Oh, the places you (should) go!
Photo by Matthew Sleeper on Unsplash
Happy 4th of July week! With the 4th being on a Thursday, it feels like a true weeklong celebration - time for BBQs, corn on the cob, and ice cream with a side of fireworks and salty swims. Some of you might be keeping it local at a friend’s backyard bash or road-tripping along the coast. Either way, summer adventures and trips seem to be top of mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson on summer - “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” Sounds pretty simple. Sometimes, going back to those simple elements reminds us it doesn’t take much to seize the season, and an outdoor experience can be as simple as walking along a trail or reading a book while lying on a new beach.
For our next held event, we are celebrating adventures! From the beaches to the hills, New England is full of beautiful gems for whatever speed you’re at. Chelsea Diehl, author of the travel-inspiring Substack Gadabout Maine and book Just Up the Road, will be joining us for the event to discuss her book and share some of her favorite Maine gems. Here’s a quick Q&A with Chelsea to provide a sneak peek of the evening!
Have you always been adventurous? What inspires you to keep exploring?
CD: I’ve always been adventurous, but my drive to explore was significantly amplified when I moved to Maine in 2018. I sometimes feel like I’m still playing tourist here - there’s so much more I want to see and do. You can climb a mountain, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and then swim in the ocean on the same day! Maine serves as a bottomless pool of inspiration fuel for me, and I wonder if I’ll ever tire of planning the majority of our vacations within our own state.
My daughter also encourages me to keep exploring. I crave new experiences in general - but I really crave conquering them with her the most. Our day-to-day schedules are rigid, like everyone - school, after school, birthday parties, etc. - but when there are windows, I make the most of them. Our favorite memories as a family, stories that lovingly get shared over and over, are the ones made while out adventuring. Even if some of them need rose-colored glasses to remember with fondness (tantrum-filled hikes, brown tail moth rashes while camping, cramped RV sleeping) - these are the family memories my daughter recalls the most.
Can you share any advice for someone who feels a bit overwhelmed by adventures - what to pack, kiddo stuff? Where can you begin?
CD: The simplest hack is making full use of Google Maps. If you haven’t already done so, start using the flag feature! If I read about something in a magazine, get the scoop from a trusted friend, etc. - I put a flag on the location along with a description to remind me of why I want to visit. Some of my flags are hours and hours away - but I often accumulate enough flags in an area that it encourages me to make an entire trip out of it. Or, if the opportunity randomly presents itself to visit that location, I’ve already done 90% of the planning. If you could only see how many flags I have scattered throughout Maine….!
For kiddos, one of my favorite presents to give are little explorer buckets like these. When my daughter was younger, I’d leave a hiking trail or beach with pockets full of rocks or sea glass that she found. These buckets are a no-hands-needed carrying option that is the perfect holder for any and all treasures! We used to never leave the house without it - it was her adventure bucket and helped keep little legs motivated to keep moving!
Tell us a bit more about your book Just Up the Road!
CD: Sure! Up until recently, I spent a huge chunk of my life inside of a theater. I’m an actress - and in my first year out of college, I started a small business called My College Audition. “MCA” provides coaching for high school students to prepare for acting and musical theater undergrad auditions - similar to getting recruited for sports, it is highly competitive. The company grew, with acting falling to the wayside as it became my full-time job. Fast forward to 2022: an opportunity arose to sell the business, and I left the company with a full heart. Immediately after that initial shot of pride/gratitude melted away, I was struck with what now?! What do I do next? Do I know how to do anything else?
In an effort to keep my mind busy (and because I cannot sit still), I challenged myself to complete 100 Adventures in Maine by year-end and, hopefully, figure out what was next for me upon completion. Just Up The Road features those 100 adventures in mini personal essay form as well as interviews with people from across the state. The adventures are pursuable and tangible, with my personal story woven throughout.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
Tenaya and Mare share a few little things that bring out their exploratory sides!
Tenaya
They say your home is cleanest when people come to visit. For me, that sentiment is true when it comes to adventure. Out-of-town guests force us out of our weekend routines to try something new and different. I often do my homework by asking my adventurous Portland friends their favorite places to eat, hike, swim, and bike. It’s incredibly fun to experience a new trail or island with your favorite visitors.
Because I have a toddler, I always have a hiking backpack and travel stroller in the back of my car. You never know when you’ll feel an urge to cruise and be outdoors, even on a weeknight. With the longer days, summer is primetime to be outside!
Since moving to Maine, summertime has been about discovery. Last summer was about hiking new mountains, and this summer, it will be about finding our favorite lake.
Mare
Ferry rides—pack a picnic and jump on a ferry! For under $10 bucks a ticket, I’ve always loved this little adventure, which is pretty simple but seems pretty special. Keep it to the local islands, and you can even make it a half-day activity.
Easy sunscreen application—I saw this on Instagram when my oldest was a baby and have been applying sunscreen on them like this ever since! It makes any outing with kids a bit easier! Plus, they love picking out their new makeup brushes every summer season.
This may sound silly, but sandwiches. I’m leaning into the summer of sandwiches and simplicity by trying new bread and filling combos. Current favorites: Bread & Friends seeded bread with sprouts, avocado, and a little cottage cheese/egg salad combo. Also, I’m a Costco gal now, and they have Martin’s potato bread, so really anything on that. Lastly, these sandwich holders (and really all Silipint containers) are wonderful (and dishwasher safe!)