It’s that time of year again. Fall has all but passed us by, the leaves are dying and the weather is getting colder every minute. On the other hand, it’s not quite winter yet either. The ground is still bare so there won’t be any hitting of the slopes any time soon. With the brisk air and the apparent void in outdoor activities, it’s this time of year that people tend to stay inside the most. Well I’m here to provide you with just a few of the many things to do outside that you might not have thought of yet. So shake that laziness off, grab a coat, and don’t let the door hit you on your wait out to enjoy this beautiful world.
Those mountains aren’t going anywhere. Contrary to popular belief, this is actually a great time to go hiking. No it’s not going to be the great weather you’ll find in the summer, but the trails will be just about empty. If you dress in layers, this time of year is a great chance to explore some of the wonderful trails in Maine (think Acadia or Katahdin) or venture over to the Whites in New Hampshire. If hiking the larger peaks isn’t your cup of tea, there’s smaller options around that provide a great experience as well. Try out Burnt Meadow Mountain in Brownfield if you’re looking for a relatively short hike with multiple peaks and a great view.
It looks like a great beach day! Like the mountains, the beach is another large part of Maine that starts to become ignored and abandoned when the weather turns cold. While you won’t be able to lay out and get that bronze tan like you would in July, Maine has more coastline than the entire state of California, and it should not be left alone. This time of year is perfect for watching a brisk sunrise, looking for shells, or even going surfing. As the water and air get colder, the tourists retreat to Canada and the munchkins go back to school, and the beach becomes your playground. Even if it’s just for a nice long walk from Pine Point to Old Orchard’s pier, it’s worth the short drive to the coast.
Who needs Planet fitness anyway? While it may be tempting to spend the colder months in a nice gym running on a treadmill or pumping iron, the outdoors is the original gym and it’s free admission year round. For that upper body workout you’ve been looking for, take an axe to some wood and get ready to stoke that fireplace. Work on those legs on a run before it gets snowy outside.
Anything summer can do, winter can do better. Okay, so this might not be true, but that’s no reason to become depressed as the cold chill hits. Take it in stride and realize there’s still plenty to do outside, especially before the snow hits the ground. Basically anything you were doing outside this summer is still game for at least another month or two, so take advantage. Personally I’m partial to longboarding, biking, hiking, and just generally exploring this great state of ours.
So there you have it. While not a comprehensive list by any stretch, hopefully my ideas have at least given you the motivation to let your imagination run wild. Seriously. Get outside and enjoy what this time of year still has to offer. And don’t worry, I’ll be back in the middle of winter to get you off your butt again then too.