If you ever find yourself in the Old Avon Village Shopping Plaza, make your way over to the lower…read moreparking lot's eastern most extremity. You will see a sign for the entrance to River Park, it's kind of right next to the parking lot's exit onto busy Route 44. It's a privately owned 14-acre park that was impeccably maintained. There is a mowed grass trail into the woods with a very easy to follow trail that takes you into the forest and under a nice tree canopy. Walk a little further and you'll discover the water- a very nice Pond with some gorgeous scenery. There are picnic tables, benches, and a fire-pit spread throughout the 14-acres for your enjoyment. The Park was developed for a 2010 project by Avon Girl Scout Troop 66291.

This hidden 14 acre park is located in the Old Avon Village Parking lot, right at the exit in front…read moreof the traffic light. It was hard to find at first because the address was wrong on Yelp, but with a little perseverance, I finally found it! Yes, I requested for Yelp to update the address. There was a huge sign at the entrance with rules and facts about the park. It is a privately owned park open to the public. The trail was grassy with very little gravel at some spots. There were little signs throughout with bits of information; some were really old and faded, some didn't have anything on it. There is a big pond in the middle; on the southern portion, you will see the Farmington River and Alsop Meadows across the way. In this area, there were giant beautiful birch trees. There were picnic tables and benches in various areas. A great place to picnic, take a walk, and just take in nature in the midst of a busy area filled with plazas and roadways. However, I gave it two stars because the signs and picnic tables were old/broken; there was a huge tree that fell over and the grass was kind of long. We had to check for ticks thoroughly after. Overall, a cute little park that needs a little loving and attention.

This little hidden spot is a gem if you're looking to get away from the busy life. It is peaceful,…read morewith manicured grass, a little stream of the Connecticut River, and some geese staying cool in the water. It is super easy to access, just an easy drive down the road from Old Wethersfield and past the dreaded DMV. You can bring your lunch here and have it on the bench. Be sure to dispose of your litter in the trash can. There was a very kind older gentleman who was working to pick up the litter of the ground, he said "it gives me something to do". There's no reason for this, as there's a substantial amount of trash cans. This is a nice place to go on a boat ride down the Connecticut River, and to try to catch some fish. The Wethersfield Cove is a beautiful place to rest your mind and your eyes.

Wethersfield Cove is an inlet which connects to the Connecticut River. There were warehouses built…read morein the 1600s, to store goods such as food and lumber to be sent out to trade with places like the West Indies; products traded in return were rum, molasses, and sugar. The Cove Warehouse Museum still stands today and is open seasonally to the public. There is the heritage trail that runs through it, a boat ramp, rocky beach, picnic tables, porta potty, and a huge parking lot. As far as beach goes, I wouldn't advise swimming in it because of a huge sewage leak back in the 1990s. It is a beautiful spot to walk, picnic, and just enjoy the vista. I'm sure it's fun to go boating on it too. Overall, a nice little neighborhood park with tons of history.

Great place to spend family time and enjoy the sun or go for walks very relaxing place to be and…read moregreat picnic grill area

Cute little park. Very easy walking trails, well maintained. The bridge is great for scenic…read morephotos. Small pond with a beach. Restrooms fairly clean.

A gorgeous place to go for a hike, swim or picnic. It is free to enter, has free parking and a…read moreporto potty. The trails are clean. When I went there was a steady stream of people. I saw two small waterfalls. I enjoyed getting my fill for the day of nature here.

A short walk from the parking area (equipped w an outhouse). Very well constructed stone and…read morewooden steps / stairways going gradually downhill. Hand railings help. Both upper and lower falls not very forceful in the dog days of summer, especially w little recent rain. Probably a better time to visit is spring. Still, very scenic and well shaded on a hot summer day. And there are many opportunities to cool off in the babbling brook! Note approx 130 steps total, broken off in sections. Not really handicapped accessible.

A park with a spectacular view!…read more Talcott Mountain State Park is a 574-acre park located in Simsbury. Parking was spacious. The trail to the Heublein Tower is 1.25-miles long. The Tower can be seen from various parts of the state. It's a beautiful, white, 165-foot high tower with 360 degrees view. The trail was wide and on gravel. There was recent heavy rains so some of the trails had some washout. The hike was mostly up hill with some flat areas; I'd say it's moderate but it was a little bit more challenging for me because I was baby-wearing my child. My toddler did great on it. There were a couple of benches and logs to sit on along the way; pet waste receptacles were seen. My only qualm were the bugs, so don't forget bug spray like we did. Once we got to the top, there were a couple of porta potties and a kiosk. The view of the tower up close was exhilarating, so much history. There was an informational movie on in the garage with benches. There was a huge picnic pavilion and picnic tables throughout; a giant BBQ pit and another small one. The Heublein Tower was beautiful and built in 1914; it can withstand 100-mph winds. The staircases going up and down were meant to be one way; this was a great way to reduce pedestrian congestion and a fire hazard. There were historic relics and rooms decorated the way it was back in the day. Informational signage throughout the space. The tower used to be the summer home for Gilbert Heublein; a successful businessman whose company acquired Smirnoff Vodka and A1 Steak Sauce. The view from the ballroom was amazing and breathtaking. They had signs showing what we can see based on the direction. The hike back down the trail was easier, becareful though, some of the gravel were slippery and I saw a kid fall. Overall, a great hike and the view was worth it!

