This was our first time up in the area. We spent the day at the "beach " area here. The views were…read moreabsolutely spectacular. In addition, the water was super clean and clear. As other reviewers wrote, the area is very no frills. My 2 complaints were 1) the bath House was not open so we used the port-a-johns. They looked like they had not been cleaned out in months. All 4 were vile. 2) there were no signs about rules of the lake. Our children were using tubes and a plastic kayak. After 3 hours of using them by the beach, we were then reprimanded for using these items in the swimming/ ropes off area. Just wish that there was a sign that informed us as to what was and not allowed. Overall, had a wonderful day.

The campgrounds at Tolland State Forest are some of the best in the Massachusetts DCR's arsenal of…read morecampgrounds. Tolland was voted America's #1 Family Campground in 2009, and with their well-maintained and functional facility, it's easy to see why. Built on a small peninsula of land that juts into the largest recreational body of water in Massachusetts, Tolland boasts excellent swimming, fishing, hiking and boating opportunities, as well as some unique and cool campsites for campers of all ages and skill levels. We came out and reserved 4 sites for a camping-fishing-relaxing bachelor party weekend, and we were all pretty pleased with the results. The staff were friendly and helpful, and stayed out of our way. We were within easy walking distance of bathrooms and sinks for washing dishes, though the shower in our area was broken. I wasn't planning to shower anyway, though. Be warned that the area around Tolland State Forest is not very active. The town of East Otis sports just 1,200 year-round residents, and there are few nearby stores, all of which close around 9. There are, however, a couple of nice general stores, and a gas station that sells organic groceries. If you're inclined to head west on the Pike out of Boston, Tolland is a great spot for a weekend trip, whether you're looking to chill or to get out there and do stuff.

Love love love love You don't even have to climb anything…read morelol The walk is paved so that's great Lots of old people and people with very new children!! lol It's easy It's beautiful Bring a ball Bring a kite Bring burgers they have tables and grills Bri g blankets Not crowded Bathroom was not open

This place is so beautiful. It's a short hike around the falls but if you take a right can go on…read morefor a long time I'm not sure how long because I have never went that full way. On the way up there are stairs and lookouts over the falls. They were recently redone and looks so nice. I love going here. Right now the bathrooms are locked so if you go have a picnic at the tables below you might have to leave to find a bathroom about 8 mins up the road in a store or restaurant. I think the bathrooms open on memorial day but I'm not sure. There are picnic tables in the grassy area and benches along the right side of the falls.

Located on the West End of Bristol, Rockwell Park has been a staple in my family since the mid…read more40's! (my grandparents home is off the park) The park has a nice shady walking path around its border for hot summer days as well as a splash pad ...and pool for kids. They have SO MANY fun events just look in Bristol Park and Rec webpage... For example, they have music every Tuesday throughout the summer in the outdoor amphitheater. They have Muzzy field adjacent to the parking lot and there are games of all kinds with fireworks afterward. They have seasonal events, including visits from Santa in Mrs. Rockwells pavillion. Also, there is a skateboard cement park that was professionally designed by pro skaters.... A frisbee disc golf course on one end AND a dog park!!! I can't say enough of good things about Rockwell Park...I absolutely Love this local spot.

I had no idea how big this park was. Disc golf, dog park, mountain biking, hiking/nature trails,…read moreball fields, skate park... I could go on and on. It's an older park but has tons of new attractions and modern park features. It's worth going. This is a real Bristol, CT Gem. Pequabuck river flows through it. Tons of green space. Lots of parking. A really great park to visit.

This is a little roadside attraction. We went when the falls were dry, so it wasn't that great. I…read moreimagine it's better in the spring when the snow is melting.

This is a great park. My wife and I stroll around with our baby and dog regularly in the nice…read moreweather. The 1 mile paved loop is perfect for walking, running, cycling or rollerblading. There is a rose garden that is beautiful in the summer and a great place to just sit and relax and enjoy the views of the Farmington Valley. In the summer there are free live concerts a couple times a week in the amphitheater that are defintely worth checking out.

The walk was nice. It was a beautiful day. There were lots of people walking in the park with their…read moredogs. However, It was disappointing to see the tiles of names were torn up out of the ground. There were neat buildings and information to see. They also do have concerts in this park during the summer months.

