South Branch Falls & South Branch Mountain Trails (Baxter State Park, ME)

I genuinely cannot believe it is November. There are so many trips I want to tell you about, so many stories to share... and somehow they are already months ago!

In August, we went on our epic trip to Maine. Our favourite part of the whole trip was Baxter State Park. It is a beautiful, quiet, comfortable place to stay—unscathed by tourists and the paved roads, selfie sticks, and waste receptacles that they require. It was, for us, a dream destination for a road trip: car camping so we did not have to haul expedition packs with us for 2,000 kms, hiking trails aplenty ranging from easy to arduous, and incredible beauty! We could have spent a whole week in Baxter and still left with a list of trails to explore.

While at Baxter, we mostly visited the northern (and less popular) part of the park. Below are two of the hikes we did in that area.

South Branch Falls

South Branch Falls (map here) was exactly what we needed when we arrived to the park. After a long day in the car, we hopped out and set off on a beautiful kilometer-long trail to put our feet in the rushing water of the falls. We signed the trail register and off we went! 

Baxter, like many parks, requires you to sign into their trails
to help locate hikers should they go missing.

The trail is a sea of green followed by an exposed ridge but with little elevation change. Once near the falls, you can observe from up on the ridge or descend to the falls (recommended). 

Our 4-year-old hiking up the ridge!

Victory! We could have sat there for hours. 

South Branch Mountain

South Branch Mountain (map) was a much more ambitious hike with a 4-year-old. With an elevation gain of appx. 2,175 feet over a fairly short distance, we pushed ourselves to help our kiddo climb her first "mountain" (peak: 2,600 feet). 

This hike begins with a river crossing then quickly enters a wooded area where the trail follows a meandering brook before quickly beginning to climb. It is a difficult trail not to be attempted with kids without experience. We gave ourselves a full day knowing that we would be slower with a wee one. We were right! We got off the trail just in time for supper and completely soaked in the midst of a complete downpour that lasted well into the night.

We took fewer photos on this trail. Here is a hint as to why.
We pretended this was a castle, which made climbing it fun!

Despite the trail's difficulty, our daughter loved it. She was euphoric when we reached the top, and I was so proud of our accomplishment that I welled up. The climb back down was extremely tricky with a wee one, and once the trail leveled out again, we opted for babywearing both to hike faster and because kiddo was completely exhausted.

Yes, at 4.5 years old and 40lbs, she still fit in our mei tai.
Best $90 I spent as a parent! 

This was our most intense hike of the trip, and we cannot wait to return to Baxter over the years to hike more of the peaks with our kiddo. Before we know it, she will be climbing Katahdin with us! 


General Notes about Baxter State Park

• No running water or flush toilets. Bring your own drinking water. Cleanest outhouses I have ever used.
• Waterproof maps are available for purchase at the park entrances. (Price was $11 in 2015.)
• It takes over 1.5 hours to get from one end of the park to the other.
• There are park permit fees.
• This park has a really committed group of rangers who will want to know about your plans and make sure that you know their expectations of you as a camper. 

Maritime Outdoor Family Heads to Maine: Preparing to Take a Preschooler on a 9 Day Road Trip

Acadia National Park. Photo credit.

We're preparing to take our 4-year-old on a 9 day camping road trip through New Brunswick and Maine with Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, and Herring Cove Provincial Park among our destinations. 

We have done a lot of camping road trips with our wee one before, such as last year's trip to the Cape Breton Highlands and our trip to Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park in 2012, but this one will definitely be our longest yet. We will drive over 1,700 kms. We will camp 5 nights, spend 2 nights with friends, and stay 1 night in a rustic cottage. 

The trip!

So, you might be asking, how do we plan on keeping our busy babe occupied? I am employing some tricks learned on previous trips as well as some new ones from this handy Kids Activities Blog list. Here is a peak at what I am planning:

Basically, we have:

• ways to draw without making a mess (NO MELTING CRAYONS IN MY CAR!)
  Tip: You can find magnetic drawing boards and Etch-A-Sketch screens at secondhand stores.
• a few new toys for the excitement of having something new
  Tip: Pick items that will hold attention. I went with a bead kit, a kaleidoscope, and a bendable wooden snake. 
• books on CD
• a tablet as the ultimate last resort
  Tip: Buy a new game/app for your kiddo's device before heading on a long trip.

