I come here quite frequently and enjoy sitting on the second story of the boathouse. I also enjoy…read moresitting on the docks, waking on the paved waking paths, and walking on the unpaved trails to the dog park with my pup! I've been a regular here for ages! There are public bathrooms at the boathouse and note that there are often events (like weddings) at the actual structure. This happens all nights of the year (or so it seems and by that I mean random weeknights is when I often stumble upon a wedding). It used to be PACKED during COVID. You will almost always find parking in the main lot but occasionally if there are kids sport games on the fields, and lots of kids on the playground, and boats being launched (boats plus trailers take up two spots)... well then you will maybe need to park in the overflow lot. I'm not sure if both of those lots are ever simultaneously full but there is a little parking garage a tiny way up the road by the Glastonbury library (if needed). It's a quick walk up to town & there are some little free libraries (and Poke-stops) nearby! Thank you :)

This beautiful park in Glastonbury is located right on the Connecticut River. It's not far from the…read moretown center and has many amenities. There's a dog park, boat ramp, picnic pavilion, athletic fields, trail, playground to name a few. There were plenty of parking. There are multiple access points. We walked through a trail which was located off Main Street and past the dog park. Then we walked towards the main entrance which was where the picnic pavilion was located. We also explored the playground and boat ramp area. This was a large and beautifully maintained park.

J.B. Williams Park is over 160 acres of hiking trails, woodlands, streams, wooden bridges, and a…read moregorgeous lake. I attended a private party at their Pavilion that was very cool. The pavilion is a big 40'x40' covered wood structure with lots of picnic tables and benches. They also have a companion building with a kitchen, refrigerator, sink, service counter, and stove. The grounds are gorgeous and I spent an hour or so wandering around the hiking trails and over the wood bridges and enjoying the tranquil beauty of the lake before my event started.

A Forest Spa for the Mind: This is a Gem of a local park and a must stop for people wanting a…read morecasual hike with instant forest immersion only a few feet after leaving the parking lot on the trail right side entrance. This will not be your longest hike but as the co-head of a hiking group of over 2000 in USA and canada - this is a treat for the senses and a forest spa for the mind. Love sunrise at this park and how the light highlights the beautiful tall trees along the main trail. Treat yourself: Breathe, Admire and Appreciate the beauty around you

We come to the playground here and love it. My son calls it the "airplane playground" because of…read morethe airplane play structure. There's plenty to climb on, swing on, slide on, and sand to dig in.

It offers various equipment for different ages. My grandson's favorite was the large shaped plane!read more

It was 26 degrees today, but nevertheless we bundled up in layers and spent a really nice hour or…read moreso walking deep along the main trail. The trail is wide and pretty flat with a slight decline going in and a slight incline going out. The terrain was easy to navigate, with just a handful of rocks and tree roots. Of more concern were the sporadic sheets of ice on the trail so you'd better be careful if you are hiking in nasty cold weather like we did today. We passed a few water views, and wanted to get down to the lake, but since the trails are not marked at all, and taking any of the side trails seemed like playing Russian Roulette, we never got close to that lake before we decided we had enough, made a U Turn and walked back to the small parking lot. We encountered maybe 4 or 5 small parties of all sorts -walkers, bike riders, pet owners, etc. I didn't see a lot of masks out there, but we both wore one, as much for protection from the weather as from the COVID.

Serene extensive, easy level hiking trails. Mainly carriage trail; some is single track. Trails…read moreused by mountain bikes also however we've rarely crossed paths and we do hike here often. A few stream crossings to cool off your pups or toes, the reservoir is calming, and it's easy to navigate (All Trails suggested because these trails are not marked). Small parking lot. Please respect houses along the entrance road and next to lot. Oh, and for a short walk in, you hear the barking dogs from nearby kennel. Those sounds subside shortly into the walk. Spritz with bug spray for gnats and you'll be fine.

Backledge Falls is an 80-acre park with hiking trails, a pond, and yes...a waterfall. You'll find…read moreit on Route 93 (Hebron Ave) just on the Glastonbury side of the Glastonbury-Hebron line. There's a small parking lot at the trailhead. The trail is rather thin and has an extraordinary number of rocks and tree roots, so you really have to keep your head down and watch where you're going. Streams crisscross the park, so that explains why we found three small wooden bridges to help us navigate the wetlands. Two of those bridges had no railing, and one (a Boy Scout project) had a nice Trex railing, but just on one side. It was 81 degrees yesterday, but the high tree cover kept direct sunshine off of us for pretty much our whole time out there. There are some pretty steep inclines that had me huffing and puffing and thank the lord we had our hiking poles for balance and leverage. We walked most of the Blue and White trail, which is marked, but the paint is fading and in need of a refresh. We met around half a dozen groups of hikers, and each group was nicer and friendlier than the one before.

