Smuggler's Notch State Park provides hiking, camping, nature programs, and mountain biking…read more Smuggler's Notch Park got its name because In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson passed an embargo act forbidding American trade with Great Britain and Canada. This was a severe hardship for northern Vermonters, since Montreal was closer than other markets in the US. Many local people continued illegal trade with Canada, herding cattle and carrying other goods through the Notch. Later, fugitive slaves used the Notch as an escape route to Canada. During the Prohibition years, liquor was smuggled from Canada over the improved road built in 1922. My mother and I just rode through and it was miles of the park with different areas to explore. The we're many hikers and explorers out. All I can say is the mountains are beautiful and the atmosphere is amazing. I would definitely want to come back in fall to see the trees change colors.

I love this twisty road! The spring is a must stop for a drink of water literally flowing out of…read morethe mountain. It's usually gorgeous in the fall but we missed the leaves this year. There are plenty of places to stop and hike along the notch. It's really a beautiful place.

Okay, I love, love, love Maple Street Park. I have two young children and this is definitely one…read moreof our favorite places to hang out. I love the ratio of equipment for the age of my kids--plenty of baby/toddler swings and slides. Also little rocking ride on equipment. The only thing that could make it a little better for us would be a swing for special needs kids as my older daughter can't sit safely in a regular swing due to her needs. But we make do with what is there very nicely :) The grounds are super well kept and part of a larger park which includes a baseball and soccer (I think) field. I am kind of obsessed with the beautiful flower garden that they have in the parking lot. I would love to be able to steal their gardener for a day to help me make something similar. There is a pool as well with a waterslide. We've never actually used the pool but it very popular and always crowded. There is also a skate park for older kids which is really cool. At least it looks cool--I don't know the first think about skateboarding. I am always impressed by how respectful the skaters seem to be about safety rules. It looks like a lot of fun. Anyhow, this is a really nice park with great shade on hot days. There are always lots of super friendly people there to chat with as well.

I love this park…read more It is beautiful. It is clean and well kept. I remember coming here after school with a few hours to waste, would buy snacks on the way and just lazy around enjoying the sunshine. What a life, it really just makes me so happy. Coming here again brings back good memories.

Beautiful hidden gem in Elmore. Reasonable rental rates for peddle boats, kayaks, canoes and…read morestand-up paddle boards. Admission was $5/person. Indoor restrooms with space to change. Beautiful views, calm water and clean spots to lay your blankets and chairs. Carry in/ carry out, so having a garbage bag with you is helpful. Hours were 10am-dusk.

A great park about 20 minutes north of Stowe featuring a large lake and both a sandy beach and a…read moregrassy area behind it with a few shaded spots and picnic tables. Restroom facilities right next to beach. They also offer rentals for the water as well as hiking and camping. Fee to enter varies by # of adults ($4 per) and kids 4-13 ($2). Of similar spots I've visited, this is my favorite.

Rating: 4.7 Fall…read morelocated short hike from the road. Offers beautiful fall and clear water if you want to go in. We parked on the side of the road and hiked for about 20minutes or so to the fall. Some area near the fall are steep and some footings are wet so need caution. But aside from that it's a great place to visit. Would have liked to check out the river and bottom area more but there were some people there already and we almost got locked out from the car so we had to rush back. Would come back to experience it fully. Definitely a must stop if you are in stowe and likes hiking/falls

Very short walk that isn't too bad, but is strenuous if not careful towards the bottom of the…read morefalls. You can partake in the water activities, but good traction water shoes are needed. Hiking boots the best if you want to step down to see the water. Careful with children! We saw a poor dude break his leg or something and he had to be helped by his friends going up the slippery rocks. Definitely a must as long as you're well prepared!

Great view of Lake Champlain and beyond, the Adirondack Mountains. Probably a fantastic spot for a…read moresunset but I missed that this afternoon. The park has a huge parking area, some walking areas and several benches facing the proper direction of the view. The park is linked with the Burlington recreational paths so try it as a destination or trailhead. [Review 18508 overall - 107 in Vermont - 2030 of 2022.]

My friend showed me this adorable little overlook when we were up in BTV. Unfortunately, we came…read moreon an overcast day, but it was still nice to take in the lovely views! This is an amazing place to see sweeping views of the beautiful mountains and Lake Champlain. I imagine it would also be worth checking out at sunset. This is also a great spot for budding photographers. There is a small parking lot here, plus a couple of picnic tables. I'd say this is a must do for first time visitors to this fabulous city! Plan to spend 10-15 minutes here.

I loved, I mean LOVED this park. I can't believe no one has reviewed this park yet! Just walking…read morearound and seeing the nature and character of the place had me thinking and saying to my mom "5 stars!". Yes, really. Easy nature walks, beautiful surroundings. Extremely friendly people and dogs all over the place, everyone seemed to know each other and the name of the accompanying dog. It had a great community feel, it really made me wish I had a dog! I'd come here every week. Maybe I'll steal my mom's dog for the day! There is a large section of the park that is off leach and you can go down by the river for the dogs to swim. We didn't go down to the river, but saw numerous wet, happy dogs coming from that directions. There are lots of picnic tables and benches to stop and enjoy the mountains, grass, ponds, breed spotting and people watching. I'm not sure if the address goes directly to the park, but here are some directions from the website: "Mills Riverside Park is located directly off of Vermont Route 15 in the Town of Jericho. Driving North/East on Route 15, just before entering Underhill Flats, you will see the entrance to the park on your right." You can't miss it! Check it out and bring your dog if you can!

