New England Vacations

Bring in the firewood and stock up on the hot chocolate!  Maine is getting ready for fall visitors.   Cool mornings and crisp evenings make for good snuggling up to the fire with a cup of hot joe in hand.

Days, however, are still warm and bright, perfect for playing in the great outdoors under a  canopy of brilliant fall leaves.  Autumn in New England like nowhere else on earth.  From the lakes region to the coast, Maine offers some of the most beautiful and least known leaf-looking adventures in the region. 

Take a Kennebec River rafting trip through the unique Kennebec River Gorge.  Hike to Moxie Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New England.  Make a drive to from The Forks to Jackman on The Old Canada Road, National Scenic Byway, to admire the stunning views of Attean Lake.  Return to a cabin in the Maine woods and a roaring fireplace and steaming hottub at the lodge.  Fall in Maine is a great escape and we're ready to welcome all adventurerers!

Sometimes driving is just a way to get where you have to go, and sometimes a drive is an experience all its own.  Travel by car in New England in the fall is the latter.  From the Interstates to the backroads, fall color turns every drive into a better experience than it would be otherwise.  Leaves falling, leaves shimmering, leaves blowing across the road - rain or shine, leaves make fall trips much more fun. 

Granted some roadtips are more spectacular than others, through quaint towns, over mountain byways offering stunning vistas.  For those set to make a journey to Maine this fall, whether for Maine whitewater rafting or just a relaxing getaway, the trip is an extra-special one.  Route 201, the road to Northern Outdoors Resort, is also known as the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway and it is one of the most spectacular roads in New England. Also known as Moose Alley - Route 201 follows the Kennebec River, Wyman Lake and the Dead River and winds to the Canadian border through miles and miles of colorful scenery.

For visitors looking to explore other great drives, Falcon Guides has published the 2nd Edition of Scenic Driving New England.  It's worth picking up a copy as a useful guide on Maine adventure vacations.

Not everything about Maine adventure vacations is wild and rugged.  There is a different kind of exploration to be done through just up soaking the history of The Forks area.  Old photographs cover the walls of the Kennebec River Pub and offers glimpse into a time so different it is difficult to conceive that it was daily reality just over a hundred years ago.

The Kennebec River was made infamous by the timbermen and daring log drivers who rode the giant logs of the old forests down the wide river to the mills.  No helmets, no life vests -- dexterity, bravery and luck where the only safely factors in operation on the river in those days. 
There were no wet suits, no quick-drying synthetic clothing to keep them warm - only hard work.  The roads were dirt, the wilderness tough, the water big and cold.   It took a special kind of soul to spend time on the Kennebec River back then.

Imagine what those folks would think of the intrepid Maine whitewater rafting guests today.  Some would probably be amused.  Some would probably be pleased that more people  than they ever could have imagined now have a way to witness the wild beauty of the Kennebec River Gorge.

Visitors should take a moment in the Kennebec River Pub to examine the faces of the men and women of The Forks of so many decades ago.  They are the ones that paved the way for the adventurers of today and taking in that history adds another layer to Kennebec River rafting!

Moxie Falls is a must-do hike in the Forks, Maine.  One of the tallest waterfalls in New England, Moxie Falls is also one of the easiest to reach.  The trail is less than a mile long, wide and easy to follow.  There is a little bit of up and down, but nothing terribly steep and none of it very long.  A camera is a must!

The trail starts off flat and dry, and eventually winds down through some boggy spots.  Here, stepping logs have been placed through the wetter sections of trail.

Farther along, hikiners reach a four-way intersection.  The maine trail goes straight through and descends toward the falls.  Wooden steps and walkways wind along next to the river.  The falls will be heard before they are seen. At the head of the falls, there's a boardwalk off to the left that leads to two viewing platform. 