It was a beautiful late November day and perfect for a hike. Blackledge Falls is right in town…read morethough I've only been one other time after a snowfall. The hike is fairly easy with a small incline but a lot of small rocks on the "blue-white". As it was November, leaves covered the trail and made some spots slippery. The falls themselves were disappointing ... more like a dribble than a falls but it was still a nice walk in the woods. Perhaps springtime after the thaw is the better time to come if seeing a waterfall is your goal.

Wow wow wow- this is the playground of all play grounds. I met another mom who travels to this…read moreplayground because it is one that her child's unique abilities are considered. So many unique structure to play and be in the outdoors. Both my boys said this is their new favorite park. Their favorite features were the basketball hoops and the circular merrigo-round made for one person. There's so much more- a braille reading library. Safety fence with a safety lock to keep kids inside. Huge parking lot. There's also motivational quotes all around with so much color. The buddy beach is bright and there's also a rock sharing area. This park has thought of everything to make everyone have a sense of belonging. The only negative was the picnic tables that are covered are also used for parties. They may come out to ask you to move to accommodate a birthday party. Which was a major pain for us as we had a full on picnic spread out. The staff was very kind and allowed us to stay when they recognized we had a bunch to move.

A very large and nice playground. There is a mini basketball court, climbing playscape, zipline…read moreunder a fake airplane, etc. The playground is located in the back parking lot area of the Mandell Jewish Community Center. It opens everyday from 8 am to sunset. There is a porta potty available. This was built in 1996 and was the first all inclusive playground for children of all abilities in the area. We went on a Saturday and it was super busy. You have to keep a hawk eye on your babies because they can get lost in the crowd. There is a pavilion with picnic tables. The play area is fenced in and has plenty of parking. In the end, I can't wait to come back on a weekday when it's less busy.

This little hidden spot is a gem if you're looking to get away from the busy life. It is peaceful,…read morewith manicured grass, a little stream of the Connecticut River, and some geese staying cool in the water. It is super easy to access, just an easy drive down the road from Old Wethersfield and past the dreaded DMV. You can bring your lunch here and have it on the bench. Be sure to dispose of your litter in the trash can. There was a very kind older gentleman who was working to pick up the litter of the ground, he said "it gives me something to do". There's no reason for this, as there's a substantial amount of trash cans. This is a nice place to go on a boat ride down the Connecticut River, and to try to catch some fish. The Wethersfield Cove is a beautiful place to rest your mind and your eyes.

Wethersfield Cove is an inlet which connects to the Connecticut River. There were warehouses built…read morein the 1600s, to store goods such as food and lumber to be sent out to trade with places like the West Indies; products traded in return were rum, molasses, and sugar. The Cove Warehouse Museum still stands today and is open seasonally to the public. There is the heritage trail that runs through it, a boat ramp, rocky beach, picnic tables, porta potty, and a huge parking lot. As far as beach goes, I wouldn't advise swimming in it because of a huge sewage leak back in the 1990s. It is a beautiful spot to walk, picnic, and just enjoy the vista. I'm sure it's fun to go boating on it too. Overall, a nice little neighborhood park with tons of history.

The Pinchot Sycamore Park is located below the Route 185 Bridge and along the Farmington River. The…read morepark is home to the oldest tree of its kind in CT. The park also includes a small launch on the Farmington River for canoes, kayaks, and small boats. This so-called launch is nothing more than a narrow path with large rocks sticking out of the ground, going down a hill to the river that is also very rocky. The tree is definitely worth checking out.

Tree Huggers Unite!…read more The Pinchot Sycamore Tree is located in a small park in Simsbury. The entrance to the park is very steep and in front of the traffic light, right next to the bridge. There's a small dirt parking lot and the Farmington River is adjacent to the park. There is another large tree with big rocks surrounding it. I saw a couple of trails going down to the river; a place to offload kayaks and canoes. The time I went, I saw a group of people standing/swimming in the water. Right next to the bridge, you will see the massive American Sycamore tree; the largest tree in Connecticut. The 200-300 year old tree is very beautiful and majestic. There were two stone markers in front of the tree; the tree was dedicated to conservationist, Gifford Pinchot. The tree is lit up with lights at night. Overall, a lovely place to be and reminisce about what the tree has seen throughout the years.

What a great hiking adventure! There various trails to choose from, but all of the terrine tends to…read morebe flat. There are stairs in some locations, but I've found them to be near the waterfall and throughout various place in the trail There is a waterfall basin in the beginning of the trail in the parking lot. Various bridges and beautiful scenery. There are benches along the trails for a quick break or to watch nature and the wildlife.

Enjoyed an amazing hike here! Plenty to see! There is a bunch of different trails you can pick…read morefrom. Beautiful views of waterfalls. So much to see and do here definitely check this spot out!

Beautiful and scenic trials. Make sure you follow the trail heads or follow your scenery as a…read moremajority of the trails aren't marked. Very well maintained, clean and well preserved.

Certainly a hidden paradise ... the water was so pristine clear it's unbelievable. I loved the…read moresound of the birds and the peaceful vibe of nature , it was so beautiful there we didn't want to leave !! Absolutely in LOVE !!! If you love nature and to be by the water this is the place for you :)