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A Guide to Maine’s Scenic Rail Trails: Where Nature Meets History

There are 20 rail trails in Maine established from former (some current) railroads ranging from 2 miles to almost 90 miles. These multi-use rail trails are all over the state through forests, farmland, and coastal areas.

When traveling, we always plan on biking on rail trails as we know we will be able to enjoy our ride as they are usually level. Many of them go through small towns and boost the economy of the area. You get to see and experience many cultures along the trails as many of them run through rural areas.

What is a rail trail?

A rail trail is a multi-use trail that usually has a level grade making it easy for everyone to ride. From biking, hiking, running, jogging, and even cross-country skiing these flat-level trails offer an easy way to enjoy the great Maine outdoors.

Many of the rail trails in Maine are also used for ATV riding, horseback riding, and snowmobiling.

man riding a bike

Many of the rail trails in Maine are also used for ATV riding, horseback riding, and snowmobiling.

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Rail Trails New York

With over 50 trails and many more proposed these trails are opening up all over the state including several upcoming trails in downstate New York.

The 750-mile Empire State Trail includes sections that are rail trails, but it is not exclusively a rail trail. The trail spans New York SRail Trails in New York have become very popular and an economic boost to many of the areas. tate from New York City to the Canadian border and from Albany to Buffalo, connecting various types of pathways including rail trails, canalway trails, and on-road sections. Rail trails, which are pathways converted from abandoned railway lines, form significant parts of this extensive trail network, especially along sections that follow historic canal routes and disused railways.

For the best information on rail trails in New York and other states, the Rails-to-trails Conservancy is a great resource. 

These recreational trail systems not only help many New Yorkers with fitness and health getting them into the great outdoors but also aid many small towns financially by the increased tourists.  

Here is a list of the Best Rail Trails in New York list by region:

New York Rail Trails Catskill Region

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Things To Do in Hershey PA (2024)

Are you going to Hershey Pennsylvania on vacation?

Here is a list of the best 26 things to do in Hershey PA. This list has everything going on in Hershey from family activities, to places to go for a girl’s weekend or even a couples’ getaway.

The best things to do in Hershey include Hersheypark, Chocolate World, 4D Chocolate movies, Create your own Chocolate Bar, Hershey Unwrapped, Chocolate Lab, The Hershey Story Museum, Hershey Trolley Show, Zoo America, Hershey Gardens, the Falconry Experience, Hersheypark Stadium and the Spa at Hotel Hershey.

More things to do not chocolate-related include Hershey Derry Township, Shank Park, Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, Echo Dell Indian Caverns, Cassel Vineyards, the Vineyards at Hershey, Troegs Brewing, golf and miniature golf, and of course shopping.

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    Day Trip to Mackinac Island


    We went on a day trip to Mackinac Island as part of a two-week vacation, or should I say experience, of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There is so much to do in the UP and we couldn’t go there without going to see Mackinac Island, that would have just been crazy if we didn’t. So we took the ferry with our bicycles from St. Ignace.

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    Things To Do in The White Mountains, NH

    The New Hampshire’s white mountains are an incredible place to vacation. There is something for everyone, young and old, to see and do in this beautiful area surrounded by some of the highest mountains on the east coast. These are some of the destinations you should consider when planning your trip here.

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    Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Rail Trail


    Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Rail Trail is a 62-mile trail where you ride through the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Built on the former Jersey Shore, Pine Creek, and Buffalo Railroad this hard-packed gravel surface trail runs through Tioga County and Lycoming County. It begins north of Wellsboro and ends in Jersey Shore. It is located in the Appalachian Mountains in the area called the PA Wilds.

    Voted the best rail trail by USA Today in 2001, this trail offers stunning scenery as you ride on a hard packed stone surface with only a 2% grade.  Running through the Tioga State Forest and Tiadaghton State Forest makes for a peaceful ride passing beautiful waterfalls and mountains along the way.

    This trail is multi-use so you can bike, hike, horseback ride (limited areas), or cross-country ski. The trail runs parallel to Route 6 from Wellsboro Junction to the Ansonia Access Area then goes through the Pine Creek Gorge and then parallels Route 414. There are many things to see along the way and after the gorge area, there are towns and restaurants to visit.

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    Restaurants in Lancaster PA Amish Food at it’s Best

    So many Restaurants in Lancaster County PA offer Amish Food and when visiting Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country you must experience some of it.

    This area is known as an Amish-owned restaurant with authentic Amish cooking. Fried chicken, homemade chicken pot pie, smoked ham, mashed potatoes, and brown noodles are almost always on the menu. homemade ice cream and homemade desserts such as shoofly pie, whoopie pies, and apple dumplings are native to the Amish.