It's easy to find as well.  Take Route 201 north to West Forks.  Make a right onto Lake Moxie Road just before the bridge over the Kennebec River.  (This is the road that whitewater rafters take on their way to the put-in for Kennebec River rafting, so for those who have have been rafting, this will look familiar.)   About three miles up the hill, on the left, is a parking area, with a sign for Moxie Falls Trailhead.

Enjoy.

Maine Whitewater rafting is fantastic, no denying it, but there are more ways to explore the waters of Maine.  One of the most exciting things we have seen in the last several years is people discovering something we have known for a while - that kayaking does not have to mean hucking yourself off waterfalls or even have to involve whitewater at all.

Recreational kayaks - sometimes called lake kayaks or light touring kayaks - are becoming more popular every year.  More and more visitors are discovering the ease and fun of this activity.  From kids to grandparents, recreational kayaking something most people can enjoy.  We have sit-on-top lake kayaks available for rental to use on Martin Pond right here at the resort in The Forks.

These boats are so stable, they allow of a wide age range of people to get right out and explore small ponds and slow moving rivers.  With a little more experience, larger lakes and faster moving water also become accessible.  It's a quiet sport, good exercise and a great way to get closer to wildlife that would otherwise be possible.

For those who get hooked on the sport - good news!  Recreational kayaks can start as low in cost as a couple hundred dollars, with a nice paddle in about the $100.00 range and a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) starting at around half that.  A couple of cam-straps and a bow line and the boats go easily onto the roof of a car for transport to vacation adventure.

Where we used to see just whitewater kayaks on the roofs of the cars in our parking lot, we are now seeing an increasing number of recreational kayaks as well. 

There's nothing quite like waking up in the Maine woods to let you know you are really away from it all on Maine adventure Vacations.  There is an interesting mix of noise and silence.  The occasional rumble of a passing logging truck is what passes for traffic noise, and the birds are telling their first tales of the day to all the trees that will listen.  The wind in the evergreens is a subtle, consistent presence. A splash from the lake just down the hill from the cabin indicates the presence of a Green Frog.  Mist is rising off the lake and if we're lucky, a loon might float by and wish us good morning.

Heading to the lodge, the sun is breaking through the early morning clouds with the promise of a glorious day ahead.  Breakfast is fresh fruit and bagels, sausage and scrambled eggs, hot coffee and OJ, cereal for the kids and pancakes with - of course - real Maine maple syrup. 

Guests are getting ready for a great day of Kennebec River rafting, pulling river shoes and making sure their waterproof cameras are at hand.  Off to the side of the rafting group, a dozen people are gathered, GPSs and clue-lists in hand, ready to head off on a Geo Caching scavenger hunt.  The Appalachian Trail through-hikers at the next table are swapping trail stories of the Hundred Mile Wilderness to the north and deciding when to head down to catch the Canoe Ferry across the Kennebec River.  The folks from the cabin next door settle in on the couches in front of the fireplace with a handful of maps, planning their motorcycle ride on the Route 201 National Scenic Byway (aka Moose Alley).

It's another typical morning in our special corner of Maine and we can't wait to see what else the day will bring.

Summer is family time, and there is nothing like getting outdoors with the kids and playing on rivers and trails to give everyone something to talk about for the rest of the year.  Big travel vacations are tough for families in an economy like this, but a 2-3 day getaway packed with fun is possible, only a short drive away from everyday life. 

Kids in the game room, families playing water volleyball in the swimming pool, everybody trekking through the woods with GPS in hand on a Geocaching hunt — there is no end to the fun a Maine family adventure vacation offers.  Throw in half-price Kennebec River rafting or float trips and everyone is cooled off as well as relaxed. 

In honor of adventerous families, we have gathered our great family getaway activities into one list (TADA!) to make planning Maine adventure vacations with kids easier. Yes, we really are that good.  The fact that many of us have kids and love to watch their faces as they experience new things lets us help visitors with their planning.   We encourage everyone to bring the kids or the grandkids and come out to play.

