Wadsworth Falls State Park is a pleasant State Park close to the center of Middletown. The hike to…read morethe falls should be manageable for almost anyone. The short walkway down to the falls is steep but there are steps cut into the trail making it relatively smooth. The waterfall is very peaceful and beautiful. Definitely worth multiple visits. There are a few trails, a beach and other park standard features like bbqs and picnic tables.

Crystal-clear water + sunny spring day = perfect hike…read more Spent a beautiful spring sunny day at Wadsworth Falls State Park, and it did not disappoint. I took so many pictures of the clear river. It's seriously that stunning. The swimming water vanished. We hiked the Wadsworth Falls Loop (3.6 miles, easy, great waterfall views) and also checked out part of the Main Trail. Trails were in good shape; just a little mud here and there, but totally manageable. Bonus tips from my visit: · Dogs welcome on leash · Free for CT-registered cars; $10-15 for out-of-state · Restrooms, parking, and picnic tables available · Get there early on a sunny day to beat the crowds If you love clear water, peaceful forest walks, and two distinct waterfalls, don't miss this spot. Already planning to come back with an all-terrain wheelchair for a friend (you can reserve one in advance). Would I go again? 100%.

They have a great trail that goes along the water that it pretty flat it just has a lot of roots…read more The Meriden parks department did a goat walk there and I highly recommend following them to know when the next one is !

USE CAUTION! This trail resides along a steep cliff side (not the main trail area) and may not be…read morefor suitable for a beginner hiker. Dogs are welcome on leash. Oaths are uneven with roots poking through. Watch your step One of my favorite local parks where every season is beautiful! Well maintained and marked trails, fishing areas a free little book library and a path to the rock quarry if lucky to find! If you travel to the far end of the reservoir (main entry area next to trail map) you come to a nice opening along the reservoir. Venture a bit further along the pond to the furthest end of the water; Left brings you further into the woods and over the bridge brings you full loop around the reservoir

PLAYGROUND WITH AN APP!! What a great park! Butternut Hollow is located on a cute little pond that…read moreactually gets stocked with trout in the spring (a great spot to take your kid to catch their first fish). The park was newly renovated in 2017 with a brand new playground. Slides, shapes, swings, monkey bars, and more. There are even several music stations. They also have an expression swing, which allows guardian and child to both be seates face to face. There is even a phone app you can download that coordinates with some of the equipment. The park gets busy during summer and weekends, you you might need to park on the street.

A great place to bring the kids to have fun in the sun. They have plenty of large slides swings and…read morejungle gym area. There are two covered picnic areas perfect for eating lunch or having a Bday party. The parking lot is a bit small but you can park your cars on the road if you need too. The pond has geese that will come up to you if you have food. It's a nice stroll to walk around.

This establishment is partnered with the YMCA. There is two main outdoor cabins to host cookouts…read moreand group parties. Parking - free outdoor parking fits 50+ cars Location - kinda off the beaten path in Meriden, CT tons of parking. There is a field to play freebie, soccer, a basketball court, pool and playground. Facilities - free two outdoor cabins with tables and grills; their is also a tent cabin to host a party as well. Views - this park is located in the middle of beautiful surrounding trees, Mountain View, sunny field and a view of the sky Kids - if you have kids and family this is a great place. Tons of events for the kiddos: swings, playground, pool ranging 2feet to 6feet there is also ymca lifeguards on the premises.

This gem is quite a bit off the beaten path. If you travel off season, which we do most of the…read moretime, you are rewarded with a serene nature experience, and relatively few fellow humans. It is dog friendly. From April to September the water is comfortable, with a pleasant sandy bottom. There seems to be a path all the way around the lake, but we've never gone that far. You are expected to carry your trash out to the parking lot, where you will find the only toilet facility in the form of a porta potty. Always a great place to lose the stress.

Miller's Pond's desirability is very time dependent. Spring, summer, and fall are no go due to…read morelimited parking, disgusting trash, and rude people. If you like used diapers, beer cans, and broken glass, then go for it. Sad!

