Editor’s Note: 5 Things is a new feature in which locals give our readers suggestions for exploring the state of Maine, town by town. Have a city or town you think we should explore in the future? Tell News & Culture Editor Katherine Lee at [email protected].

Kate Tremblay loves standing in the middle of Vaughan Woods in Hallowell and thinking about a line from a 1931 memoir.

“You will, in time, I hope, see the ravine restored much to its original beauty,” William Warren Vaughan wrote.

For years, Vaughan had been buying back land sold by earlier generations of his family. He saw how those parcels were industrialized, and he wanted to reverse course. Now, Vaughan Woods and Historic Homestead is a nature preserve and house museum, home to sprawling trails and year-round programs. This property was home to seven generations of the same family, which descended from Benjamin Hallowell himself.

Tremblay, 49, is the nonprofit’s executive director.

“I love the feeling of knowing the place where I live really well and knowing and understanding the history of our place,” she said.

What’s your favorite spot to eat?

Tremblay loves to eat out in Hallowell, but her family also likes to picks up dinner to eat at home. “We get a lot of takeout from the Indian place downtown — the Desi Kitchen.” Her go-to dish? Butter chicken.

Where would you go for a drink?

Tremblay’s answer to this question comes from a favorite memory from her first winter in the city. “When we first moved here, we went cross country skiing, and then we went downtown in the afternoon to The Maine House and had a hot cocktail. It’s the best.”

Where would you go to be outside?

Vaughan Woods is a beloved spot for Tremblay, of course. Her house actually backs up to the trees. She can walk through the woods to get to work, and her kids take the path through the trees to get to school. But Tremblay has another great option for biking, skiing and even just walking to the grocery store. The Kennebec River Rail Trail is 6.5 miles along its namesake waterway.

“Hallowell is really lucky to have the rail trail right along the river. It always surprises me how wild it feels when you’re in big sections that run between Augusta and Gardiner. It’s pretty special.”

Where do you shop local?

The Rusticators Emporium is a favorite for Tremblay and her family. They bought funky glasses and mismatched silverware for the Thanksgiving table. Her son likes to collect old decks of playing cards. Her daughter has what they call a Mad Hatter’s tea set, and she’s always scouting for the tiniest cups and saucers.

“Our whole house is furnished from the antique mall,” Tremblay said with a laugh.

What’s a hidden gem in Hallowell?

“Believe it or not, there is another conservation area that is amazing,” Tremblay said.

The Effie L. Berry Conservation Area is located next to Stevens Commons. (You can access this area by car or on foot; there is a parking area at the end of Coos Lane.) The Kennebec Land Trust’s website says there are no formal trails, but the area is open for hiking, skiing and snowshoeing.

“You get the most spectacular view of the Capitol building that you can imagine,” Tremblay said. “It’s just gorgeous.”