You never know what you are going to come across driving up to Northern Outdoors for a Maine whitewater rafting vacation.  Sure, you expect to see lots of great views, stands of birch trees, maybe even a moose - but a Bread Festival?  Not exactly high on the list!

For those traveling north on July 29-31, 2010, however, bread should be moved to the top of the list.  The annual Kneading Conference and Artisan Bread Fair is taking place in Skowhegan, Maine.  The Kneading Conference, July 29-30th, brings togeather professional bakers and bread enthusiasts, and requires pre-registration.  On July 31, 2010, the Artisan Bread Fair is free and open to the general public.  Yummy, yummy, yummy!

What better way to start Maine adventure vacations off than with a a taste of fresh, hearty fare?  We know whitewater rafting takes lots of energy and stocking up on fresh-baked carbohydrates is a great way to get some.    Hot summmer days, cooling river rafting, warm bread...not a bad way to spend the weekend!

Up here in Maine, we do what we do best - work and and play hard.  We'd be doing that whether anyone else noticed or not, but every now and then we find ourselves the subject of some great, national level, news coverage.  Recently in the USA Today section 'Travel Tips', our beautiful state got some exposure and Northern Outdoors was right in the mix. 

We like that we do things well enough that other people can appreciate what we have to offer, from the adventure of Maine whitewater rafting, to the luxury of a fully-stocked cabin on the edge of a lake to the fresh brewed beer at the Kennebec River Brewery and Pub.  It's satisfying to know that visiting with us gives people a much needed break and offers many options for fun.  

Thanks to all those who have visited and continue to visit us over the years.  We look forward to seeing you for a long time to come! 

The Kennebec River is a dam-controlled river, meaning so water for whitewater rafting is almost always guaranteed!  The Harris Station dam, built from 1952-1954, provides the releases on the Kennebec River.  Harris Station is a peak generation facility, meaning that it is one of the power plants called upon to meet increases demands for power, such as occur when the temperature rises and more air conditioning is turned on.  Increases in power needs in the summer mean the releases from the dam are often bigger on the hottest days - perfect for those looking to get cool through Kennebec River rafting!  Bigger releases means more water in the river - which means bigger waves and more fun!

Harris Station is unique for its “black-start” capability. The station can begin generating power and come on-line without the input of electricity. Black-start generating locations help start up other generators in the event of a large outage. Electricity from Harris is fed into the New England grid and moves throughout the state and the surrounding areas.  This also means that even if the power is down the rafting does not have to be! 

Farther north, Penobscot River rafting offers even more adventure, will great waves and views of Khatadin, the highest mountain in Maine and the northern terminus of the famous Appalachian Trail.

Whitewater in New England runs fast and wild - the perfect place to test outdoor gear of all kinds.  Olympus Cameras brought its new waterproof Stylus Tough Digital Camera to Maine to abuse it in all sorts of conditions.  Northern Outdoors' video boater, Nick Atwood, rigged his whitewater kayak with half a dozen cameras and put them through their paces on the Kennebec River.  Best known for as a prime run for Maine whitewater rafting, the Kennebec gave the Stylus and Nick a glorious ride, as the video proves!

Among other adventures the Stylus Tough Camera had in Maine were snowboarding at Sugarloaf, mountain biking in Carrabassett Valley, lobster fishing off Portland Head, skateboarding and bowling (though inexplicably not candlepin bowling!) and a wild ride in a washing machine at the local laundrymat.  That's a tough camera getting put through its paces in a state known for rugged adventure.  From hut to hut hiking trips to Maine whitewater rafting, Maine is a great place to come out and play, and we're thinking the Stylus Tough is a great camera to bring along!

On June 18, 2010 Maine Trail Finder was launched!  Maine Trail Finder is a free, interactive mapping site designed to help residents and visitors find trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking in the Maine.  Folks looking to add other kinds of exploration to Maine whitewater rafting vacations will find great options here.

Those interested in non-motorized trail use can search trails by category, difficulty and location as well as using an interactive map base.   Maine Trail Finder has detailed trail description pages that let users view the trail(s), get essential information, submit trip comments and photos, find nearby geocaches, and a whole lot more.

