There鈥檚 no beating around the bush: the snow out East is hard. Not for nothing do we know it as the 鈥淚ce Coast,鈥� and locals will confirm that bulletproof literally means ice so firm a bullet would ricochet off of it.

The East sees microclimates, lake-effect snowstorms, and Nor鈥檈asters that produce copious amounts of snow. But compared to the Rockies, the ski resorts out East get snow with high moisture due to high humidity levels and lower base and summit elevations. Combine that with regular freeze/thaw cycles and dreaded winter rain storms, and you get a firm surface.

鈥淏ecause we鈥檙e so close to the ocean, the water molecule in the snow is a little larger,鈥� explains Frank MacConnel, owner of Bob Skinner鈥檚 Ski & Sport in Newbury, N.H. 鈥淎lso, the water is soft, not hard. These things make a huge difference with the density of the snow.鈥�

Picking a ski that will help you tackle those snow conditions with confidence, says MacConnel, means choosing a ski that can carve.

Related: Read our review of the 2023 Rossignol Experience 82 Ti

Best Skis for Hard Snow

Pick a narrow ski with metal and a carving sidecut

鈥淲e look for the performance of a race ski as the basis of how we buy our retail products on the East Coast,鈥� says MacConnell. 鈥淭hat person [who buys that kind of ski] may have once raced, but they鈥檙e mostly into recreational skiing now and still want performance they can rely on.鈥�

Race heritage skis feature solid wood laminate products with some form of metal in the core鈥攚hether it鈥檚 two sheets (one above the base material and one below the topsheet), one layer, or an extremely thin layer. Whatever the amount, MacConnell believes that metal in a ski makes a big difference for hard-snow performance.

Skis that work best for this region, according to MacConnell (himself a former ski racer), have waist widths between between 75-85mm, without dramatic tail rocker, but with a little rocker in the tip to help initiate the turn. Skis with waists below 82mm have more contact with the snow and hook up quickly for what MacConnell calls 鈥渋nstant gratification at the top of the turn鈥濃�攍ike what you find with a race ski.

搁别濒补迟别诲:听Check Out the Best Unisex Frontside Skis of 2023

Save your knees with a shorter ski

In the southeastern part of the U.S., along with lower elevation and warmer temps, resorts can have thin coverage along with hard-snow conditions. 鈥淲ith the short slopes and boilerplate, we think about your knees,鈥� says Greg Klein, hardgoods buyer for Willi鈥檚 Ski Shop in Pittsburg, PA. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e skiing on a fat ski on injected hills, you鈥檙e going to be sliding. We go shorter and narrower to reduce the torque on the knees.鈥�

Klein says that when looking for the correct length, ski tips measured to the forehead can make the ski feel quick and responsive like a slalom ski. The advanced carver should look for skis that crest the top of their head for more stability.

Select a tighter turning radius for more agility

Industry pros agree that a ski with a tight turn radius benefits most Eastern skiers. MacConnell recommends skis with a turn radius between 14-18m for one main reason: skiers are sharing the trails with many other people, particularly on weekends. According to data from SIA and NPD Season in Review, the Northeast has seen season-over-season increases in skier visits.

鈥淓ast Coast resorts do not have the acreage and expanse that West Coast areas have, so there are more people on any given slope,鈥� says MacConnell. 鈥淭o have a quality day, it鈥檚 fun to be on a shorter-radius ski so that you don鈥檛 have to be ripping so fast to make the ski turn.鈥�

搁别濒补迟别诲:听

Consider your edge tune

MacConnell offers Eastern skiers a pro tip centered around tuning, which can have a profound effect on ski performance. Most ski shops have precise tuning machines, and a little knowledge can lead to a helpful dialogue with a local shop tech.

鈥淲hen getting skis tuned, an enthusiastic intermediate could ask for a 1-degree base edge bevel and 2-degree side edge bevel so the ski will hook up with a slight delay,鈥� says MacConnell. 鈥淭he performance skier might prefer a 1-degree base edge bevel and 3-degree side edge bevel to take advantage of the precision from the ski, plus it stays sharper longer and rolls up on edge quicker.鈥�

And for those high-performance skiers out there who get real techy about their base tune: 鈥淎n open structure stone ground pattern coordinates with the larger water molecule found on the East Coast,鈥� advises MacConnell.

In the end there鈥檚 no such thing as bad snow (even out east)鈥攋ust the wrong skis and the wrong tune.

The post If You Ski the East, This Is the Type of Ski You Need Underfoot appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to Covid-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, check individual websites before you go.

Unlike many national parks, a visit to Acadia can easily stand in for a visit to the state itself. The 49,076-acre site, predominantly located on Maine鈥檚 Mount Desert Island听(MDI),听is intertwined with fishing villages and tiny seasonal enclaves, and it鈥檚 not always clear where its boundaries are. Lobster boats rumble below Acadia鈥檚 cliffs as they move from buoy to buoy pulling traps. Uninhabited Bar Island, isolated from the rest of the park, is connected听to downtown Bar Harbor via a strip of gravel beach, which serves as听a natural sidewalk at low tide. The route to Bass Harbor Head Light, one of three lighthouses managed by the park, passes through neighborhoods where yards are filled with towers of lobster traps. The听Abenaki听people, who have migrated between this coast and inland Maine for thousands of years, share their continuing story at the , which has a location both inside and outside the park.听You get the picture: it鈥檚 impossible to explore Acadia without getting acquainted with the tiny communities around it, too.

When I visit Acadia, which is often, I feel I鈥檓 entering an elegant wilderness, a land hardened by glaciers and waves and weather听that鈥檚 been听groomed by human hands. That fanciful notion is rooted in the park鈥檚 history, at least on MDI, home to Acadia鈥檚 famous ocean-hugging Park Loop Road. The park鈥檚 founder and first superintendent, George Bucknam Dorr, was a wealthy MDI summer resident in the early 1900s. He spent 40 years cobbling together land parcels, using his own money and that of others he lobbied. Among his legacies are the rustic, hand-built stone stairways found on some of Acadia鈥檚 steepest slopes. These paths inspire awe听because the labor required to construct听them is almost unfathomable.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. also had a hand in the creation of听MDI. Aside from donating nearly one-quarter of Acadia鈥檚 acreage, Rockefeller鈥檚 45 miles of carriage roads and stone bridges are among the park鈥檚 defining features. Like Dorr鈥檚 stairways, his wide broken-stone paths meld into the boreal and deciduous forests鈥� ridges and valleys as if nature intended them to be there. Rockefeller also partially financed the construction of the paved Park Loop Road. It was his way of accepting the inevitable coming of the car traffic he loathed, while ensuring the carriage roads would remain auto-free.

The Atlantic Ocean is the main attraction at Acadia.听Most鈥攖hough not all鈥攁ctivities involve finding ways to engage with it, whether that鈥檚 hiking along the coast,听climbing the many pink granite cliffs, or kayaking or听sailing to its offshore听islands.听Experience it up close at places like Sand Beach (a听name that may seem unimaginative to you, but it鈥檚 a testament to how rare sand beaches are around here) or Thunder Hole, which booms with rushing waves. For sweeping panoramas, hike听to the top of its numerous bald peaks. However you encounter the park, you鈥檒l sense the power that carved this land and the lives of the people on it.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting听

You may need a vehicle reservation. Acadia ranks among the top-ten most visited national parks, yet it鈥檚 also among the smallest and most congested. Beginning this summer, the National Park Service is requiring to drive on the Cadillac Summit Road during daylight hours, including sunrise, when thousands flock to the East Coast鈥檚 highest point (1,529 feet) to watch the day鈥檚 first rays spill over Frenchman Bay. (For part of the year, Cadillac is also the first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise.)听The future promises similar plans to manage traffic along the听two-mile stretch of Ocean Drive that is home to听the Jordan Pond House restaurant, where people craving an airy popover with strawberry jam and a view of the Bubbles mountain peaks听circle endlessly looking for a parking space.

The Island Explorer will be your lifeline. This听 is the best way to avoid the frustrating search for parking at popular destinations like Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond House, Sand Beach, and Thunder Hole. Island Explorer听operates all day and into the night from mid-June to mid-October. Ten routes link village centers, hotels, and campgrounds with points in Acadia鈥檚 MDI and Schoodic districts. I use it to solo-hike one of my favorite routes鈥攖he wide-open granite spines of Champlain and Gorham Mountains (park at the Tarn on Route 3, ascend via Beachcroft Path, and follow the Champlain South Ridge and Gorham Mountain Trails to Monument Cove on Park Loop Road, then catch the bus at Sand Beach for a ride back to your car).

You can bring your pup. Acadia is one of very few national parks that allows dogs, as long as they are leashed at all times. Along with trails and carriage roads, pets are permitted at the Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds. The exception is Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut, though dogs are allowed on day hikes on that听island.

There鈥檚 more to Acadia than MDI. Without a doubt, you get the biggest bang for your buck in Acadia鈥檚 MDI section, with its extensive coastline, 100 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of car-free carriage roads. But Acadia鈥檚 other two districts, on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut, are every bit as beautiful. Just a fraction of the park鈥檚 3.4 million annual visitors make the hour鈥檚 drive from Bar Harbor to 2,266-acre , on the east side of Frenchman Bay. There are no mountains here and no soaring cliffs. Rather, Schoodic soothes with slow pleasures. A six-mile one-way loop road hugs the peninsula鈥檚 pink-granite shoreline, with plenty of turnouts to stop and watch lobster boats in the bay and to clamor over听the wave-beaten headland at Schoodic Point. The lightly trafficked, mostly flat road makes for a terrific leisurely bike ride. Get your heart pumping on the eight miles of gravel bike trails that wind through the forest of pine and spruce trees draped with gray-green bearded lichen. Most of the 7.5 miles of hiking trails are short, but all are rewarding, and it鈥檚 easy to cobble together longer hikes. Several paths lead to Schoodic Head, the peninsula鈥檚 highest point at 440 feet.

