Super fun summer activity. Called the number on their website in the morning to check hours of…read moreoperation. It was an automated message with clear instructions. Arrival, parking, paying, and the waiver process was easy. For $30, I had a lot of fun and thought it was worth it. Sort of want to buy my own tube and life vest for the future

When I wake up early in the morning Lift my head, I'm still…read moreyawning When I'm in the middle of a dream Stay in bed, float up stream (Lennon / McCartney) I wonder how many cars cruising up Route 44 have screeched to a halt when they see a bizarre sign proclaiming they have entered Satan's Kingdom! So what exactly is Satan's Kingdom?  Well, it's  a one acre state operated public recreation area on the Farmington River used for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing down the river's three sets of rapids courtesy of Farmington River Tubing. Where did that devilish name come from? I read that construction of a nearby railroad in the 1870's proved so difficult the railroad workers named it "Satan's Kingdom" In 2012 the recreation area gained Connecticut State Park status. We walked along the deserted grounds (tubing is closed for the season) and saw some very nice scenery and river views, Not one devil in sight.

We love this spot to rent kayaks on the Farmington river. They rent by the hour so get there early…read moreas they are slammed in the summer months. Easy check in and send off. Floating on the river is so relaxing and a great workout for the arms They also have bike rentals and kayak sales

After renting kayaks and having so much fun, we decided to buy our own and come back! $5 to launch…read moretour own boat/paddle pad..BUT We came with family who RENTED kayak, but we were treated disrespectfully by a staff/kids working the ramp. Since this was our first time using our own boats at this location we attempted to use the self launch dock, however we were uneasy with it and were unsure as our first time (walking down stairs and a free floating dock you put your boat next to) We went to the other launch dock where there were others who rented boats waiting their turn to get out. We were waiting our turns as well as family going with us, to launch but one of the kids who was working was snobby saying "you can't be over here during busy times like this" and rolled his eyes when we explained we we uneasy at the other dock. As paying customers, I was appalled at how we were treated by some young man as we told him we didn't feel safe using the other dock as OUR FIRST TIME We were fully aware there was a free boat launch down the road however we were with family and wanted to all stay together since they had to rent theirs. Next time I will save myself the hassle and disrespect from some child staff who can't properly communicate

Took a 1.5 hour pontoon ride to see fall foliage for my moms 80th birthday. It was awesome!…read more We all enjoyed ourselves, even got to see a bald Eagle! Our captain was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the history and so much many more tidbits of info regarding Bantam Lake and the houses surrounding it. The captain had a last minute issue and called to let us know he will be a little bit late. For that reason the owner took money off the price of the tour. This was unexpected and extremely nice of this small business owner. I will be telling everyone about this tour and encouraging them to go. I will definitely be back in the summer! 10 stars if I could ! Thank you for making my moms 80th a fun and memorable day!!!!

We had the absolute best time out on the pontoon boat tubing! I highly recommend Ian and Phil and…read morethe whole team, thank you so much! Can't wait to do it again!

Lovely calm stretch of the Farmington River. Great area to launch, plenty of space, nice even ramp…read more Small parking lot, a real bathroom (unisex) and water fountain There is a rope swing on the river that families were using. Saw two bald eagles! Will definitely be returning to paddle here again.

This boat launch is fairly new; constructed in November/December 2023. Parking is on gravel behind…read morethe Canton Public Works Department. The launch is connected to he Collinsville Walking Trail. This is a great addition to the area; it makes it easier to unload kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. The ramp has a railing. There is a trash can and recycling bin up near the trail. What I noticed were empty water bottles by the launch; come on people, clean up after yourselves. The Farmington River is beautiful and having this boat launch will make it even more enjoyable.

I'm ashamed, today (2019-06-02) was my first paddle on the West Branch (Hogsback) Reservoir in the…read morebeautiful Colebrook / Hartland area. Situated at the lower end (aka downstream) of the Colebrook River Reservoir and Dam. The West Branch serves as second stage storage for flood control. Over time, this has turned to a Quiet Water for fishing, paddling, and nature observers. Speaking of nature, I had multiple encounters with a couple of Heron that would say Hi and hop upstream to another water side rock, then repeat the process. Better yet! My up-close, but not too close, interview with a young Porcupine. This fella was suspended over the water on a downed birch tree. Likely looking for bugs. Shy though the quills kept me at bay. The West Branch is approximately 200 acres of water surface, which can vary with the seasonal waters. I didn't observe any boats with motors larger than 6-10 HP. A good thing, as there are shallow rocks, but the water can be as deep at 90 feet. I recommend canoeing, kayaking, or a shallow draft boat with minimal horse power & electric trolling motors.

