Lake Runnemede was once a privately owned lake which was donated to the town at some point. It is…read moreadjacent to Paradise Park, so you can take quite a little hike if that's your preferred activity. I personally like to take the Zig Zag trail up. You can't quite walk the entire way around the lake, but you can climb the hill and take a short walk to the entrance just past the legion. There is a gazebo to relax in across from the popular access point (near price chopper.) there are benches to sit and relax along the bank too. If you're taking kids fishing, the sunfish will be literally NONSTOP- so it keeps fishing exciting for kids but obnoxious for grown fishermen. No boats or swimming is allowed in this lake (if you need to swim, head to Kennedy Pond!) Do NOT drive down the driveway, it's not allowed for anyone for any reason (unless you live on the road.) Also be aware of the "no parking between signs" because the fire department requires access at all times and you WILL be ticketed if you choose to ignore the signs. There's plenty of parking, don't be that guy!

Lake Runnemede, or Everett's Pond, as the locals call it is a aquatic gem in the heart of Windsor,…read moreas well as part of Paradise Park. Once privately owned by the Everett's family, it is now co-owned by the Town of Windsor and a local conservation organization. The lake is mostly for visual beauty and wildlife, as much all recreation is off limits. Not boats or swimming is allowed. I believe fishing may be off limits too now, but I used to fish here all the time. (The lake has huge carp, bass, and pickerel, and other crap fish). Access to the lake is from a path across the street from Price Chopper. Another is on State Street which is a walk in- only access road across from the School. More hiking paths as well from Paradise Park.

Wow ! What a hidden gem ! We were visiting Ludlow VT and saw this fall . Kids wanted to enjoy…read morewater and this was a perfect choice for us . The water was colddddddddddd though. Ufff . Very cold . The first dip was tough ! Later once you get use of it , it felt a bit better . Pathway was a bit crazy , in some places .it is about a 2 mile walk but we just went not too far : .. the lower and middle falls is also accessible from car parking lots outside . Parking is outside and sometimes you have to park 5-8 mins away from the falls . Not much of restrooms around . Lots of dogs in the water :) It was an amazing tint though ! Loved it . 5 stars !

As we were staying near Ludlow, I had put this on our schedule as a "check it out whenever time…read morepermits" item. We drove back after visiting some places to the north, and were passing this around 4 p.m. so we checked it out. This was in early October and the sun was just starting to go down. Though it was pre-dusk, it would be better to visit this site in full sunlight. There are 3 separate falls (the creatively named upper, middle, and lower). You access them from the main highway via a side road that starts as paved but soon becomes (good) dirt/gravel. The total length is less than 2 miles. You first get to a wide spot / parking area from which you can access the middle and lower falls. A trail leads down a hill where you must choose which falls to visit. The middle falls is impressive. It is probably the easiest one to access. The area from which you have the best view is a bit rocky, but navigable. It makes for nice photos. The lower falls appeared accessible from a side trail that descended a bit more steeply. You can also see it from above (somewhat) without descending. It appeared smaller and less photogenic than the middle falls. We then drove another 1/4 mile up the road (to its end) to check out the upper falls. There is a sharp short descent from the road to the top of the falls. It appeared to have a fairly large pool at the bottom and a flat dirt/sand area where some people had laid out a blanket for a picnic. The light was fading more so we skipped walking down the relatively gentle slope to check it out further. If you are in the area and have time, this is a nice spot to visit. It is within 3 miles of Ludlow. I cannot comment on what the swimming is like, but I saw references to that online (during summers, I guess).

A beautiful park with amazing trails and interesting history. The rangers were helpful and…read morefriendly. I definitely plan to return.

We pulled up to the ticket booth just off the main road at around 2:15 p.m. on a weekday. After…read morepaying our $5 per person, it took another 15 - 20 minutes to drive up the twisting road to the parking lot closest to the summit. There was only one other car parked there, though the lot looked like it could hold 35 - 40 cars. The hike from there was then a minimum of 0.6 miles (rocky and occasionally steep) to a lookout tower (25 feet tall, maybe). The summit was another 0.1 miles but probably wasn't even as high as the tower. We took the Slot trail up since it appeared to be more gradual (but was a bit longer). On the way back, we opted for the other option: the Slab trail (which was steeper but had steps cut into the dirt or fashioned from large stones, in spots). I would classify this hike as short but moderate. The tower views were pretty nice. It probably took us a bit over an hour to hike up and back.

