While I absolutely love the idea of “staycations,” exploring all that your home range has in the way of outdoor activities, the simple truth is that a good staycation is tough to pull off. No matter how nice your own home is, there’s always a punch list of things that need to be done. The only way to get away from the seemingly endless list of tasks is to get away.
The question becomes where to go and what to do?
Life has been interesting for my sweetheart Marilyn and I recently (remember that old Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.”) And it appears it’s going to stay interesting for another month or two. It’s all good, but still stressful, and when the dust settles, we are going to need a change of scenery to get away from the to-do list.
The goal is to balance outdoor activity and relaxation in equal parts. We’ll want it quiet and low-key after all the chaos recently. We’ll also be looking for an experience that doesn’t break the bank, doesn’t require days of travel or packing a lot of gear. Keeping it simple is really important to us right now.
Below are some places I’ve visited before and would like to visit again, which meet our specific needs. You could think of them as “even more convenient camping,” because none involve hauling along a camp kitchen and doing your own cooking.
You, of course, will have your own reasons for wanting to get away this summer and your own list of requirements. In my last column, I planted the idea of “convenience camping” and maybe some of you have already taken that idea and run with it. Or maybe one of these will pry you away from your own to-do lists. Maybe we’ll see you at one of these spots later this summer. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!
As I started contemplating this dream getaway, three places in Maine came to mind instantly:
The first is West Branch Pond Camps (westbranchpondcamps.com; 207-695-2561) in Township A, Range 12, 10 miles east of Kokadjo, Maine. The first thing you need to know about West Branch Pond camps is that it isn’t “near” anything – and that’s the point. It’s within an easy day’s drive of anywhere in New England, but it’s totally off the beaten path.
I’ve stayed at West Branch Pond Camps three times in the winter, but I’ve never been there in the summer. That’s why I want to go this year. They’ve got everything you need for a perfect getaway: cozy cabins on a remote pond with canoes and a swimming beach, great food, nice people. If I wanted to go for the trout fishing, I’d go in May, June or September, but that’s not possible this year, so, if I could. I’d be there Aug. 11 to catch the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. The generator here goes off at 10 p.m. so there are no electric lights after that. The sky here is darker than almost any other place in New England, and it’s a great place for star gazing. I’m thinking either paddle a canoe to the middle of the pond or a short hike by headlamp to one of the surrounding peaks. What do you think?
Another great spot for a summer getaway is the AMC’s Gorman-Chairback Lodge (outdoors.org/lodging; 603-466-2727) near Greenville, Maine.
We’ve cross-country skied to this lodge on several occasions (and will again) and visited in summer 2014. Summer’s wonderful! The accommodations range from a bunkhouse (least expensive) to lakeside cabins (our choice) to guest houses with private bathrooms. The main lodge contains the dining room, indoor toilets and hot showers.
We spent most of our time at Gorman Chairback doing something we rarely do – relaxing. We did a little hiking and I paddled a bit on Long Pond with top-of-the-line kayaks and SUPs available for anyone to use, and swam some. The food is excellent, cabins are perfect, the people you meet are great
The third option in Maine is Flagstaff and Grand Falls Huts in the Maine Huts and Trails system (mainehuts.org; 207-265-2400). Unlike the other two options, you can’t drive directly to either one of these tremendous getaways, you have to hike, bike or paddle.
On a warm, sunny afternoon one summer, we launched our sea kayaks and paddled a couple of miles to Flagstaff Lake. The Bigelow Mountains loom in the background, the shores of the lake are undeveloped, and we saw exactly one other boat. This place is paradise.
The Maine Huts are really lovely wilderness lodges with indoor toilets and showers. You sleep in comfortable bunks with good mattresses in rooms with two to eight bunks (perfect for families). They feed you a delicious and hearty dinners, breakfast, and supply the makings for a trail lunch. All you bring is clothes, bedding, towels and toiletries.
Flagstaff can house 44 guests; there were seven of us the first night and four the second. Why there weren’t more guests is a mystery. The sunsets were amazing spectacles, the stars at night were brilliant and a dozen loons serenaded us in the darkness. Two of the other guests had never heard a loon before and were thrilled.
After two wonderful nights at Flagstaff, we headed for Grand Falls. Via a 7.8-mile hiking trail along the Dead River that is mostly flat, well maintained, well marked, and very easy to follow. We could have chosen to drive to Grand Falls and hiked less than a mile
Though Grand Falls can accommodate 32 visitors, we were the only guests. This place is gorgeous, very comfortable, perfectly peaceful, with a couple of sandy swimming spots in the river nearby, magnificent Grand Falls to contemplate, and a nighttime sky filled with stars.
Any of these four spots are worth visiting in the summer. All you need are your clothes, personal items, a sleeping bag and a real desire to get away. I’ve checked and all three still have openings. Maybe we’ll see you there.