I visited a couple of weeks ago, back when we had warm-but-not-yet-sweltering weather. This park is…read morea bit of a distance from Syracuse, but worth the drive. It's not too far off from Heritage Hill Brewery, so you can do a two-for and visit both-- however the park is lovely and worth a visit on its own. There's an overlook near the entrance where you can get a glimpse of the waterfall. However, the falls are also within walking distance of the start of the trail. The hill is on a slant and there are steep stairs, so the view may not be accessible for those who have difficulty walking. However, it was so calming just to sit and watch and listening to the waterfall. The day I went, there were others out but the paths didn't feel claustrophobic. I took some time and walked through the woods. The trail I took was relatively short, I think about a half mile total. I appreciated that there was a marker at the start that let you know how long it was. I am by no means a regular hiker (hoping to change that one day!) but this trail wasn't exhausting and was quite serene. This is a great park with a great waterfall and is definitely worth checking out!

Beatutiful park! The falls are gorgeous! The trail to the falls has several steps, so do noy be…read moresurprised by that. It is a short walk to the lower obvservation deck. It takes some leg power to get back to the top, but it is totally worth the effort! Other trails are flatter, and despite not getting a view of the falls, they are still lovely.

I love this amazing outdoor space hidden right next to my hometown at a local college. It is truly…read morebeautiful, relaxing, and has so many special details. This is a great spot to bring the dogs, or even just to read or book. While we were there we saw people taking Senior portraits. I have never been here in winter, but I imagine it is also beautiful then. Some of the trails may be challenging for certain groups (steep incline etc) but are easy for most. It is well maintained and the visitors seem to be respectful. Pictures and description do not do this justice so just come and visit, take some time in nature.

A really fascinating place to visit for a decent hike/ tour. It's a self guided tour after you grab…read moreyour tickets inside the gift shop. There are some pretty incredible views & a few astounding caves you can explore. The trail features quite a bit of stairs & winding paths so come prepared (eg. walking stick if need be). We saw plenty of families, children & seniors on the trail so it's suitable for an array of people. We saved the coolest part for last: cracking open a few geodes. This is completely random but it's enchanting to wait & see what color is inside! We love this place.

Such a great day for kids while in the Adirondacks! The geode popping and activities at the end of…read morethe trail were fun.

Great fun place for all ages of kids with some adult fun…read moresprinkled in like alcohol!! Clean location, friendly staff and the food is pretty good to. We had the pizza combo and the it was pretty tasty, and at $55, two entry fees, pitcher of soda and a large pizza as we as $20 credit for games I thought it was a pretty good value. We went in a rainy Saturday and the kids had a great time !! We'll be back for sure.

A great indoor spot for kids on a rainy day! We took our toddler here today and it was perfect. $12…read moreentrance fee for her to jump around on all the bounce houses, she had a blast for hours. Also a special gate at the register area that prevents kids from wandering to the front doors... very helpful! I do wish there was a gate at the arcade area to prevent young kids from wandering in there alone. But overall a really great place to bring your kids!

This is a gorgeous state park on the northeast edge of Otsego Lake. My wife, two teenage sons (15…read moreyrs, 13 yrs), and I came here with our miniature poodle for a quick visit during a 4-night stay in Sharon Springs, NY. We came here every day to enjoy the lovely view of the lake, take a leisurely stroll with the dog, and spend an afternoon fishing (for my 15 year old son). It's about a 15-20 minute drive from Cooperstown along the east shore. At the main entrance, you'll pay a $7 admission fee per vehiecle, or you can just show your NY State Parks Empire Pass card. This is a gem of a park that is well worth the price of admission. First, it feels open and spacious with nice hiking trails. Second, the view of Lake Otsego is lovely. You may see a few kayakers or windsurfers on the lake depending on weather conditions. If you have young children, this is a must-visit place as there are kid-friendly playgrounds. Third, the lake is shallow and calm by the beach, but the water temperature can feel a bit chilly. In the summer, they have lifeguards available starting at 11:00am. Finally, the park has a concession stand which sells basic snacks, hot dogs, and drinks. It's also worth it to take a short walk up the hill to see Hyde Hall and the view of the lake from there!

