What a special day at Quabbin Reservoir! I've always been fascinated by the history of the towns…read morethat were flooded to create the reservoir, so getting to see it in person was something special and our friends told us the history while we drove around and saw different spots along the way. The views were absolutely beautiful, and we may have gotten a little too excited when we spotted the turkeys. The best part was sharing the day with friends we met on a cruise 24 years ago. Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, wildlife, and longtime friends... it doesn't get much better than that.

The Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center is well worth a visit. The history and evolution of the…read morereservoir including indigenous wildlife are explained in detail. Very friendly and helpful staff. Ample free parking, too. The Reservoir is astounding.

Skinner State Park really surprised me. The drive up was beautiful and the view at the top over the…read morePioneer Valley made me stop and just take it in. I also liked reading about the old Mt. Holyoke Summit House and the incline railway that used to bring people up the mountain. I'm a sucker for places with a bit of history mixed in with the views And of course I loved seeing it with our friends we met on a cruise 24 years ago!

Iconic set of rolling wooded hills over looking the Connecticut River and surrounding lowlands…read more Skinner State Park is approximately 3,000 acres once privately owned now overseen by the Mass DCR. There are an intertwining network of trails from the base, along the ridge, and through the wooded parkland. Bring a GPS and trail maps are available at the gates and in the Summit House. This was my first time hiking here. A life long buddy & hiking pal encouraged me to join him. He was excited to try out his new hip on some varying terrain. He drove in from Vermont, me from CT. Both of us aging (gracefully) we each used an adjustable pair hiking sticks, which did come in handy both ascending and descending the hills. We found the trails were all very well maintained and well traveled. There's a system of trail markers and blazes to follow. Keep in mind bikes and horse are allowed, so hikers, keep your eye open and give way to wheels & hooves. The Summit House does have access too by vehicle, but (!) parking is very limited up top and DRC Rangers control traffic flow. We parked very close to Hockanum Road (Rte 47) and hiked up. Views at the Summit House stunning 360 degrees. If the House is open (seasonally) take time to tour the former residence and Lodge. View from the House decks are even better. My foot recently repaired foot & my buddies new hip passed the test!

Nice place mainly for dogs I guess saw about 4 dogs without leashes just roaming around minding…read moretheir own business. The trail is well paved but there's extensive damage from the past winter season looks like a bridge that was there has been completely destroyed too. There was no place to sit down and relax.

This is a great easy walk! So beautiful with the bridges. You can even take your dog off leash…read moreearly in the morning!

It is a very nice hiking trail. It was easier going up…read more I went to the north side and that is a tad more challenging and longer.

We drove up to Mt Sugarloaf State Reservation hoping for that big Connecticut River view and it was…read moreraining sideways and super windy and probably like 40 degrees out. We were freezing honestly and didn't stay up there very long at all. You can drive right to the top which is nice, and even with all the fog and rain you could still see the river and that little white church and the bridge down below. It was kind of moody but also really pretty in a weird way, I kept thinking it would be amazing on a clear day. We basically just huddled under the little stone lookout, snapped a couple quick pictures and then ran back to the car because our hands were freezing and we just couldn't take it anymore. Definitely one we'd go back to, just not in weather like that. Check the forecast before you go because we did not and yeah lesson learned. Oh it's a $5 entry fee abd you pay at a little kiosk stand thing,

Now that the season is getting warmer, it's almost time to grab some beach chairs, a few hotdogs,…read moreand head over to Lake Wyola for a relaxing afternoon. This State Park is a great place to swim during the summer as well as spend time barbecuing with friends. Whenever we go we make it a point to show up early in the morning, set up shop, and do nothing for the rest of the day. They have a ton of different picnic areas and a centralized beach area with bathrooms and a food trailer. They also have space to play soccer and a few different horseshoe pits. The park also has some walking trails that provide a great space to connect with nature. A few things do need to be said about the park. The first is that you should plan to show up early on busy days such as holidays because at times there can be limited parking. The other interesting fact is that you should plan to have little to no cell service while at the park. This is great because it ensures that you won't be bothered, but good luck checking in.

It was beautiful! We got there around 3 or so on the 4th of July. People who had gotten there super…read moreearly were heading out, so we got lucky and found parking up the block. A guy let us park in his yard for $10. It was pretty filled up, but, it was still comfortable. Great sandcastle sand, clean bathrooms, and GORGEOUS scenery. We stayed until the lifeguards left at 6. The beach was open until 7:30 though. We will definitely be going again! We were so glad to have come across this gem.