Visiting , 15 miles southwest of MDI, takes extra听planning, but it鈥檚 worth it. Slightly more than half of the 8,000-acre island is privately owned and part of the lobstering town of Isle au Haut (with a year-round population of听50). The rest belongs to Acadia听and receives 6,000 to 7,000 visitors annually. Eighteen miles of rugged, mostly oceanside听trails are the draw. If you have time for just one hike, make it the 3.7-mile Western Head loop, which听dips and rises across rocky beaches and cliffs. There are no motels and inns on Isle au Haut, only rental homes and five primitive campsites within the park鈥檚 perimeter. Likewise, there鈥檚 no car ferry and no paved roads. In summer, the local mail boat makes daily round-trips from the coastal town of Stonington to Isle au Haut鈥檚 town landing and to Duck Harbor, near the campground and trailheads.

How to Get There

Acadia is the听only national park east of the Mississippi River and within a day鈥檚 drive of nearly one-quarter of the U.S. population. Most听visitors head听up Interstate 95 to Bangor, Maine, then southeast on Route 1A to MDI. Access Park Loop Road via one of five main entrances: at听, off听Route 3 north of Bar Harbor; , off听Route 3 south of Bar Harbor; Sand Beach Entrance Station, on Schooner Head Road, which will ; Stanley Brook, on Route 3 in Seal Harbor; and Eagle Lake Road, on Route 233. The closest major airport is Bangor International, an hour north, but more airlines serve Portland International Jetport, three hours south. The Cat, Bay Ferries Limited鈥檚 high-speed ferry, travels between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, but service in 2021 hinges on pandemic-related travel restrictions.

The Best Time of Year to Visit Acadia National Park

Winter

Acadia is nearly deserted from December to March, when temperatures range from 15 to 40 degrees. The average snowfall is 60 inches, but听the amount the area actually sees听each year听varies. Coastal storms often throw in some freezing drizzle or sleet. A good snowfall, however, turns Acadia鈥檚 carriage roads into ideal cross-country-skiing tracks. Only a smattering of hotels are open year-round. Check out the (from $109), a large complex on Frenchman Bay with a fitness center, and the cozier (from $89), a renovated 19th-century sea captain鈥檚 house in Bar Harbor.

Spring

April is often windy and muddy in Maine, but May and June are lambs. Daytime temperatures on MDI are typically in the mid-sixties听to mid-seventies鈥攇reat for hiking and biking鈥攁nd the crowds have yet to arrive. Biting blackflies are a downside, so stock up on bug juice. In Bar Harbor, most hotels, inns, and restaurants open by Memorial Day weekend.

Summer

I鈥檝e grumbled enough about the July and August congestion, so here鈥檚 the good news: the hordes听mostly converge at a few Park Loop Road attractions and are easy to avoid. Solitude can be found simply by stepping onto a hiking trail or carriage road. Tourist magnets like Sand Beach and Thunder Hole are well worth seeing, but you鈥檒l enjoy them more if you go before 10 A.M. Likewise, skip the noontime zoo at Jordan Pond House and get your tea and popovers in the late afternoon. It rarely gets unbearably hot on the Maine coast. Summer temperatures hover in the high seventies. Evenings can be cool, averaging the mid-fifties, so pack accordingly. Fog may roll in off the ocean and settle thickly on shore for days at a time. Think of it as Maine giving you a hug.

Fall

Glory days. The first half of September in Acadia is summer without the bugs, humidity, and fog鈥攋ust lots of sun and clear blue skies, with temperatures in the low seventies. The excellent, though cooler, weather continues for several weeks as the foliage turns crimson, gold, and orange, reaching its peak in early to mid-October. The fiery colors are mirrored in the waters of Eagle Lake, Long Pond, and Jordan Pond听and are best experienced by kayak. See the show from a lobsterman鈥檚 perspective on a Sea Princess ranger-narrated cruise out of Northeast Harbor. Maine鈥檚 weekly keeps tabs on the changing colors statewide.

Where to Stay in and Around the Park听

Four , open spring through fall, provide the only overnight accommodations within the park. On MDI, the听 and campgrounds feature听a total of 483 sites听for primitive, drive-up, and group tenting and unserviced RV camping (from $22). Acadia鈥檚 newest campground, , has spiffy amenities like a 100-seat amphitheater and the widest range of camping options, including RV sites with electricity and water (from $22). on Isle au Haut has five lean-to shelters ($20); advance reservations are a must. None of the campgrounds have showers, but pay showers are available just outside Blackwoods and Seawall and at the on the peninsula.

There鈥檚 no shortage of private campgrounds, hotels, and inns on and around MDI. Set to open in May is glamping operator Under Canvas鈥檚 , which will offer听100 safari-style tents amid听100 acres of coastline,听just a 35-minute drive to the park (from $314). New as of 2020 is , KOA鈥檚 first luxury-camping venture, with five styles of furnished tents (from $218) and a glass-walled lodge serving meals and signature cocktails. I鈥檓 a sucker for MDI鈥檚 many vintage, family-owned cottage courts, such as (from $92). On the Schoodic Peninsula, sits across from Sand Cove on its own 200-acre nature preserve laced with trails (from $150). Owners Ben and Sonja Walter-Sundaram have renovated the property鈥檚 barn for concerts and a lecture series focusing on local and Maine history and the natural sciences.

What to Do While You鈥檙e There听

Hiking

The is an exhilarating 0.9-mile ascent of the sheer听1,000-foot cliff face on the east side of Champlain Mountain. The ascent听switches back and forth听via narrow stone stairways, iron rungs, and one-foot-wide ledges, with nothing but a length of rebar between you and the drop-off. The views of Frenchman Bay are breathtaking鈥攊f you dare to take your eye off the path. Descend via the steep (but not very scary) Orange and Black Trail. The Precipice is usually closed part of each summer to protect nesting peregrine falcon chicks. If you鈥檙e not sure you can handle this trail, how about a trial run on the smaller Beehive? This path听heads to the top of the 520-foot-high dome, which overlooks听Sand Beach and also features a near vertical climb with narrow ledges and rungs embedded in the rock face.

Thank (or curse) the aforementioned preservationist George Dorr for the Ladder Trail, which heads up听the steep east face of 1,265-foot Dorr Mountain. The half-mile trail is almost entirely a stone staircase, with a few iron rungs embedded in granite. The descent is a听gentle one听via the听via the South Ridge and Canon Brook Trails, which afford听ocean views much of the way. This workout is a听3.5-mile round-trip.

On the west side of MDI (a.k.a. 鈥渢he quiet side鈥�), the popular 3.9-mile loop linking 681-foot Acadia and 679-foot St. Sauveur Mountains has several steep sections and some fun rock scrambling. Make the most of the vista听of Somes Sound, the East Coast鈥檚 only 鈥渇jard鈥� (a sort of junior fjord), by extending your hike from Valley Cove to 284-foot Flying Mountain,听summiting St. Sauveur on your return: take the Valley Cove Trail to Flying Mountain,听loop back on the Valley Peak Trail, and听follow the St. Sauveur Trail and Man O鈥� War Brook fire road back to the Acadia Mountain Trailhead on Route 102, a total of 6.5 miles.

The 1.3-mile Ship Harbor Nature Trail or the 1.4-mile Wonderland Trail听in Bass Harbor are easy and ideal for families with young children. Both lead to rocky shorelines with lots of tide pools to explore.

Biking

John D. Rockefeller Jr. built Acadia鈥檚 carriage roads so he鈥檇 have a car-free place for his horse-drawn carriages. They also happen to be perfect for road biking, with routes that follow the contours of the land and take full advantage of magnificent views.

Advanced cyclists will like the 11-mile carriage road, which circles Parkman, Sargent, and Penobscot Mountains, climbing steadily to 700 feet. Your effort is rewarded with fantastic lookouts听of Jordan Pond, Somes Sound, and the Atlantic, not to mention a long and wicked-fun descent. By the time you鈥檙e done, you鈥檒l have crossed six of Rockefeller鈥檚 17 carriage-road bridges, each one unique and faced with quarried island granite.

The six-mile Eagle Lake loop is Acadia鈥檚 most popular carriage road, with a couple of long, gradual ascents and descents and some relatively flat stretches. This is a good one for families with children.

I like to combine the Witch Hole Pond and Paradise Hill carriage roads for a 4.6-mile loop ride. I start at the and head听south, making my way past a chain of placid ponds and marshlands, then turn northeast toward Duck Brook (in late July, I stop to pick wild blueberries that grow along this stretch). I take a break at , not because I need it鈥攖his is an easy ride鈥攂ut because the bridge, with its three high arches and turreted viewing platforms, is beautiful. Then it鈥檚 on to Paradise Hill, with panoramas听of Hulls Cove and Frenchman Bay, and back the visitor听center.

Paddling

Ragged with small coves, harbors, and听beaches, MDI鈥檚 coast invites exploration by boat. There are plenty of rental shops in Bar Harbor. Be aware that the ocean here is cold鈥攍ess than 55 degrees in summer. A wetsuit is recommended.

Somes Sound听nearly splits MDI in two and听stretches听five miles听from the Narrows, a quarter-mile-wide channel between the villages of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor, to Somesville (all three villages are part of the town of Mount Desert Island). With Norumbega Mountain on the east shore and Acadia and St. Sauveur Mountains on the west, the paddling here is fairly protected, and the scenery is lovely. Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor both have boat ramps at the sound鈥檚 mouth, but time your trip carefully鈥攁n outgoing tide will test your strength. You also can launch from the Sargent Drive picnic area, about midway up the sound in Northeast Harbor.

Mount Desert Narrows, the channel separating MDI from the mainland, is a leisurely saltwater paddle. Put in at Hadley Point in Bar Harbor and head southwest, passing Thomas Island and the Twinnies (a pair of small islands),听to Thompson Island in Thomas Bay. Return along the other side of Thompson and the Twinnies for a roughly six-mile round-trip. High tide is the best time to paddle here, since Thomason Island is surrounded by mud flats at low tide.