The first 15 trails listed are in Greater Franklin County just to the West of Northern Outdoors in The Forks, Maine. New trails will be added each week through the summer in an ever-expanding network - rather like the trails themselves! If you are new to geocaching, check out the geocaching classes and field hikes offered by Northern Outdoors every summer.

Maine whitewater rafting and a new Harley Davidson motorcycle - two great ideas for summer fun - and they have come together this June!  We get lots of visitors on motorcycles, people exploring backroads on New England vacations, who either plan to stop in for lunch, come for a week or just happen upon us on their journeys.  Often they come back year after year, because the roads around here are perfect for motorcycling - rollng, scenic, long and uncrowded.  Throw in a great meal at the pub, awesome rustic lodging, and an evening in the hot tub after a day in the saddle and we're a favorite among bikers!

We appreciate the adventurous spirit displayed by these bikers and so we're thrilled that our friends at LA Harley Davidson in Lewiston, ME are having the Wet N Wild Summer sales event: Buy any new or pre-owned Harley Davidson in stock, LA Harley is going to send you and a guest on an overnight whitewater rafting trip courtesy of Northern Outdoors.    How's that for making our motorcycling friends happy?

Watching the terrible tragedy of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill unfold over these last weeks has gotten us thinking even more than usual about the natural beauty that surrounds us everyday and the things that make New England such a special place.

Whether whitewater rafting New England, cruising a back road in search of fall foliage,  or seeking out wilderness on hut to hut hiking trips, visitors can't help but notice the stunning and unique white birch trees that are such a special part of the New England landscape.

Sadly, these stunning hardwood trees -- as well as beech and maple trees -- face an environmental threat that is potenially every bit as deadly as the oil spill in the Gulf.  The danger comes from the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), a bug that bores into hardwood trees and kills them.

In 2001, the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service  discovered that if all urban area in the US were to become infected with this beetle, it could mean the loss of 30 percent of the country's hardwood trees — some 1.2 billion trees; the destruction of 35 percent of the country's tree canopy; and about $669 billion in tree value. 

66 square miles around Worcester, Massachusetts are under quarantine after an ALB infestation was discovered in that city in August 2008. The quarantine area also includes Boylston, West Boylston, Holden and Shrewsbury and more than 15,000 trees have been removed so far in an attempt to contain the infestation. 

These little killer beetles could wipe out birch trees, sugar maples, beech trees and other species, habitat as across several states, maple syrup production and of course New England's gorgeous fall colors!  So let's not take our trees for granted, you can help by keeping an eye out for the ALB and calling the U.S. Forest Service if you spot them!

Kids love the water - and the idea of whitewater rafting New England rivers thrills many of them.  But what if the kids are too young for a full-on Kennebec River rafting trip?  Float trips are the answer! 

Available for kids as young as 8 years of age, a float trip on a Maine river is both exciting and relaxing.  With splashy ripples, great views, an the posibility of sighting moose, herons, eagles and opsreys in the wild, a self-guided Kennebec River float trip is a great way to get the entire family on the water.  Float trips take place on a calmer section of river than Kennebec River rafting trips, and offer a more relaxed option for a day on the river.

Most of the time, float trips offer the opportunity for each person to raft with a small one-person or two-person inflatable kayak - allowing each child the option of being captain of his or her own ship!  A taste of independence, cool water and fun - what more could anyone want on their Maine family vacation?

Heading to the Maine woods to ride on Maine ATV trails or indulge in Kennebec river rafting, means traveling a few hours from home. Most people make a weekend of it, and turn their time here into mini Maine adventure vacations.

One way to make a weekend getaway affordable is to choose to camp out instead of staying in a motel or renting a cabin. But then there's all the bother of setting up tents, rolling them up damp from dew the morning it's time to leave, drying them out at home and packing them away... Enter the cabin tent!