I saw that this 17.5 acres park had a wooden covered foot bridge so I had to check it out. There…read moreare two ponds in this park; upper north pond and lower south pond. The bridge is over a dam between these two ponds. New England is popular for its covered bridges; they're all over. There were plenty of parking and a porta potty onsite. There is a building with a deck overlooking the ponds that you can rent out for events. We walked around the park and explored. There were two small trails in this park we walked on; one lead to a street and the other to a paved path behind houses. There were a couple of benches and a small wooden bridge on one of the trails. I think it's a small park; great to do a short walk and view the small waterfall. As far as trails and activities, it seems limited compared to other parks.

"Let's move to the countryside Park this truck in the pale…read moremoonlight Just you and the stars up in your eyes" (Florida Georgia Line) We parked in the Countryside lot near 335 Huckleberry Hill Road and immediately saw two pretty big ponds and a covered bridge. Countryside Park is just 17.5 acres of hiking trails, scenery, and picnic areas by the ponds. Lots of great photo ops here. The short hiking trail is dirt with some tree roots and rocks. Its really a connector to the paved "Rails to Trails" system which snakes right past single family homes. We were so close to the houses, we felt like we were intruding on their privacy. The park property also has a 60' X 25' multi-use building for private use, with a full kitchen, fireplace, air conditioning, and a deck overlooking one of the ponds.  But you'll have to wait a while before you use it because its currently closed for renovations.

This park is on 116 acres and provides many recreational options. We came here for the playground…read more The tot lot playscape was nicely maintained and is on mulch with a couple of benches. This playground is for children ages 2-10 and is a fenced in area. Over by the basketball courts, there is the playground for children ages 5-12. Parking was plentiful. Across the street are the restrooms. There are tennis courts right nearby and a huge soccer field. There are ball fields, a bandshell, basketball courts, bathhouse, children's memorial garden, dog park, horse exercise area, horseshoe game area, pavilions, volleyball courts, veteran's wall memorial, swimming in a pond, snack shack during games, and a pond house for events. This place has got it all for your recreational needs!

We visited Salmon Brook Park by parking in the hiking trail entrance so we could wander through the…read morevery pretty area. The hiking trail is very easy to follow and navigate. No rocks, no tree roots, and not too much animal waste except for one enormous deposit that had us wondering if it was squeezed out by a Great Dane or a bear!! We took one of the side trails to the right and entered the river basin where we saw some jaw dropping beautiful vistas down in the valley. Five stars for a photo op, believe me. We walked all the way to the event meadow, but things were quiet today. Salmon Brook Park has a lot to offer - a Band Shell, an Event Room, Baseball Fields, Basketball, Volleyball, and Tennis Courts, Field Hockey, Soccer and Lacrosse Fields, a river, a playground, 2 picnic pavilions, and that very nice network of Hiking Trails. Come to think of it, it has pretty much everything you need to spend a few very nice hours in the great outdoors.

I forget where this park is, but it's on the quieter side of Torrington near Litchfields entrance…read moreto Route 8. It's very quiet even though the grounds have a dog park with oodles of balls. The actual rainbow bridge is maybe a quarter mile from the park entrance in the woods. In addition to the bridge, there are other monuments and memorials with a picnic bench and chairs. The vibe is very serious even with all the color. The bridge is not over a body of water. It would be a nice place to mourn and see how much love there was for people's dogs and cats.

"She's gone, she's gone I'm just left here all alone…read more she's gone and I'm lonely" me and my dog" (Andre Williams) I did some quick research and found that 71% of U.S. households--that's about 94 million homes--own at least one pet. And when their short lifespans take them away from us, that loss has become a phrase -they "crossed the rainbow bridge". There is a real rainbow bridge and pet memorial behind the John Toro Sports Complex located at Davis Passway in Torrington. There is outstanding signage to guide you there. The first thing you'll see as you approach is an archway where you'll be greeted by sitting statues of a dog and a cat to welcome you. As you walk along the path, you'll see placards with names of dogs and cats that have "crossed the bridge" with loving words from their owners. As you walk deeper into the memorial, it gets very emotional. I saw a lifelike statue of a smiling Yellow Lab happily sitting while leashed to a bright red fire hydrant, there's a Pawprint Memorial Garden with cast pawprints honoring family pets. And then there is the bridge itself, yes, a real-life Rainbow Bridge painted in the striped colors of the rainbow. The sides of the bridge are covered with photos of dogs and cats with their leashes and collars left by their owners. The bridge was the brainstorm of a local Eagle Scout who thought of and oversaw the project, gathering funds from local pet owners and sponsors. The bridge and Pawprint Garden are a tranquil and very lovely place to remember our four-legged friends that enriched our lives with their companionship and unconditional love. It helped us remember Clyde and Maggie, and the distinctive little ways they enriched our lives and made us smile every day.