A richly rewarding way to spend a vacation is to learn a new outdoor skill or add to your knowledge while on holiday. You can find plenty of options in northern New England, ranging from formal weeklong classes to 1-day workshops.
Among the options are these:
Learn to fly-fish on New England's fabled rivers. Among the region's most respected schools are those offered by Orvis (tel. 800/548-9548) in Manchester, Vermont, and L.L.Bean (tel. 800/341-4341) in Freeport, Maine. (L.L.Bean also offers a number of shorter workshops on various outdoor skills through its Outdoor Discovery Program; call tel. 888/552-3261.)
Learn about birds and coastal ecosystems in Maine. Budding and experienced naturalists can expand their understanding of marine wildlife while residing on 333-acre Hog Island in Maine's wild and scenic Muscongus Bay. Famed birder Roger Tory Peterson taught birding classes here in the past, and the program has a stellar reputation. Contact the Maine Audubon Society, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd., Falmouth ME 04105 (tel. 207/781-2330; www.maineaudubon.org).
Sharpen your outdoor skills. The Appalachian Mountain Club, 5 Joy St., Boston, MA 02108 (tel. 617/523-0636), has a full roster of outdoor adventure classes, many of which are taught at the club's Pinkham Notch Camp at the base of Mount Washington in the heart of the White Mountains. You can learn outdoor photography, wild mushroom identification, or backcountry orienteering for starters. In winter, ice-climbing and telemark-skiing lessons are held on the slopes of the rugged White Mountains. Classes often include accommodations, and most are reasonably priced. Call or write for a course catalog.
For Those Who Love Historic Homes
The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities is a non-profit foundation that owns and operates 35 historical properties in New England ranging from places built in the 17th century to the present, including a number of places profiled in this book. Members of the SPNEA are eligible for free admission to all of the organization's properties and a number of other benefits, including a subscription to Historic New England magazine, the SPNEA guide to the group's properties, and invitations to members-only events and other perks. Memberships start at $25 per year for a national membership, $35 for individuals, and $45 for a household membership. For more information on the SPNEA and its properties, visit the group's website at www.spnea.org, or call the organization's Boston headquarters at tel. 617/227-3956.
