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

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.

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.

Separate areas for kids of all ages... Playscape's for all ages too.... There is also an enormous…read moresandbox... The ground is covered with padded surface material and mulch in some places. There is one playscape that looks like an aerospace....with a Pratt& Whitney logo...really kool. Tennis courts, basket ball courts, soccer field... Picnic tables and most importantly clean restrooms. Huge parking lot and more parking by the soccer field as well.

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.

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.

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.

My husband and I recently started kayaking. As beginners, we aren't comfortable yet kayaking in…read morerivers, so we decided to search for a nice lake to begin our kayaking adventures in. A few friends highly recommended Mansfield Hollow Lake (boat launch), so we made the drive to Mansfield. We were not disappointed! The parking area, in front of the lake, is large, and easy to find a space to park, even on summer weekends. It's easy to get in and launch a kayak or paddleboard from the shallow shore area. The lake itself is clean and beautiful! I love the fact that swimming in the lake is not allowed (because this lake supplies drinking water) and that motorboats must maintain a speed of 5 mph or less. We haven't yet kayaked in any other lakes, but I'm sure that Mansfield Hollow Lake (boat launch) will remain a favorite of ours. Such a beautiful place!

Beautiful and scenic, nice and clean tranquil. So many lakes in the area it is well worth the trip.read more

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.

"Same hurt in every heart Same trailer, different park"…read more(Kacey Musgraves) Charter Oak Park was unexpectedly one of the biggest and best parks we've seen in Connecticut. When you pull into the parking lot the park doesn't look that big, but as we walked around we were so surprised to see it keeps going and going on and on like a peaceful Energizer Bunny. We saw a playground, a dog park, basketball courts, murals, the East Coast Greenway walking/biking path, a waterfall, and a bridge to name just a few. The Greenway was beautiful, very flat, very wide with lots of pretty scenery and water views. If you want a low impact place to walk, its perfect. We saw a second path up to the Dog Park, but that was on a rather steep incline, so we passed on it. But the two very coolest things we saw were a student decorated fence and a Rotary Musical Garden. The fence project involved a five foot high vinyl chain link fence collaboration between the Cheney Tech Carpentry Program, Country Carpenters of Hebron, and Home Depot. Students had painted squares of wood to represent their interests, so we saw hockey, music, nature and books among the hundreds of miniature works of art. The squares were mechanically attached through the fence into a second square on the other side of the fence, essentially locking them into place, The musical Garden has multiple big xylophones in all kinds of shapes and sizes and big colorful bongo drums. You can have a blast making cool noises as you engage with each of the music stations. Truth be told, Charter Oak Park was fantastic.

Charter Oak Park is definitely a diamond in the rough. Though it's not located in the most…read morebeautiful neighborhood, it's new and has so much to do! The park has a playground with 2 main play structures (one for 2-5 year olds, one for 5-12 year olds), baby and regular swings, a music garden, 4 basketball courts, 2 tennis courts, 3 baseball fields, a great paved walking path, several picnic tables, real restrooms, and a big empty field. I visited on a Wednesday morning with my toddler and we had a blast! We spend most of our time on the playground and in the music garden. The play structure for younger kids is on the small side but still has some fun features. It has a rock they can climb up, ladders, some fake stumps, and 2 slides (including a side-by-side). There's also a cool thing about 4 kids can sit in while it is being spun by an adult or another child from outside. My almost 2 year old navigated this whole structure with ease. The second play structure for older kids was very fun. It had a lot of different obstacles to climb including rock walls, different nets and webs, ladders, a balance beam... the list goes on. It also had a very cool swing that was almost like a zip line with a seat to sit on. The two play structures are not divided by anything, so my toddler moved back and forth between the two. He could navigate some of it by himself but I definitely had to stay close by or climb with him. There are many places for a smaller child to fall from and climbing obstacles that were just too big. However, this playground would definitely have more for a 12 year old to do than many I have seen for this same age. Finally, we visited the music garden. It was beautiful, even with the cooler weather setting in. The landscaping and shrubbery was well done and kept and all the instruments were still in great shape.

Great spot to walk. An escape from the noise of Bristol's commotion. Close to home. A nice place…read moreto stretch your legs.