Around New England

77. Buck Hill Management Area Burrillville, RI

This week we were so excited to go to a listener's recommendation and We hit 3 New England states in one hike!  The Buck Hill Management Area has a trail that will take you from Rhode Island into Massachusetts, along the border of Connecticut, and back to Rhode Island again.  This 7.5 mile loop had just over 600 feet of elevation gain.  
Be sure to wear your orange during hunting season as pheasant hunting is a big draw to this area.  Dogs are allowed on leash anytime but can only be off leash after August 15th and Before April 1.  This trail hits the Mid-State Trail and the North- South Trail.  Both are cool New England through hikes.  The pinnacle of this hike is the monument that marks the point where CT, RI, and MA all meet.  It's several miles into the woods.
There is a part of the trail is reportedly haunted because of Laura Sherman's grave which is somewhere along this loop.  The grave markers were repetatldy stolen, so they were eventually removed.  Check out this Rhode Island Public Radio article!  
After the hike Mike wanted a Del's Lemonade but there were none in this remote corner of Rhode Island.  G found an amazing little coffee shop in Burrillville called New Leaf.  They were a great post-hike treat!
Thanks for the listener who recommended this one, and thanks for tuning in!
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76. Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Park Woodstock, VT

Join us this week as we hike on the stunning property of the Marsh Billings Rockefeller Farm and Museum.  This is actually a National Park, the first of which dedicated to land stewardship.  The trails are free to walk around.  You can park at the museum and use their facilities for free.  We have checked out the farm and museum many years ago and we had fond memories. 
This trip was all about hiking and checking out the property. Mount Tom is located on the property and was on the list of places we intitally wanted to check out.  We missed a turn and chose to prioritize hiking to see the Pogue.  This man-made pond is located at the foot of Mount Tom.  There is a loop around one of the clearest pond I've seen due to no swimming or recreation rules.
After this awesome hike we got some Maple Creemees and crullers at Farmer and the Bell in Woodstock.  This place was so good, we almost turned around to get more!
Other adventures to do in this area that we have mentioned in prior episodes include visiting the VINS center in Quechee.  We have also hiked Mount Gile and Quechee Gorge.  Of course we have to also give a shout out to Baird Farm in Chittenton!  Check out all these places while in the area.  It's a fun part of Vermont!
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75. Back Cove Trail & Presumpscot River Trail Portland, ME

Join us this week as we hike two more family friendly and dog friendly hikes around Portland, Maine.  First we hiked the popular Back Cove Trail area conveniently located right off 295. This is an easy 3.5 mile loop that must be a very popular spot for locals to get their exercise.  We can't say that we blame them!  There are city views as well as nice views of the water and the surrounding Back Cove neighborhood.  
Check out our previous episode about other Portland Hikes.
After the hike around the back cove, we checked out Tandem Coffee Roasters.  They even have a dog-friendly patio for your little hiking partner.  Their coffee and treats were amazing!  Check them out!
Next we hiked the Presumpscot River Trail which is part of the Presumpscot River Preserve.  This trail actually starts in Falmouth and ends in Portland at the mouth of the Casco Bay.  It's much more rural than Back Cove and a little more challenging in spots.  The views are cool and it ends at some cool falls!  Well worth the hike!
After that hike we wanted some lunch and went over to Argenta Brewing Company.  The had a food truck on site that you could order food from Hank & Arties Food truck.  The beers were good and the burgers were great!  
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74. Stinson Mountain Rumney, NH

This week we hike another 52 With A View mountain, Stinson Mountain in Rumney, NH.  This mountain has some great views and an awesome trail going up.  Listen to this podcast to avoid making the same mistake we made coming back down!  Overall this mountain is a lot of fun to hike.  It's relatively easy, and has great bang for your buck!
We have done several on the list so far.  Check out our Blog on the 52 With A View hikes that we have done as of the time we recorded this podcast.
After the hike we went back to Last Chair Brewery & Restaurant in Plymouth, NH.  Their food was good.  We brought our puppy "Pemi" and sat outside on the patio.  They even had dog water dishes for the pups to use!  The food, vibe and patio were all very cool!  Check them out, they are right at the traffic circle in Plymouth, so pretty easy to hit up after a day of skiing or hiking.  
After a reminiscent drive through Plymouth, we decided to return to Pure & Brave for some amazing iced maple lattes to cap off a really fun day!  
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73. Beginner Hiker Discussion