Harbor seals are often spotted on the eight-mile loop around the Porcupine Islands off Bar Harbor in Frenchman Bay. These five small islands, four of which belong to Acadia, offer some shelter for paddlers. Still, this is an open-sea excursion; if you鈥檙e not an experienced sea kayaker, go with a guide from one of MDI鈥檚 many outfitters. Launch from the Bar Island access road or gravel beach.

For freshwater paddling, it鈥檚 hard to beat the scenery at the mile-long Jordan Pond. The image of the small rounded mountains known as the Bubbles at the pond鈥檚 north end has been made iconic by thousands of photographers. A footpath rings the pond, making it easy to combine a paddling trip with a hike. Put in at the south end of the pond听near the parking area. After your paddle, stroll over to the Jordan Pond House, where you can soak up the view once more, this time while fortifying yourself on creamy lobster stew and popovers.

Long Pond (a.k.a. Great Pond, to distinguish it from the smaller Long Pond in Seal Harbor) is MDI鈥檚 largest inland body of water, stretching nearly four miles. Much of the pond鈥檚 narrow southern half is within the park, banked by Mansell and Beech Mountains. You鈥檒l likely see eagles, ducks, loons, and ospreys. Boat launches are found at the pond鈥檚 northern and southern ends.

Rock Climbing

With nearly 300 single- and multi-pitch routes, Acadia National Park offers a variety of mostly traditional climbs on small pink-granite cliffs. Many routes have fixed rappel stations. Several outfitters offer instruction, including Bar Harbor鈥揵ased and .

Best known as the thrilling climax of a Park Loop Road scenic drive, Otter Cliff is by far the most used climbing destination. With waves crashing below them, climbers enjoy spectacular views of Sand Beach and the sea stacks at Monument Cove. Seventy routes ranging from 5.3 to 5.13, are set on the steep 60-foot cliff, which is broken up by horizontal cracks. NPS maintains some fixed anchors here; using trees is forbidden. More ocean climbing can be found at Great Head, on the east end of Sand Beach, where 37 routes range from 5.6 to 5.13b. At both sea cliffs, use extra caution at high tide and when the surf is high 鈥� waves have swept people into the sea from the base of Otter Cliff, and one climber drowned at Great Head after becoming stranded in a sea cave.

The Precipice, on Champlain Mountain鈥檚 south wall, has about 80 routes ranging in difficulty from a 5.4 to 5.12b, many with multiple pitches, thin cracks, and good corners. The upper wall looks out over Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, Egg Rock Lighthouse, and the Schoodic Peninsula.

South Bubble Mountain, overlooking Jordan Pond, is a good beginners鈥� destination with mostly low-angle climbing on the lower wall. Climbs on the upper slab and wall are more challenging. Routes on South Bubble are graded 5.3 to 5.10b.

Sailing

From day trips to private rentals, there are plenty of options to take in the park鈥檚 shoreline from a sailboat. Check out the outfitters听in the surrounding communities, and have your pick of anything from classic sloops to lobster听boats.

Nordic Skiing听

The all-volunteer grooms more than 30 miles of carriage roads, including 3.5 miles ideal for novices along Eagle Lake鈥檚 western shore and the hilly and twisty Aunt Betty鈥檚 Pond loop. You can even ski on Park Loop Road, portions of which are unplowed. Among these is the left lane of spectacular Ocean Drive between Schooner Head and Otter Cliff Roads (it鈥檚 open to snowmobilers, but I鈥檝e never encountered any).

Stargazing

On summer nights, hundreds of Acadia visitors stretch out their blankets on Sand Beach to lie back and gaze at the stars while park rangers point out planets and satellites and tell the stories behind the constellations鈥� names. The program, called , celebrates the largest expanse of naturally dark sky east of the Mississippi, accomplished through a National Park Service policy to preserve natural lightscapes and a Bar Harbor town ordinance that requires new construction projects to install shields on exterior lights so their light is cast downward. Canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, Acadia鈥檚 annual is scheduled to resume in September 2021. A highlight of the five-day event is the Cadillac Mountain Star Party, with rangers and astronomers acting as travel guides to the sky.

Birding

Acadia isn鈥檛 well-known as a wildlife-watching destination, save听one exception: birds. More than 300 species spend at least part of the year at Acadia, an important migratory bird stopover and nesting site. Hence the three-day , held annually in early June. Events include guided walks, boat tours, and talks. On your own, look for shorebirds on the mudflats around Thompson Island and Isle au Haut. Prime spots for songbirds include the carriage roads, Sieur de Monts Spring, and Jordan Pond. Nesting falcons can be spotted at the Precipice from mid-April to mid-August. Migrating raptors are all but guaranteed to be soaring over Cadillac Mountain from mid-August to mid-October. Visitors are welcome to join Cadillac Mountain Hawk Watch volunteers, who gather at the head of the North Ridge Trail to count, identify, and record each raptor they see.

The Best Places to Eat and Drink at Acadia National Park听

The question is not 鈥淲here can we get lobster?鈥� because boiled or steamed lobster, served with drawn butter and corn on the cob, is available everywhere on MDI. What you want is to eat lobster at a place with a great view. The screened-porch dining room at , in the town of Bernard, stretches over Bass Harbor, where boats are arriving with the day鈥檚 lobster dinners. , with indoor and outdoor dining, occupies a stunning spot at the head of Somes Sound in the town of Mount Desert. , on the Little Cranberry Island wharf, involves a trip aboard the Beal and Bunker ferry or a water taxi.

The best lobster rolls (also with a side order of views) are found at , located on Southwest Harbor鈥檚 working waterfront,听and , set among docks piled high with lobster traps in the tiny fishing village of Corea on the Schoodic Peninsula. For fine dining (without a view), , in downtown Bar Harbor, prepares Caribbean- and Latin-influenced meals with locally sourced meats, fish, and veggies. And yes, Havana serves lobster, but in unconventional ways, like moqueca, a Brazilian stew with coconut broth and rice, and paella,听with other goodies like mussels, shrimp, scallops, chorizo, and smoked chicken. For sips, try the Cuba libre, made with Gosling鈥檚 Gold rum and Mexican Coke. Feast on heaping plates of slow-smoked pulled pork, sausages, ribs, and chicken in the charming courtyard of 鈥檚 Town Hill location. Wash it down with the brewery鈥檚 signature Bar Harbor Real Ale.

If You Have Time for a Detour

Load up your kayak and head inland to the , a 14,000-acre forested reserve about an hour鈥檚 drive north of听Bar Harbor. Pristine Donnell Pond, which covers听1,138 acres听and has听15 miles of shoreline, can easily occupy paddlers for the better part of day. Fishing听is good for landlocked salmon, lake trout, white perch, and smallmouth bass. Loons, eagles, and ospreys fish here, too, which makes for good bird-watching. Primitive campsites, reachable only by water or hiking trails, can be found at Redman鈥檚 Beach on the pond鈥檚 east side and Schoodic Beach on the pond鈥檚 south end. Pick up the trailhead for 1,157-foot Tunk Mountain at the parking lot off Route 182听between the towns of Franklin and Cherryfield. From Tunk鈥檚 summit, you can see the lake-dotted forest stretching to the north, as well as Mount Desert Island and Frenchman Bay to the southwest. Total mileage, with a loop around Salmon Pond to the shore of Little Long Pond, is 4.4 miles.

How to Be a Conscious Visitor听

You just emerged from the trees, and a panorama鈥攐cean, lakes, forest鈥攊s revealing itself as you scramble up a granite outcropping toward the mountain summit. In your exhilaration, you grab a stone and drop it on the nearest cairn as if to say,听I was here! Please don鈥檛 do that. Acadia National Park has a unique stone trail marker鈥攖he Bates cairn, named for Waldron Bates, who, like George Dorr, specialized in path making on MDI in the early 20th century. A Bates cairn consists of four rocks: two large base stones laid roughly a foot apart and听topped by a flat rock, on top of which sits a fourth rock pointed in the direction of the trail. Some of the park鈥檚 cairns are originals, more than 100 years old. Excessive cairn-building, whether adding to existing cairns or creating new ones, not only mucks with that history听but also confuses hikers trying to follow a trail, contributes to soil erosion, and detracts from nature鈥檚 beauty. It鈥檚 such a nuisance that has a crew of volunteer ridge runners whose mission is dismantling outlaw cairns and educating hikers to leave no trace.听Resist the urge to build your personal memorial, and take a selfie instead.

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Across the country, camping and RV rentals are soaring as Americans heed the words of COVID-19 health experts: it鈥檚 safer to be outdoors than indoors. Rather than use your campground as a base camp, why not treat it as destination in and of itself?听These sites offer plenty of adventure right from your tent and breathtaking views to enjoy during your downtime. Be sure to听check individual websites for COVID-19 guidelines or restrictions before you head out.听

West

Cape Lookout State Park Campground, Oregon听

Located 80 miles from Portland, this听park has ten miles of hiking trails and more than 170 beachfront 听(from $21) along a two-mile peninsula. Hike the 2.6-mile trail to the tip of the cape for views of migrating whales in fall.

Southwest

Mogollon Campground, Arizona

The Mogollon Rim is a 200-mile-long听limestone and granite cliff located two hours northeast of Phoenix. After hiking along the 4.2-mile 听or kayaking on secluded , pitch your tent or park your RV at the 听(from $18). A short walk will take you to the rim鈥檚 edge for sunset views over .

Midwest

Old Man鈥檚 Cave Campground, Ohio

Two hours east of Cincinnati, is teeming with impressive forest听and waterfalls. This 听(from $23) offers the easiest access to picturesque Old Man鈥檚 Cave via the two-mile Rim Trail. Mountain bikers will enjoy the park鈥檚 shady trails.

Northeast

Hither Hills State Park Campground, New York

While you might not expect such an expanse of wildnerness right next to the Hamptons, Hither Hills has 190听听(from $7) tucked away in bluffs that border the Atlantic Ocean, a 40-acre freshwater lake, and lush woodlands. Wake up to waves crashing along the shoreline, then explore the dunes at Napeague Harbor, take a hike through Russian olive and pine trees, and surf or kayak in the ocean.

