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.

I went kayaking on Assabet River twice. It is very nice to…read morebe on the water and listen to birds. Assabet River is calm and doesn't have strong currents, so it is good for casual kayaking. You can see geese, hawk, ducks, and a lot of turtles. There are many cattails. It is fun kayaking some narrow marsh portion, it is like a maze. Spring and fall is the best to kayak here.

I've been visiting quite a bit lately. It's at the southern terminus of the northern portion of the…read moreAssabet River rail Trail. Decent sized parking lot. You can ride your bike north all the way to the South Acton T station. You can ride the bike trails at Assabet. Or you can ride the dirt road along the river down to CIA headquarters. Crow Island Aviation. I have not been lucky enough to see any planes, but CIA is also the home to Revolution Trapeze, and it's pretty awesome to be able to watch the trapeze practice. There are plenty of walking trails. A canoe/kayak launch. And Ronda of amazing wildlife

Tripps Pond is a nice little space to spend some time outdoors... I had the opportunity to do so…read morewhile visiting friends this past weekend! Located on River Street, Hog Brook runs into the pond which in turn becomes the Assabet River. There are paths and trails on each side of the pond which are great for a stroll or a change of pace but certainly aren't built for lengthy hikes of any sort. One path travels through the woods over a couple small bridges and ends on a small peninsula at the pond's edge. The other side of the pond is well manicured with wide walking paths and multiple benches and picnic tables. When I was here, a few dedicated Hudson families were cleaning up the park and clearing away fallen trees and branches in anticipation of Earth Day! Plenty of space to soak in the early spring sun. There is a bench dedicated to George Chiasson (at one time a park commissioner who firmly supported the return of an annual fishing derby at the pond). The event is so aptly named the "George Chiasson Memorial Trout Fishing Derby". Sounds like the pond is stocked with trout for the event with a single tagged fish that if not caught on the day of the event, remains part of a prized contest until such day that some lucky person reels it in! The flowers are starting to bloom and the buds starting to emerge from the trees. Looks like the local boy and girl scout troops dedicate work and time to the park. There is a weeping willow and white birch tree there with plaques from the groups. I found a "#kindnessrocks" rock nearby to a bench in the park, a welcome message during my visit. A nice place to breathe in the fresh air and come together with the residents of Hudson.

Nice little pond for strolling, dog walking, and even fishing. On one side, there are several stone…read moreand wooden benches for sitting, a couple picnic tables, and swings. On the other side there's a path through the woods for a short nature walk. Plenty of Great Blue Heron sightings!

What a sweet little swimming spot! I last went to Dean Pond when I was a wee one, and seem to…read moreremember a sad little swimming area, no facilities and a non-existent beach (think "muck" between your toes and slimy little pond plants!). So...I really didn't have high expectations for this outing, but the pond is less than 15 minutes from my parents' house, so....off we went. Clearly, things have changed! The beach is now well defined AND nice and sandy (no muck....and good quality "sand castle sand" to boot!). My son and I had a great time playing, swimming and generally goofing around. The entry fee (parking) is $5, but that buys you a nice picnic area, changing facilities, real bathrooms, and nicely cared for grounds with plenty of room for sitting under the giant pines or eating a picnic meal. We went mid-week, and while there was a bus-load of campers, they were gone by 1pm, and we practically had the place to ourselves. This will definitely be a "must-go" place for us whenever we visit the grandparents!

It used to be a nice place for a lunch but it needs work. Time has left it behind and it is a…read moredreary place. It is unfortunate that it has been so forgotten. Money needs to be allocated towards restoring this place so that it can be something the community can be proud of. Some trails where a few people walk dogs but not much else going on there.

What a nice spot for a walk! My friend and I were in the area to check out some sugar shacks and we…read moredecided to stop by this pond. I'd say it's really more of a park, since there are plenty of walking paths, including a nice covered bridge. I don't think I'd come out of my way to return, but it was certainly a nice place to stop by and check out while nearby.

Good area for dog walking. Trails are maintained well. They…read morearen't well marked though so it's easy to get lost - meaning no colored trail blazes. They have many maps of the trail along the paths, but it's hard to know where you truly are because they don't say "you are here" except for at the entrance. I can't speak on the swimming, but it looks fun for kids. There is a playground and a few picnic benches throughout. Plenty of parking and short walk to the water / trails. I'm sure there are better spots to swim, but this place looks like it gets the job done. Dog friendly everywhere except on the beach itself. Dogs must be kept on a leash. Doggie clean up bags are not provided, so be sure to bring your own.

I seriously love this place. I've been coming to Ashley for the past 12 years to walk and enjoy…read morenature. Great place to go for a run or a nice stroll. Side note--Recently my brother's gotten into bird watching and was able to spot FIFTEEN new (to him) birds which he was hyped about. That being said, there are some spots throughout the year I would avoid as it's where the geese lay their eggs.

This is relatively flat, but it was a good little hike that's pretty easy. When I was there, there…read morewere hundreds of Canada geese, so I thought that was pretty neat. It's not really challenging as far as getting a good workout, but it was all right. It's pretty.

Harold Parker is a state forest with a campground and a couple of lakes that you can go fishing or…read morekayaking and it also has 100 of trails and exploring horse back riding as well but it a good place to just enjoy nature and the sounds of the woods it's just a hidden gem to get away from the hustle and bustle of life

This is a hidden gem in the Massachusetts department of conservation and recreation park system…read more The campground is absolutely amazing. It has about 100 campsites and they are well-kept, each has its own grill and fire rink, and wooded. The restroom and shower facilities are clean, well-maintained, and newer. Well I didn't have a hot shower, most people say that they did. The campground has the feel of being in Vermont or New Hampshire.

Please note, the review left by Dustin V in 2016 mentions parking off Betty Spring Road. I realize…read morehis review is 8 years old; however, that parking "is" and has always been Handicapped Access ONLY. Parking there could mean a $200 ticket.

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.