Thinking about getting into hiking but not sure where to start?  In this episode, we talk through the questions we wish someone answered for us when we were beginners.  
In this episode we discuss things we wish we knew when we first started hiking, gear recommendations for beginners, hiking with dogs, what to do if you get lost, how to research your hiking destination, and of course what type of food you prefer after the hike!  You know we are partial and have to mention places like Tuckerman Brewery and BRGR Bar!  Yum!
We also give recommendations for beginner friendly hikes in each of the New England states.  Tune in and check out our recommendations as a couple of middle aged empty-nesters.  
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72. Hedgehog Mountain & Shopping in Freeport, Maine

Join us this week as we go to Freeport Maine to hike and shop.  We hiked Freeport's highest point, Hedgehog Mountain.  This area is 196 acres and has over 5 miles of hiking trails.  It is maintained by the Town of Freeport, and it's in great shape.
This is a dog friendly hike that is fairly easy.  It's close to the shops and has a viewpoint that can see all the way to Mount Washington on a clear day.  
After our hike we went into the town of Freeport to do some shopping of course.  We always like to hit up the LL Bean outlet as well as Patagonia and Stio.  Both have outlets in Freeport as well!  We have had a lot of luck getting unbelievable deals at all of these stores.  G got a sweet deal at Patagonia on this day!
There are many good places to eat in Freeport as well.  We always try to hit up Maine Beer Company, as they have an awesome atmosphere, fantastic beer and great pizza!  
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71. Waterfall Hikes Around New Hampshire

Join us this week as we take a road trip around New Hampshire to 4 different family & pet-friendly waterfall destination hikes.  If you haven't listened to it already, check out our older podcast about Arethusa Falls and Ripley Falls.  
Coffee:
Pure & Brave in Plymouth, NH
Frontside North Conway, NH
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70. Wachusett Mountain Princeton, Massachusetts

Join us this week as we hike Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts!  Located within the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, This was a great family friendly hike with some great views!  We started from the parking lot at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area.  The trail name we did was Balance Rock to Old Indian Trail.  Balance Rock is a natural glacial phenomenon that is an easy .35 miles from the trailhead.  It's cool to check out.
After the hike we checked out The Vice in nearby Westminster, Massachusetts for some coffee and a sweet treat.  The offer deli sandwiches featuring Boars Head meats, ice cream, coffee, and some good looking bakery items.  Check them out if you are in the area!
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69. Mount Will Trail - Bethel, Maine

Join us this week as we head back up to the Bethel, Maine area to hike the Mount Will Trail.  This is just one of the many trails maintained by the Inland Woods & Trails.  This non-profit organization maintains over 100 miles of trails in the area.  We first meet them at the Snowbound Expo and again at the Boston Run and Outdoor Expo.  We brought our dog, and there are many other dog-friendly trails we are eager to try.  
Mount Will is a moderate family-friendly hike with great views of the Androscoggin River Valley including one of our new favorite ski areas - Mount Abrams.  It also has cool views of Sunday River Ski Resort.  
Not far from this trailhead is Grafton Notch State Park where we were hoping to get a treat at Puzzle Mountain Bakery but it appears they were sold out that afternoon.  We were then going to try to go back to Steam Mill Brewing to grab some good food.  We know they are dog-friendly but they were on their shoulder-season break when we went.  
G found a winner though!  Butcher Burger was great.  We got takeout and the staff was great, and the food was phenomenal.  Check them out when in the area!  
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68. Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH

Join us this week as we hike one of the most popular hikes in NH, possibly even the US, Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH.  Although Mount Monadnock is attainable for almost any ability, it is still a challenging hike.  Be prepared to have fun, but also make sure you are prepared for a real hike!  It was over 4 miles total, and about 1,650 feet of elevation gain.  
Besides this park having a strict no-pet rule, this wouldn't be a very dog-friendly hike anyway.  There are exposed slabs on many of the trails.  The exposed peak offers breathtaking 360 degree views from the Boston skyline to Vermont!  Once you hike this one you understand why it's such a popular hike!  Reservations are recommended, especially in the busier summer and fall months!!  This state park is free for NH State Park license plate holders, but is $15 for anyone else.
On the way home we stopped at Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple, NH.  This place did not disappoint!  There's a cool Deli at Maple Station Market which had it all...good coffee, great food, and some of the best MAPLE CREEMEES we've had outside of Vermont!  It was right on the way home from the mountain, so it was also super convenient.  Be sure to stop in and check Ben's out!  It's 100% worth it.
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