Southeast

DeSoto State Park Campground, Alabama听

Located 100 miles northeast of Birmingham, this park is situated听on 2,392-foot Lookout Mountain, which is coated with vibrant foliage every fall. Its 3,502 acres include听94 听(from $15),听half a dozen waterfalls, and nearby听Little River Canyon, which has some of the toughest rock climbing in the state.

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As we navigate the new travel normal, making decisions about where to go鈥攐r whether to go at all鈥攄uring a pandemic requires flexibility and informed planning. By the time this issue reaches you, the COVID-19 news will likely have shifted again. We hope it鈥檚 for the better. As some Americans have decided to venture out, a road trip close to home is one of the safest and most popular options. That鈥檚 why we put together our favorite in-state itineraries in every region of the country, to make it easy for you to explore your own backyard鈥攖hink uncrowded spaces, camping, and lots of fresh air. We also gathered expert advice and resources on how to plan effectively, stay up-to-date about changing conditions, and ensure your safety and that of the communities you travel through. Whether your state has reopened and you can go now, or you save these itineraries for more opportune times, you鈥檒l be amazed at the adventures right outside your door.

The Northeast

Hit the Range: Branbury State Park to Burlington, Vermont

, at the foot of Vermont鈥檚 Green Mountains, has over 40 family-friendly campsites and lean-tos that are a quick walk from the beachfront of Lake Dunmore. After a day of hiking and swimming, head north on Route 116 along the western edge of the Greens. Follow the highway east into the mountains and to the idyllic town of Bristol for a maple soft-serve at the . Continue east through Lincoln along River/Lincoln Gap Road, then pull over where the Long Trail鈥攖he oldest through-hiking route in the U.S., and part of the Appalachian Trail鈥斅璱ntersects with the road. Hike it to the top of Mount Abe, one of the state鈥檚 five 4,000-foot peaks; the rocky summit pokes above the timberline and offers stunning 360-degree views that span from the Adirondacks in the west to New Hampshire鈥檚 White Mountains in the east. Spend the night at the Battell Shelter, a first-come, first-served lean-to maintained by the . Post-hike, drive to the quaint town of Warren, order the Number Six sandwich to go at the , and eat it on the banks of the Mad River. Your final stop? Vermont鈥檚 largest city, Burlington. Bike along the shore of Lake Champlain before popping in for a dry-ale-style cider at . 80 miles one-way鈥擫uke Whelan

The Southwest

New Mexico, Three Ways

Santa Fe is the perfect place to base out of for road trips, with dramatically different landscapes in every direction. Here are a few of our favorites.听鈥擬ary Turner

The High and Low Roads to Taos

The High Road (Highway 76 to 75 to 518) goes through scenic alpine villages, including the weaving town of Chimayo, where the听 is famous for its healing dirt. Be sure to pick up baked goods at in Pe帽asco on the way up. The Low Road home (Highway 68) hugs the Rio Grande. 150 miles round-trip

White Sands National Park

If you can鈥檛 make it to the Sahara, is your next best bet. Take a few hours to hike the surreal gypsum dunes that stretch on forever. The park鈥檚 camping sites are currently closed, so head to (from $7) at the base of the Organ Mountains, 40 miles southwest. 575 miles round-trip

础产颈辩耻颈煤

This is Georgia O鈥橩eeffe country, an otherworldly landscape of stark red and white cliffs, and the lush Chama River Valley. The artist spent decades painting in the town of 础产颈辩耻颈煤 and at nearby , where you can hike the spectacular Chimney Rock Trail. 122 miles round-trip

Get Your Mineral Fix: Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs to Soldier Meadows Hot Springs, Nevada听

Four of the Silver State鈥檚 most scenic hot springs reside on remote public lands that offer free dispersed camping and skies brilliant with stars. (Pitch your tent at least 300 feet from any water source.) Start at听, 60 miles southwest of the town of Tonopah. The concrete tub is surrounded by marshlands, ponds big enough for paddleboarding, and 13,140-foot Boundary Peak, Nevada鈥檚 highest point, summited via a challenging five-mile hike. Three hours northeast, you鈥檒l share with a resident herd of wild burros. Quench your thirst with a beer on 鈥檚 porch in nearby Kingston. Some 260 miles northwest, at the Black Rock Desert playa, head out with Gerlach local Philippe Steinmann for an e-bike tour of the area (from $36) that finishes at . Backtrack 40 miles to High Rock Canyon鈥攁 sanctuary for peregrine falcons and great horned owls鈥攆ollowed by a soak at nearby . An adjacent BLM cabin is first come, first served. For more creature comforts, detour to the ghost town of Vya and the (from $45). 534 miles one-way鈥擳asha Zemke

The West

Lose the Crowds:听Denver to Snowmass, Colorado

This part of south-central Colorado is rich in public lands, dramatic 14,000-foot peaks, and picturesque mountain towns. Set out from Denver and drive about 140 miles south to one of the state鈥檚 most unusual man-made landmarks: . Its namesake architect, Jim Bishop, started building the three-story stone fortress鈥攚ith its winding staircases, wrought-iron causeways, and enormous dragon鈥檚 head鈥攊n 1969, and is still working on it. Stay the night ten minutes away at Lake Isabel, where you鈥檒l find a quiet body of water, easy trails to explore, and designated Forest Service (from $20). Start day two off with a 100-mile scenic drive to the stunning Arkansas River Valley and the town of Buena Vista, the gateway to the Collegiate Peaks, including eight fourteeners. Day hikes abound, and you can decompress afterward at the . If you want to go big, get an early start on the 8.6-mile hike up 14,440-foot Mount Elbert鈥� the highest point in the state鈥攂y securing a spot at (from $15). If water is more your element, book a trip on the Arkansas with (from $71). Next up? A two-hour drive to , a small ski town just north of Aspen with 3,342 acres of premium winter terrain that鈥檚 just as beautiful and adventure packed in fall. Hike, raft, fish, bag another fourteener, but beware: the technical, exposed route to Capitol Peak isn鈥檛 for the inexperienced. Be sure to catch the striped peaks of the Maroon Bells before 颅taking I-70 back to the Front Range. 387 miles one-way鈥擬aren Larsen

The Other听Side of听Oregon: John Day to Eagle Cap Wilderness听

Start your tour in the city of John Day, five hours east of Portland, where you can search for fossils at the nearby . Grab a fly rod and head southeast to the alpine lakes teeming with trout in the , then spend the night at its (from $8). Backtrack via Prairie City, then on to Bates, and turn north onto Highway 7, a scenic byway that meanders through the southern Blue Mountains. Finally, head north on I-84 before taking Highway 82 all the way to Joseph, a charming artist town at the base of the Wallowa Mountains. Pitch a tent at (from $20), the perfect base camp for forays into the nearby , where you鈥檒l find 534 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. 292 miles one-way鈥擟hris Keyes

The听Southeast

Circuit Train: Harpers Ferry to Pipestem Resort State Park, West Virginia

Pack up your bike, hiking boots, and swimsuit for this spin through the state鈥檚 rugged Appalachian Mountains. Start in historic , at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, where hikes include the 4.5-mile , with its bird鈥檚-eye view of the peak-cradled town. Then drive about an hour up Route 9 to Berkeley Springs; 16 miles east, a scenic offshoot of the 250-mile 听wanders up to Devil鈥檚 Nose, a large rock surrounded by splendid autumn plumage. From here, head about 110 miles southwest to , at the Canaan Valley鈥檚 northern tip, where a boardwalk descends to a front-row view of the falls and backwoods trails wind through towering hardwoods. Mountain biking has long reigned supreme in the valley, with popular rides like the technical, nine-mile and the 3.8-mile legendary Moon HooDoo Rocks Trail. Hiking, fishing, and cross-country-skiing options are abundant in the park as well. The tiny nearby towns of Davis and Thomas serve as hubs for outfitters and eateries, and both (from $18) and (from $27) have cabins and campsites. Then head south through , one of the nation鈥檚 most biologically diverse landscapes. You鈥檒l pass by , famous for hardcore hiking and epic vistas. Check out the mountain-biking trails around Slatyfork, or explore farther south, where boardwalks hover above bogs that are similar to those found in the Arctic tundra. Campsites and cabins abound in the national forest, including along the Williams River (from $8). Wind up your trip about 95 miles south at , where the adventure smorgasbord includes hiking, mountain biking, trout fishing, kayaking, tubing, and rock climbing. 403 miles one-way鈥擝arbara Noe Kennedy

Escape Bourbon Street:听Fontainebleau State Park to New Orleans, Louisiana

This three-day circuit offers everything from hiking to history. From the city, head 40 miles north along the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to , on the northern edge of the lake, where you鈥檒l find sandy beaches and miles of hiking trails. Take a free guided tour from the visitor center to learn about the park, a former sugar plantation, and its ignominious slavery-era past. A converted railroad track, part of the 31-mile trail that runs from downtown Covington to Slidell through five communities, offers cycling and 颅hiking, and stops along historical sites and breweries. Spend the night at one of the park鈥檚 more than 140 campsites (from $18) and lakefront cabins (from $150). The next day, drive 50 minutes north to and hike the 5.7-mile loop trail, which offers prime birdwatching. In the afternoon, rent a kayak to paddle the namesake river, then stay at one of the park鈥檚 cabins ($150) or campgrounds (from $25). On day three, head back to New Orleans, and embark on the guided African Life in the French Quarter walking itinerary (from $17) with . 140 miles one-way鈥擠odie Arnold

