Summer weekend in Southern Maine

When I think of Maine, I think of rocky coasts, national parks, puffin and lighthouse tours, lobster everything, epic restaurants in Portland, so many craft breweries, foggy islands, whale watching tours, and moose sightings on the lake. I’ve been up to Maine a handful of times to hike Acadia, stroll through Bar Harbor, get married on a lake, cruise around Bar Harbor, and hike the Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak 

What I never really associated Maine with, was beach towns and boardwalks, amusement parks and family vacations. Of all my trips to Maine, this was the first time we made a point to stop at the beach, and do some of the touristy things like dinner in Ogunquit, a day at Wells Beach, and an overcast morning at the Old Orchard Beach boardwalk. After a few beach days on the southern seacoast of Maine, I can officially say I GET IT. Loud and clear. I get why families flock to the beach, why kids crowd the arcade and couples walk the boardwalk. It’s sort of like the Jersey Shore without Jersey: i.e. less people, more lobster. 

Semi Pemi Loop - Backpacking in the Whites

Dear Reader, 

If you noticed, yes, I am sort of blogging in reverse.  I was wrapping up my trip to Europe before switching over to last weekend in New Hampshire for peak foliage, and now backtracking my way back to September.  While I did this hike towards the end of summer (early September) with enough gear and preparation, you can easily hike this loop in the fall.  And this loop - it is famous and challenging and pushed me in ways I was not expecting.  It's not for the faint of heart but you will be rewarded with the most amazing views, spectacular vistas, ridgeline hiking, a hut in the woods and a good amount of 4,000' summits.  

I did this loop.... 38 miles in two days climbing 7,500', with a fair amount of struggle on day 2.  I did this loop untrained and unprepared and missing the one peak Ryan needed.  Education isn't free folks.  Sometimes you pay in dollars, sometimes you pay in blood, sweat, and tears.  

But before I get into the specifics of this hike, all miles and emotions, let's chat about these famous loops in the Whites.  You see, you need a little bit of background on these crazy loops and lists of peaks that hikers go out to conquer.  These loops are often designed to bag as many peaks as you can, making notoriously long and hard hikes that often done in overnight trips.  

East Branch Pemigewasset River

Here are the most famous 

Best of the Boardwalk - Ocean City, New Jersey

There is something so innocent and youthful about a weekend in Ocean City, New Jersey.  This "Beach Resort Town" has been rated the #1 family beach community in the country by the Travel Channel and let's face it, you can't help but feel like a kid again as you stroll down the boardwalk and play in the surf. 

For starters, it's a dry county meaning no alcohol is served within the county.  No package stores/liquor stores here and the restaurants do not serve alcohol either.  By default, this sort of keeps a lot of the riff-raff out as you will not see spring breakers or bachelor parties roaming the boardwalk at night.  This part of Dry Jersey helps keep the town cleaner, safer, and family-friendly. 

Taughannock Falls - Finger Lakes, New York

At this point in the trip Lucy (my mom) had a lot to say about the trails I was picking.  Too many stairs, too long, they hurt her knee, and so on.  Truth be told, these trails had been relatively flat in my eyes.  We weren't hiking to any summits, just following gorges and waterfalls in the middle of Amish Country New York.  

With that being said, sometimes it's hard to step back and realize we all have different definitions of an "easy trail", molded by experience and fitness levels.  I run 2 days a week and do CrossFit 4 days a week.  She is not consistent with exercise and nutrition and had a knee surgery earlier in the year.  Our definitions of an easy trail are very, very different.  And that's okay.  

By Hike 3 in the Finger Lakes, we finally found a trail that was more her pace, and fit her definition of easy.  A short, flat, well maintained wide trail that after a 1-mile leisurely stroll, ended at a breathtaking waterfall.   It was one of those low effort high reward kind of hikes.  

Have someone in your group who appreciates easier trails?  Want to take the kids on an easy hike?  Or maybe you just want a nice little walk to stretch your legs and take a few photos.  Head to Taughannock Falls. 

Letchworth State Park, Finger Lakes, New York

Upper Falls - Letchworth State Park 

New York, 

How were you hiding all these big and showy state parks?  I have lived in the Northeast most of my life (minus those two years in Utah) and as you know dear reader, I am madly in love with the outdoors.  Whether it's scuba diving or horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking, or just an evening under the stars.  I'm happiest when I 'm outside. 

In my 31 years I have traveled a lot, especially around the U.S.  And when I moved back east from Utah, I made it my mission to tackle more mountains, more peaks, and spend more time outside.  To experience the outdoors in new places and in new ways. 