I want to express my gratitude for the wonderful experience we had during our Mother's Day cruise…read more As visitors from the Hudson Valley, we were unfamiliar with the area and found Mystic quite crowded. We initially struggled to find parking, which was a significant concern as my wife has disabilities. We were worried we would miss our departure, but the gentleman in your office was exceptionally helpful and kind. He assured us that he had coordinated with the captain to hold the boat, and he even ran out of the office to personally guide us to the dock. The captain and crew on the schooner were professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the sights around Mystic Harbor. I was a beautiful sunny day and, despite the wind picking up, it was a very relaxing, smooth and enjoyable sail. Thank you for your outstanding professionalism and for making sure we didn't miss the boat. We had a great time and highly recommend your cruises.

We took a sunset cruise on the Argia, which is the last commercial sailing ship left in Mystic,…read morewhen we were visiting Mystic with a couple of friends on the Fourth of July. The boat has different seating options - wooden benches and cushion seats without backrests. We reserved two of the cushioned areas and showed up ready to check in on time (they ask you to show up about 30 minutes before boarding to check in). You board at the dock just next to the bridge in Mystic, so it couldn't be more convenient if you're exploring Mystic for a day or a weekend. The Argia allows you to bring alcohol (wine and beer) on board (although they ask that you not bring large coolers - there's no room for them), so we brought a couple of bottles of wine bought from the great wine shop down the street. The sail is partly narrated. Our sail was two hours long, and the staff narrated for some of the sailing time - pointing out historic and interesting sites along the sail (islands with an interesting history, homes with interesting architecture, etc.). Between the gorgeous scenery, some narration of fun and interesting facts about Mystic and its harbor, the great wine we'd brought aboard, and great company - it was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours in Mystic. What a beautiful way to enjoy Mystic and its harbor!

Who in their right mind pays a fee to use public land. Parking is one thing, but to seriously…read morecharge people to use a boat launch is beyond disappointing and I will not spend any money to do so. Your swimming/beach area isn't even open (and hasn't been in several years), so what are you doing with this money? You offer absolutely nothing and a boat launch should be free. Honestly pathetic.

This review is for the fishing aspect of Lake McDonough. The water in this lake is extremely clear…read moreand there are steep drop-offs, so naturally, the fishing can be very difficult. Also, the place seems to have a lot of bass in the 1# to 1.5# range. They can be fun to catch, but it would be nice to get some larger ones once in a while. Never caught a trout here, or seen one follow my lure, for that matter. On the positive side, the launch is great, your boat will come off easy. $6 to launch and another $6 to park. Lake is never crowded with boat traffic, no water skiers or jet skiers, which is also good. Very scenic too, just wish the fishing was better, because I only live 4 miles from here. FYI, alcohol is not allowed, they will search your cooler. Gate opens at 8am on weekends, 10am on weekdays (which I find a tad late being a fisherman, but it is what it is).

I HAD to go back to this because it's such an amazing experience. I'm sure they do more than "Fall…read moreFoliage" trips but that's when I visited in the past. Despite my best efforts in the past to do Fall train rides, which turned out to be disappointing only because there was never any good colors on trees, this by far is the very best fall foliage experience I've ever had in my life. You get great views of the tree color transitions and just great photo opportunities. It does get cold on the water so bring a jacket. Experience is as excellent as last time with beverages and snacks for purchase. If you enjoy fall colors, great scenery and boats then you have to do this at least once.

A peaceful Hudson River cruise from Peekskill to Bear Mountain. Beautiful views and a truly…read morerelaxing experience! Such a wonderful way to spend the day. Very pleased with this cruise!

I had heard of pedal taverns but never a pedal cruise. What a fun concept. Although most of us were…read moretoo lazy to pedal, we still had a wonderful time. They have 10 seats set up at a bar top style long table where you can pedal away and reach into the coolers in front of you to grab your drinks, which are BYOB. We brought lots of snacks and sandwiches also. Although there are only 10 seats, there are plenty of extra seating areas on the cozy boat. We had 19 guests with us. Captain Dave and first Mate Michelle were great hosts. We hooked up our phone to their Bluetooth speaker to play all our favorite songs. We went on the Sunday afternoon Cruise, which took us out along the shoreline out to the Island area and back. It was a lot of fun, laughs, and an overall enjoyable afternoon.

Bring ear plugs to save your hearing. Bring motion sickness pills to save your stomach. Don't sit…read morein front, cause you will get wet. Really an annoying boat right.