"Exit light, enter night Take my hand…read moreWe're off to never-never land" (Metallica) What do you look for in a town park? Well, maybe your design plan would include plenty of open green spaces, baseball, soccer and lacrosse fields, basketball courts, maybe a few walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, a Fitness Station, a skatepark, two ice cream trucks, an all-inclusive boundless playground, and a gazebo for groups and barbecuing. And you'd probably want an easy to find location with a few different entrances and parking lots, right? Well, if you're looking for such a town park in South Windsor, CT, look no further than Nevers Park, because it has all of the above plus more. Today was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and there was plenty of activity going on at Nevers today. The playgrounds and splash pad were packed, there was a big group at the gazebo barbecuing lunch, we saw plenty of well-behaved dogs on their leashes, and we saw one cute little guy shooting baskets on a Munchkin-sized hoop that must have been four feet off the ground. We walked a leisurely loop around the property on their wide flat paved trails which took us to their ball fields, playground, splash pad, skate park and fields. What a wonderful park!

This is far and away the best playground and splash pad combination in the Greater Hartford area…read more The playground offers different options for younger and older kids, with some new additions mixed in with some older playground gear. There is a cool basketball shooting area with poops of different heights. The splash pad is really the selling point during the summer. It's clean, offers seating with Adirondack chairs in the shade and sun, and a variety of different water play activities. We love having play dates here and there's always a lot to do. We haven't ventured over to the field area or the skate park, but I'm sure those are fun as well.

The trail isn't marked well but even in a light snow cover we were able to figure it out. Watch out…read morefor a few icy patches on the trail that we had to work around if you'll be on the trail in the winter. The falls were gorgeous ... parts along the cascade edges were frozen but running full force! And we met a young porcupine near the trailhead just after the parking area! It was a bit shy ...

This was the second falls visited by our gang of three adventurers last Wednesday. Both Bash Bish…read moreFalls and Campbell Falls were uniquely picturesque. While the trek to BBF was 3/4 mi from the NY parking lot, the jaunt to Campbell Falls was much closer from our dirt parking area. Both falls were similar heights. I inclined to say that BBF was a little higher. Intrepid Paul ventured into the deep pool at the bottom. He looked refreshed. Mountain goat Jamie climbed up the steep terrain to the right of the Falls, and appeared to be standing right in the middle of it at the top. In reality, there is also an opening in the paved road at the top that allows one to get close. Be careful if you do this !!!!!. All-in-all, worth the trip.

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.

Absolutely loved this park!…read more Parking was plentiful and a porta-potty available. My family and I did the easy out and back 1-mile trail, Enders Brooks Falls. This was easy enough for my 3 year old. The trail was along the water; stairs and railings were meticulous installed for the safety of nature lovers of all ages. We were in awe by all the waterfalls; the sounds, ambiance, and smells were so peaceful. We saw quite a few people enjoying it too but it wasn't crowded. This park is located in Barkhamsted and Granby; both beautiful towns. There is a second out and back 4.4-mile trail, Fox Road Trail; we didn't hike this one yet but look forward to it next time.

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.

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.

This park was a staple for my family and I growing up in the area! It's a playground and dog park…read morecombined by a large field that stretches the entire street. The street parking nearby is free, and there are bike racks for anyone that needs them. The neighbors in that area were always very kind to me, but it's also important to be aware of their families and privacy. It's not a place for large group gatherings or non-residents to host events. There are water fountains, waste disposal, and lots of seating, but there are not picnic tables or public restrooms. It's a beautiful park and I always make it a stop on my walks!

Ended up at this park by accident and we can't wait to go back and explore a bit more…read more At first this park seems like an open field and parking lot but if you walk over the bridge and pond, it opens up to the rest of the grounds and the Connecticut tobacco museum. They have a few farm animals like horses, cows, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, and more. The barn includes information about all of the animals and the nature center has more information about Connecticut's nature scene. There's also a trail that seems to lead pretty far out. We'll check it out next time.

Wonderful hidden gem especially for families with small children. They have trails a barn with…read moreanimals and the playground which our children loved.

Music on Sunday's is awesome!! It was a beautiful park with different gardens and water features…read more They pump in water and it recirculates from the CT River.

Stanley Park was nice! Parks are an ideal outing for little ones so we headed over here one late…read moremorning. We walked on the trails and saw a few creatures including fish, frogs, geese, ducks, squirrels, and chipmunks. Great spot to take the family. It was also well-maintained as I saw several workers around. There was a cool map on the ground and as a cartophile, I appreciated that. Seems like there's quite a bit to do here.

At first glance, a neighborhood park with a few cottages, a field, and a large dirt parking lot…read more The cottages were for the Girl Scouts based on the sign I saw on them. I was here for the playground so I walked across the field to the back and found it. I didn't realize there were parking in the back lot and closer to the playground. The fenced in playground was big and had plenty of swings and space for my toddler to run around. The weather was perfect (55 degrees in February) so there were a few other people there. There was snow on the ground in certain parts, so it was very muddy/slippery in some spots. A few of the playscapes were taped off with caution tape; I'm assuming they were broken. This park is on 200 acres of land and has many events. There is a 50 acre lake area. The spring fed lake is called West Hill Lake; people can swim, fish, and boat in it. In the summer, you will need to buy a beach pass. They also have tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, and basketball courts. Nearby and across the street, you can find the Franklin P. Kearney Conservative Trail. Overall, a great spot to get some fresh air and exercise. Hopefully they will fix the broken playscapes and it will be less muddy when it gets warmer soon.

Just not great. Has a lot that could be improved. Not well kept, run of the mill regular park.read more

Great place to hike, you'll need good balance and shoe traction here, especially after a rain.read more

Not far from the center of Granville, MA heading East on 57 is Granville Gorge on the left hand…read moreside. There is limited parking no more than 10 cars but I found a spot quickly. From the parking lot to the gorge is a a short walk; the trail continues along side the river with many small falls and pools available for swimming. There many large and smaller boulders which extend out into the water providing picnicking or sunbathing opportunities. The trail in spots can be challenging; you should exercise caution as you can easily slip if you are not paying close attention. It is a beautiful area well worth a stop to take in the natural sights afforded by this scenic natural wonder.