But even after being back east for 2.5 years and tackling different challenges, these New York State Parks are still a complete surprise.  It's amazing what is hiding just a few state lines away).  These parks in the Finger Lakes were gems no one down here in New England really talked about.  

This wasn't just a casual run of the mill  State Park.  To me, this was dramatic and oh so beautiful with rugged cliffs and waterfalls, miles of trails and so many recreation opportunities.  I couldn't help but think, this place is kind of National Park worthy. 

Robert H. Trehman State Park, Finger Lakes - Waterfall Loop Hike

Views along the Gorge Trail 

It sort of became a new tradition to explore New York on the fourth of July. It all started last year when I convinced my parents we should spend the long weekend up in the Ausable area, camping, exploring, and hiking up in the gorgeous Adirondacks. It was a great trip that included one of my favorite hikes to date, Indian Head. Since then, I have made it a mission to spend more time exploring this huge state of New York that is truly an outdoor lover's paradise. I've done a few hikes in the Catskills, spent some time in the Adirondacks and now, spent the fourth of July holiday in the Finger Lakes. 

 Spending America's birthday deep in the woods and in one of our countries state parks is my favorite way to celebrate Independence Day. 

A Day Trip to Martha's Vineyard

Towards the end of a cold New England winter, and about the time I met Adam, I started putting together a New England summer "sorta bucket list".  It's a list of all the things and places I wanted to see in the near future. My list was places suggested by a friend or gems I found online that I quickly jotted down in a spreadsheet before it was lost in my brain, drifting somewhere between the never-ending To Do List and much-needed Grocery List. But because this is 2019 and I almost always have a computer in front of me or a phone nearby, this list turned into one long google doc I can add to wherever whenever.  

Idletyme Brewing Company - Stowe, VT

If you have been following Katie Wanders for a while, you probably know a few things to be true:  1) I love to be active and 2) I love to park my behind at a brewery immediately after said activity.   Hike/Ski/Run, Beer, Repeat.  And if I am being honest, it has to be good beer - preferably local, preferably new to me.  As some may tease, I have a loose set of rules when it comes to boozing in various locations.  You can drink a Narraganset on the Block Island Ferry... you can drink a PBR on a ski mountain, but in about every other situation, it has to be good beer. 

After a great hike up Mount Hunger, three silly sweaty hikers left the trailhead and immediately drove to one of the local breweries to drink cold beer (and cider, and vodka) and order everything on the menu that was deep fried or smothered in sauce and cheese.  A few hundred calories burned and a few thousand consumed.  It was a weekend for the books, just not the scales. 

A weekend at Squam Lake, New Hampshire

Its been a month since my last post and I have to admit, this is the longest quiet spell that KW has had in a while.  Life has sent me into a tailspin and I have been living by the motto "when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on".  After a few stressful weeks, I decided to step away from some of the noise.  I grabbed my dog, my friends, and my camping gear and headed north for a weekend in the woods and on a quiet lesser-known lake in Central New Hampshire.

Hiking Mount Tom - Holyoke, Massachusetts

Hiking in New England can be a battle.  Sometimes (okay, often) you have to travel to find a hike with some elevation and scenic views.  Getting above the tree line and a view besides a forest of oaks can often be tricky.  Located about an hour and a half from home, this hike was a relatively easy drive and day trip for a great workout, beautiful views, and a chance to take Olive out on a hike. Dog-friendly, a ton of local breweries, and easy access and from what I hear one of the best day hikes in Massachusetts. Let's talk Mount Tom. 

Captain Scotts Lobster Dock

Katie may be wandering in Iceland in all the winter clothing she owns (and wow is it amazing) but it is still summer in Connecticut. Today, to celebrate the 85 degree indian summer in September, we are continuing on the Connecticut Lobster Roll Tour (this one's for you Amanda!). 

Newport International Polo Series

A Saturday at the Newport Polo Fields has been on my list for a few summers. The horse lover and obvious Newport lover in me was excited to spend a Saturday summer evening in my favorite state, sipping on wine and enjoying a New England summer day.  I knew that polo was cheap (12$ for general admission), BYOB (yes please), and you could bring your own picnic.   Also, I read that dogs were allowed and it was a casual low key scene away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Newport.  

 BYOB, Dogs and Boozey Picnic? I knew I needed in. 