Easy access hype…read more This Gorge is easily accessible from the road and worth stopping for a few minutes. It is not a destination worthy but provides a scenic rest stop on your way to elsewhere. Many road trippers and tourist traps are here. There are about 20-30 parking spots near the East side of the bridge. There is an info board and a trailhead at the parking lot. The trail meanders below the road bridge to the Quechee Gorge. This summer (9/25) has been quite dry, so not big cascades but better views into the Gorge can be had. There's a big construction going ON the bridge so there was some traffic (yup). The construction probably will be completed before the winter. PSA - The best vista to this Gorge is actually from the bridge which is a very short walk from the parking lot.

This place has always been a home for me . Home away from home . It is cost efficient due to the…read morehigh hotel rates these days . I remember when a hotel stay would be less than 100.00 a night with amenities. Anyways, this campground is close to work, entrainment and many food choices. It is clean and well managed with a friendly and competent staff. I never felt unsafe or financially cheated. This will always be my go to spot ! Thank you Quechee !

One of the best summer state parks in the huge collection of state parks in the State of New…read moreHampshire. This place has it all. Monumental scenery, a large sandy beach, one of the cleanest lakes in the nation, easy access, a boat ramp, an events pavilion, and close to restaurants and the near town of Bristol. When we got here, it was quite busy, Still, the size of the beach made it possible to find a nice spot and relax. Water temperature was actually quite enjoyable. One of the nicest things about this park is the people. It is a diverse, multilingual, multi age bunch of folks. Couples, parents with kids, elderly, just a wonderful community. Everyone was peacefully having fun. I got to practice both my Spanish and Portuguese talking to beach goers. Overall, a wonderful time in an absolutely idyllic location.

Excellent Beach, water is crystal clear, lifeguards on duty and boat rentals available. Small snack…read morebar and bath house that is clean. The have plenty of picnic tables with charcoal grills available to use. Admission is $5.00 pp and the park fills quickly on hots days, online reservations are available.

Stumbled across Lost River when planning a trip to NH to see the fall foliage. I absolutely love…read morethe Flume Gorge trail & this one wasnt too far away. I had heard there were gorges & caves to explore different from other trails nearby along with beautiful pines and waterfalls. It exceeded all my expectations! It says this is a 1 mile loop hike but be prepared- I walk a 5k daily & this trail kicked my butt in a good way. It was moderately challenging- I went in the rain so it was a bit cooler too. The best advice I could offer is to take a backpack with snacks, another jacket just in case (although i layered up), pack rain pants to help keep me warm in the rain, and shoes with good traction. And plenty of water. Beanies may also be a good option to keep your head warm from the cold. And a portable battery. Also, if you haven't traveled with a car like me..then the Shuttle Connection is a life saver to travel in town. Way cheaper than Uber and fairly quick to transport you wherever you want to go. Also for travelers go back and forth to other states travel by bus is the perfect and most affordable way to travel. This trail offered amazing views, great photo ops, and plenty of additional trails to explore. They also make sure to keep everything maintained and safe for hikers exploring. Everything is well labeled and easy to follow. They do say and I can attest- travelers who have difficulty walking or have walkers etc..this may not be an ideal trail. Also, for younger children this may not be an kdela hike because of how extensive the elevation is. You are climbing a mountain and waterfall elevation. Make sure to look up details on their trail before you plan a trip. But well worth the hike :)

Our family loved the gorge and caves. We've been to NH a few times, but our kids are on the younger…read moreside so this was a first for us. The boardwalk is not only a great help to get through the gorge, its craftsmanship is amazing. The hand railings are rounded and smooth, and we were even able to chat with one of the carpenters on our visit as he installed a new section of boardwalk. The caves themselves are not really caves in the traditional sense, rather the negative space between boulders and the earth & other boulders. That didn't detract from their awesomeness as it's amazing to think that these giant boulders were moved by ice. We spent about 2 hours going through the caves and doing the extra loop through the suspension bridge. My boys tried a few caves more than once and even made it through the Lemon Squeeze! The main building looks newer, is very clean and comfortable. There isn't somewhere to sit in the shade, but we weren't there long enough to really miss that's however, if you brought a lunch or had someone in your party who needed to wait this one out, there are some picnic tables surrounding the main building.

