Saddle Up: Weekend Itinerary
Pineland Farms is a privately owned working farm open to the public for exploration, recreation and education. Located in the rolling hills of New Gloucester, Maine, Pineland Farms is a 5,000-acre working farm, diverse business campus and educational and recreational venue that welcomes visitors to enjoy its beautiful rural landscape.
Pineland Farms' mission is to provide a productive and educational venue that enriches the community by demonstrating responsible farming techniques, offering educational opportunities and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through recreation.
Place to stay: A Guest House at Pineland Farms, www.pinelandfarms.org/guesthouses, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, Maine, 207-688-4604
Appointed beautifully, maintained meticulously and set in stunning locations, each of the guesthouses is a destination unto itself. The different guesthouses can accommodate groups from just two to more than 20, and each has something special to offer. Whether you're treating your hard-working staff to a week away from it all or looking for a place to rejuvenate with your loved ones, Pineland Farms has a guesthouse perfect for you.
What to do: Tour the farm, www.pinelandfarms.org, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, Maine, 207-688-4604
While at the Pineland Farms, visit working dairy, horse and poultry barns and see cheese made in their own Creamery. Spend the day hiking, biking, skiing or bird-watching on miles of hand-crafted trails. Enjoy a picnic in the spectacular one-acre perennial garden with fresh cheese, berries and other products straight from the farm, or cast a line into the stocked trout pond. Guests who wish to explore outside the boundaries of Pineland Farms' 5,000 acres will be pleased to learn they are just 20 minutes from Freeport and Lewiston/Auburn, and 30 minutes from Portland and the Lakes Region.
In the Area: Bradbury Mountain State Park, bradburymountain.com, 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, Maine, 207-688-4712, www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=12
Bradbury Mountain State Park is a wonderful place to spend a day or afternoon exploring trails, taking in the magnificent view from the summit, or enjoying a picnic under a canopy of trees. One of the original five state parks, Bradbury Mountain was acquired by the Federal government in 1939.
Situated on Route 9 about halfway between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn, the park attracts visitors who enjoy picnicking, hiking and camping on its 610 acres of forested land. Bradbury Mountain is the only state park in southern Maine to offer shared-use trails for horseback riders, mountain bikers and snowmobilers. Snowshoe rentals are available.
Sculpted by a glacier, Bradbury Mountain is the park's most outstanding natural feature. Today the park's forest is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Fall is a busy time at the park when visitors watch migrating hawks and eagles ride the thermals and enjoy the views of fall foliage from the summit. (Spring is best time to watch hawk migration, fall much less so.)
Where to Eat: The Market at Pineland Farms, www.pinelandfarms.org/visitors/market.htm, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, Maine, 207-688-4604
The Market combines all the farm-fresh goodness of the farm stand with an expanded assortment of Maine-made foods, beverages, and gifts - all under one roof – as well as a deli featuring homemade soups and sandwiches. You'll find a full assortment of delicious cheeses from the Pineland Creamery, organic eggs from hens right on the farm, as well as the farm’s very own jams, honey, and pickles.
What Else:
Visit MaineOutdoorJounal.com and ExploringMaine.com for more ideas of things to do and places to go in Maine.