In case you haven't noticed, warm weather is ​nearly​ upon us here in the great city of New York. Hemlines ​will shrink​, outdoor brunch ​will pop, and the dog walkers ​will walk​ with a bit more swagger. ​Just hang tight until next week!​ We all know that summer in the city is a great time to work on your tan at the Rockaways or finally dominate that rival kickball team, but do you know what summer in the city is also great for? Elbowing past everybody else who shares your same totally amazing summer plans.

So alongside our friends at Poland Spring, we're here to tell you that to enjoy summer like a real New Yorker, you might want to try a little something called leaving. Because if you really want to breathe some fresh air and take a break from it all, the frisbee-and-picnic-dominated public parks might not be your best bet. After all, New Yorkers love to opine about leaving—it's practically a local right.

When was the last time you gazed upon water so calm and bright, you could mistake your view for the sky? No, we're not being cheeky, and the Prospect Park Lake or the post-thunderstorm puddles on your block don't count. If you can't quite remember, or the answer is "never," then the solution is one road trip away in the great "Vacationland" of Maine.



This could be your new best friend. (istockphoto)

Crowned as the largest lake in all of Maine, Moosehead Lake sprawls across 120 square miles of rugged forest, not far from the Canadian border, as the crow flies. It's a land that promises an "uninterrupted" type of nature, according to Henry David Thoreau, who journeyed through the Maine wilderness in the mid 1800s, chronicling his adventures in "The Maine Woods," a book which celebrates—and calls for the preservation of—Maine's natural beauties. And, fun fact, moose outnumber people three-to-one in the region, so if you're feeling a little crowded on the city streets, maybe a stare-down with a majestic mammal (as opposed to a stare-down with that guy in the bagel line) is more to your liking.

With over four hundred miles of winding shoreline and rarely a house in sight, visitors to Moosehead Lake might feel like they've stumbled upon a previously undiscovered landscape. It's a paradise where Mother Nature flourishes far from the cries of city life, and birds of prey like bald eagles and peregrine falcons dance in the sky above. And while you may feel like your footprints are the first of humankind—think again. According to historians, people have been drawn to the Moosehead Lake region for thousands of years—including the mysteriously named "Red Paint People" who earned their name by sending loved ones into the afterlife, their bodies blanketed with a red ochre cover.

Today, visitors are invited to get their kicks the old fashioned way: the area is home to an array of hiking trails like the arduous path up Little Spencer Mountain or the slopes of Mount Kineo—a loaf-like behemoth that juts up from the lake's center, accessible only by boat! Or if you're more at ease passing the day with a lure in hand, Moosehead Lake is a fisherman's paradise. Whether you're a seasoned brook trout whisperer or just beginning to learn the art of the line, you'll be in good company up north—gear up at Wilson's, a local haunt that's been serving adventure-seekers since 1865.



Little Spencer Mountain (istockphoto)

As upstate neighbors, Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water knows a thing or two about the way life should be. Sourced from carefully selected springs in the great state of Maine, Poland Spring brand delivers the fresh taste that those in the Northeast have come to love and cherish. So if you're ready to go on the road trip of a lifetime and take on all that wilderness, remember to give your body what it needs to stay hydrated.

Thirsty yet? Why not bring a little bit of Maine home with you with Poland Spring Natural Spring Water. To learn more about their commitment to sustainably sourced water and their Maine heritage, visit the Poland Spring website today.

This post is a sponsored collaboration between Poland Spring and Gothamist staff.