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  

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!