Made from rugged canvas, these cabin tents — also called platform tents — are semi-permanent structures set up off the ground on wooden platforms. They have wooden doors, often a window or two and have 2-4 wooden cots with mattresses upon which to spread out sleeping bags and dream the night away.   Each also has it's own picnic table and fire ring.

With access to a shared bathhouse complete with hot showers, cabin tents offer the cost savings of tent camping, but without a big part of the hassle. Add to that the sound of the Kennebec River in the background and a short walk to the main lodge where great food, fresh beer, a hot tub and great company await, and cabin tents become a great adventure lodging option!

A huge part of great Maine family vacations is enjoying the incredible beauty that surrounds Maine's roads and trails.  Route 201 on the way to some of the best Maine whitewater rafting is so beautiful and historic, it's been listed as a National Scenic Byway. 

There are several great pullouts along Route 201 north of Bingham - and the picnic area at the Wyman Lake Overlook is worth stopping at even for those who have not packed a feast.  The view down the length of Wyman Lake is stunning as you take in the islands, mountains and forest around you.

For those who plan ahead and pack a lunch or snack, the covered picnic tables at this location make for comfortable roadside dining.   There are also primative toilet facilities provided and informative interpretive boards telling about the history of the area.  A great place to spend a few minutes or an hour before getting back on the road to The Forks and more great things to do on your Maine adventure vacation.

(Coordinates to the picnic area in Google Maps are: 45.15583,-69.956498)

Headlines in the Portland Press Herald recently announced the discovery of the world's largest beaver dam in Canada - the length of 8 football fields and visible from space!  Talk about generations of business.

Here in Maine, we have some good size beaver dams of our own.  Visitors on hut to hut hiking trips often spot beaver ponds on their journeys, even those traveling through the north country by car see the work of these animal architects.  Beaver ponds provide not only safe habitat for beavers to live and store their food in, but they create perfect places from moose, birds and fish to live as well, and often times the ponds extend to the edges of roadways, as seen in the photo of a beaverdam made right from the side of Route 201.

For a backwoods look at a larger beaver created-wetland area, from the big overlook parking at Robbin's Hill at the southern end of the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, it is a moderate walk down the hill to a beaver-flooded pond in progress.   The trail is still new, uneven and very wet, so hikers should be prepared to get muddy and damp,  but for those looking to add even more adventure to their Maine adventure vacations, this little side journeys is a nice twist.  Throw on some hiking boots and bug spray and go see what the beaver clan has been up to.

In order to get to the best Maine whitewater rafting (Dead River rafting & Kennebec River rafting), visitors drive up US Route 201.   This scenic road is runs from Fairfield to the Canadian border and is known by a couple of other names - The Old Canada Road Scenic Byway and "Moose Alley."  Anyone traveling along this stunning road will see instantly why it is listed as a Scenic Byway and once the road begins to parallel the Kennebec River, the fact that this is moose country makes the reason for the second nickname obvious as well.

Moose (Alces alces) are the largest members of the deer family.  They are are usually dark brown in color, though they can appear tan or even patchwork when they are transitioning to and from their winter coats.  They have long legs, large bulbous noses and short powerful necks.  Females are known as cows, babies as calves and males as bulls.  Bulls drop their antlers in the winter, but begin growing them again in the spring and are often spotted with enormous, flat-spanning racks in summer and into fall.

Because of their short necks, moose cannot lower their heads to graze in a traditional fashion, so they are often seen standing chest deep in water and marshes, feeding on underwater weeds or shore grasses.   This habit makes US Route 201 ideal of moose spotting as the road is bordered by miles of rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes.

Keeping an eye out for these 1000+ pound giants is a wise idea, not only because it is a thrill to spot one, but because having an automotive encounter with one is not recommended.  Making moose spotting part of Maine family vacations is always a great idea and those travel "Moose Alley" to The Forks amd north towards Jackman and the Canadian border have a head start on the fun.