaten path and not as busy during tourist season. Check out the restaurants we talk about as well: Bagel Basket in York Maine Chickadee Tea aka what used to be called Whit Heron in Eliot Maine.  Lil's in Kittery Maine & get the cruller you won't be disappointed!   Our website: AroundNewEnglandPodcast.com  Our Instagram: Around New England Hiking    Thanks so much for being here!