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%.

Gorgeous gorges! Although this park has ample signage against swimming, the Coginchaug River is…read morelovely on the eyes and ears, and being centrally located, Wadsworth Falls is a great local escape. If you have the right footwear in winter, it's a place for a rewarding hike! Boots and grips and the occasional side stepping is good for your winter trip. Mind the tracks, or crews tending the still in-use tracks, then enjoy the lovely views of multiple waterfalls, some frosted over, but water audibly rushing beneath the ice. Starting out, we didn't see the blue trail marked on the yellow and orange junction map, but the trails were well-marked with vertical tree blazes, so if you take the orange, yellow, or blue trails, you should be in good shape. If you don't have the time for a decent hike and just need a restful stop, large falls are just below the parking lot (those no access signs on the trails don't kid!). All year, enjoy! There are zero facilities here, and the only amenities appear to be accessible recreation and a dog waste station beneath the parking lot, but you aren't in the middle of nowhere. Pack in, pack out, and enjoy as much or little woods as you like, and enjoy the peaceful sounds and sights of the many falls.

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

This is great place due to the levels-- from extreme bikes to charming nature walks, this park has…read morea path for just about everyone! There's also a big open green area nice for picnicking or just connecting with nature. Highly recommend!

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.

This was our first visit to Millers Pond, and we had a great experience. I printed the map from…read morethe DEEP web site first and checked out the comments and reviews on AllTrails app. We picked a route that would give us about a 3 mile walk and headed out. The parking lot wasn't very full when we arrived, but there are a lot of no parking signs on the road leading up to the park so I can only guess it must get really busy in the nicer months. We did a nice loop around the pond, there was mild terrain to navigate and with spring on its way, but the leaves not fully out yet the views were beautiful. We'll come visit again for sure, looks like there are a lot more trails to explore.

We went to Powder Ridge at the end of February for a private lesson for my two children; ages four…read moreand newly seven. There was no line at the ticketing area. Our instructor Makayla found us right away and our children warmed up to her very quickly due to her gentle and encouraging approach. It was apparent that she was a very skilled and knowledgeable skier. By the end of the lesson, she had our children skiing down the bunny hill, turning, and stopping (pizza!) - skills that we had tried to introduce on our own a few weeks earlier with lots of M&Ms and very little success. Most importantly my children left feeling proud, calling themselves skiers, and excited for our next ski day. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming despite the frigid temperatures. The slopes looked well groomed and well maintained. The bunny hill was popular, but not crowded and the wait to go up the magic carpet was short. Staff members were easy to find and helpful whenever we needed assistance or had a question. Bathroom facilities were clean. Overall, our experience was VERY positive. I highly recommend Powder Ridge, especially for private lessons.

This is a very cool ski area! I took a lesson and then had a 4 hour lift ticket with rental. The…read moreInstructor I had was very helpful and knowledgeable. The Snow was great, not icy at all. But If you're going to rent you must purchase the ticket for the lift and rental at the same time. After that then you wait in a long line before you get to start skiing and the skis are timed 4 or 8 hours. They also have a great place to eat and relax right on premises.

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!

Harbor Park is located right off the highway in Middletown. This park offers a beautiful view of…read morethe Connecticut River. The grass is nicely manicured, there's people walking, some jogging, dogs walking, most people are fishing. This is a small park, don't expect to make 20,000 steps here. There are some benches where you can have your lunch. Since this is right off the highway, it isn't the most peaceful park, the highway makes it a bit noisy. The parking lot is substantial, but it is shared with the restaurant, Tate's. This restaurant's outdoor seating, overlooking the river is very popular. Harbor Park is a nice park if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to access it.

Harbor Park has a really nice walking path in Middletown, Connecticut that is along the Connecticut…read moreRiver. Along with the path there is greenery for all sorts of activities. Lots of people use it for yoga or having a catch. Others use the shade while they fish in the Connecticut River. Nearby is a dock that can be used to launch boats. Local high schools and Wesleyan use the dock for crew. The walking trail is accessible right off Main Street. There is an underpass that gets you there safely. I wish the trail was a little longer as it only takes about 10 minutes to walk one way. Still has beautiful views. There is a section of Harbor park known as Middletown Lions Park in honor of military veterans. Thank you to Lions International for this great work! Located in Harbor Park is the Canoe Club. It is a restaurant with beautiful views. It just re-opened under new ownership. Altogether, Harbor Park is a really nice spot to go for a walk in Middletown!

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!