Bags of candy corn have taken over the shelves at CVS. The kids are back in school. I went apple picking this past weekend (at Libby & Sons in Limerick – we picked blueberries, too, and they also had pizza and wine and beer and live tunes, and I ate a bunch of donuts. So yea, all great things. More about it.). All signs are pointing to the impending fall, and I really do look forward to cool breezes, crunchy leaves, and the desire to eat hot soup again.
That said, it’s NOT FALL YET. And while it’s easy to get caught up in the “summer’s over!” mania that tends to hit this time of year, we still have 2.5 weeks of technical summer, and I say we milk those 2.5 weeks for all their worth. You with me?
Here are some options.
Active things you can STILL DO this summer:
Go on a hike and hit a swimming hole
You can hike all year, but swimming season is short in Maine. (Upside to late-summer dips: the water’s pretty cozy right now, relatively speaking.) To help you find the perfect place to hike and swim, check this roundup: 20+ trail hikes that include a refreshing swimming hole dip
Hike the Bold Coast
Cutler Coast is often called the “Bold Coast” for reasons that become readily clear the moment you set eyes on those cliffs. There are 10 miles of trails here, including 3.5 miles of coastal trail, where you can look down into the Bay of Fundy from atop the cliffs or walk through meadows of chest-high flowers before ducking back onto the tree-covered trail.
Read more about it: Hike the Bold Coast at Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land (plus camping at Cobscook)
Go waterfall-hunting (and hiking and paddling) in Rangeley
The wonders of Rangeley are too many to count, but you’ll have a grand time trying to cram as much hiking, paddling, and waterfall-hunting as you can into your visit (whether that’s late summer or fall). Here are some ideas for your next visit:
Read more about it: Adventuring in Rangeley: Hiking, paddling, and waterfalls all over the place
Work out outside!
Sure, a lot of outdoor workouts go year-round (outdoors, in the snow!), but late-summer is the best outdoor workout weather. There’s plenty of yoga, running, and boot camps to enjoy while it’s still warm enough to sweat your brains out in shorts.
FMI: Find a whole bunch of outdoor workouts
Also, run groups! Pub runs + running clubs in Maine: Running is better with friends
Find a cool place to paddle
Summer is Maine is a paddler’s dream. Fall is actually pretty great, too. But if you prefer your paddles in warm weather and t-shirts, maybe now is a good time to get some paddling in. Between the coastal routes, winding rivers, scenic marshes and big lakes, there’s no shortage of new adventures for kayakers and paddleboarders. Need ideas? How about some beginner-friendly suggestions from the authors of “Paddling Southern Maine: Day Trips for Recreational Kayakers, Canoers, and SUPers”.
Some ideas: Paddling Southern Maine: 10 beginner-friendly places to kayak and SUP
Full Moon Canoe at the Scarborough Marsh
Sept. 13 | Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center
Climb into a canoe as the sun is setting and enjoy a guided paddle through the twists and turns of the Scarborough Marsh as the full moon shows itself (hopefully – assuming it’s a clear sky). Watch for black-crowned night heron along the bank or snowy egret flying back to a nearby island for the evening. There’s only one full moon canoe tour left this season, and it’s on Sept 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. Cost is $16.
FMI: www.maineaudubon.org
Read more about it: Sunset and full moon canoe tours on the Scarborough Marsh with Maine Audubon
Ride a railcycle
Into September | Thorndike
Feel the wind on your face and listen to the rhythmic tunk-tunk of wheels on railroad tracks during an easy-going ride on a railcycle. These neat two-person pedal bikes are a hoot to ride, and railcycles make for a pretty unique and easy-going experience through the woods in Thorndike. $15 per person – railcycles seat two people side-by-side.
FMI: railcyclers.com
Read more about it: Ride the railcycles with B&ML RailCyclers in Thorndike
Rappel down a waterfall
Through September | Northeast Mountaineering, Bartlett, NH
Yes. You can rappel down a waterfall. More specifically, you can rappel down 100-foot Ripley Falls in Crawford Notch in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, even if you’ve never rappelled down anything before.
The waterfall rappel is one of the adventurous offerings from Northeast Mountaineering, a guiding company based in Bartlett, New Hampshire. Tours run Thursday-Sunday through September, and rappelling down a waterfall could end up being a highlight of your summer. Or early fall, if you want to look at it like that. Cost ranges from $125-$200, depending on the size of the group.
