Name: Winslow Memorial Park Nature Trail
Location: Freeport, ME
Distance: 1.4 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 36 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Ocean views, quiet, not crowded
This trail is located off of Staples Point Rd in Freeport, ME. At the end of this road it turns into Winslow Park Way where you enter the park and come across a big parking lot to your left. At this point in the season most of the snow was melted, however, there was a ton of mud everywhere and I avoided it as best as I could. As I said before, the day turned out to be warm and beautiful and after a long winter, the park was busy. There was a small beach area near the parking lot, but it looked like there was a get together or fundraiser happening. It was nice to see that I was not the only one who needed some fresh air, but it was too crowded for my liking so I continued on.
I walked along the trail for a few minutes and came across a set of stairs on the right that led to a small rocky area on the water. The tide was low, so I was able to walk out a little and sit on a rock right on the water. I sat in this spot for maybe a half hour or more and enjoyed the sound of the small waves hitting the rocks, the warm sun beating down, and the fresh spring air. I was the only person that walked out here so it was quiet and peaceful. It was the perfect place to breathe and clear my mind.
After taking the time to clear my head and to enjoy the silence, I continued along the trail and stopped at every single staircase and vista that led me back to the water. I took in every single view for as long as I could before moving onto the next one. Eventually the trail moved away from the water and into the woods. I followed this for a little longer but ended up looping back around because the sun was starting to set and I wanted to be home before it got dark. When I arrived back near the parking lot the beach area was clear, so I walked in the sand and listened to the waves as I made my way back to my car.
On the way back to my car I noticed that there was what looked to be a boat landing with a dock. I started to walk down the small road and noticed a gentleman sitting on a bench alone. I decided to turn back so that I didn’t bother him because sometimes people just need to be alone and I get that. Like I always say, nature is my happy place. It is a place that I go to clear my mind and to reset. For all that I knew this person was doing the same thing and it was not my place to disrupt that. I understand that when you go into public places or onto public trails, you will encounter people. If I could give that one person the time that they needed or wanted, I was going to, and I did.
The drive home consisted of some soft and relaxing music, probably Taylor Swift or Chelsea Cutler honestly, and a self reflection on how the day went. I started the morning thinking that the weather wasn’t how I wanted it to be and that I should stay home and relax. With one mindset change early on, that all changed. I made the decision to look at the day more positively. I made the decision to tell myself to get out of bed and make the most of the day. I made the decision to change my mindset and the day ended up being exactly what I needed. I was able to visit my favorite café, I got a new piercing, I was able to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and I cleared my head which was long overdue. Sometimes the smallest decisions can change your day or even your life and for me, it’s the little things.
I found this quote later on and it really stuck with me because it is exactly how this day went for me and how other days have gone since making mindset changes. “Once your mindset changes, everything on the outside will change along with it.” – Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free.
