Great park. -…read morenew(ish) equipment (only complaint so far is the swing chain wrapping peeling off, and the bucket seat is missing the safety belt) - variety of things to do that work out different parts of body (ex. rolling log, horizontal slide, rock-climbing incline) - multiple slides at different heights and styles (straight, bumpy, swirl) - additional (original) gated area for younger children - multiple ball courts (tennis, volleyball, basketball?) - benches and pagoda - water fountain - trash cans Overall, the grounds are clean and well kept. An enjoyable place to be.

Such a great little park. I go there all the time with my 3 year old. Here's a few things you…read moremight like about Rotary Park too: 1. There's not one but 2 playgrounds (one for toddlers & another for the older kids) 2. Beautiful tennis & volleyball courts 3. A great walking trail 4. There are nice spots to sit & relax while watching the planes take off from the Westerly airport 5. Ample parking 6. Bathroom facilities 7. The town is expanding & making Rotary Park even better soon

Really nice spot to take a short walk and stretch the legs while in Westerly. I love how it's also…read morean arboretum and all the trees are marked with plaques denoting their common and scientific names. There are also a number of interpretive signs that convey some of the history and current uses of the buildings. There are a number of war monuments and some cool sculptures. We especially enjoyed the sculpture "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown. Love that the park was founded by a woman, Harriet Wilcox. Opposite the park, there is a nice mural with her image and apparently a quote by her "The People Shall Have Their Park". Respect. The park is open dawn to 9pm. Street parking.

Wilcox Park is one of Westerly's best kept secrets. Probably not for locals, but for out of towners…read morelike me I adore this place. I go at least a few times a year. It feels to me like I am in in a European park, with fountain, statues, and carefully sculpted ponds, with bench seating throughout. It's a large space with winding walking paths. Much nicer in the summer when everything is in full bloom but even in the winter or early spring on a sunny day it still has a lot to offer a nature buff like myself. You can park on the street for free and access the park at different points. Definitely worth a visit particularly in the warmer weather.

It's small but has enough to keep my 3 year old busy. He loves their see-saw & the views of the…read moreboats. This playground is tucked away behind the downtown shops & homes. If you're in the area on a Saturday morning you can check out the farmer's market next door during warmer months.

As previously mentioned, small but nice. Enough entertainment for my 9,7 and 5 year olds for an…read morehour. The location near the water is lovely.

A wonderful place to walk around, see giant trolls, an old airfield from WW2, coves/beach…read more Our daughter lives nearby and wildlife conservation biology is her 'thing', so walking around the trails at Ninigret was a fun & informative experience. Rhode Island has 5 giant trolls in various parks, and Ninigret has 2 of them: Greta Granite & Erik Rock. We stayed to the main paths as there are a lot of ticks around. And we saw a couple of fat turkeys who are probably feasting on the ticks. There are tennis courts, picnic area, a playground, observatory & senior center on the grounds. And plenty of parking.

It's been on my bucket list to check out these wonderful giant trolls out myself. Spent the…read moreafternoon in Rhode Island as an excuse to go exploring for the troll hunt which is gaining popularity, there is five giant trolls hidden across the RI state. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these massive sculptures are made from recycled materials and aim to promote conservation. The trolls can be found in various locations. I got to see only 2 of them that I can cross off my mapping for troll's list. * Charlestown's Ninigret Park is home to the Erik Rock and Greta Granite. It's accessible via trails and wooded paths. * Erik Rock lounges beside Little Ninigret Pond. * Greta Granite is located further along a wooded path marked by clues. It's a lot of fun to get on the mapping of the trolls and hunt them out all over the world when you're visiting the areas. It's amazing to experience these pieces of art created and designed by Thomas Dambo.

We were looking for a beach or park close by, to catch some afternoon rays after our busy day in…read moreMystic, This scrubby little park was close and has a small pebbly beach on a bay. There are some positives: + Playground + Free Parking + Picnic Area + Open Field + Easy Access + Shallow, protected water good for children + Lifeguard on duty in summer There are some negatives: - Very small beach - Small swimming area - Beach has pebbles and the sand isn't comfortable to walk on - Limited shade - Not very attractive - A modest view - Porta Potty's for rest rooms - No other services A go to place for beach goers? I don't think so, but likley not a bad spot for locals with kids.

So my visit here started with a dream - I wanted my dog to see the ocean. The internet claimed this…read morewas a dog friendly beach, so off we went! Yes, it is technically on a bay, but it's salt water, there are sea shells and sea glass, and considering my dog is two feet tall and hats the water, this is an ocean beach (for him). I will die on this hill. Williams Beach is adjacent to the YMCA and like, three giant steps from their parking lot. It does seem the internet got it right that the beach is without life guard after Labor Day, and there is signage asking dogs to stay off the sand and out of the water. There are also "park" areas, I assume owned by the YMCA, including but not limited to, a volleyball court, playground, and baseball fields. Picnic tables are plentiful. It was nice and quiet in the middle of September on a weekday, although it must be packed in the summer. It was pretty clean, although any litter I saw was definitely from irresponsible humans and not the inexplicably banned dogs.

