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. 

Newport Vineyard - Rhode Island

Today we are playing catch up on the blog.  I have so many new and exciting things to blog about but first, let's catch up on some wanderings around one of my favorite states in the perfect summer months of July. 

Theres something about a New England vineyard, especially when it's in an amazing New England town like Newport.  Newport is famous for it's many restaurants, shops and bars that line the main streets by the water.  But the Newport area is also home to a few great vineyards and breweries.  

Visiting Baxter State Park and camping at Katahdin Streams, Northern Maine

So you saw my post on hiking Katahdin (Baxter Peak), the highest peak in Maine, and you want to know how you can do it too.  Well, you are in the right place.  If you read that post, you know all about the trail, the distance, the elevation and what to expect.  But with Katahdin, there is a whole lot more planning when it comes to visiting this State Park, knowing all the rules, planning your trip, and reserving a campsite.

Entrance sign, Baxter State Park

Hiking Katahdin- Maine's Highest Peak

Hiking Mount Katahdin

If you ask me, Katahdin (Baxter Peak) is the “Big Daddy” of the New England summits. Connecticut warms you up with its humble Bear Mountain which if we are being honest, is barely in Connecticut (a few miles more and you walk across the Massachusetts border). Massachusetts’s Mount Greylock is a nice and steady climb through the Berkshires, a 13-mile loop took me the scenic up down and around the summit. Vermont is just enough of a challenge and the fall foliage makes it a favorite as the leaves start to turn. New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is famous for its views and weather, but also boasts insane crowds along its popular trail and auto road accessible summit. Rhode Island is a hill on the side of the road so we don’t have much to discuss here. But Katahdin? Katahdin is far away from the chaos of life, boasts amazing views, a challenging and technical climb, and much less crowds than the other New England high points. If you ask me, Katahdin is in a league of its own.

It was also the summit I was most excited to climb, and the one that took the most planning. I did MA, VT, CT and NH in a quick sprint nearly 4 weekends straight. Katahdin was going to require a camping reservation made four months in advance, and a long weekend to make the 7.5 hour drive each way doable. So on a beautiful weekend, one of the last of August, we made the trek to Baxter State Park and stood at the terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Katahdin's Knife Edge