Ultimately, I think no toy or gadget will beat a good trip plan. We have made sure to keep long driving days separated by hiking days with minimal driving, we have found interesting stops to make along the way for heavy driving days, and we have set a maximum number of driving hours per day based on our comfort level. And speaking of trip planning, it is time for me to get back to it! 

One preschooler's clothes packed for 9 days! 

Taking it Slow: Paddling with Kiddos

July has been a busy month for us. I'm not sure how you enjoyed your Canada Day (in case you don't remember, it was that random Wednesday you likely had off in the middle of the week at the beginning of the month), but we decided to use the day to go paddling! 

We rented a canoe from MEC, strapped it to the roof of our old car, and away we went to Long Lake Provincial Park. Were we going to get far? Probably not. Was it going to be epic? No. Was it worth it? Totally. In my opinion, it is making the effort in the early years to show kids the joy of these activities that inspires them to love the outdoors!

While we weren't canoeing to a campsite and we weren't covering a large number of kilometers, here is what we were doing:

• building communication skills  Okay, yes, this did include a bit of "No, no! Paddle on the other side. No, the other way." I think that a day trip is a perfect place to practice the communicating that will be needed on bigger trips. While in the boat, you really need to be a team, and that can be challenging, but is pretty special once achieved!
  
• practicing our strokes  Sticking near the shore in shallower, calmer waters can be pretty great for building kids' confidence in the boat. Parents can get out and hold the boat while kids practice their strokes from inside the boat, kids can stand in the water and practice paddling, and everyone can develop a routine for getting smaller kids in and out of the boat.
  
  
  
  
  
• picnicking  After all, who doesn't love a nice picnic by the water?
  
• swimming  Swim, paddle, paddle, swim. Be confident in the water, and your kids will be too! Throw rocks, splash, swim, have fun!
  
  
      

The Trip That Marries Provincial and National Parks: Kejimkujik Seaside & Thomas Raddall (Port Joli, NS)

On June 5th, we finally kicked off our camping season! First on our list this year was Thomas Raddall Provincial Park and Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct.

Thomas Raddall is a beautiful, clean park located in Port Joli on the south shore of Nova Scotia. It is big but has excellent wilderness and privacy! Some of its walk-in sites mirror the backcountry while still having the convenience of car camping. 

First campfire of the camping season! Oh yeah!

Thomas Raddall is known as a "nature lovers' haven". After being there, I would agree. Even the walk to the comfort station for flushing toilets was an opportunity to take in the wilderness of the meadowy area while walking down a boardwalk. We even saw two bunnies grazing and hanging out in the campsite beside ours, which was a huge hit for our 4-year-old. 

From playing "Sleeping Bunnies" to actually photographing the bunnies!

I would love to tell you more about the trails and show you more of the sights, but we happened to visit during 24 hours of absolute pouring rain! On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and dried our gear before hitting the road for Keji Seaside! 

NOTE: Ticks are very prevalent in this area. Be sure to check your whole body twice daily. Tuck your pants into your socks if possible. Know how to properly remove a tick. 

Keji Seaside, also located in Port Joli, is an adjunct to one of NS's three national parks: Kejimkujik. Its trails lead you to Saint Catherine's River Beach, a gorgeous white sand beach on the ocean. Its view has been seen by many Nova Scotians who don't even know it as this picturesque seaside is the face of the NS health card. 

The park has two trails: Harbour Rocks trail and Port Joli Head trail. We hiked the Harbour Rocks trail along the beach. The hike is very easy, though once you are down on the beach, strollers would not work, so babywearing is a must for wee wee ones. Toddlers can certainly toddle on this trail, though be cautious of helping kiddos with their footing on the big beachrock. There is lots of wildlife, so bring binoculars! If you are a birder, you will be thrilled (or at least the birder with us expressed as much!). We saw seals, a porcupine, toads, and many shorebirds. 

After about 2 km on the wide gravel path, the trail zigs and zags from this to beach.

