Woman with Young Daughter Harvesting Pumpkins

Ask Spoonful: Real Maine Experience

September 5, 2024 Spoonful

— By Spoonful Bloggers, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Few places embody the essence of fall like Maine. With its stunning foliage, crisp and refreshing air, and charming autumn festivities, it offers an idyllic seasonal experience. In this edition of Ask Spoonful, the UMaine Cooperative Extension food team shares some of their favorite fall activities.

Apple Orchards & Baking – Alex Gayton

I love all the classic fall activities but on the top of my list are apple and pumpkin picking. It’s even more fun now that I have kids because they get so excited to go to our local apple orchard to pick out their own pumpkins to carve and apples to use for baking. My go to fall baking list includes pumpkin bread, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pancakes, cinnamon apple cookies, and homemade applesauce. My toddler loves to help me bake and honestly, I was surprised at how much she can help me. She helps measure the ingredients, mix everything together, and scoop out what’s needed. It’s a great way to get her interested in new foods and introduce important kitchen skills.

Fall Fairs – Kathy Savoie

I’ve always loved a day at the fair! Viewing the Exhibit Hall and touring the animal barns are always the spots I visit first. I participated in my local fair as a child and as a parent I encouraged my children to as well. We all have memories of the baking contests, vegetables or crafts we’ve entered to be judged in the Exhibit Hall. As the winner at the local fair, my daughter Libby made it to the Annual State of Maine State Blueberry Pie Contest twice! This event is held annually at the Maine Agriculture Trade Show in January. She even placed one year and won a ribbon about as tall as she was as a third grader! Check out the listing of Maine Fairs and support your local agricultural community.

Autumn Adventures: Hiking & Camping in Maine – Alex Bosse

Without a doubt, fall is the best time to hike and camp in Maine. This season allows you to sidestep the muddy trails of spring, the summer touristy crowds, and pesky bugs. The true magic of fall lies in witnessing the stunning transformation of the leaves into vibrant shades of yellow, red, and orange. Before moving to Maine in 2020, I cherished fall photographs of the Northeast, and now, experiencing it firsthand feels like a dream come true. As someone who prefers cooler weather, I find fall to be the ideal season for outdoor adventures too. For a list of trails to explore, check out the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands. To enhance your camping and hiking experience, be sure to read our blog post on Healthy Camping & Hiking Tips.

Real Maine

If you’re looking for more ideas of activities and things to do in Maine in the fall, look no further than Real Maine. To get a pulse on upcoming events such as fairs, farm days, festivals, tours, and more, visit Real Maine Upcoming Events.

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