The听Midwest

Explore the LP Route: Traverse City to Mackinac Island, Michigan听

Michigan鈥檚 Lower Peninsula makes it possible to pack the best of the Midwest鈥攑ristine coastline, good seafood, and charming beach towns鈥攊nto a long weekend. From Traverse City, head 40 minutes west to hike 鈥� 3.5-mile Dunes Trail, which takes you over rolling sand hills to a beach on Lake Michigan. Afterward, pick up cherry lime soda at in nearby Glen Arbor, then detour to the town of Leland for a loaded sandwich from and enjoy it on wooden docks of its historic Fishtown. Next up, drive 75 miles east to rent a kayak at 听(from $28), then paddle the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix, followed by a meal of soft pretzels and beer at in the town of Bellaire. Set up camp at , just east of downtown (from $15). From there, it鈥檚 a 45-mile drive to the town of Petoskey, your departure point for a scenic bike ride down Highway 119 with stunning views of Lake Michigan. Another 35 miles north brings you to Mackinaw City. Board the ferry to and step back in time; there are no cars allowed, so horses, pedestrians, and bikes rule the streets. Bring your bike on the ferry and cruise around the island on 8.2-mile Lake Shore Drive, making pit stops at , , and one of the many fudge shops in town. There鈥檚 no camping on the island, but there are plenty of options back on the mainland, including cabin rentals and lakefront RV sites at (from $13). 220 miles one-way鈥擪elsey Lindsey

Local Intel: Minneapolis to Ely, Minnesota

From Minneapolis, it鈥檚 a little over two hours north to Duluth, home to Lake Superior, the world鈥檚 largest freshwater lake by surface area. Set up your base at (from $40), where you can fish on the Saint Louis River, rent canoes and 颅kayaks from the camp鈥檚 hosts, and access a network of mountain-bike trails right across the street. Swing by 听for alfresco cocktail hour before heading to to grab wings to go. In the morning, take a 54-mile detour to and hike to the namesake falls. Finally, continue 80 miles north to the city of Ely to rent a canoe from (from $35), and paddle out to explore some of the 1,175 lakes in the remote wilderness area, which has more than 2,000 designated (from $16). 278 miles one-way 鈥擜bigail Wise

Play Geologist: Badlands National Park to Custer State Park, South Dakota

The theme of this trip: rocks. Western South Dakota has some of the finest hunks of sandstone, mica schist, granite, and phonolite porphyry in the American West. Kick off your trip at , a maze of bizarre and beautiful canyons and spires you can explore from a handful of easy to moderate trails. A campground (from $23) and 26 cabin rentals at (from $182) make this a great place to bunk down on your first night鈥攕eeing the sun rise on these formations is worth it. On day two stop by , perhaps the most widely advertised tourist trap in the world, with billboards from Minnesota to Amsterdam; the interconnected shops sell everything from jewelry to jackalopes. Grab a hot beef sandwich and doughnuts to go from the . Ninety miles west is Sylvan Lake in听, a wildlife reserve home to 1,300 bison. The surrounding area offers some of the best roped climbing in the state. You鈥檒l also find a via-ferrata-esque hiking experience at the park鈥檚听听and, just two miles east, a scenic drive that takes you through the Needles Eye Tunnel, a narrow path through granite rock pinnacles. Stay at one of the state park鈥檚 nine (from $7). 119 miles one-way鈥拟.尝.

Ride it Out: Hartford to Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois听

According Shawn Fechter, of motorcycle-adventure outfitter , one of the best riding听routes is the Great Rivers Byway, starting where the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers converge.

鈥淪ome of the most scenic pockets of the 2,552-mile听 which follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana, are found in Illinois. Start in the small town of Hartford, where the Meeting of the Great Rivers Byway begins. The 22 miles between Hartford and Grafton offer spectacular views of the rivers to one side and limestone bluffs to the other, and are filled with stops to take in the area鈥檚 diverse flora and fauna, like the 300-acre , home to more than 150 species of birds. Farther west, at the , you can catch the great southerly bird 颅migration in fall. The trip can be completed in a day, but if you want to take your time, spend a night in a riverside shelter at (from $25), which has plenty of hiking, fishing, and rock climbing.鈥� 67 miles one-way

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You could spend years exploring the 听craft and microbreweries that听New England听has to offer and still never taste all the incredible beer from the region.听Luckily,听a number of听our editors and contributors have spent decades听living, adventuring, and drinking in the Northeast.听Here are their picks for the breweries and beers you have听to experience the next time you鈥檙e in the area, from the in an unsuspecting corner of Vermont to a little-known gem on the New Hampshire coast. Consider this your pocket guide to hoppy euphoria.听

Lawson鈥檚 Finest Liquids

Waitsfield, Vermont

Although I鈥檓 partial to my hometown of Stowe鈥檚听brewery, the听, and its听classic Heady Topper IPA,听I鈥檇 be remiss if I didn鈥檛 point brew lovers听to Lawson鈥檚. This taproom has tons of indoor and outdoor seating in an idyllic small-town setting,听and听, a cult-favorite fruity听 and my brew of choice, is always flowing. Farm-to-table appetizers, pinball machines, and lawn games will keep you here awhile, because听what鈥檚 better than a lazy day of听drinking with friends? When you鈥檙e ready to leave, walk less than half a mile south听to 听for the best maple 鈥渃reemee鈥濃�攖hat鈥檚 Vermonter for soft-serve ice cream鈥攐f your life. 鈥擜bbey Gingras,听associate audience editor

Maine Beer听Company

Freeport, Maine

I first tasted听听during dinner at a New York City restaurant听last spring, a far cry from the charming coastal vibes of its home.听The brew鈥檚 name created a great deal of confusion later on when I asked听around about the听perfect beer I鈥檇 been drinking. But it鈥檚 cool鈥擫unch, after all, is an apt moniker for the Maine-based craft brewery鈥檚 imminently drinkable IPA. As someone鈥檚 day might hinge on their midday meal, this bold but balanced brew听immediately became the cornerstone of my beer-ordering habits. It鈥檚 frothy, malty, hoppy, and shot through with citrus and pine.听At 7 percent听ABV, I听recommend pairing it听with a sandwich if you鈥檙e drinking it at its designated hour, but you鈥檒l be able to find it in stores and restaurants all over the Northeast no matter the time听of day. 鈥擷ian Chiang-Waren, associate culture editor听

Narragansett Beer

Providence, Rhode Island

When I lived in Boston, I spent the summers with my girlfriend and her family at a small lake house in听central Massachusetts. On a typical day, we鈥檇 go for a morning swim and then read by the dock, and when the afternoon rolled along, someone would head to the 鈥減ackie,鈥� Massachusetts slang for liquor store,听and bring back an assortment of beer to have with dinner that night. My favorite pick听of the bunch听would听always听be听Narragansett, which is opening a new brewery and headquarters in Providence .听I remember one day when听we took a trip down to Narragansett Beach in Rhode Island听and听sipped on the namesake听 and in between sunbathing and dips in the ocean. Can you get more picturesque than that? 鈥擩eremy Rellosa, affiliate reviews editor

Trillium Brewing Company

Boston, Massachusetts

The people of Massachusetts truly hate to be outdone, and so when Vermont started getting all the craft-brewing attention, my beautiful Baked Bean State quite literally said, 鈥淗old my beer.鈥澨齏hile tons of breweries have popped up all over the state in recent years,听none can outshine the beloved听. Currently listed听as the third-best brewery in the world, according to , it听has been concocting all sorts of amazing combinations for seven years now. Grab a cannoli at in the North End, then walk a mile to the newly developed Seaport, where Trillium has set up a large but cozy taproom. After a beer and some poutine (or if you want to dive deep into the state鈥檚 coastal spirit, I suggest the lobster toast), head to the nearby听听to see one of the city鈥檚 best art听collections.听鈥擪yra Kennedy, photo editor

Throwback Brewery

North Hampton, New Hampshire

Like the New Hampshire coast itself, 听is tiny and not very听well-known, but it鈥檚 a heavenly place to visit in the summer or early fall. The brewery sources more than 70 percent听of its beer听ingredients,听like fruit and hops, locally, including from the听farm on which it鈥檚 located. Batches听are small in quantity, seasonal in availability, and experimental in flavor, and although you can find them in some stores around the region or buy them to go from the brewery, they鈥檙e best enjoyed on the farm itself. I鈥檝e spent several late afternoons in bliss on Throwback鈥檚 dog-friendly patio in scenic North Hampton, taking in a view听of goats, chickens, and donkeys (the brewery鈥檚 mascot), and relishing听the scent of听salt in the air from the nearby Atlantic. Start drinking with the听Spicy Bohemian, a pilsner dry-hopped with jalape帽os. It鈥檚 crisp, light, peppery, and spicy鈥攂ut not in an overwhelming way鈥攁nd it happens to be one of the most popular beers on tap every听year.听鈥擲vati Kirsten Narula, contributor听

Hill Farmstead

Greensboro Bend, Vermont

Since my colleague beat me to the punch in praise of Lawson鈥檚 Sip of Sunshine (which is really only to be enjoyed after you鈥檝e cooled the can in the cold water of Warren Falls听in Warren, Vermont),听I鈥檓 now听free to lavish attention on my other steadfast Vermont companion: Edward. Edward is about as perfect as a beer can be: a crisp but smooth American pale ale with just the right amount of hops and citrus. It pairs well with absolutely everything, complimenting light summer fare as well as听brightening hearty winter meals after a long day of skiing. You鈥檒l want to drink it year-round, but since it鈥檚 only available for purchase at the Northeast Kingdom brewery in northern Vermont and select restaurants in the area, you鈥檒l just have to make a trip there. Trust听us, it鈥檚 worth it. 鈥擷.颁-奥.

Tree House Brewing Company

Charlton, Massachusetts

If you find yourself in central Massachusetts,听you have to stop by Tree House Brewing鈥檚听听and experience what can only be described as听the Disneyland of beer.听Get there via mountain bike, and ride the singletrack that connects the brewery听to the abutting 86-acre听, then cool off by听sipping听the听ever popular 听IPA听on the听patio. Those听looking for a more leisurely experience can听try one of Tree House鈥檚 stouts and take a stroll through the on-site orchards, dotted with听beehives. I recommend following this pilgrimage听by driving 30 minutes northeast to Worcester and grabbing听a bite to eat at .听鈥擪.碍.