For those that gave Powder Ridge a 3 or below: Shove it…read more It's a beautiful location - mountain bike park+zip line and paintball. During the winter ski/snowboarding. The staff are helpful, down-to-earth and friendly. The restaurant is really good and the bar feels like any ski town bar. So if you want some huge mountain then yeah this isn't your place but huge mountains come with huge price tags.

We visited Powder Ridge for our first-ever day of downhill mountain biking, and overall we had a OK…read moreexperience. The rental process was surprisingly easy and efficient. They offer a great selection of bikes, including different wheel sizes (27.5" and 29") as well as full downhill setups, so it was easy to find something that worked for us. While a few of the rental bikes looked a little worn and could have been cleaner, they were perfectly rideable and got us out on the trails without any issues. The lift service was convenient, and the trails themselves were in good condition and well maintained. The biggest area for improvement is helping beginners. Since it was our first time, we asked the lift attendant which trail would be the easiest, but unfortunately he wasn't able to tell us. We also found that the trail map appears to be outdated, and there was only one green (beginner) trail, Lil Bruiser. Better signage, updated maps, and having staff proactively ask if riders are new and recommend appropriate trails would make the experience much more welcoming for first-time visitors. Overall, we enjoyed our day and would come back. With a little more guidance for beginners, Powder Ridge could offer an even better experience for people who are just getting into mountain biking.

Small, convenient and quick stop along Powder Hill Road…read more Free to visit. Small lot with space for about three (3) cars/vehicles. Some of the prints are more evident than other...but finding them in part of the fun.

Small road side stop with a few foot prints to be found. Kiosk offers history to the project and…read morethe layout of the land. It's also fascinating to look at the different layers of rock and see changes to the earth within thousands of years

5 star views! You can see neighboring Chauncey, and Besek Mountain peaks, and glimpses of the…read moredistant Metacomet and Tunxis Trail ridges. Up close the geology is gorgeous highlands and rolling grass with rock, grass, and gravel along the well-blazed path. Follow those blues up to heavenly views. Definitely wear your hiking boots. As you can see from the start, trap rock is super rough. Despite the roughness, like much of the New England Trail, you are quickly at the ridge line. Higby has two ascents cut by a small, tranquil water crossing. At hiking speed you can get to the peak in an hour and a half, but those scenic views will probably slow you down. Unless you're through hiking to Tynan Park, this is a rewarding scramble. If your littles outgrew the Ergo, hike with care and keep them away from the edge. The views are rewarding, and parking is easy with an exit right after Baileyville Rd./CT 147, but there are no facilities whatsoever. It's an off-trail squat kinda hike. Nonetheless, the winter ice is gorgeous. There are slick spots in spring but you can hear spring peepers around the first ascent. In summer this is a cooling escape. In autumn you have fine views of New England foliage. In all a rough but rewarding hike, and likely close being just off a couple major highways. When you need a getaway and gas savings, here it is!

My oldest is on a HS Crew team and we've been to this location three times for regattas. There is…read moreparking off Dekoven with a connecting tunnel that leads you to the water. For the suspicious the tunnel does have cameras, lights and there's frequent foot traffic. The park itself is clean and family friendly. There is a bar located on the deck which is nice to watch a regatta, casual rowers or a sunset. The park has cement step seating, benches, and bench swings to relax on. All in all, this is a nice place to spend an afternoon.

Came here for the fireworks celebration! Middletown always knows how to put on a good show with…read moreplenty of things to do We ended up getting some fried dough and some jerk chicken from the Irie pot fusion and it was probably some of the best jerk chicken that I've had in the states.

Fantastic Dog Park! Completely unique from any other one around the surrounding area. It does not…read morehave water as previously stated (so be sure to bring your own). The dog park has two area one smaller one for the little guys and a large one for the bigger dogs. The dog park is all natural, it's like letting your dog run through the woods without a leash! My little girl had an ABSOLUTE BLAST there! She explored all over and there also happened to be 3-4 other dogs there today as well, which made it fun for all! Definitely check this park out with your fur baby!

Love it! And so did my frenchie! Only reason it doesnt get 5 stars is cause no one is ever here!…read moreIts hidden and unless specifically looking for it you will never find it. I only found it because i was looking for dog parks on yelp. Wish my baby had someone to play with here but he loves the wooded fenced in area anyways! Hes snorting away, happy little piggy!