    Ingredients come from area farms. Milk products, corn, fresh vegetables, and meats are grown locally. These fresh ingredients, along with most things made from scratch, bring people to this area to experience its food.

    Most restaurants in the area that serve Amish food are either smorgasbord or family-style restaurants. Alcohol is not served at most.

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    17 Things to Do in Amish Country/Lancaster PA

    Getaway for a long weekend or a few days and visit Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country. These 17 things to do in Amish Country in Lancaster PA will give you the total Amish experience and also other things in this area too.

    If you never explored Amish Country before you are in for a treat. Let’s first talk about what is Amish.

    Amish is a religion and these people live their lives in a very simple way without modern amenities.  

    They believe in the old ways like working the land and being self-sufficient. They live their lives as people did 300 years ago.

    You get to experience examples of this when visiting Amish Country. Here is a list of facts about the Amish people along with some of their traditions:

    • Horse and buggy is their transportation
    • They plow the fields with mules and donkeys
    • They don’t use electricity in their houses
    • Everything from tools to lamps is run by gas (propane)
    • They bake everything from scratch
    • Children only go to school until 8th grade.
    • Schools are one-room schoolhouse with one teacher who teaches all ages
    • There are no telephones in their houses rather several households share one phone in a phone booth on the road mostly for business use
    • The Amish are very hard-working people
    • Before teens turn 18 they can experience the outside world but most choose to stay with the Amish lifestyle
    • Sunday is a religious day with church services in the morning and visiting in the afternoon, they do not work on Sundays
    • They have no church building as they take turns having church at their house and food for all the attendees
    • The Amish community works together and always help each other
    • They make their clothes
    • Quilting is big business in the Amish community (and they are beautiful)
    • Most are farmers
    • They only marry in November and December when all farming is done for the year
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    The Ultimate Guide to Chincoteague Island VA

    Chincoteague Island is a small-town beach community located on Virginia’s eastern shore (only 7 miles long and 3 miles wide) that has that southern charm that makes it so special with so much to explore and do. Waking up to beautiful sunrises and ending your day with stunning sunsets, Chincoteague should be on your list of places to visit, at least once if not more, in your lifetime. Chincoteague has something for everyone from families with young children to retired folks, this community is one to be enjoyed.  

    Chincoteague Islands Wild Ponies

    See the famous Chincoteague ponies

    See the In my opinion, this is the real reason everyone goes to Chincoteague, the wild ponies.  They are simply beautiful in their environment and are truly a sight to see.  It’s a short ride from anywhere on the island to get to Assateague Island National Seashore where you can experience these fine animals.

    The ponies are “owned” by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and they give them healthcare and food when needed.  They are allowed to live on Assateague Island by a special permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

    During July, the “saltwater” cowboys (who are Chincoteague volunteer fire company) round up the ponies for the annual Chincoteague pony swim and auction.  This event began in 1925 after the forming of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, to raise money for firefighting equipment.  This was the outcome of two damaging fires that destroyed many acres on the opposite sides of the island.

    During this event, you can see the ponies swim over the Assateague Channel to Chincoteague.  There is a parade of about 100 ponies, in the heart of town, making their way to the carnival grounds where they are rested until the auction the following morning(Friday) at 8 am.  This happens the last Wednesday before the last Thursday of July every year.  The unsold ponies are then returned to Assateague Island on Friday.  All monies from this event go to the fire department to supply firefighting services to the town.

    This event draws about 40,000 spectators from around the world each year.

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    Baxter State Park, A True Wilderness Experience

    Baxter State Park is a True Wilderness Experience. With over 200,000 acres, this special place is a hiker’s paradise to experience nature at its best.

    There are 46 mountain peaks for you to explore of which 18 of them are over 3,000’ in elevation. The highest peak in Baxter State Park is Baxter Peak at 5,267’.

    It’s a park you can get lost in so you should always have a good map with you. Trail maps can be obtained at the area campground, park headquarters in East Millinocket, and the Visitor Center at Togue Pond.

    The park is free for Maine residents. The non-resident fee is $16 per vehicle.

    I have been very fortunate to have experienced the seclusion of this magnificent park many times. Maine is one of my favorite places to vacation and it’s true when they say, “Maine, The Way Life Should Be”.

    Also, as I am a big moose lover and to see them in the wild is an experience of a lifetime. I’ve seen many moose at Baxter State Park, and I guess it’s one of the main reasons I love it so much.

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