Amazing and easy hike with the gals. The view is amazing from the top. It is a great hike to chat…read morewith people and too far from Hartford

A park with a…read moreschool Eisenhower Park opened back in 1969 and was initially in a pretty isolated place. A nice little neighborhood park that fit in nicely between the streets. That all changed in 1971 when the new high school opened right next door. The park is still a nice place but definitely not as quiet and peaceful as it was during the first years of it's life. It can actually be difficult to find the park because of the large high school athletic fields right next door. The park does have two swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field, soccer field, picnic area and lots of room for running around. Some really good hoops use to be played here in the past but I'm not sure if such competitive games around still around. One of the five neighborhood parks in West Hartford and perhaps the least known to people outside of the area. It still is a nice park to play some ball, go swimming and just spend some time outside.,

If you live in a big city, ever wonder where your water supply comes from?…read more Well, if you happen to live in the Hartford, CT metroplex, your water comes from the Saville Dam and the Barkhamsted Reservoir. We first saw this gorgeous area when we were driving home from a college run up to Troy, NY and took the back roads home. Suddenly, we were in the middle of jaw dropping beauty, with spectacular water views everywhere. We returned today on an unexpectedly wonderful 70-degree sunny Saturday in November. There were lots of families strolling around enjoying the pretty views. There are a few parking lots sprinkled along Route 318 and you can stroll on the grass to follow the waterline. Be careful, because we saw some depressions and protrusions along the way that might twist an ankle if you aren't careful. There were lots of photographers out today, and I smiled when I saw a young lady posing in her purple cap and gown for a graduation picture. The grounds were impeccably well maintained, and the people we interacted with (masked and socially distanced) were all pleasant. Dogs were all leashed and diligently cleaned up after. It was an outstanding visit with great weather, beautiful Fall foliage and scenery, and nice people.

5 stars for the magnificent beauty. I had to deduct a star because the paved trail was closed. It…read morelooks like an awesome trail but I think it's closed due to hazardous water conditions based on the sign. There are three parking lots total. However, there are no sidewalks across the dam. You can walk on the grassy part of the dam, it is high and there are no railings; you can either fall into the street or down the dam face, which would probably hurt a little lol. If you bring small children, hold onto their hands. So many people are there on a nice day to gaze at the wonderful views of the reservoir and hills. Now please open up the trails, it would be an awesome place to take a walk in nature.

I'd like to start by noting the Alsop Meadow is a quiet gem, tucked away off Waterville Road and on…read moreNassau Way in Avon. I have known of this Meadow since the 1980's. I actually lived in the original Alsop homestead on Nod Road with 8 other house mates (32.5 rooms, including 5.5 bathrooms) from 1984-86. The Alsop family was & still well known in Avon and its connection to Uncle Teddy, yes, that former President Teddy! The Alsop Meadow is a gifted land trust to the Town of Avon. The land trust features a Farmington River side trail, a peaceful short wooded walk ending at Private Property, which is very clearly marked. An open frisbee golf course starts near the gateway to the Meadow and winds through the trees and the open meadow. A plot of Community gardens are located on the North edge of the Meadow. The gardens also provide a great pollen source for bees and butterflies. A port-a-potty is available and is maintained by the Town of Avon and its lessor. Located near the Canoe launch, placard noting the Alsop's generous gift, and an information board showing the Farmington River trail. If you bring a pup, leashes are required, you're also required to pick-up and carry out their waste. Despite that small sacrifice Alsop Meadow is worth visiting and bring a few frisbees!

Alsop Meadows is a 56.20-acre park located in the Town of Avon. The entrance is behind the Raymour…read more& Flannigan furniture store. The dirt road going into it is very narrow and can only fit one car, certain spots there is a spot to pull off to let other vehicles go. There is a decent sized parking area and a porta potty. A couple of small trails lead to the Farmington River. This is where people take their canoes and kayaks out. I walked on the dirt road through the gates and on the left, there was a community garden. The scent was lovely; ripe vine tomatoes was what I smelled. The rest of the landscape consisted of woods and meadows; there was someone mowing the large, flat, open space when I was there. Around the garden, you won't be able to see the river in the spring and summer, but I'm sure in the late fall and winter, the views and access to the river is great. The park is open from dawn to dusk, daily. The recreational activities include, jogging, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping. For camping, permission is needed from the Town of Avon. I walked to the end of the dirt road and back; it was a short walk but peaceful nonetheless. I do recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat because there is minimal shade; bug spray too because the mosquitoes were rampant. I saw other people walking their dog and others enjoying the river side. A peaceful spot; however, if you want a longer walk/hike, this doesn't have it unless you walk back and forth a few times.

Lake Waramaug State Park has so much to offer, whether it be camping, fishing, swimming, renting a…read morekayak, boating, having a picnic, or just to take in the beautiful views. I came here for kayaking. This beautiful, scenic lake is clean, and circling the lake is an enjoyable 9-mile paddle. From the water, you can take in the scenic hills that surround the lake, or view some of the waterfront gorgeous homes. This state park is well worth checking out.

It's an okay stay over place, large spaces, no privacy, but pleasant enough. What totally ruined…read morethe experience were the extremely loud campers across the way who's nonstop shouting and swearing went well into the quiet hours with no one to contact for assistance since staff leaves at 10:00 (the start of quiet hours!)

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.