This place was not at all on my radar when I planned our trip. We had driven up to Windsor to see…read moreanother museum, and the lady who sold the tickets there talked to us about our plans and recommended this place as very worthwhile. So, after lunch, we crossed a semi-narrow wooden bridge and drove a mile or two to this site. You park in a small lot (there was a sign for overflow parking too) and either pay there (if a ranger is on duty) or proceed to the visitors' center (where you can also pay). Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American sculptor in the late 1800s and into the very early 1900s. I was not specifically familiar with him, but his work and that of those who trained with him was featured on a lot of U.S. coins at the time. It seems like a lot of the older coinage (before the models used now) was related to him. He also designed the Shaw Memorial on Boston Commons (related to the 54th Massacusetts regiment of black troops - see the film 'Glory' for background). From the visitors' center, there are several other areas to see. The ground slopes down towards the Connecticut River in the distance. Facing that, there is a small gallery and courtyard featuring some sculptures to your right. There is also a large sculpture of Lincoln. As you proceed towards the river, there are some works housed in spaces bordered by high hedges (including a copy of the Shaw Memorial). These end at the border to Saint-Gauden's original house, which is sometimes open for tours. When we visited, the sign just said 'wait for docent to open the door'. We later learned that this only happens between 2 - 4 p.m., which would be helpful to add to the sign. A bit below that is the studio building, which has examples of the sculptor's work and exhibits on the process of creating some. Maybe 300 yards further down is a memorial (sort of a small Greek temple) where the Saint-Gaudens' ashes (and those of several family members) are buried. It was a pretty site especially if the weather is nice. The sculptures, especially those which are outdoors, make for good photos. They also offer periodic ranger-led tours. We tagged along for part of one, but had already seen some of the areas, so we broke off and continued on our own. If you are in this area and have any interest in sculpture, this is very worthwhile.

This place is beautiful. There is an art gallery and studio inside. Beautiful garden and sculpture.read more

This park has a nice big beach area and lots of picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy the…read moresurroundings. There's plenty of parking nearby. The staff here was especially friendly.

Beautiful campground for a wedding. The Harwood pavilion easily accommodated our party of 65 for…read moreboth the ceremony and reception. The campground staff were very friendly and helpful with our needs and those of our guests. Would highly recommend.

Blow-Me-Down-Farms National Park for the Arts is a wonderful new initiative in the Upper…read moreConnecticut Valley, uniting the land and building infrastructure resources of the Saint Gaudens National Historic Park, with the artistic and immeasurable talent of Opera North, a non-profit performing arts organization in Lebanon, NH since 1984. If you're aware of the works and legacy of Augustus Saint Gauden, you may remember that it was Charles Beaman, a New York City lawyer and patron of the arts, whose friendship with Saint Gauden brought the artist to Cornish in 1885. The farm, dating to the 1770s, was bought by Beaman in 1882 and renamed Blow-Me-Down Farm after the nearby brook. Beaman immediately began building his "Blowmedown" cottage, a three story barn, and continually improved the farm adding several buildings and houses. He developed orchards and gardens and had considerable livestock. He also bought the land to the east that is now the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. Beaman leased this property to Augustus Saint-Gaudens and his family, who came to Cornish for the first time in 1885 at Beaman's invitation. Beaman's real estate investments and his work attracting artists to the area was key to the creation of the Cornish Art Colony. The Blow-Me-Down Farm property was eventually purchased by the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, a non-profit operating partner of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. In 2010 the 42.6-acre Blow-Me-Down Farm was transferred to the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. A local farmer grows corn and hays the fields. The performing arts center has a large circus tent and ample grounds for both indoor and outdoor concerts. While the original farmstead and original auxiliary buildings are being totally renovated, the place serves as both a historic place and a concert venue. We went there for one of their concerts under their relationship with Opera North and the National Park Service. Havana Nights was a superb mix of orchestral music and both, variety skits and circus acts of immense quality. Musical works of Bizet, Lecuona, Bernstein. Valdés and Rodrigo were followed by stupendously performed parts of Man of La Mancha. It was an afternoon to remember. The New Hampshire/Vermont Upper Valley. Is no stranger to culture, with an Ivy League university, several colleges nearby, and one of the most educated populations in the nation. The addition of the Summerfest is just more icing on the cake for this beautiful area's cultural heritage