We spent the day there. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. The Park was very clean and it…read morewas a very relaxing atmosphere. The staff doesn't breathe down your neck

Close to Colonial Hotel, this is an accessible gem. A new parking payment machine has been set up…read morebut no charges at moment. There are lots of picnic tables and looks like swimming in a Great Lake with s sandy beach. Trails are clean and shady. I wish there was a map that showed distances: I was unsure how long it would take for me to hike around it, so I did not take the trail. Clean bathrooms, but only open until 3 pm at the moment.

it was a nice little beach but not too far on the opposite shore there was nude [lewd] bathing…read moregoing on which I thought was in poor taste for the families with their kids. if I could see it I'm sure they could also.

Come one, come all. Free parking. No entry fee. Just park at the boat ramp parking lot and walk…read moreacross the causeway. The DCR has turned the pond into a recreation area instead of conserving the area as a drinking water resource. (as it is so designated as part of the Ware River Watershed. ) With the hardly ever enforced rules, the pond should be good for another...15 years? before the effects of overuse make it unuseable. Come on down. Oh yeah. Don't forget the dogs. Rules are rarely enforced. The more, the merrier.

Beautiful! Clean. Lovely, white sand. Playground…read more Lighthouse with a Pokemon stop. Covered bridges.

Beautiful clear water. Serene. White sand. Clean…read more Lifeguards on duty during the summer season, which has its pros and cons. Lifeguards pros are obvious. Cons are that, no floaties are allowed, only coast guard approved PFDs are allowed, no skipping stones, no horseplay, etc. there also porta-potties in season. Did I say picture perfect? Idyllic. This is the best New England has to offer. Yes it is residents only but you can bring guests.

It's a nice beach, but a .8 mile walk from the parks and recreation office where non residents have…read moreto park. When you're carrying beach chairs, a beach bag and water bottles on a hot day, it's not a fun walk. When we got to the lake, there were only three cars in the parking lot. There was plenty of room for non-residents.

Before they enforced the "residents only parking" it was a great spot to go swimming! But it has…read moregone downhill. They rake some of the weeds in the designated swimming area, but not all, so it can be very gross to walk on (which i don't really mind, but it can be yucky). They used to have a cute little shack that served food, but that has also closed (i also believe this went to the funding and upkeep which is why it has gone downhill other than the parking). It's unguarded now, but i can understand that as i am a lifeguard and know that we have a shortage of lifeguards right now. I don't know the laws of boating there, but be careful going beyond the designated swimming area because the boaters really like to go close (which can also be annoying when they're coming one after the other). So the closest parking area is basically a mile away, and it has little to no sidewalk the whole time. So it's very unsafe if you have children, especially if they have any type of disorder or handicap. I wish they would solve the parking problem, but it's been 2 years now so i doubt they will. For a town that gets a lot of traffic from tourism, they seem to be trying very hard to keep people out, which is sad.

I have hiked A LOT of mountains in New England but I had never hiked the mountain it seemed like…read moreeveryone I knew had hiked. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to change that and now I can see what all the hubbub is about. What a great mountain with fantastic views. After doing a bit of homework, I realized it was in my best interest to make a park reservation so that I could secure a parking space for the day at the start of the trailheads I was eyeing for the next day. As one of the most hiked mountains (in the world?), this park reports hosting a massive number of visitors each year and from first hand experience, I can attest that it is a busy one. The $15 was worth the peace of mind and my ability to pull right in and hop onto the trail. I had a hard time locating their "opening hours" but I arrived shortly after 8am with about 20 cars there ahead of me. I really appreciated the park ranger that checked me in for my reservation at the Poole Road entrance. Incredibly welcoming, inquisitive about plans, quick to offer advice for the best experience, and even shared a weather update (30 mph+ winds at the summit that day) before I was on my way. Supplied with a paper map and an idea which trails would be least busy and most scenic, I felt well-prepared for an enjoyable morning on the mountain. I opted to start out on the White Dot Trail. For less crowds, I branched off to the Cascade Link, then hooked a left onto the Red Spot Trail which delivered me to the summit. Gaining elevation at a slow and steady pace, I found the whole climb quite enjoyable. I rejoined the crowd at the summit but still with plenty of room for photos of the scenery and some quiet time to enjoy a snack. Wide open, bald summit with views for days. I would have stayed longer if not for the strong winds. After nestling in between the rocks away from the air currents to enjoy a brief snack, I was on my way down the mountain via the White Cross Trail. There were even glimpses of Boston in the distance! Each trail was clearly marked by it namesake (literally white dots, red dots, and white crosses) which made wayfinding a breeze. That said, I still came across a party or two that had gotten turned around. Do your homework, connect to a trail app if you have the means, practice your map reading skills, and heed the recommendations of the rangers and you should have the basic tools you need to keep you on track and still smiling. So many trails and options that can keep you coming back for more. The visitor center at this entrance was a welcome amenity, restrooms, and all. I cannot comment on the park store because it was closed for lunch when I was finishing up. All in all I got in just under 5 miles using the route that I did. Beautiful peak, beautiful day. Highly recommend.

