Explore the Winter 2024-25 edition
Editor’s note
I’M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE who starts longing for snow and wintertime fun sometime around late August. It begins with a glimmer of a past adventure, probably a cross-country ski trip on a bluebird day or a crisp clear night, when the warmth generated from the exertion of the activity so perfectly offsets the chill in the air. Maybe it’s an exhilarating fat bike ride through what feels like a magical forest in Bethel or Gorham. Or simply a walk through a snowy field in the moonlight. The memories create a momentary twinkle in my heart before going back to the bliss of summer and fall in Maine.
If you’d like to do a little more exploring outdoors this winter, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this issue. Check out Oh, what a night! for ways to explore Maine’s great outdoors after dark and Frost, Fun, and Festivities: 25 unmissable Maine activities to enjoy this winter for ideas to inspire both indoor and outdoor fun.
While winter is ripe for outdoor adventure, it’s also a great time to shift to inside interests, creative pursuits and contemplation. We have you covered there, too, with a great round-up of cooking classes in Maine in Kitchen table wisdom. If your idea of winter bliss involves staying as warm as possible, you’ll want to check out Home sweet sauna to learn why so many Mainers are choosing backyard saunas.
And if you’re looking for indoor comfort with minimal energy bills, find inspiration in Northern comfort, which tells the story of the northernmost certified Passive House in the state.
Winter is also the best time to test for radon in your home. An odorless, colorless and radioactive gas, radon is the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second cause of lung cancer nationwide. According to the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, one-third of Maine homes likely have radon levels above the recommended action level. And in Cumberland County, that estimate rises to two-thirds. Check out Radon in Maine: A health risk with an easy fix to learn more.
As always, thank you for supporting our magazine with your subscriptions and gift subscriptions. If you like what you find here, please stay in touch by following us on Instagram and Facebook and signing up for our monthly e-newsletter.
Heather Chandler
Editor & Publisher
On the cover: Barrel saunas at Wolf Cove Inn
The outdoor sauna at Wolf Cove Inn in Poland features a stunning wall of windows overlooking Tripp Lake. Open year-round, the sauna is available for 1-hour sessions for overnight guests and non-guests, alike. Ask about their “Fire & Ice” option for an ice bath to complement your sauna experience. Learn more at wolfcoveinn.com. And be sure to check out Home Sweet Sauna in this issue to learn how you can bring the sauna experience home.