What is a leaf peeper?  A leaf peeper is a person who engages in the activity of viewing the changing colors of foliage.

Fall in Maine, also known as Leaf Peeping Season, is a great time of the year to visit Maine as a family.   Maine is known for the most brilliant and colorful foliage of all the New England states.

In a little less than two months my husband and I will take our two daughters, ages 2.75 years and 10 months on an annual leaf peeping hike.  We enjoy taking a day, putting on warm sweaters, packing a picnic lunch and choosing a local hiking trail to explore.   We enjoy parking in Lincolnville and hiking the Bald Rock Trail, a portion of Camden Hills State Park.  We find the Bald Rock Trail to be a kid friendly hiking trail. 

Camden Hills State Park is one of Maine's hottest attractions for Leaf Peepers.  On a clear day you can see for hundreds of miles, surrounded by water.  It is a view worth seeing and do not forget your camera.  A photo atop Mt. Battie makes a wonderful holiday card photo.  If you prefer to experience Maine's Foliage from the comforts of your automobile, you may do so using the Mt. Battie Auto Road.

 Kids love the fall season in Maine.  It is not too hot or too cold yet and they can be outside for hours rolling around in the leaves, collecting them, tracing them on paper, and anything else their imagination suggests.  There are several breath taking locations in which children can play safe while adults enjoy the views and historical features of Mid-Coast Maine. 

The Camden Amphitheatre next to the Camden Public Library is a great place for children to romp and play in the leaves while adults sit and enjoy the Camden Harbor.  Another great secret spot is the Vesper Hill Children's Chapel in Rockport Maine.  The Children's Chapel was erected in 1960 and draws hundreds of people each year.   On your way to the Children's Chapel from Camden, I highly suggest taking Chestnut Street and about a mile on Chestnut Street look for "Oreo cows", at Aldemere Farms.  Aldemere Farms is one of the world's premier breeders of Belted Galloway.

Just down the road a few miles you will find the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland.   The Farnsworth Art Museum offers an opportunity to view art related to Maine, including the works of the Wyeths.  Adults are $12.00 and children under 16 are free.  The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is one of Maine's more than 60 lighthouses.  As a family we enjoy walking 7/8 of a mile along the lighthouses granite block pier and touring the lighthouse.

Image courtesy of the Friends of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

How about enjoying apple and pumpkin picking, we do!  Kids love to pick their own apples and eat them on the spot or pick their own pumpkin for carving.  Maine pumpkin patch owners enjoy getting creative.  In the past their creativity has earned them national recognition for designing their corn maize to support the troops, shaping it like a yellow ribbon or Red Sox Nation by replicating a game ticket.

While visiting Maine as a Leaf Peeper, let Mid-Coast Family Rentals supply you with a jogging stroller or backpack for your hiking experiences and all other baby gear needs.