A short walk from the parking area (equipped w an outhouse). Very well constructed stone and…read morewooden steps / stairways going gradually downhill. Hand railings help. Both upper and lower falls not very forceful in the dog days of summer, especially w little recent rain. Probably a better time to visit is spring. Still, very scenic and well shaded on a hot summer day. And there are many opportunities to cool off in the babbling brook! Note approx 130 steps total, broken off in sections. Not really handicapped accessible.

Absolutely loved this park!…read more Parking was plentiful and a porta-potty available. My family and I did the easy out and back 1-mile trail, Enders Brooks Falls. This was easy enough for my 3 year old. The trail was along the water; stairs and railings were meticulous installed for the safety of nature lovers of all ages. We were in awe by all the waterfalls; the sounds, ambiance, and smells were so peaceful. We saw quite a few people enjoying it too but it wasn't crowded. This park is located in Barkhamsted and Granby; both beautiful towns. There is a second out and back 4.4-mile trail, Fox Road Trail; we didn't hike this one yet but look forward to it next time.

We went to the park today with a group of friends to go to the playground only. The kids ranged…read morefrom 18 months to 7 years old and everyone had a great time. There were both baby swings and regular swings. There were smaller play structures (a playscape and a couple things to climb) that were great for the toddlers. Then there was a large playscape, a treehouse, and another climber for the older kids. The large playscape and treehouse could still be used by the toddlers with extra supervision (there are some high places that they can fall from). The playground is in the shade too, great for hot days.

From the owner: Nonotuck Park is open the first Monday after Patriots Day to October 31st…read more In the heart of Easthampton lies its greatest asset. Nonotuck Park is a beautiful family friendly park located along side Nashawannuck Pond. In our park we have; Toteman Nature Trail Community Pool Water Spray Park Bocci Courts Basketball Courts Clay Tennis Courts Volleyball Court Playgrounds Softball and Baseball Fields and a 15 acre Soccer Complex Pavilions and Picnic sites for rent.

Look Memorial Park (aka Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park) is a privately run non-profit park that…read moreopened in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1930. Located in the village of Florence, the 150 acres of land were given to the City of Northampton by Mrs. Fannie Burr Look (widow of Frank Newhall Look). Mr. Look had been a long-time resident of Northampton and the chief executive of the Prophylactic Brush Company. Operation and maintenance are dependent upon the trust fund, visitor fees, grants, and gifts. Owned by the city but operated as a non-profit organization, Look Park receives no funding from the city or state. The park contains a number of notable features including walking paths, an outdoor amphitheater, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, a miniature golf course, paddle boats, playscapes, a spray park, a wildlife center, a sweet shoppe, covered picnic areas, covered bridges, and a miniature railway. I recently visited Look Memorial Park with my family. I first visited the park last summer with my older son. We had so much fun that we decided to return this year with my wife and younger son. We first set out to visit the park's 5,000-square-foot spray park. It was a hot day and my two sons had a blast exploring the various ground jets, bucket dumps and water umbrellas. After a change of clothes, we explored one of the playscapes and the wildlife center. What we were most looking forward to was a ride on the park's miniature steamer train. Manufactured by Wichita, Kansas-based Chance Rides, the miniature train is a replica of the circa-1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The train runs every half hour on the weekends and rides last about 10 minutes. The train is transformed into 'Santa's Train' during the Christmas holiday season and it can also be rented for birthday parties. The train ride was easily the highlight of our park visit. We look forward to visiting Look Memorial Park again and again!

I planned a fun birthday picnic today, only to find out after paying to get into the park that half…read moreof the services were closed. I wish management would be more proactive about notifying incoming guests that many park services are closed before paying to get in. We also went to the sweet shop to get root beer floats, and paid $11 for two root beer floats that were actually half full. I would recommend the place for people looking to enjoy the scenery, but apart from that the experience was lacking.

I went off season after a wind storm so there was a lot of crunching down to get through the…read morerhododendrons leaning over the path in some spots so be aware of that. Wear sneakers! Bring bug spray if you're going when it's warm and not windy because the mosquitoes will carry you away if you don't. Ps they bloom in July, but it's still cool to see off season. Very impressive!

Lovely, short forest trails with the tallest, densest collection of rhododendrons we've ever seen…read more Natural growth of the trees creates canopies and archways you walk under on the mostly-flat dirt trails. Mucky in shady spots, roots and rocks pop up along the path, so watch your step. The rhododendrons bloom in July, and the state park seems to keep an updated blog so you can time your visit. It is a half-mile loop trail, Luxury porta-potties (mini cabins) for convenient pit-toilets. A few picnic tables in this very woodsy area. Carry-in, carry-out trash on the premises.