Diving Folly Cove- Gloucester, Massachusetts

New England diving usually goes a little something like this.... Rocky shores, zero to there-are-my-dive-buddies visibility (10 feet?), and marine life typical of the Atlantic shores ranging from a hue of brown to brown.  It isn't always the most exciting of marine life or best visibility, but I will say this without a doubt, it makes you a better diver.  We are all used to "brail diving" as we like to call it, when the visibility is so bad you just sort of feel around with your hands to find the bottom or things around you so when things get mucked up or the vis is low, we don't panic. 

Before I go on, know I am not complaining, that diving these sometimes murky Atlantic waters is how I love to spend a Wednesday afternoon (and many a weekend).  You should also know not all New England waters are treated the same.  Where Stonington Point usually sees visibility in the 5-10' range, many lakes, quarries, and areas of our coast get visibility ranging from 20 to 30+' which to us New Englanders is amazing.  We can travel around the NE coast to find some better visibility and abundance of critters.

Hiking Mount Monadnock, Southern New Hampshire

This was one of those weekends that I did so much it actually felt LONG.  Friday night at home, Saturday a drive to New Hampshire to hike, and Sunday a trip to Massachusetts to dive.  I have so much to share with you all so let's just start in order with my day in New Hampshire.  With my final New England summit happening this weekend (the beast that is Katahdin, the highest point in Maine) I knew I needed to get some hiking with elevation in.  This can be a challenge in Coastal Connecticut where our hikes are often a more leisurely stroll through the woods.  When a friend who is also joining me on Katahdin suggested Mount Monadnock in southern New Hampshire, I happily made the 2.5 hour trek north and tagged along. 

Weekender's Guide to Block Island, Rhode Island

I am sad to say we are nearing the end of the Amanda in New England trip (#AmandaInNewEngland).  A lot of our trip was spent exploring some of the Northeast’s best cities, Boston and New York.  We also spend some time wandering around Connecticut, stopping at Avery Point, Fort Trumbull, Kayaking around Old Lyme, and even a day at the barn where Amanda rode Bradley.  While Amanda had surely gotten a taste of New England with historic Boston and beautiful Connecticut, I really wanted her to experience some of the best parts about New England, the parts that make me swoon- the coast, the charm, the character.  I wanted to do that without trekking all the way up to Acadia, Maine, or through the backwoods of Vermont/New Hampshire.  To show Amanda what I thought was some of the best of New England, I decided to take her to Block Island, Rhode Island and plan the perfect weekenders guide for a weekend of quintessential New England close enough to home.  

Colt State Park - Bristol, Rhode Island

Sometimes, it is so nice to head out of town with absolutely no plans.  A few towns in mind, sunny skies, a tank full of gas, dive gear in the trunk and an open agenda...that was the tune of my fourth of July weekend.  On Sunday, we loaded up the car and headed north.  We had nowhere really to be, but a few destinations in mind.  The sorta plan was to head down and check out the cute town of Bristol, Rhode Island, before back tracking to Newport and then Jamestown Rhode Island for a dive, checking out new dive sites and any fun areas along the way. 

Fourth of July in Bristol, RI

Driving through Bristol on the fourth of July weekend was an activity in itself. I knew nothing about this little town (absolutely nothing) and was pleasantly suprised to drive through this quaint little town ALL decked out for the holiday.  On July 4th, every year since 1785, the town of Bristol hosts a national celebration that’s actually older than the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution (1790).  A little town that is part of the oldest fourth of July celebration in America, I am not sure any town had more red white and blue than this one.  People take their parade activities so seriously that we even saw staging set up for lofted couches and prime parade views.

We continued driving and our first detour of the day was to Colt State Park in Bristol.  Looking at Apple maps as we coasted down the busy roads, I could see a large State Park bordering the ocean to our right.  Ocean, state park,  free admission...we saw the signs and made the turn to see what the park was all about.  

Large bulls guarding the entrance to Colt State Park

Recapping a Katie Wanders Summer

Happy Monday everyone.  

With the leaf peeking season coming to a close, and summer long gone now, I thought it would be fun to do a summer recap of all of the great trips of the summer.  Sometimes it just feels so darn good to sit back and reflect at all of the amazing things you accomplished.  Or in this case, all the beautiful places I saw.  Looking back, I can't help but think how lucky I am to have seen all of these beautiful faces and places.   From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and some beautiful places in between.  Peaks of mountains, lakes along the American West to the waves under the Golden Gate Bridge.  I don't always get to travel to exotic places, but this recap is truly a reminder of how beautiful  (and amazingly diverse) the U.S. of A really is.  

May to September here we go.

Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park 

May

We started off the summer season the Katie Wanders way, with a Road trip.  Late May we packed up the car and headed to Denver, Colorado where we visited a few friends and enjoyed the city.  I loved Denver, a fun clean city with a great vibe, but just a little too far from the mountains.  We also drove through the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes, taking in another gorgeous National Park.  Eventually we drove back west across Colorado stopping in Steamboat Springs, and some crazy little towns in Colorado and Utah.   I also made it home in May where I spend time with family and friends.  I spent some time riding, working, and catching up.  I even escaped CT for a weekend and visited the beautiful Newport Mansions in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Breakers Mansion, Newport, Rhode Island 

June 

 June was a fun month before the Utah heat came full force (Utah summer sun is no joke).  We rode around on our bikes and had a blast at Salt Lake City BikeProm.  A big ol party where we ride our bikes around the city in prom attire- as much fun as it sounds.  I ran the Utah Valley Marathon down Provo Canyon, and scored my second 26.2 for the books with some friends.  And yes my last 26.2.  Of course there were some great hikes, like Adams Canyon Waterfall, Donut Falls, Blood Lake and Lackawaxen Lake, and spent a day paddleboarding at Jordanelle Reservoir.  

Finish Line of the Utah Valley Marathon 

Bike Prom 

Hike to Adams Canyon Falls 

July 

July brought the heat, or really, the never ending Utah Sun.  We took a hike to beautiful Horsetail Falls, and then spent the fourth of July camping in the Uintas with a group of friends.  The Uintas are a great place to escape the city heat and enjoy the wilderness in the land of no cell reception.  I checked out the Utah dive scene and spent some time diving at the Bonneville Sea Base.  I fed the fish and had a wonderful reunion with my dive gear.  There were some trips to local favorites, like Antelope Island and Park City, a great way to escape the heat.  And then there was the epic California Road Trip.  Four days from Utah to the coast to finish off our drive all the way across the country.  From Salt Lake City, to Lake Tahoe, to Sausalito, San Francisco, down the Pacific Coast Highway, spending some time in Big Sur and Monterey, Napa and Sacramento before heading back.  My favorite trip of the summer! California is as amazing as they brag to be I have to say it....

Antelope Island 

Diving at the Bonneville Sea Base

Hike to Horsetail Falls 

Monterey, California 

Napa, California 

Sausalito, California 

Lake Tahoe, California 

August  

August started with another trip home between semesters (yes, I went back three times this summer- girl needs her ocean).  I started off the trip home with a drive and weekend up in Boothbay Harbor, Maine with great friends.  A weekend spent relaxing by the water with a lobster roll in hand.  I was back East in Connecticut for almost two weeks where I enjoyed time with family and friends, diving a ton and enjoying New England summer.  Once I made it back west, I ended the month with a trip to the Uintas to escape the heat and enjoy a nice hike around Wall Lake.

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Wall Lake, High Uintas 

September 

September was another great month (are you sick of hearing that yet?).  We started off September with a trip to Snow Bird’s Oktoberfest for good beer and local fun.  Then there were a few great waterfall hikes, Battlecreek Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Stewart Falls down in Utah County.  And then… you guessed it! Another trip back East.  This time, it was to Vermont for a friend’s wedding before heading to Connecticut.  We spent a beautiful weekend stopping in Brattleboro, Vermont and celebrating Amy and Luis at Killington, Vermont .  We also hiked the beautiful Deer Leap Overlook trail with friends.  After Vermont, it was home for a few days before heading to Block Island, Rhode Island to relax on the beach for a few days.  It was perfect beach weather and a wonderful week playing hookie from grad school life.  September ended with a beautiful hike back in Utah to Desolation Lake.

Hike to Desolation Lake 

Hike to Stewarts Falls 

Snowbirds Oktoberfest 

Hike to Deer Leap Rock, Vermont 

South Lighthouse, Block Island, Rhode Island

States Seen:  Utah, California, Colorado, Nevada, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, 

Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Bars with Yogurt and Almond Milk

Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Bars

with bananas, almond milk, yogurt, chocolate, and chopped almonds.

My sweet tooth has been out of control lately.  

I want dessert every night.  

And I have even been seriously craving lunch dessert (is that a thing?).  I needed to come up with some healthier summer sweet tooth options.  So the Peanut Butter Banana Bars were born.  These are made with low fat yogurt, unsweetened almond milk, PB2 powder (less calories than peanut butter) and bananas for sweetness. Bananas, chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combos, and adding on some almonds give this bar the perfect crunch.

If you want to wow your guests with a healthy(ish) summer dessert, or just want to hoard these in your freezer for yourself, read on.  (These are soooo easy so if you are thinking that looks like a lot of work, you are wrong my lazy friend).