Fall In Maine

Fall in Maine might just be the best season of the year.

The days are warm enough to get outside, the nights are cool enough for a fire, and the mountains begin to light up with fall foliage. Around the Sugarloaf and western Maine region, it’s one of our favorite times of year.

But while fall in Maine can feel slower and more peaceful, that isn’t necessarily the case for families.

For parents, September can bring a whole different kind of chaos: school drop-offs, work, after-school activities, sports, homework, dinner, baths, bedtime—and, of course, the inevitable school germs that come home with the kids.

We’re less than two weeks into the school year, and Ryland has already been home sick.

So, naturally, we’re firing up the sauna.

Fall wellness in Maine starts with slowing down

For us, sauna time has become a simple way to build a little recovery into an otherwise very full day.

There are plenty of reasons people enjoy sauna bathing, from the feeling of relaxing tired muscles after a day outside to simply stepping away from the noise and demands of everyday life. But one of the biggest benefits, especially for busy parents, might be something much simpler:

Time.

Time to sit.

Time to breathe.

Time when nobody needs a snack.

Time when nobody is asking where their shoes are.

And right now, with a five-year-old and an eight-month-old, those moments of quiet are pretty valuable.

You don't have to sauna together

In a perfect world, my husband and I would enjoy every sauna session together.

But we're not quite in that season of life yet.

With two young kids, we're firmly in the divide-and-conquer stage.

While I'm making dinner and getting the kids fed, my husband gets the sauna going. Once the baby is down for the night, I sneak outside for a 45-minute sauna session.

He handles bath and bedtime with our five-year-old.

For those 45 minutes, I get to myself.

Then we switch.

He's more of a night owl than I am, so while I get cozy and start getting ready for bed, he takes his turn in the sauna.

It's not exactly the romantic sauna date night we might have pictured before having kids.

But it works.

And sometimes, making the most of the season you're actually in is the whole point.

What do you do in a sauna by yourself?

One question we hear is: “Don't you get bored in there alone?”

Honestly, we think solitude is one of the best parts.

As a parent, uninterrupted alone time can be hard to come by. So when you get it, don't feel like you have to fill every second.

Bring a book and read a few pages.

Put on your favorite playlist.

Listen to a podcast.

Try a few minutes of intentional breathing.

Or just sit there.

No productivity required.

A sauna session doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it's simply about stepping away from the daily routine and giving yourself permission to slow down.

Make the most of fall in western Maine

One of the things we love most about living in western Maine is how easy it is to combine time outside with time to slow down.

Spend the afternoon hiking or mountain biking. Take a scenic drive to see the fall foliage. Get out for a day at Sugarloaf or Saddleback. Then come home, light the sauna, and let the day wind down.

That combination of fresh Maine air, cool fall temperatures and a hot sauna is hard to beat.

For families, couples, friends and anyone who feels like they could use a little more time to recharge, a mobile sauna rental in Maine can be an easy way to bring that experience right to your own backyard, camp or getaway.

And someday, we'll sauna together

Someday, both kids will be in bed.

Maybe they'll even stay there.

And my husband and I will be able to sit in the sauna together, uninterrupted, without having to coordinate bedtime like a military operation.

We'll get there.

For now, we'll take our 45 minutes.

Because we don't have all the time in the world right now—but we sure do know how to make the most of the time we have.

So as the leaves start changing, the temperatures drop and the school-year chaos picks up, we'll keep doing what works for us:

Fire up the sauna. Sweat it out. Take a breath.

Then head back inside and do it all again.

That's life with kids.

And honestly, we wouldn't trade it.

Looking for a Maine sauna experience?

Timber & Steam Mobile Sauna brings a wood-fired sauna experience to homes, camps, gatherings and getaways throughout western Maine, including the Sugarloaf and Saddleback regions.

Whether you're looking for a unique fall activity in Maine, a way to unwind after a day in the mountains, or simply some quiet time in your own backyard, a sauna might be just the reset you're looking for.

Slow down. Sweat it out. Enjoy Maine.

Warmly, 

The Steam Team