FMI: www.nemountaineering.com
Read more about it: Rappel down a waterfall with Northeast Mountaineering
Hiking Yoga with Yoga on York
Sept. 8 | Mount Agamenticus, York
Do mountain pose ON A MOUNTAIN. Or tree pose among trees. And have the yoga instructor guide you to reach for the sky or point your toes toward the ocean. Yoga on York has one more chance to join them on a Saturday-morning hiking yoga class. It’s about 15 minutes to hike up Mount Agamenticus, followed by yoga at the summit. $20 drop-in. Last class of the season is Sept. 8 at 7 a.m.
FMI: yogaonyork.com
Read more about it: Hiking yoga on Mount Agamenticus with Yoga on York
Outdoor Yoga at Bug Light Park
Through September | Bug Light Park, South Portland
Kelly Rich Yoga has led donation-based yoga at Bug Light Park all summer, and there’s still outdoor yoga to be had. Classes are offered multiple days a week into early October (weather depending, of course). All levels are welcome, the views of Portland harbor are outstanding, and there’s a suggested donation of $10-$15.
FMI: www.facebook.com
Read more about it: Yoga at Bug Light Park in South Portland with Kelly Rich (and amazing views!)
Paddle in Casco Bay
Portland Paddle, East End, Portland
Have you been paddling yet this summer? No? Not enough? Portland Paddle tours and lessons are still going, so you can get yourself in a kayak or on a SUP and take a tour to Fort Gorges or to watch the sun set. All the gear is provided and tours are beginner friendly. I just took my mom on one – her first time sea kayaking!
FMI: portlandpaddle.net
ALSO: Portland Paddle also offers multi-day trip. I went on the Jewell island trip with the Fit Maine Social Club: Island overnight! Kayak + camp on Jewell Island with Portland Paddle
Yoga with goats
Through September | Sunflower Farm, Cumberland
Goat yoga has been a thing for a few summers now. If you’ve been wanting to go but haven’t yet, you have a few more opportunities! Enjoy a yoga class in the field at Sunflower Farm in Cumberland, surrounded by a herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats. Even if all you do is lay on your mat and stare up at the changing leaves and breathe, it is a win! All levels welcome. Donation class. Taste some cheese and enjoy the farm after class.
FMI: www.facebook.com/events/2164184717138762/
Read more about it: Yoga on the farm (with goats!) at Sunflower Farm in Cumberland
Yoga with Alpaca
Through September | Lulu’s Barn, Westport Island
YOGA. ALPACAS. What more do you need? Yoga with the alpacas continues on Saturdays through September at Lulu’s Barn on Westport Island with instructor Sarah McDarby. The alpaca will hang about – but not too close – during most of class, but there’s even a chance to hold a few poses while feeding the alpaca up close and personal!
FMI: www.facebook.com/events/459938918091131/
Read more about it: Yoga with alpacas at Lulu’s Barn on Westport Island
Paddleboard Yoga with KOAN Wellness
York Town Docks, York
SUP yoga classes are winding down with KOAN Wellness in York, but there’s still a chance to get on the water! Check out the SUP Yoga class on Sept. 14 (paddleboards included and it’s open to beginners) and the SUP & SIP event on Sept. 21. That event includes a SUP yoga class and afterward there’s an option for some post-yoga drinks and snacks.
FMI: www.koanwellness.com
Read more about it: Yoga on the water: Paddleboard Yoga with Koan Wellness in York
Walk the Orono Bog
Through November | Orono Bog
The Orono Bog is a cool spot to wander. It stays open into the fall, closing just after Thanksgiving, so I guess there’s still a few months to enjoy it, but I’m including it here anyway because it won’t be open forever and now would be an awesome time to check it out if you haven’t before. I suspect fall colors are pretty rad in there, too. September hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
FMI: www.facebook.com/OronoBogBoardwalk
Read more about it: Walking the bog: Peatland magic and carnivorous plants at 1-mile Orono Bog Boardwalk
Full Moon Paddle on Pushaw Stream
Sept. 14 | Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, Old Town
Beavers are nocturnal. Turns out, so is the moon. This happy coincidence means that, during a full moon paddle on Pushaw Stream, you’re surely going to spot some beavers. And – clouds depending – a big, fat, bright moon. Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Old Town has a couple more full moon canoes planned – one for September, one for October.
FMI: www.hirundomaine.org
Read more about it: Full Moon Paddle at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Old Town
And, of course, you can always find loads of upcoming events by checking the Fit Maine calendar!
