The days are getting longer here in New England, and we’ve finally broken out of that frigid weather. The sun has been out, we’ve seen more hungry birds and a few peeks of blue skies. With the sun and warmer temperatures, it is time to talk about maple season. During the month of March, many places that have sugar shacks offer tours. Some are free, and some cost a few dollars, but they are all informative and fun.
One of my favorite maple tours happens at the Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Ipswich, Massachusetts, this wildlife sanctuary offers trails, a rustic cabin rental, birding, and a playground, but also offers a lot of really fun educational programs for children and adults. This year, their maple program will be on Saturdays. Check their website to purchase tickets in advance as spaces do fill up.
We hiked out to see the rows of maples and learn how they tap the trees, and we learned what conditions are needed for the sap to run. On our trek, we also spotted birds overhead and animal tracks in the snow. The hike itself was not difficult, but the terrain can be icy, snowy, muddy, rough, rocky, or full of tree roots. You will want good waterproof boots with a nice tread for most maple tours.
After we learned about the sap, how to identify trees, and how to tap them, we got to taste the sap straight from the source. To me, it tasted much like plain water. At last, wee made our way to the sugar shack itself. Here, they boil the sap until it turns into the maple syrup we know and love. On our tour, they gave everyone little cups of the types of syrup that they make here at the wildlife sanctuary. In addition, they do offer products for purchase if you want to take home some of their own syrup.
While this tour is not free, I do feel like it is worth the price. The program lasted about an hour in total, and they do run in all weather, so dress appropriately! We learned so much, and have a new appreciation for how time intensive it is to produce syrup. In addition, your ticket price helps support the sanctuary itself.
This year, I will be visiting a sugar shack I’ve never been to in New Hampshire. I am very excited to see what their tour offers and how it compares to the ones I’ve seen previously. Do you have any favorite sugar shacks or maple treats? Let us know!