Rising Tide Brewing

Portland, Maine

This brewery holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. Not only has its听 been my companion听on numerous paddling excursions in nearby听,听but my sister is on most of the company鈥檚听wedding marketing materials. In the summer, it听opens the garage doors to a patio听with gas fireplaces and a rotating selection of food trucks. My go-to听brew听is the Ishmael鈥攁听copper ale听that听provides just enough flavor without punching you with bitterness, and at just 4.9 percent听ABV,听I can afford to have a few. If you鈥檙e looking for听an IPA, the Zephyr is an easy choice. A听fun听bonus: many of Rising Tide鈥檚听beers are named after Maine鈥檚 favorite outdoor hubs, and the brewery is a meeting ground for ski films, climate talks, and local activism.听鈥擬itch Breton,听video curator

This story was produced in partnership with 听magazine. Check out more of their Maine beer recommendations .听

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Put down the cracker and bib鈥攊n the past few decades, the as Maine鈥檚 big prize for traveling gourmands. Half the appeal is the sweet simplicity of a griddled bun听all buttered up and filled with fresh lobster. The other half is the setting: the best rolls are usually consumed someplace where you can smell the sea and have to . Our south-to-north guide to the Maine coast鈥檚 best lobster rolls includes suggested outdoor-rec pairings, because you may want to preemptively burn some of those calories.

Kennebunk

The roll: Five and a half ounces of fresh, boiled-in-seawater Cape Porpoise lobster mixed with a little mayo, a little melted butter, or both. The Clam Shack鈥檚 roll is a delicious iconoclast,听eschewing the classic split-top bun for a round, locally baked yeast roll. It鈥檚 soft as a cloud and totally works.

The scene: A tiny white shanty on a bridge over the tidal Kennebunk River, the Clam Shack is听smack in the middle of the town鈥檚听trafficked tourism quarter. You can eat at听the adjacent fish market or outside at picnic tables听or lobster traps topped with plexiglass. The bad news: during the peak of summer,听expect to wait in line as long as an hour.

The side dish: Fried full-belly clams. Sweet and plump and cooked in a crunchy crumb coating, they rival the roll for regulars鈥� affections.

Explore: Surfers find consistent swells at a few minutes away: Fortunes Rocks,听in Kennebunkport,听and Gooch鈥檚,听in Kennebunk. , a quarter-mile west of the Clam Shack, can point visitors to the breaks and offers rentals and lessons. At the height of the season, water temperatures听can听even reach the low sixties!

Cape Elizabeth

The roll: You can go classic鈥擬aine style, with mayo and chives, or Connecticut style, with drizzled butter鈥攐r go avant-garde, choosing听to dress听your roll in wasabi, coleslaw, smoky chipotle, or yellow-curry mayo.

The scene: The Bite into Maine food truck is right next to , one of the world鈥檚 most photographed lighthouses. Lay a blanket on the grassy lawn, and watch the waves crash into the rocky shoreline.

The side dish: Nothing pairs with lobster like more lobster.听The creamy bisque has generous chunks of claw and tail and a sprinkling of chives.

Explore: The food truck is stationed听in the middle of 90-acre , where a mile-long loop trail skirts ocean-side cliffs and a few听abandoned military batteries. Six miles south, the trails at access 41 acres of听headlands, full of tide pools听ideal听for clambering.

Portland

The roll: Lobster meat dressed in brown butter, lemon, and chives, served in a split-top, Asian-style steamed bun. Purists may scoff, but Eventide鈥檚 fancy-pants听roll is to die for.

The scene: The heart of district, where cobblestone streets are lined with 19th-century brick buildings housing restaurants and boutiques. This听restaurant听is听a hip spin on a seafood shack, with indoor picnic tables and a 1,500-pound granite basin filled with ice and oysters.

The side dish: Any of a dozen varieties of fresh 听served on the half shell.

Explore: On East End Beach, a dozen blocks northeast, rents kayaks and leads trips to Fort Gorges, a听19th-century garrison on Hog Island in Casco Bay. The two-mile听paddle out crosses boat channels with heavy commercial and recreational traffic, so it鈥檚 best听to go with a guide.

Georgetown

The roll: The correct order is 鈥渢he Big Boy,鈥� a roughly ten-ounce roll with lobster that鈥檚听lightly dressed in mayo and overflowing from听its split-top听potato bun.

The scene: The setup looks straight out of a movie鈥攑icnic tables on a working wharf, menu on a chalkboard, traps stacked up nearby,听lobster boats bobbing in the bay, and听a cluster of spruce-studded islands behind them.

The side dish: Fried things, particularly the giant onion rings, which are battered in-house.听BYOB.

Explore: The tiny , immediately adjacent to the lobster shack, is a popular spot for an after-dinner stroll through mossy woods, while the , a quarter-mile south, has a trail to a little-visited, boulder-strewn beach.

Wiscasset

The roll: Arguably Maine鈥檚 most famous lobster roll, Red鈥檚听has an ultra-generous portion of meat鈥攚hole claws and tails鈥攄ropped naked on a grilled split-top bun. That鈥檚 it. Extra-heavy mayonnaise or drawn butter on the side听are optional.

The scene: In the pretty, historic village of , this听eatery, which听looks like a little red caboose, is听parked on the bank of the Sheepscot River. Seating is on a shady deck behind the stand or along the grassy riverfront. The line to order can get听long鈥攚aits of over an hour aren鈥檛 uncommon.

The side dish: Fried zucchini crisped in a golden, puffy batter.

Explore: Mountain bikers head across the river and down a couple miles of back roads to the , in the town of Edgecomb, where more than ten听miles of crisscross a 270-foot hill called (appropriately, for our purposes) Mount Hunger.

South Thomaston

The roll: The standard听roll, brushed with mayo or听butter and filled with super-fresh meat. Lobsters are held in floating crates right next to the dining patio, then plucked from the seawater and tossed straight into a pot.

The scene: Far from the Route 1 tourist traffic鈥攐n bridge-accessed Spruce Head Island, off the St. George Peninsula鈥攖his little shack overlooks Seal Harbor, which is听dotted with islands and lobster boats coming and going from the McLoons wharf.

The side dish: The grill-roasted littleneck clams served with homemade garlic-herb butter are听smoky, briny, and delicious.

Explore: At the tip of the peninsula, 14 miles south down ME-73 and ME-131, offers rentals and tours, including a morning paddleboard excursion around , an iconic beacon and .

Corea

The roll: Lobster for it is purchased each morning from the fisherman鈥檚 co-op across the harbor, cooked in salt water, and mixed with Hellman鈥檚 mayonnaise and a little pepper.

The scene: The deck overlooks lobster boats and wharves piled听high with traps. Former lobsterman Joe Young runs both the restaurant and an art gallery, an old fish house full of photos of mid-20th-century Corea.

The side dish: The听blueberry pie鈥攖hree-inch-deep wedges filled with听wild Maine blueberries and set in a perfectly flaky crust.

Explore: Corea is just down the road from the , which sees听far fewer visitors than neighboring Mount Desert Island. Some听eight听miles of hard gravel perfect听for bikers听wind听through woods and along the rocky shore, and hiking trails reach the summits of Buck Cove Mountain and Schoodic Head, offering knockout views of the Atlantic and the rounded peaks of Mount Desert Island.

Beals

The roll: Shredded lobster dressed generously with mayo and topped with a whole claw.

The scene: Connected by a bridge to the mainland town of Jonesport, Beals Island is well off the tourist track. Diners sit at picnic tables overlooking a harbor filled with fishing boats.

The side dish: Locals eschew the roll in favor of the ginormous听fried-haddock burger, which comes stacked with multiple fillets. But you can eat both, right?

Explore: A mile south, the Nature Conservancy鈥檚 is a peaceful place to spot seals, dolphins, eagles, and ospreys. A 4.5-mile听loop trail cuts听through a jack pine forest and over the island鈥檚 vast, exposed granite headlands.

Eastport

The roll: Mix your lobster with mayo, Miracle Whip, drawn butter, or any combination of the three. Feeling snackish? The junior roll has just two听ounces of meat. (The regular has four, and the jumbo piles eight听into an eight-inch bun.)

The scene: Quoddy Bay鈥檚 picnic tables offer front-row seats to Friar Roads, the watery passage between Eastport and Canada鈥檚 , where minke, finback, and humpback whales regularly surface in July and August.

The side dish: The yummy, comforting fish chowder鈥攁 creation of听of听haddock, potatoes, and onions in a creamy stock.

Explore:听 organizes听whale-watching and deep-sea fishing excursions into Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays. If you want to work for your supper, offers daily trips on a lobster boat that听passes听by听the Old Sow whirlpool and East Quoddy Lighthouse, while the crew stops听to pull traps along the way.

This story was produced in partnership with 听magazine.

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No yacht? No problem. Sure, the Maine coastline alone has some 3,000 islands you can鈥檛 set foot on without a watercraft and some navigation skills, but many of New England鈥檚 best offshore adventures are found on islands that you can buy a ticket to.

Word to the wise, though: New England鈥檚 islanders brook no foolishness. They welcome visitors into their communities but prefer outsiders stay off their lawns, thanks. Island towns aren鈥檛 theme parks, and this summer of all summers, island-hoppers would do well to respect the communities that host them. Follow distancing and face-mask guidelines. Don鈥檛 assume you can buy anything you need in an island town. Don鈥檛 take pictures of the locals, avoid mentioning Tom Brady, and learn the friggin鈥� ferry schedule, bub.

Monhegan, Maine

The hour-long ride on the from the fishing village of Port Clyde is itself worth the trip: you鈥檒l see spruce-studded isles, seals lounging on ledges, porpoises playing in the boat鈥檚 wake, and the occasional prehistoric-looking sunfish hovering just beneath the surf. Other Monhegan ferries run out of 听and .