Great day hike and not for those with weak ankles! Took the white dot trail up and used the white…read morecross trail to come down. Forgot the bug spray which would have kept the critters at bay with much of the trail having slow or puddled water. Parking wasn't too crowded, $15 for access to park. Snack and gift shop in the lot and the headquarters building just up the trail. Great restroom facility to use prior to starting the hike as well. Very rocky terrain all the way up, clearly marked with white dots (crosses as well for the return). Enjoyed the fact there were multiple volunteer guides hiking or positioned at locations (one steady at fork for dot/cross) if needed. Had low reception all through the hike for emergencies as well. Beautiful views towards the top and of course 360 once on the summit. Definitely worth the time spent. Pack in pack out, bring water and snacks along with the spray (both bug and sun)! Enjoyed a quick snack on the top with the views and a quick tsp of the marker before heading back down. Time to get up to the peak, what are you waiting for?!

Perfect for kids! Safe location. Clean water. Not too many people. Quiet. Nice playground!read more

Cool lake, life guard, public restrooms are clean…read more Cool wooden play structure for kids. What's not to love.

What a special day at Quabbin Reservoir! I've always been fascinated by the history of the towns…read morethat were flooded to create the reservoir, so getting to see it in person was something special and our friends told us the history while we drove around and saw different spots along the way. The views were absolutely beautiful, and we may have gotten a little too excited when we spotted the turkeys. The best part was sharing the day with friends we met on a cruise 24 years ago. Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, wildlife, and longtime friends... it doesn't get much better than that.

The Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center is well worth a visit. The history and evolution of the…read morereservoir including indigenous wildlife are explained in detail. Very friendly and helpful staff. Ample free parking, too. The Reservoir is astounding.

Look Memorial Park (aka Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park) is a privately run non-profit park that…read moreopened in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1930. Located in the village of Florence, the 150 acres of land were given to the City of Northampton by Mrs. Fannie Burr Look (widow of Frank Newhall Look). Mr. Look had been a long-time resident of Northampton and the chief executive of the Prophylactic Brush Company. Operation and maintenance are dependent upon the trust fund, visitor fees, grants, and gifts. Owned by the city but operated as a non-profit organization, Look Park receives no funding from the city or state. The park contains a number of notable features including walking paths, an outdoor amphitheater, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, a miniature golf course, paddle boats, playscapes, a spray park, a wildlife center, a sweet shoppe, covered picnic areas, covered bridges, and a miniature railway. I recently visited Look Memorial Park with my family. I first visited the park last summer with my older son. We had so much fun that we decided to return this year with my wife and younger son. We first set out to visit the park's 5,000-square-foot spray park. It was a hot day and my two sons had a blast exploring the various ground jets, bucket dumps and water umbrellas. After a change of clothes, we explored one of the playscapes and the wildlife center. What we were most looking forward to was a ride on the park's miniature steamer train. Manufactured by Wichita, Kansas-based Chance Rides, the miniature train is a replica of the circa-1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The train runs every half hour on the weekends and rides last about 10 minutes. The train is transformed into 'Santa's Train' during the Christmas holiday season and it can also be rented for birthday parties. The train ride was easily the highlight of our park visit. We look forward to visiting Look Memorial Park again and again!

I planned a fun birthday picnic today, only to find out after paying to get into the park that half…read moreof the services were closed. I wish management would be more proactive about notifying incoming guests that many park services are closed before paying to get in. We also went to the sweet shop to get root beer floats, and paid $11 for two root beer floats that were actually half full. I would recommend the place for people looking to enjoy the scenery, but apart from that the experience was lacking.

It's just a very serene and pretty place to spend a few hours. Loved the walkable covered bridge!read more

Lake Potanipo (sometimes called Potanipo Pond) is a highlight of the small town of Brookline. The…read morebeach has been cleaned up considerably, and it's open (albeit in a limited way) to the general public. It has a small, charming lighthouse along with a public beach. It's picturesque. A great little place for hikes&leisurely walks. Lake Potanipo is an understated place. Its waters eventually lead to the Gulf of Maine. Not bad for a little quiet country lake.

From start to finish we found them to be professional, understanding and supportive, by phone and…read morein person. They were quick to address our issue with the boat and quick to get it back to us from pickup to dropoff! We won't hesitate to go back and recommend them to anyone looking to purchase--to anyone needing service. Most courteous people we have had interactions with in boating!

Wow. Great place to buy a boat. Found the Pontoon I wanted, contacted Kris in the sales office and…read morehe took care of the rest. Bought the boat sight unseen and it arrived at my house exactly as he informed me. Very professional and easy to deal with. Very trust worthy. Too bad I dont live in that area, I would deal with them always.