Spirit Camping - Camping, Hiking, Travel and More

If you are interested in winter activities and events in Maine, it isn’t always easy to find the latest news about what’s going on. Maine is one of the most popular winter destinations, simply because it’s a part of the country that receives some of the highest levels of precipitation in the form of nice, white, fluffy snow.

There are resources to learn about those fun winter festivals and skiing events, but you need to know where to look.

Where to Find Activities and Events in Maine

You’ve never fully experienced the wilderness until you’ve experienced the great outdoors of Maine.

Growing up in Aroostook county, I had the advantage of a childhood where I could walk out of my back door and just beyond my back yard I could go hiking for miles. The wilderness behind my childhood home felt like it went on forever. Of course, the only thing between the town where I grew up and Canada was thousands of acres of untamed wilderness and occasional logging roads.

While that sort of environment can feel very remote, and for the uninitiated it can feel scary - the solitude that the great Maine wilderness offers is also a spiritual experience that you’ll never forget. However, for many people who have never gone skiing on Maine’s many slopes or winter hiking and camping in its sub-zero temperatures, having a club or organization to support you through your adventures is a very good thing. When you want to know about outdoor activities and events in Maine, outdoor organizations and clubs are the first place you should start.

The Top 4 Sources for Outdoor Information About Maine

The following organizations are the best outdoor groups in Maine. If you are interested in hiking, skiing, camping or canoeing in Maine, joining any one of these organizations would be a very smart decision.

The first organization isn’t really a group, it’s a resource put together by the state called Visit Maine, to promote tourism. The website is a very valuable resource to learn about activities and events going on in Maine. The site provides information about Maine lodging, dining and activities, and if you click on the “Events” category you’ll be swept away to a very well designed Events page.

These activities are not only outdoors, but you can filter results to only show activities for “Science & Nature” if you like. Search for events that are great for children, based on performing arts or just check out all events going on throughout the state.

MaineTourism.com offers this valuable official travel planner in electronic format (PDF) called Maine Invites You, where you can learn about events and information for the year including cruises and fishing trips, skiing, museums, hunting and much more. The book is updated every year and offered for free.

This book is a valuable resource and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s even just planning to visit Maine for a simple vacation, not only for outdoor experiences.

The Maine Outdoor Adventure Club (MOAC) is a great organization for anyone who simply wants to experience the great Maine outdoors.

The club offers all kinds of events, both public and private, so checking out this calendar often (and joining the club itself) is an excellent idea.

The Maine chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is another great place to go if you want to go on outdoor adventures with a bunch of folks who love the wilderness just like you.

The Maine AMC goes on work trips (to maintain trails), organizes outdoor trips and also offers social events. I can assure you that if you join the Maine chapter of the AMC, you’ll never be bored. Additionally, you may even consider joining the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, a group of very special men and women who devote their own personal time and resources to maintaining the Appalachian Trail and the many structures and camping areas it visits.

Have you ever visited the Maine outdoors? Do you spend time with any of these clubs? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Tags: campgrounds, camping, facts about maine, skiing, snowshoeing

The following guide will provide a brief overview of the top ten Internet resources where you’ll find everything you need in a very small space. These not are all shopping sites - in fact, most of them are valuable informational portals with camping, hiking and other information related to life outdoors. Bookmark this page and use it as your starting point each time you are ready to start planning for your next camping trip. I keep this list updated every month.

#1: National Park Service

An obvious top contender for camping information is the National Park Service . In my opinion, the most valuable camping resource on the Internet is the National Park’s "Find a Park" service. This graphical interface allows visitors to click on any state in the U.S. and pull up detailed listings of all of the National Parks within any state.

Each individual state page lists every National Park - quite possibly a few that you never even realized existed. You can drill down to an individual park (and in many cases a trail), and read a brief description, directions, hours, fees and even useful maps.

You could easily use this one resource to plan your entire camping or hiking trip and you’d be set.

#2: Altrec is a Camper’s Paradise

I didn’t want to focus too much on the outfitters, but I have to mention Altrec Outdoors if only because I’m obsessed with their electronic camping gear. I’m a GPS fanatic, and Altrec carries the top brands and models at the lowest prices I’ve found anywhere.

It also helps that they carry every piece of camping and hiking gear imaginable. Every year, before our family camping trips start, I spend at least three hours every day in the 80% off outlet section - it’s a camper’s paradise. That’s where my tax refund check goes every year!

#3: TheBackPacker For Camping Gear Rankings

If you’re a camping gear fanatic like me, then you’ll love TheBackPacker.com . Whether you’re hunting for the smallest and lightest cook stove, or the most convenient and flavorful freeze dried meals, this is the place to check whether or not the product is any good. Of course, these camping rankings are only the start. At this site you’ll find backpacking info, trail reviews (I can never get enough of trail reviews), and a section where visitors can upload their own pictures. There are some pretty cool pics in there.

You’ll also find articles, and a pretty cool forum called "Trail Talk," where you can hook up with other camping enthusiasts and talk about gear, trails, or anything else.

#4: DayHiker For The Extreme Day Hiker

One of the best websites for hiking enthusiast information and tips is easily DayHiker.com . DayHiker started in 1999, and since then has become the "go-to" point for all day hikers. This site puts the "extreme" in extreme day hiking - visitors can post their own day hiking experiences in the forum.

You can read examples of extreme day hikes, hiking tips, and the spectacular photos of day hikes come from around the world. A few of these forced me to make a pact with myself that I’d go hiking in the Tetons some day.

#5: GORP is A Way Of Life

GORP is just one of those websites that I can’t get enough of. The volume of information that you’ll find here is unsurpassed online, and includes destination guides, activity guides, and national park information. There’s also campground info, camping rankings, gear info - heck, there are even city guides! The "Gear Guy" answers daily questions and offers gear suggestions, and you can read about the "park of the week."

By far, my favorite area is the "activity" section where you can read through hiking and camping guides that cover just about any camping or hiking issue you could imagine. This is where I spend my lunch break every day.

Need More Camping Rankings?

All of the resources above are those that I suggest because I use them, and I’ve also based these reviews on search rankings and popularity. These are the best of the best for outdoor enthusiasts. I also have a few more gems from my favorites list, and those include the following.

• American Hiking Society (http://www.americanhiking.org/aboutUs.aspx) - Support the protection of natural trails and the promotion of hiking.
• GreatOutdoors (http://www.greatoutdoors.com) - By far one of the best camping and hiking blogs I’ve found (other than this one, of course!)
• Trails.com (http://www.trails.com/) - This is an unsurpassed resource for tracking down and learning about trails.
• Go Camping America (http://www.gocampingamerica.com/) - This is a great resource for park reviews, and focuses a fair amount on "RV style" camping.
• Camping.com (http://www.camping.com/) - It lives up to its name, with categories like camping furniture, water sports and even dog supplies.

One of the most important things you can do before any hiking or camping trip, whether it’s individual or as a family, is to properly plan out where you’re going to hike, activities to do in the area, and the best trails to check out for a scenic hike. Having good resources is critical, and the list of websites above should serve you well for years to come.

Don’t forget to share your own opinions and input in the comments section below!

Tags: campgrounds, camping rankings, camping reviews, camping websites, national parks