One of the joys of living in Maine, is we have beautiful white Christmases - with a LOT OF SNOW! When you live in Maine, you embrace all of the seasons - but winter is one of our favorites! Cozying up with a loved one in the guest house at the Crooked Steeple Hall is a great way to relax and unwind. On a sunny day, snowshoeing in Maine is one of our favorite activities, and we are lucky to have quite a few places for a beautiful snowshoe adventure not far from our front doors! Enjoy breakfast and coffee at one of our local eateries, then bundle up for a nice snowshoe in a place that resembles Narnia! The State of Maine offers many trails to experience, however these are some of our favorites that are local that we hope our guests will enjoy!

1)Dorthea Dix Park in Hampden, Maine 

This gem has walking trails throughout the park and provides a great workout in a short period of time!

You can read more about this trail and see photos here

2) Trails at the Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport

A short trail system begins at the rear of the parking lot at the Leroy H. Smith School

3) Trails at the Reeds Brook School in Hampden

Located in the heart of Hampden, Maine, this is a collaborative effort between community volunteers, members of the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, Troop 41 Boy Scouts, and RSU22. We welcome all non-motorized activity including skiing, running, biking, walking, and snowshoeing. Motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited on the trails.

4) Bangor City Forest

Rolland F. Perry City Forest encompasses more than 680 acres of wildlife habitat and working forest in Bangor, Maine, and features more than 4 miles of access roads and more than 9 miles of trails for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. It is owned by the city of Bangor and open throughout the year.

5) Advanced: Mount Waldo

Mount Waldo is on privately owned land and it is a great hike for all seasons. We only recommend this hike if you're experienced on snowshoes and in hiking. The trails are marked by brightly colored ties on trees. The view is worth it, if you're feeling up to it!

Otherwise, you can snowshoe up to the Quarry - it's a nice viewpoint as well.

Don't have snowshoes? It's OK! You can rent them in Bangor at Ski Rack Sports!

Questions about local area activities? Message me! I'd love to help.

When you think base camp, do you also think adventure? We do! And we'd like to fill you in on a little secret - Winterport, Maine is the PERFECT base camp for adventure! With many destinations a short drive away, the Crooked Steeple Hall is the perfect place to stay and play in Maine! Winterport: We wrote about the many things to do in Winterport in our last post! From the Waterfront to the Winery - Winterport has it all!

Hampden: Hampden features many parks, such as Dorthea Dix, and Reeds Brook Trail System. McLaughlin's at the Marina features waterfront dining, as well as a firepit outside and live music on the weekends.

Bangor: Bangor is the "big city" closest to us. The Downtown area is bustling with shops and eateries, as well as many public parks and green spaces. There's a beautiful path down the Penobscot River, which starts at Hollywood Casino, and ends across the river at Mason's Brewing Company. Speaking of breweries, you can spend the day touring the many breweries popping up in Downtown Bangor, and Brewer, Maine. There's the Maine Discovery . Museum, the largest children's museum north of Boston,  as well as the UMMA Museum of Art, which is free to enter.

Brewer: Brewer's waterfront features a lovely walking path, as well as two waterside restaurants - Mason's and High Tide.  Geaghan's Tap Room and Mason's Brewery are adventures in themselves! The downtown area features a coffee shop - Logical Sip, a yoga studio - OmLand Yoga, and Between Friends, a lovely antique store and art center.

Belfast: Belfast is a quaint artist town with a Shipyard. You will be in awe of the many ships that line the waterfront, and the shops that line the downtown area. You can certainly spend a day exploring Belfast!The walking bridge is a favorite experience as well. Belfast features an authentic Lobster Pound as well.

Bucksport: Bucksport is also a waterfront town in transition. The waterfront provides beautiful views of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, as well as Fort Knox, which are both must-sees while in the area! Vona Wine features a great patio area you can relax in, and if wine isn't you thing, there are antique shops and ice cream you can partake in. Sandy Point Beach is a great place to relax, or take a stroll!

Searsport - In between Winterport and Belfast lies Searsport, Maine - an unassuming town with many wonderful features! Swan Lake is a great place to get some sun or take out a kayak or canoe! Mount Waldo is also in this area - it's a great moderate hike with amazing views! It's not very far from our doors, either. Moose Point State Park is a great place to have a picnic, or to take a walk. On a clear day, you may be able to see a schooner or two! If lighthouses are your thing - you're in luck! The Fort Point Light is right down the road from the Crooked Steeple Hall.

We haven't even begun to discuss Acadia National Park or Baxter State Park... those will be featured later.

As you can see, Winterport is quite a base camp for adventurers! All of the towns described are within a 30 minute drive from the Crooked Steeple Hall.

Give us a call today to discuss availability, or to book your next event -  or stay - at the Crooked Steeple Hall!