it's a beautiful place, however, alot of the signs don't have arrows to point you in the right…read moredirection. trying to get to a beach that says it allows pets. where is it? sign says "beach bypass trail" I don't take that of course, hike .5 miles more to a sign that says "beach access by beach bypass trail"?????? so I go there and it says "no pets allowed". what the heck is going on? 4 mile hike with no trail to water where pets are allowed. don't go if you have a dog.

Pay per person, 5$, which adds up way faster than the park is worth. Park worker who took our money…read moredid not tell us beach was closed, and only let us know there was a warning afterwards. We got about halfway to the beach and got passed by another park ranger on an atv, who saw us with our towels and still let us walk all the way to the beach, where he waited for us to turn around. Overall expensive and deceptive. Nowhere near worth the cost.

Burton lsland State Park has to be the ultimate in the camping experience !…read more I have frequented many parks over my lifetime, and Burton Island is among the happiest in my camping experiences . There is not one draw-back that l can think of here. It has epic beauty. The trees and forests with lake views are magnificent. Everything is sanitary. Vermont people are exceedingly clean and conscientious about their surroundings. Camp sites are pristine. Restrooms are equipped and clean and accessible. If you are counting on an amazing camping trip, look forward to visiting Burton lsland !

As we are driving home to Boston we are feeling incredibly thankful to have visited Burton Island…read moreState Park. By far our favorite campground we've been to. Park at Kill Kare State Park and take the Island Runner to Burton Island, about a 10 minute ride. The ferry crew help to load your items onto the boat and you can pay $10 to have it delivered to your site.  Upon boarding the ferry, crew member Morgan welcomed us and gave us an overview of the Island and how everything worked. She recommended alternative swimming areas and prime sunset viewing spots. Morgan remembered us on our way back a few days later. She really made our visit that much more memorable, and the rest of the staff were super friendly as well. The island is equipped with showers & bathrooms (don't forget quarters!), trash & recycling recepticals, water spickets, kayak & canoe rentals, and weekly nature/survival lessons for kids. There are a few hiking trails and even some secret spots where you can post up and hang on the water for the day.   They offer traditional tent sites and lean-tos - some of which are right on the water. We plan to book one of these next time. Wood is available for purchase but be sure to ask for dry wood depending on recent weather conditions. The best spot about BI is the store, which is stocked with pretty much everything camping-related: beer & wine, drinks, snacks, ice, souveniers, etc. The store has a small kitchen with a grill and they make sandwiches and sides cooked to order. All of it is reasonably priced, and they accept credit/debit cards. Overall this experience was a very unique one but extremely rewarding. I highly recommend visiting Burton Island!!!

On a beautiful south facing point, surrounded by Lake Champlain on three sides. Ample open grassed…read morespace for picnics, a healthy frisbee toss and chase, and/or catch some warm sunshine or shade to reflect. Facilities are very, very clean and even boast old time changing stalls! Absolutely no reason not to change and take a dip OR take a dip and Then change. Kayak & SUP rentals are available. On the day of our afternoon visit the lake winds had stiffened up and we chose not to launch our on craft. Whether you rent for carry-in your own, please practice good judgment and stay safe on the water. Entrance fees apply, not bad, and the dollars go to up keep and a few summer hires looking for help with tuition.

Have been here twice and it's a great find if you're in the islands. Spacious and not too crowded…read more Picnic and beach area. Kayak and paddle board rentals. Hiking path and wild black raspberries! Bathrooms are clean and ample parking. $4 for adults/$2 for kids. Beach is a bit rocky but shallow and calm. My BIL caught a huge bass from the shore. Peaceful and scenic!

5/5 - Our Favorite Dog Park!…read more We've been bringing our GSP here 4-5 days a week for nearly a year, and 95% of the time it's a fantastic experience. There's a strong community of regulars, and most dog owners are responsible and attentive. You'll find a rhythm to the park: the 9am crew, the noon "puppy hour," and a lively 5pm group (avoid this time if your dog prefers a mellower vibe). In summer, there's water available and people often bring kiddie pools. The park is donation-based, so consider bringing your own water for your pup (and others!), just in case. As with any public space, you'll occasionally run into an untrained or aggressive dog--usually brought by someone new to dog parks. In the past year, I've only seen two serious incidents. In one case, a dog attacked another and was subsequently banned by the city. In another, a dog aggressively "resource guarded" its favorite best friend dog at the park, and attacked any other dog who wanted to play with his best friend. It was handled by the community. Incidents like these are rare but worth being aware of. Personally, I stay vigilant. I screen every new dog my pup meets and carry a pet corrector spray and small foghorn, just in case. I never assume others are as proactive, so I ask questions and stay alert. It's every owner's responsibility to manage their dog to ensure everyone's safety--that's how public spaces like this thrive. Overall, Starr Farm is hands-down the best dog park around. The positive experiences far outweigh the negative, and we've made great connections. There's even a "Friends of Starr Farm Dog Park" Facebook group, which has grown to include social outings for dog owners. My dog does well here because she's highly trained, socially savvy, and prefers fetch over pack play. If something seems off--like a checked-out owner or a dog with concerning behavior--I create distance or leave. There's also a smaller fenced-in area for shy, small, or young dogs right beside the larger fenced in area FYI. It shares the same parking lot and it's gated entrance is on the left side (when you park). A few asks to keep this space safe: - If your dog resource guards other dogs, please don't bring them here. If they resource guard high value "toys" or other dogs balls, please be aware of this while at the park and manage the situation (like don't bring it's favorite toy) to avoid creating triggers for aggression. - If your dog isn't up-to-date on vaccines or parasite prevention, please stay home. - If your dog is aggressive or attacks other dogs, this is not the place--try a private "Sniff Spot" rental instead. Community spaces only stay safe and welcoming if we protect them. This park is a gem because people genuinely care. Let's keep it that way!

