It’s easy to fancy yourself a bold winter explorer as you cross-country ski the backcountry trails of Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness.
The Birches Resort in Rockwood is a treat of a getaway, with rustic lakeside cabins, over 40 miles of cross-country skiing trails, and the perfect amount of wilderness solitude.
At Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford, you can cross-county ski, snowshoe, or fat bike on the trails - for free - then head inside the restaurant for pizza and beer. Maybe head out back and loiter by the bonfire if you're so inclined.
There are 25 kilometers of ski trails here (3 km are lit for night skiing) ranging from beginner to advanced terrain, with enough incline along the way to make sure you stay warm and enough downhill to keep it fun.
Night skiing at Titcomb Mountain feels like a treat. The trails are groomed, the lights guide the way, and you might even have the place to yourself.
Even if you've never been on cross-country skis and you've never shot an air rifle, you can be a biathlete at the Midcoast Conservacy Biathon at Hidden Valley Nature Center and the Nordic Biathlon at Roberts Farm Preserve.
It's a winter trifecta that combines a bit of outdoor activity with plenty of well-deserved post-ski relaxation. And then more relaxation. Toss in a pit stop at the tavern for a beer and a burger and you've got yourself a day worth writing home about.
We CAN BE skate skiers. We just need in-person guidance and a couple hours of positive affirmations. An Intro to Skate Skiing lesson with L.L.Bean is just the thing.
There are 27 kilometers of trails at Five Fields Farm, which loop around the appled orchards and connect with logging roads and property owned the Loon Echo Land Trust on Bald Pate Mountain.
Inspired by the Winter Games? We all are! While it's true that most of us will never stand on the podium with a gold medal around our neck, it IS possible to experience the athleticism of the Winter Games - at least a little bit.