In case you forget your binoculars, they've got you covered. 

The view is gorgeous and the hiking is stellar, but don't take my word, get out there and see if for yourself! 

The Outdoor Enthusiast's Causeway: Salt Marsh Trail (Cole Harbour, NS)

Salt Marsh Trail is a super duper easy trail with a unique atmosphere. It is a 6.5km rail trail (i.e. railway converted into a trail) that runs along a causeway through the salt marshes. Map here. This trail is excellent for hiking/walking, running, and cycling. 

There are beautiful views of the marshes, which make for stunning photographs. Expect to see ducks and other waterfowl. Be cautious of flooding and washed-out sections of the trail. 

There is not actually a whole lot to see for wee kids, which can make the kilometers feel longer. You will see a lot of parents who will run the trail while their kids (ages 6ish to 12ish) ride their bikes alongside. We enjoyed the trail, but our 4-year-old got a bit bored in long sections where there were no side trails down to the water. My recommendation would be to bike or run this trail unless you are just getting into walking. 

Ready Aye Ready Bridge

What to expect:
*Stroller-friendly. Bike trailer friendly. 
*Lots of wind! It is colder the further you go on the trail.
*Note: There is a long gap between the outhouse and the next chance to pee. For small kids, this may be tricky as there is not even the privacy of the trees to pee in the woods. I would recommend ensuring small kids use the washroom beforehand.
*Bring binoculars if walking/hiking. 

"A is for Adventure": A Nova Scotian Kids' Adventure Book!

Hey folks, 

There is a great book in the works by Jan LaPierre and Chris Surette (from Canso, NS) called "A is for Adventure". I can't wait to get a copy myself to read to my wee one. (A review is sure to follow!)

These folks are looking for support for their initiative. Please check out their Kickstarter campaign to learn more about the book, to get a copy, and to support their efforts!


Support local! Teach your kiddos to be brave! And enjoy this beautiful day! 

First hike in FOUR MONTHS: Pennant Point Trail (Crystal Crescent Beach, NS)

I realized something today that completely unsettled me: I had not been hiking in four months!! Between my Masters and full-time work, there has literally been no time... except of course for those few days when there was a wee bit of time, and instead we were faced with this:

Snowmageddon 2015: Near state of emergency in Halifax, NS.

So my poor body is suffering, and my child has not had near as much outdoor time as I would have liked her to over the past few months. But there is good news: my blogging hiatus is over! My studies are over until September, so here begins hiking season and its accompanying blog updates!


Today we hiked Pennant Point trail at Crystal Crescent Beach!
Crystal Crescent Beach is a gorgeous white sand beach located in Sambro (30 minutes from Halifax). There are three beaches and a 13km hiking trail. This is one of my favourite times of year for beach hiking. The beach is not quite ready for the crowds yet, though, their sands are warm and their traces of winter are few. 

TIP: Remember that before parks are officially open, there is additional hiking just to get to the summertime parking lot. The roads into the parks are great for running and cycling with kiddos since no cars can pass the gates to access them!

Jaunt into Crystal Crescent in the off-season. 

The Pennant Point trail runs along a coastline that ranges from white sandy beaches to boldorous surfaces like those at Peggy's Cove & Polly's Cove. The waves are gorgeous, and if you bring binoculars, you can look out and see people paddling near the islands. It is a great family hike as most of it is easy; a lot of the trail is boardwalked. This is another hike though where you can add to the challenge by doing more scrambling in the rocks than boardwalking. 

Forested hikes often receive less sunlight, so they still have a fair bit of snow in April. 

This was the most snow we saw at Crystal Crescent. 

One of my favourite parts of the hike! 

Perfect level of challenge for preschoolers! 

If you live in or near the HRM and have not checked this beach out, it is a must! Whether you choose to have a beach day or a hike, the coastline is exhilarating! 

Notes:
-GPS: N44 28.307 W63 37.364
-Strollers are not recommended. Babywearing is best choice. 
-Third beach is a nude beach when warm weather comes.
-Remember to dress in more layers than seems necessary when spring hiking on the coast as temperatures vary greatly.