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.

We love coming here with our dog for a nice walk!…read more There are two athletic fields to walk in/around, two baseball fields, a playground, a basketball court, a soccer field AND a skate park. There is also a pavilion available to rent/use! There is definitely something for everyone!! There is a nice covered bridge that covers a stream and a walking trolley line that goes through the woods. Fun fact, there are old mink cages in the back woods from when a fur company used to be operation

This is a great park. There is something to to keep everyone busy. Bring your sports equipment…read morefor the basketball court, skate park, baseball or soccer fields. Don't forget to stretch in the workout/warmup area. You can let the kids run free on the playground with a choice of 2 playscapes that are perfect for different ages. Grab a bench in the shade and catch up on your reading or Yelp posts...while your partner keeps an eye on the kid(s)! There are bathrooms for public use at the pavilion and port-a potties near the sports fields, The pavilion is available to rent. It is equipped with a kitchen, water fountain and picnic tables galore!

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.

This trail is about 4miles give or take there and back. There are benches along the way and two…read morebridges going over the water and one tunnel under the highway. It does flood under that bridge if raining a lot. There is a sign that says flood zone turn around don't drown or something like that. I can walk the whole thing in about 45 minutes. And there are a few little tails off it into the woods but they don't really loop and you have to turn around and come right back. You cal also park at either end.

"Oh, Suzie Q Baby, I love you, Suzie Q"…read more(Creedence Clearwater Revival) The indigenous people's word "Quinnipiac" roughly translates into English as "long-water people". The Q River is 38 miles long, and you'll get a gorgeous view of it from the bridge on the Quinnipiac Linear Trail. We had a lovely hike on the trail today, as did dozens of friendly walkers who smiled and waved to us as we walked from the main parking lot to the bridge and back. It was a very easy low impact walk of about two miles round trip. The trail is flat, paved, and very wide -at least fifteen feet wide. There were a few side trails marked by fresh mulch or wood shavings if you want to go off the beaten path. We saw plenty of interesting things on our walk - basketball courts, a wood walkway over some wetlands, several informational kiosks, a Lending library with a box of Narcan Nasal Spray prominently on display up front, a labyrinth, and scenic views of the Merrit Parkway which at times seemed about 50 feet from the trail. One other interesting but infuriating thing we saw was a collection of red, black, and blue knotted bags of dog doody that was neatly stacked around a Pet Waste station just under a sign that read "Please Keep This Area Clean".

Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort in Middlefield, CT, is a year-round spot for winter fun like…read moreskiing, snowboarding, and tubing, as well as summer activities like mountain biking, zip-lining, and paintball. My son and I checked out The Haunting at The Ridge, which includes a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain and a 45-minute hike down through haunted trails, pumpkin patches, and zombie lounges. We had a blast. The chairlift was super cool, and the ride up was kinda spooky. While you're on the lift, you can see the trail below. It's downhill, so wear good shoes. The trail was pretty fun, with some jump-scare moments where characters jump out to scare you. At the end, you can grab a bite, chill at the tables, have a drink, and listen to the band. I'd totally go back for the experience.

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.

I came here on a fall afternoon as the sun was setting. It's a bit of a drive up to the castle from…read morethe entrance of the park but not too bad- about 10-15 minutes. I like that there are stairs inside the castle. What a beautiful view from the top! The foliage was a bit past peak but still gorgeous. It was windy and chilly but totally worth the views!

Yesterday my dog Brody and I decided to visit Castle Craig which is perfectly situated high above…read moreHubbard Park in order to gain a view of both the park and much of Meriden. Though this year's peak fall colors were muted and a bit past, it was still highly enjoyable.

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!

This park is on 15.4 acres; it has a baseball field, four tennis courts, and two basketball courts…read more There is a pavilion with picnic tables on it. Parking lot is ample and there are porta potties. There is also a large playground within it called Wallingford Community Playground. The park looked clean and nicely maintained. On a cool somewhat rainy Saturday, there were plenty of people playing tennis, basketball, and in the playground. A great neighborhood park and highly used by people in the area.

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!