You can see a lot of Monhegan on a day trip, but the quiet rhythm of the island community, with its year-round population of about 70 and summer population of a couple hundred, is better appreciated with an overnight at one of a handful of . The , which delayed its opening until June 22 this year, is the most quintessential, with its weathered-shingle exterior, airy rooms, and restaurant overlooking the harbor. Visit the for lobster rolls you can eat outside by the town鈥檚 pocket beach. A dozen miles of wend through woods and over seaside cliffs; trails on the island鈥檚 east end, farthest from town, are the most magnificent, looking out from the headlands over endless ocean. Along the short Lobster Cove Trail, hikers pass the remains of the D.T. Sheridan, a coal-towing tug that ran against rocks in a dense fog in 1948. Not far from the wreck site, the 鈥檚 beer garden is delimited by stacks of old lobster traps, and after happy hour听you can browse while you wait for the return boat.

Boston Harbor Islands, Massachusetts

While the preppy and deep-pocketed prefer to retreat to Martha鈥檚 Vineyard and Nantucket, Boston Harbor鈥檚 eight ferry-accessible isles are a wilder and less commercial summer-island alternative. Cooperatively managed by the state of Massachusetts, the National Park Service, and other agencies, offers hiking trails over low drumlin hills, as on Spectacle and Long islands, mudflats and salt marshes that attract birders to Grape and Peddocks islands, and explorable remnants of old military forts on islands like Lovells and Georges. come and go from (this summer鈥檚 schedule is still TBD) and, on the south side of the bay, . Dress code does not include popped collars or salmon-colored shorts.

Frenchboro Long Island, Maine

Maine鈥檚 largest and most visited island, Mount Desert Island, is home to the lion鈥檚 share of and welcomes millions of summer visitors. But just south of MDI, Frenchboro Long Island offers similar scenery and comparative solitude. From Bass Harbor, on MDI鈥檚 southwestern edge, the reaches , with its one-room schoolhouse, cluster of homes around the harbor, and spectacular , protected and stewarded by the . Fridays are the only time to visit this summer, on account of a reduced ferry schedule, but the draw is 14 miles of some of New England鈥檚 finest coastal trails, leading hikers to remote coves and oceanside bluffs where bald eagles circle overhead. Come prepared with food, water, and gear, as there鈥檚 no store on the island鈥攋ust , a must-stop for blueberry pie and lobster coming on or off the ferry.

Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire

In a normal summer, ferries serve a hotel on Star Island, on the New Hampshire side of this archipelago straddling the Granite State鈥檚 border with Maine. They鈥檙e canceled this year, as are boat trips run by the , a field station and education center on the Maine side that usually offers of Appledore Island鈥檚 gardens and gnarly rock formations. You can still explore the isles, though, on a , in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The outfitter brings paddlers, boats, and gear out on a cabin cruiser for full-day paddles that take in seabird colonies, sunning seals, and a .

The Fox Islands, Maine

The populations of North Haven and Vinalhaven, in Penobscot Bay, swell in the summer. Both are accessed from Rockland, a onetime cannery town that鈥檚 now a food and art hot spot. North Haven has a pastoral appeal, with quiet听pebbly beaches and a minimalist town center. The culinary scene is almost entirely contained in one building, Calderwood Hall, which has a and a . The other dining option, at, is a tablecloths and reservations kind of place鈥擬aine crab gazpacho, filet mignon鈥攚ith a bar that鈥檚 a great spot to slurp bivalves from . Across the channel, called the Fox Islands Thoroughfare, Vinalhaven has a town center with a dozen or so spots to eat and drink: , a , a , and . The best way to get around either island is on a bike鈥攊n the busy months, the ferries have limited room for cars, and the quiet island roads are a joy to pedal. No ferry connects the islands, but cyclists can cover the eight听miles between downtown Vinalhaven and the thoroughfare, then use a dock phone to call on the North Haven side for a shuttle across ($5 per person, $2 per bike). You can stay the night on either island, or catch the last ferry back to Rockland for a nightcap.

Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts

A slender island chain off Cape Cod separates Buzzards Bay from Vineyard Sound, and the last isle in the row is scrubby, windswept little Cuttyhunk, out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. A couple of B&Bs rent rooms: and , the latter nodding to Cuttyunk鈥檚 chief draw for many visitors鈥攑rimo striped-bass fishing. The other big draw is peace and quiet, with visitors strolling the rutted dirt roads (there are next to no cars) and lounging on beaches. Eats are mostly al fresco: there鈥檚 , a dockside taco and churro stand, and , where pizzas are cooked in a garage and served at picnic tables in the driveway. But the most particular attractions are the oysters raised offshore. 鈥� floating raw bar makes briny deliveries to boats in the harbor, while its shack on the wharf serves oysters shucked to order, optionally accompanied by a cup of hot chowder.

The Casco Bay Islands, Maine

Most travelers visit Portland for its deservedly buzzy food and drink scene and its cobblestone Victorian vibe, but the city is also a jumping-off point for the more bucolic charms of the Casco Bay islands, six of which are serviced year-round from Portland鈥檚 Old Port District. Highlights include Peaks Island, essentially a Portland bedroom community (you鈥檒l share the 20-minute ferry ride with commuters) that has rocky beaches, beaver ponds, and on its western side, away from the ferry dock. Also on Peaks鈥檚 鈥渂ackshore鈥� is , a catacomb-like full of murals and graffiti and open for exploring. Chebeague Island has sandy beaches and an elegant with an inviting porch for cocktail hour. At low tide, the adventurous can cross a sandbar to find a mile or so of wooded trails and some beachside campsites on uninhabited . Great Diamond Island is a bit of a culinary destination: old-school serves steamed lobster and roasted halibut, while听new-school has crab corn fritters with gorgonzola mousse and baked oysters with yuzu pearls and pickled mustard seed (with a side of ironic Jimmy Buffet decor). Only Peaks has a regularly scheduled car ferry, but bring a bike on any passenger ferry 鈥攊t鈥檚 the best way to get around any Casco Bay island.

This story was produced in partnership with magazine.

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Even if you鈥檝e never set foot in New England, you probably know Katahdin by its reputation: Maine鈥檚 highest peak,听the storied terminus of the Appalachian Trail,听the spot where . You might not know that a hiker can鈥檛 simply show up at a trailhead there听and start hoofing it up the mountain. Or that Katahdin isn鈥檛 found, as some reasonably assume, at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, 听in 2016.听(It鈥檚 next door.)听You almost certainly wouldn鈥檛 recognize the names of the other neighboring parks and preserves鈥攅ach administered by a different outfit and governed by different rules鈥攖hat together make the Katahdin region arguably the East Coast鈥檚 finest wilderness-recreation bloc.

And so, a primer. The patchwork management of Maine鈥檚 wild and听woolly听north woods can be confusing for a first-time visitor. Here鈥檚 what a would-be Thoreau needs to know.

Baxter State Park

What鈥檚 there: Mile-high Katahdin, for one. More than a half-dozen intersecting trails reach its summit,听, with most of them falling in the alpine zone听for miles and requiring some scrambling or climbing on iron rungs. AT thru-hikers start or finish their trek on the mountain鈥檚 western slope, but the showstopper is the eastern approach called the Knife Edge, a boulder-strewn ridge walk of just over a mile where the mountain鈥檚 spine is sometimes all of three听feet wide听with a 2,000-foot drop听on either side. Less exhilarating but equally sublime is Chimney Pond, tucked into a cirque on the mountain鈥檚 north side, near a cluster of coveted .听

But there鈥檚 more to Baxter than Katahdin. The 330-square-mile wilderness park encompasses more than 40 mountain peaks, backcountry ponds full of native brook trout, and a handful of idyllic cabins and campgrounds鈥攁ll accessed by one gravel road and some 220 miles of trail. One of Maine鈥檚 most underrated hikes is the Traveler Mountain Loop, near the park鈥檚 north entrance, which stays above treeline for more than half of its 11 miles. The trail ends听at Traveler鈥檚 3,551-foot summit, and听it has much of Katahdin鈥檚 grandeur and a fraction of its foot traffic.

Who runs it: The state, with limitations. Maine鈥檚 governor in the early twenties, Percival Baxter, wanted the state to acquire and protect Katahdin and its surroundings. His initiative failed, but after leaving office听he spent 30 years buying the land听and deeding it to the people of Maine. So while Baxter is a state park in name, it exists outside of Maine鈥檚 park system, legally bound by deeds forbidding anything that might intrude on its unique character.

Getting in: Entrance is free if you鈥檙e in a car with Maine plates; otherwise听it鈥檚 $15. Things get tricky if you want to hike Katahdin. Unless you鈥檙e waking up inside the park (campsites and cabins book up months in advance), you鈥檒l need a day-use parking reservation鈥攁 DUPR, or 鈥渄ooper,鈥� in Baxter parlance鈥攖o claim a space at a Katahdin trailhead. Non-residents can for $5 starting two weeks before a planned trip. On the morning of your DUPR, you must be at the park鈥檚 south entrance by 7 A.M.鈥攁t 7:01, your space goes up for grabs to the DUPR-less hopefuls who often hover outside the gate. Once the park admits enough cars to fill the trailhead lots, Katahdin has reached capacity听and you鈥檙e looking for an alternate hike.

