Steff D.
Yelp
The Gilsland Farm is a really good example of why I love Portland so much: with minimal effort, I can spend my morning enjoying a nature sanctuary comprised of woods and meadows, a salt marsh and a pond... and my evening dining at James Beard nominated restaurant in one of the best biggest little cities in the country. All within a couple miles of each other.
We truly have the best of both worlds.
For me, Maine Audubon's HQ in Falmouth is, as others have mentioned, a hidden gem in plain sight. It's right here. Riiiiiiiiiiiiight heeeeeeeeeeere in our backyard, and yet... it's never crowded, it's never noisy. Walking around the 2+ miles of (easy to navigate and accessible to all levels) trail network along the Presumpscot River estuary, it's hard to believe that Portland is adjacent - you can see the skyline from certain trails, but it feels like a solar system away. There's an orchard, there's fantastic bird watching, there's a flower and vegetable garden rich with a plethora of beautiful things, there's parking, and there's an abundance of community events like educational programs, day camps, mushroom/edible/foraging workshops, a winter carnival, earth day festivals, an apple day celebration, holiday bazaars, and on and on and on...
I feel like maybe I'm either super early to the party (the helpful friend who assists in setting up the chips and dip) or fashionably late to the party (the friend who breathes a little more life back into a soirée) regarding Gilsland Farm. Either way, I'm just happy I got the invite!