What marks the unofficial beginning of summer? Without a doubt it would be the opening of your favorite ice cream stand. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a Little League win or consolation for a loss. It may be a Mother’s Day treat or the perfect ending to a date night. Whether it is in your neighborhood or requires a Sunday afternoon drive with the family, nothing says, “Summer in New England” like the ice cream stand.
In a recent poll of my family and friends,
I found that everyone I asked had a tradition that involved the Ice Cream, even
the lactose intolerant! Hodgman’s
Frozen Custard in New Gloucester opens on Mother’s Day and has long been a
tradition in our family. My friends from
Massachusetts list farm creameries such as Pinecroft Dairy in W. Boylston and Richardson’s Dairy in Middleton
as their favorites. The most common
responses to my question, “What makes this place special?” seem to be family, farms
and tradition.
In the Lakes Region of Maine you will find
another tradition that involves not only ice cream but horseback riding as
well. I am talking about none other than
a Carousel
Horse Farm’s trail ride to Pears
Ice Cream stand. Nestled in Casco
Maine, Carousel Horse Farm is the only known public riding stable in Maine that
combines these two pleasures.
You are on vacation in Maine and it’s a
beautiful summer day, warm and dry with brilliant blue sky. The beaches are crowded and the theme parks
have been overdone so what are you
going to do today? At Carousel Horse
Farm you can take a step back in time to when happiness was a trip to the farm
and delicious Gifford’s ice cream
made right here in Maine.
Upon arrival at the farm you are fitted
with approved safety equipment and instructed by confident, friendly guides to
ensure your ride is safe and fun for all.
Well-seasoned trail horses are waiting at the hitching post, ready to
carry you through the wooded trails that they know so well to Pear’s Ice Cream.
Winding through the wooded trails and scenic fields you may notice wild strawberries growing beside the trail, small and sweet. Wild mint leaves are scattered in the underbrush by the tall pine trees. Buffet Alley is a spot well-loved by horses and riders alike for its cool lush greenery; do you see the wild raspberries and blackberry bushes growing? Steering your horse through the gate and down the wooded trail you may see moose tracks or deer tracks that are common to our area. Wild turkeys and their young poults are frequently seen as they snack on the wild blueberry bushes that grow on the trails and in the pastures. The horses are quite familiar with the turkeys.
Emerging out of the woods and onto the
quiet country lane, you will pass homes and families and friendly dogs. Perhaps they will stop by the neighborhood ice
cream stand later for a cone of their own favorite flavor.
As you approach the ice cream stand, your
guide will lead you off the road and through the trees to the back yard of
Pears. The horses line up and stand
patiently at the old fashioned hitching post while you line up, eager to enjoy
a cone of your favorite frozen treat. Picnic
tables and awnings are available for your comfort (as well as a clean
Porta-Potty). Don’t forget to take some
pictures while you are here. Unless you are lucky enough to live close by, this
doesn’t happen every day and you will want to remember!
When you finish your ice cream, your guide
will help you to get back onto your horse; don’t worry they WILL get you back on
your horse. Your trail guide will lead you back through the breathtaking Maine
countryside, through the woods and fields, past the friendly critters and back
to the farm’s hitching post. You dismount with a feeling of accomplishment. You
have participated in one of the most unique experiences available in Maine. You
have traveled on horseback through the countryside and through time to
experience Maine, the way life really
should be.
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