Know before you go: Baxter has no cell service and no facilities with Wi-Fi. (Or electricity, for that matter.)听The entrance gates are within a few miles of campgrounds with stores, but you鈥檒l find nothing for sale inside the park, so come听prepared. Pets are forbidden, and kids under six can鈥檛 go above treeline鈥攔angers will enforce both rules. Some trails have rather conservative cutoff times, and rangers may turn you around if you鈥檙e caught hitting the trail too late in the day. Baxter is a bit of a rule-happy park, and so听 before heading in.听

What鈥檚 nearby: The recovering mill town of Millinocket, an AT trail town where you can gear up at听听and eat amazing donuts at the 听while听admiring thru-hikers鈥� signatures on the ceiling panels. Lodging in town is mostly budget motels, with a few campgrounds and lodges clustered outside the park entrance, including the sprawling .听

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

What鈥檚 there: Katahdin鈥檚 forested foothills, several of them bald-topped, their summits accessed along 30 miles of the . Mountain bikers come听for a few dozen miles of old forest roads, and paddlers watch for moose along the . The monument also has some of the planet鈥檚 best stargazing,听as by the .听

Who runs it: The , after President Obama鈥檚 Interior Department accepted a gift of 87,500 acres from ,听the Mainer cofounder of Burt鈥檚 Bees.听

Getting in: As of yet, the monument has no entrance stations, so there鈥檚 no fee. Camping is free, too, available on a first-come, first-serve basis in a handful of primitive sites and lean-tos scattered throughout the park. Katahdin Woods and Waters abuts Baxter to the east, but it鈥檚 a wilderness border鈥攜ou can't enter听one park from the other by car.听

Know before you go: As a new NPS unit, the monument is still light on frontcountry听attractions, other than a 17-mile scenic driving loop with听overlooks and interpretive displays that听will tax any lower-clearance vehicle. (As will all the monument鈥檚 roads.)听There鈥檚 no road connecting听the monument鈥檚 north entrance to its south entrance, and it鈥檚 a 90-minute drive between the two听on roads outside the park, so seeing the whole place requires some trip planning. There is next to no ranger presence, and, as in Baxter, cell service is nil. Leashed dogs are welcome.

What鈥檚 nearby: A rural stretch of Maine, without much for amenities. You can get surprisingly good barbecue at in Patten, then check out a replica 19th-century logging camp at the . Near the monument鈥檚 north entrance, is a mellow old sporting camp that serves incredible family-style meals (currently available for听takeout only).

Penobscot River Trails

What鈥檚 there: Some (that serve as听ski trails in the winter) along the East Branch of the Penobscot River, just south of the national monument. The private park opened just last year, and听it鈥檚 maybe the most manicured trail system in New England, where bikers still have to watch out for ambling听moose and black bears.听

Who runs it: , a philanthropic foundation听听retired finance titan Gilbert Butler, who bought the former timberland and funded construction of the trails and a pair of warming huts听that look like small national-park lodges.

Getting in: Park in a lot right off the paved state highway, sign in at a visitor center that may or may not be staffed, and hit the trail. There is no fee.听

Know before you go: Ordinarily, Penobscot River Trails has a fleet of mountain bikes and kayaks (and in the winter, skis and snowshoes) to rent听by donation, although the rental program is on hold during the pandemic. No dogs, ebikes, or camping allowed.听

What鈥檚 nearby: Not much! Medway, the next town south, has , a , and the rare lobster roll听100 miles inland at听.听

Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area

What鈥檚 there: Some 46,000 nearly roadless听acres of lakes and ponds, most of them听connected by well-maintained portage trails and dotted with lakefront campsites. Also 15 miles of the Appalachian Trail, some stands of old-growth forest, backcountry ice caves, and so, so many loons.

Who runs it: , which acquired the property in 2002 from Great Northern Paper Company, once Maine鈥檚 largest landowner.

Getting in: In contrast to Baxter, Debsconeag is sparsely听regulated, with no permits, reservations, or fees. (No dogs are allowed, though.) Campsites are first come, first served and accessible听via at the edges of the preserve.

Know before you go: As elsewhere, don鈥檛 count on cell service. Mountain bikes are verboten. You鈥檒l want a vehicle with decent clearance to access the boat launches.

What鈥檚 nearby: The AT leaves the northeast corner of the Deb听right next to the , a clutch outpost for last-minute tent stakes, fishing flies, and beer, as well as a staging area for northbound thru-hikers about to launch their final push towards Katahdin. It鈥檚 also a base camp for听 on the West Branch of the Penobscot, which separates Debsconeag from neighboring Baxter.听

Beyond the Katahdin Region: the North Maine Woods

Wait, isn鈥檛 it all the north Maine woods? Well yes, but听head north or west along the rutted logging roads that spider out from the Katahdin region and sooner or later you鈥檒l reach a gated checkpoint. This is run by , which administers recreational access to some 3.5 million acres of forests, mountains, lakes, and streams in the state鈥檚 undeveloped northeast corner.听Most of the land is owned by commercial timber interests, but there are hundreds of remote campsites, plus a few sporting lodges and housekeeping cabins catering to anglers, hunters, and paddlers. Among other things, North Maine Woods regulates access to the 92-mile , one of New England鈥檚 . The Allagash has its own fee structure, but out-of-state visitors elsewhere in the North Maine Woods a $16 entrance fee听plus another $15 for each night of camping.

This story was produced in partnership with magazine.

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Fall in the Northeast is a foliage frenzy. But many people who come to spot the changing colors don鈥檛 venture far from their cars or B&Bs. So听all you have to do to escape the throngs of leaf peepers is set out on a day hike. You鈥檒l find striking views of tinted maples and oaks and, with some luck, have a slice of wilderness to yourself. Even better, this time of year offers other season-specific experiences, like foraging for wild mushrooms and wildlife viewing. From a trail that leads to one of Maine鈥檚 tallest peaks to a family-friendly outing that听overlooks听Lake George in upstate New York, there鈥檚 an easy and quick getaway, no matter where you are in the region.

Best for Panoramic View Seekers

Mount Cardigan, New Hampshire

The hike to the top of 3,155-foot isn鈥檛 long鈥攖he most direct route, up the West Ridge Trail, climbs 1,200 vertical feet and is just a听three-mile round-trip鈥攂ut the payoff is immense. From the bare granite summit, you鈥檒l get a 360-degree panorama of the entire Lakes Region of New Hampshire, with unobstructed views of the White Mountains. Walk through groves of sugar maple and yellow birch trees, and look for salamanders and wild mushrooms before reaching the treeless peak and its fire-tower lookout. The rocky ledges at the top make for stellar picnic sites. Stay or camp at the Appalachian Mountain Club鈥檚 (camping from $32), at the base of the mountain, and you鈥檒l have 50 miles of trails just beyond your campsite, or hike in for a night and bed at the (from $110), a backcountry hut just below the Cardigan summit.

Best for Peak Baggers

Bigelow Mountain, Maine

Maine鈥檚 expansive is a 36,000-acre wilderness area consisting of seven summits in the Bigelow Range. There are endless hikes, but climbing to the top of Bigelow Mountain鈥檚 4,145-foot West Peak, one of the tallest mountains in the state, is worth the effort. It鈥檚 a nine-mile round-trip from the Fire Warden鈥檚 Trailhead on Stratton Brook Pond Road and includes clear views of Flagtaff Lake and its surrounding fall colors. Some 30 miles of the Appalachian Trail crosses the preserve and the range, making the trail easy to follow, thanks to the AT鈥檚 white markers. Stay at the (bunks from $40), operated by Maine Huts and Trails, and hike the short, 1.5-mile directly from the lodge.

Best for History Buffs

Camel鈥檚 Hump, Vermont

From听the towns of Charlotte to Stowe, you can鈥檛 miss Camel鈥檚 Hump in the distance鈥攖he distinct peak has two camel-like humps. There are several trails that听access the summit of the 4,083-foot mountain, which is the third highest in the state, and the fall colors are insane, no matter听which direction you choose. Start on the Duxbury side at the Monroe Trailhead, merge with the famous, and it鈥檚 6.6 miles up and down the peak鈥檚 eastern flank. Or take the more popular Burrows Trail up the western side from Huntington, Vermont, and it鈥檚 a 4.2-mile round-trip, the most direct route. You鈥檒l be able to see across the Green Mountains and to the Adirondacks from the summit. Keep your eyes peeled just below the peak on the Alpine Trail for wreckage from a World War II fighter plane that crashed into the side of the mountain in 1944 during a training mission. Backpack in to the Green Mountain Club鈥檚 rustic (from $97), an听unfurnished loft that sleeps up to eight, or spend the night in a luxurious two-story treehouse (from $475) at in the nearby town of Waterbury, a 20-minute drive from the trailhead.

Best for Wildlife and Nature Photographers

Gulf Hagas, Maine

Dubbed the Grand Canyon of Maine,听 has nearly 12 miles of craggy trails, with stunning waterfalls and rocky gorges that tower 150 feet above the aptly named Pleasant River. There鈥檚 no mountain to summit here, but you鈥檒l still climb around 1,000 vertical feet through part of Maine鈥檚 Appalachian Trail corridor. Access the trailhead by driving through , a preserved site where iron ore was produced in the mid-1800s. Set out on the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail loop, which connects a number of paths听and passes through old-growth forest. Look for moose鈥攆all is their breeding season and the time of year when the antlers of the bull moose become fully formed. Book a room at the听 (from $125), a six-room hotel inside a renovated historic mill in the town of听Dover-Foxcroft, 45 minutes away.

Best for Families

Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob, New York

Looking for a scenic hike you can do with young children? Check out the , near Lake George in Fort Ann. The meandering trail involves a 620-foot ascent听over the course of a mile to reach a wooden gazebo that offers stunning views of southern Lake George. Continue past the gazebo through tinted hemlock forests for another mile to reach a waterfall loop (though the falls tend to flow in the springtime and may be dried up this time of year). Come with a big group and rent out the (exclusive-use from $550), 20 minutes away, where up to 20 guests can stay in a log home with an outdoor yoga dock, an on-site Airstream trailer, a converted van, and a glamping tent.

Best for Quick Escapers

Macedonia Ridge Trail, Connecticut

Just two hours north of New York City, in Kent, Connecticut, the blue-blazed听听inside 2,300-acre 听is a moderate, 6.4-mile loop across 1,380-foot Cobble Mountain. You鈥檒l gain about 700 feet in elevation and听hike through a sea of changing sugar maples and ash trees. At the summit of Cobble Mountain, you鈥檒l be treated to glorious views of the Catskills and the Hudson River Valley. The Macedonia Brook State Park campground closed September 1, but you can pitch a tent via (from $63) on the 17-acre Flirtation Farms, 20 minutes away, or opt for a one of five guest rooms or a cottage at (from $175), a bed-and-breakfast that sits on a 600-acre estate.

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