Very friendly staff at front gate beautiful lake to swim in and camping available as well.read more

I don't know what the previous reviewer's beef with artist Peter Lundberg is, since they provide…read morezero context. (If you scroll through their prior reviews you can see that they have taken it upon themselves to leave a bad review for any and every sculpture park, river walk, or development that hosts a Lundberg sculpture. Why? Unclear.) Don't let that bad review fool you! This sculpture garden/nature trail is a true gem. Located in Rome, NY on the former Griffiss AFB, this park/trail is well worth your time. There are 28 wonderful sculptures, most of which are approachable from the trail. Signage tells you about the provenance, artist, and materials. There are five linear miles of paved trail, perfect for bikes, jogging, strollers, wheelchairs, skateboards, etc. It is also well set back from the road so don't be deterred if you have kids, there is plenty of open space for them to run around! This is an amazing all season experience, perfect for walking, snowshoeing, xc skiing, and anything in between. There are portapotties available if needed. Trees make a lovely allee along the trail. Stay tuned for a disc golf course that will be installed this summer... in short, don't sleep on this trail!

Hands down my favorite park new Hartford. They have so many grills and spaces to host events. They…read morehave an amazing free dog park that has plenty of activities to keep your dog stimulated. I love how green and clean this park is!

Most unfriendly dog park I've ever visited. Twice when I tried to enter the small dog enclosure…read morewith my 17-pound dog I was told by some Husky owners not to come in or their dogs would "go after" my dog. (1. If your dog isn't socialized it shouldn't be at the dog park, and, 2. Why are 45-lb dogs in the small dog enclosure?) Other times I've gone and other owners are very clannish and unfriendly to me. Not worth the annual fee.

A few blocks from my hotel was this park. I decided after going about the day and seeing the sights…read moreI wanted to see, it was time to just leisurely walk around. What better place to do it than at a park. Especially one that has so much to offer. When I arrived I came at this park from the intersection of Madison & Ostrom. When I came here it was bit off putting to me as it was where the intersection was a bit wonky that allowed for vehicular to enter the park. So you needed to watch while you walking that no traffic was coming, or just walk about the grass, which is what I did. Being from out of town I had no idea what this park had to offer overall but I did do a lot of exploring which led me to a lot of different areas. I first just walked through the fields and along the tree lines. I backtracked a bit and stumbled upon the pool area. From there, I found the amphitheater and hung around there for a bit. After that, I found the football field and saw a lot of people using it for multiple reasons. From exercising, playing with their dogs, flying drones and many other things. I ended my time in the park at the rose garden. Roses were still coming into bloom, but I didn't mind that. I looked around at the different varieties of roses they had planted. I then sat on a bench for a few minutes to just take in this portion of the park. When I left, I was off towards Syracuse University campus. This park is enormous, and I am glad I was able to spend some time here.

Sometimes I'll take my dog for little road trips to new parks (driving an hour or two from home),…read moreand Thornden Park is one we've been to a couple times. It's a really nice, open park with lots of space to walk around. I do wish they had some sidewalks or something along the roads going up or down the hills, but that's one of the few issues I can think of. The park is maintained well, has a lovely rose garden (one of my friends volunteers here regularly, actually, which is how I found out about the park - they have a "Rose Day" in mid-June to celebrate, and I'm told that timing is mainly because that's when the roses are usually at their peak), and lots of fun features - like the amphitheater area, where my dog was especially interested in watching some folks who were preparing for a summer play. There's a pool area as well, tennis courts, concession area, and so on... and my pup especially seemed to love rolling down the hills just below the Thornden Park Water Tower (pictures included in this review, of course). It's worth noting that I *have* had a couple slightly sketchy experiences here... including one time being followed around by another park goer who seemed to be experiencing some mental health issues. As with anywhere, just be mindful of your surroundings.

Quiet, peaceful trail parallel and above canal. Beautiful flowers throughout. Paved, shaded with…read moreflat and 8% grades. Open to hikers, bikers, skaters, snowmobiles, etc. seems well maintained and signed. No rest areas or water apparent in this area. Bring your own hydration.

We were in town for the baseball hall of fame but we found this spot while walking around town…read more This is a beautiful little park with a great view of Otsego lake and there is the Council Rock. This is the rock where the Indians would meet for meetings. The place is very nice and people were sitting around on blankets in the grass enjoying the day. I dont know about parking because we were parked on the main road from our visit to the HOF. Pretty cool thing to see and place to hang out.

A small, yet perfect retreat from Cooperstown's Main Street, this park offers scenic views of…read moreOtsego Lake, a nice walkway through native plants that help protect the lake from contaminants, and a generous lawn with benches for relaxing. According to their official web page (http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/attractions/lakefront-park), this park also plays host to the Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series. Whatever brings you to Cooperstown, this is well worth the 5-minute walk from Main Street.