A peaceful park…read more Green Hill is a two and a half acre park that is always looks so clean and peaceful no matter what time of the year you visit. Never seems to be very crowded even during the warm months and in the winter it is usually deserted. The park is extremely well maintained and has basketball ball courts, tennis courts, beach volleyball court, soccer field and even a few short walking and hiking paths. It is a great place to stop if you are biking through the area on the way to the beaches because it always has clean bathrooms and even a drinking fountain that actually works. The hiking and walking paths are nothing to get excited about, but makes for a pleasant if short diversion. It is very buggy during the wet months with numerous mosquitoes, biting flies and other six legged vermin. The picnic area is very nice and the folks that frequent the park are quiet, friendly and nice. The area has several great beaches nearby so the park tends to get overlooked but it is a peaceful and green place to stop and get some water, use the bathrooms, take a short walk or simply relax.

Nice, large area to take your kids and/or dogs. The place was very clean and not busy at all…read more There are plenty of things to do here. Enjoy!

The most beautiful, relaxing walk I've had in quite some time. A perfect trail spot for pets, very…read morepet friendly. The homeowner of the house facing the parking lot was very kind while working in his front yard, the whole area was a great experience.

I had a pretty decent experience at this park, but the weather was a factor in perhaps a lower…read morereview than it could be. This park is located off of a residential neighborhood in Groton, close to the coast and with hiking and cycling trails. One of the issues with this park is that none of the trails are really blazed, so although there's a trail map, there are a lot of deer paths and twisty trails that make navigation difficult. Rain makes this a little more tricky. We were there to see the Canopy Rock, which is a historical landmark, the site of a religious revival. Sadly, the rock is covered in graffiti, which was really disappointing. I plan on coming back to give this park another chance, because what we saw was interesting, but the rain really forced us to cut our visit short.

This 134-acre parcel of land is a great place to go for a hike, no matter the weather! I visited…read morein the wintertime and had the opportunity to trek around the multiple trails in this location in the snow. There are a couple spaces set aside to park at this trailhead located in a somewhat residential area. Hikers are almost immediately rewarded with a high vantage point overlooking Winnapaug Pond, Misquamicut Beach, and the Block Island Sound. There is a healthy mix of ups and downs, flat terrain, rock walls, and so much more. Maintained by the Westerly Land Trust, there are more than 2 miles of marked pathways. Benches, ponds, birdhouses, and poetry are part of the sights along your route. Former farmland, this protected land is quite picaresque. Check it out!

One of my favorite places to go and walk my dog. The trails are well maintained. I usually do the…read moreouter loop, which is about 2.25 miles.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center serves as a fantastic alternative to the other animal-based…read moretourist attractions in the area of Mystic, CT. Though I am quite a big fan of the Mystic Aquarium, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is a fantastic getaway from what can sometimes be a very jam-packed and overwhelming institution. I visited in late January, which admittedly is probably not the best time to be visiting here, but a five star review should tell that even in the colder months, this place still was as warm and as welcoming as one could expect. Though you're not going to be seeing anything huge, the live animals on display are very exciting still. Collections of herptiles, such as Painted and Spotted Turtles, New England Wood Turtles, snakes, and one of my personal favorites, the Diamondback Terrapin all call this institution home. In addition to that, the Nature Center also has a robust Bird-of-Prey collection, with Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Broad-Winged Hawks, a relatively rare species in captivity around here. Many of these birds are permanently injured I believe, or unsuitable for release, and it is the job of the nature center to care for them, which they do fantastically. I understand the general public might see these as "cages", but I've been to a multitude of animal facilities across the United States and I was very impressed with the level of care that these species receive. While the live animals are quite interesting to look at, dead ones are too! The nature center has a huge assortment of local species in taxidermized forms, showcasing the incredible wildlife that we have in our very own backyards in New England. It allows you to get a closer look and a deeper appreciation for some species you typically don't get to see up close. I have a background in sociology and one of the things that my professor has turned me onto is the sociology of bathrooms and how they're presented, so I tend to take a picture of every bathroom at every institution I end up going to. Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center did not disappoint. I thoroughly loved the tiling on the walls of native wildlife. A very good touch. The entire facility is filled to the brim with education on the native wildlife habitats and species you can find around Mystic. It's very good. For birders, this place is a fairly decent way to find more native species. Red-Bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpecker, tons of sparrows, and my friend has even spotted a Belted Kingfisher here in the warmer months. Overall, this place is fantastic. The front of desk lady was extremely helpful and kind. I only had wish I had gotten her name, she made this experience a memorable one. If you're in the area in the future, whether it's looking for nature trails or even visiting the aquarium or the seaport, please find some time to check out this location. It's a quick stop but absolutely worth it to learn a lot more about the nature around us. I look forward to stopping by once again in the warmer months. I am hoping that they take proper precautions with the oncoming Avian Influenza however.

Must see if in mystic. The owls were so cool and learning about rehabilitation makes you want to…read morebecome a conservationist. Even if the building is closed, you can still enjoy the trails. Don't forget to donate to keep this place going.