Wellington, Florida Environmental Preserve

We visited the newly opened Wellington Environmental Preserve, located at 3499 Flying Cow Road.  Its a great place to take a walk, watch the birds, and get back to nature.

 We hiked out to the lookout tower (about a mile each way). It was easy to climb and the views were great.

The observation tower

View from the top



Judy & Sarah pause for a photo op




Native Sabal Palms and Dahoon Holly planted in the 365 acre preserve which also serves as a storage area for storm water runoff.



French Mountain, Rome, Maine

There's a new loop trail on French Mountain

I love bringing people here - everyone loves it.



Beautiful views for an easy, short hike.



World's End, Hingham, MA

A great place for a pre-Thanksgiving day walk is World's End. I first discovered this place when I was in college, and recently rediscovered it. Dogs are welcome (on leash).

The landscape was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park and much of Boston's park system including the Fenway and Franklin Park. It was originally designed for a subdivision, but fortunately never developed.

The landscape is designed in the pastoral style: no structures, cars, gardens, or manicured gardens. Just carriage trails, beautiful trees, meadows, and views of Hingham Harbor, the Weir River, Boston, and the harbor islands.

It is owned by the Trustees of the Reservations, Massachusett's land conservation trust, an organization I have been a member of for the many years I lived in Massachusetts, and still am a member today.

I try to visit every time I am in the area.

Moxie Falls, Maine

My favorite scenic drive in the Fall is heading north on Route 201 from Skowhegan. You can drive all the way to the Canadian Border and then onto Quebec.


The road follows along the beautiful Kennebec River.

This is not far from where Judy & I have our kayak adventures.

Here's where we had a picnic. The leaves were sparkling on the hillsides.

The Forks where the Kennebec and Dead Rivers meet, is a popular whitewater rafting spot.

A few miles west of The Forks is Moxie Falls. The Falls are just a short hike (or so they say) through the woods. The freshly fallen leaves smelled wonderful.

Moxie Falls is 90 feet - one of the tallest waterfalls in New England.

Here I am enjoying the view.

Round Top Mountain

Today I hiked the Round Top Trail (about 4 miles/1133 ft) in the Kennebec Highlands.

Here's Donna, my hiking buddy, and our dogs, 'Pedro' and 'Emily'. They are great hikers. Pedro leads the way, and sometimes runs off to bark at a squirrel. Emily always hangs with the people.

There are beautiful views of Long Pond, Great Pond, and Belgrade Lakes Village.