Very nice large fenced dog park with friendly dogs and people…read more Lots of action around noon

An awe inspiring natural wonder enhanced by human engineering offering a great day of rafting,…read morehiking , tubing and other activities with history all around you. Eight of us, 4 adults and 4 kids enjoyed a day of exploring the chasm and learning about its formation and use. A great destination even to plan a short getaway around! Our tour guide Jacob was an added bonus with his knowledge and enthusiasm adding to the experience. Add this to your bucket list and you won't be sorry!

Ausable Chasm, NY - billing itself as "the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks" is a shamelessly…read moreambitious boast for an attraction that I'd more accurately describe as Watkins Glen with the consumer interface of Bushkill Falls, but there's no denying Ausable Chasm is a fun, scenic, and daring adventure for all ages! We came during the off season at the end of April, before the more high thrills activities like rafting & tubing, riverwalk, Via Ferrata adventure trail, rappelling, rock climbing, etc. were open for the season (usually around late-May to June through autumn). That was no problem as we are visiting with our toddler who isn't old enough to do most of these activities anyway, and, as we discovered, it was actually perfect and to our advantage, since as first-time visitors we only wanted/had time to explore the chasm itself. And as there were very few other visitors on a weekday, it was as if we had this private park all to ourselves! No need to jostle for views/photos, can enjoy lunch & snacks at the best picnic tables by vista points, and it's also more pleasant than hiking in hot summer, though many of the trails are shaded. The basic "trails only" admission is about $20 for adults & teens, $12 for kids 5-12, and free for under 5. All the other activities have additional fees, which can add up so you might explore packages, or even stay overnight at their campground & cabins. We are a family of hikers so wanted to do the whole perimeter and see the entire gorge (about 2 miles). But if you only wish to see the exciting parts and leave time for other activities, then you can turn back halfway and do the shorter loop (1 mile if you do the Inner Sanctum Trail which I 100% recommend as this is the "signature" trail along the canyon's edge. But note it has many stairs up & down). We took the Inner Sanctum (yellow) trail, crossed over to Big Dry Chasm and hiked to the Whirlpool Basin Overlook at other end, then looped back around on the orange trail via Little Dry Chasm. The trails are well maintained, with most of the outer edge trails on comfortable soft padded ground. They're mostly well marked except the end part is not really shown clearly on the park map so I used AllTrails. The orange trail (Dry Chasm Trail) is marked as more difficult, but it's basically just a regular wooded hiking trail that's not paved, with rooty and rocky sections. The park is very walkable for most able-bodied people. Even our 3yo was able to hike the whole thing by himself, with a bit of help over the orange trails. We loved our visit and are excited to come back when our child is older to do more activities! Will update my review when we've had a chance to experience all the action-packed adventures the park has to offer. TIP #1: No trail maps are given out so take a photo ar a screenshot. But there are maps placed along the trails marked with where you are. TIP #2: Porta-potties only on either end of the trails, so I recommend taking your nature break before setting out. TIP #3: There's a cafe by the Welcome Center but it's only open seasonally. Bring water. No garbage bins along the trails (cos bears!) so trash is carry-in carry-out.

Beautiful views the entire ride! Recommend buying tickets ahead of time to avoid that line. Have a…read morelittle patience during peak times. Restaurant available at the top but reservations recommended. Cute gift shop at the top too!

Come for the views! Stunning views~ we came during non-snow season! And not for the restaurant on…read moretop either. Great view! Took lots of pictures! We had planned initially to attempt the hike to the summit until our research stated the chin involved bouldering and a rating of hard. Otherwise, a good stop to read a bit of history and enjoy the views~ very accessible~

3.5 stars overall…read more Pros: Very clean. Pleasant staff. Spacious rooms. Amenities include: Direct TV, blow dryer and mini fridge. The toilet and shower are separate from the vanity. Very quiet. Comfortable. Nice grounds and a pool (which we didn't utilize.) Cons: No coffee in the room, but they give you coupons for free continental breakfast at the restaurant next door. The T-Bird also lacks the easy checkout option that many other places offer - you have to physically take your key back to the office rather than leaving it in your room at checkout time. Not a big deal unless you're in a hurry... or mildly lazy like me. It's not the cheapest hotel/motel in the area, but not the most expensive either. It is higher quality than some more expensive chain hotels we've stayed at nearby in recent years. So, although I reeeeally like having coffee in my room, I would recommend the T-Bird overall and wouldn't hesitate to return.

T-Bird Motor Lodge I really liked this place and especially…read morethe manager. He was SUCH a nice, friendly accommodating man. Very "old-school," single story, motel. The room felt like it had been recently renovated. Everything seemed clean and new. The room had all the amenities you could want. We had a room on the back of the property where there is a very large, pretty, tree-lined, grassy area with picnic tables. No ice machine, but they have conveniently located freezers with bagged ice included in the price of your room.

Such a hidden gem of a beach, never usually that busy. And very calm waves as it's in a cove. Good…read morefor a chill sunset spot. Parking is very limited and in a neighborhood so be respectful of the residents.

Beautiful beach. Shallow enough for the entire family w/ lifeguards on the weekends. Has grill,…read morebathrooms, chairs and umbrellas for use. Worth joining the association.