This winter break, my friends and I planned a ski trip to Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Although the thought of sliding down a mountain with my feet strapped to a board didn’t seem like the best idea, I jumped at the chance to travel to a place completely out of my comfort zone.

As soon as I finished my last exam of the semester, my friends and I flew to Boston. From there, we hopped into a car to start the three-hour journey north. The Bostonian skyscrapers faded in our rearview mirror as scenic mountains of rural Maine stood before us. Beautiful lakes and rivers lining the roads took my breath away as we grew closer and closer to the little ski town of Newry. Life felt like a moving postcard.

When we arrived, I sensed Newry was a welcoming community. From the locals in grocery stores to resort employees, the people were helpful, friendly and greeted us with a smile.

After settling in, we rented snowboards and headed up the mountain. Full disclosure – I was terrified. From the top, the trails appeared extremely steep. As I pondered how to tackle the mountain, I noticed young kids skiing the same trails with ease. With this in mind, I channeled my inner Olympian and convinced myself it was probably easier than it looked.

As my board slid down the steep mountain, I immediately fell head-first into the powdery snow. I quickly learned snowboarding requires excellent balance and body control, two things I do not possess. My body took quite the beating as I continued to the bottom. It took me about an hour to get down the trail. Luckily, my friends – who are all pretty good skiers – stuck with me as I learned.

As we continued down the trails, I got the hang of standing for longer periods on the board. At the beginning I took some harsh falls, but I was able to take in the beautiful snow-covered mountains, dense forest and stillness of the air. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Miami.

As the sun began to set, I snapped off my snowboard and we headed to a popular local restaurant for dinner and visited the Sunday River Brewing Company. We tried a couple specialty beers and even house-made donuts. They did not disappoint. After a couple of days of trying new things, it was time to go home. 

As the break ended, we headed back to school to settle in for the new semester. However, spring break is just around the corner so, if you or your friends are looking to escape city life for a couple of days, keep Maine in mind. From the amazing scenery and local hospitality to powdery slopes and delicious food, Maine promises a good time. 

words_myles griffith photo_natia rukhadze on Unsplash