100% recommend this walking/bike path…read more Round trip, our bike ride was just about 10.5 miles. Along the way we passed a small memorial garden, athletic fields, an indoor public pool, restaurants, benches, a gazebo over looking the river and trash cans for your dog waste. At the other end, is a covered bridge just at the entrance to that parking area. There are several parking areas along the route with picnic tables and port-a-johns. Trails are kept in good conditiin. Lots of wooden brudges criss-cross the river. These are barely wide enough to pass pedestrians on a bike and most have an incline on both ends. This trail is in no way mostly flat. Our way out was an incline. Sometimes slight, sometimes more. The way back was *way* quicker and easier. Parking at this end is paved. Other lots along the way are a mix of dirt and paved. Signs trail side state to stop at road crossings and walk your bicycle across. Pedestrians and bicycles stay to the right. Let pedestrians, and other cyclists, know you are passing them. On-leash dog friendly.

The best hike of our whole trip to Vermont! Hardly took any photos because I was so in-the-peace of…read moreit all. Heavenly walk through the backside of Stowe, a paved nature path through meadows and woods and fields. So picturesque on even what started as a cold, rainy morning that became sunny and bright. A highlight of our trip and a good 4 miles (walked 2 miles each way). Can't wait to walk this again one day. 5 stars!!!!

The best in town St Johnsbury My son he love here. A lot of…read morefun! and nice parents too

Super cute playground for any ability level. We brought a two year old here and she was able to…read moremaster most of he climbers, slides, bridge, and pop up on the swings. Set back from the main road and nestled between a church and community center this playground felt safe to bring kids during anytime of the day.

An awe inspiring natural wonder enhanced by human engineering offering a great day of rafting,…read morehiking , tubing and other activities with history all around you. Eight of us, 4 adults and 4 kids enjoyed a day of exploring the chasm and learning about its formation and use. A great destination even to plan a short getaway around! Our tour guide Jacob was an added bonus with his knowledge and enthusiasm adding to the experience. Add this to your bucket list and you won't be sorry!

Ausable Chasm, NY - billing itself as "the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks" is a shamelessly…read moreambitious boast for an attraction that I'd more accurately describe as Watkins Glen with the consumer interface of Bushkill Falls, but there's no denying Ausable Chasm is a fun, scenic, and daring adventure for all ages! We came during the off season at the end of April, before the more high thrills activities like rafting & tubing, riverwalk, Via Ferrata adventure trail, rappelling, rock climbing, etc. were open for the season (usually around late-May to June through autumn). That was no problem as we are visiting with our toddler who isn't old enough to do most of these activities anyway, and, as we discovered, it was actually perfect and to our advantage, since as first-time visitors we only wanted/had time to explore the chasm itself. And as there were very few other visitors on a weekday, it was as if we had this private park all to ourselves! No need to jostle for views/photos, can enjoy lunch & snacks at the best picnic tables by vista points, and it's also more pleasant than hiking in hot summer, though many of the trails are shaded. The basic "trails only" admission is about $20 for adults & teens, $12 for kids 5-12, and free for under 5. All the other activities have additional fees, which can add up so you might explore packages, or even stay overnight at their campground & cabins. We are a family of hikers so wanted to do the whole perimeter and see the entire gorge (about 2 miles). But if you only wish to see the exciting parts and leave time for other activities, then you can turn back halfway and do the shorter loop (1 mile if you do the Inner Sanctum Trail which I 100% recommend as this is the "signature" trail along the canyon's edge. But note it has many stairs up & down). We took the Inner Sanctum (yellow) trail, crossed over to Big Dry Chasm and hiked to the Whirlpool Basin Overlook at other end, then looped back around on the orange trail via Little Dry Chasm. The trails are well maintained, with most of the outer edge trails on comfortable soft padded ground. They're mostly well marked except the end part is not really shown clearly on the park map so I used AllTrails. The orange trail (Dry Chasm Trail) is marked as more difficult, but it's basically just a regular wooded hiking trail that's not paved, with rooty and rocky sections. The park is very walkable for most able-bodied people. Even our 3yo was able to hike the whole thing by himself, with a bit of help over the orange trails. We loved our visit and are excited to come back when our child is older to do more activities! Will update my review when we've had a chance to experience all the action-packed adventures the park has to offer. TIP #1: No trail maps are given out so take a photo ar a screenshot. But there are maps placed along the trails marked with where you are. TIP #2: Porta-potties only on either end of the trails, so I recommend taking your nature break before setting out. TIP #3: There's a cafe by the Welcome Center but it's only open seasonally. Bring water. No garbage bins along the trails (cos bears!) so trash is carry-in carry-out.

What can I say about the Dog Chapel? It is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt places I have…read moreever visited. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the love that fills the property. Walking through the chapel and seeing the countless tributes, photos, notes, and memories left behind by pet owners is both moving and inspiring. It is a powerful reminder of how deeply animals touch our lives and how much they are loved. Whether you are grieving a beloved pet, celebrating the memory of one, or simply love animals, this is a place that speaks to the heart. There is a sense of peace, compassion, and connection here that is difficult to put into words. I left feeling grateful, encouraged, and a heart full of so much love.

Dog Mountain was one of the highlights of our recent 12-day New England road trip, and in fact, it…read morebecame our No. 2 favorite destination, and only surpassed by Acadia National Park in the No. 1 position. If you are a dog lover and/or dog owner, this is a place for you. First, you can bring your dog(s), on a leash or without, and let them run free (except in the gift shop... there, they must be on a leash)... but outside where the air is so fresh, the terrain is beyond beautiful, they can run around to their hearts' content. In addition to the breathtaking grounds, there is also an exceptional gift shop filled with all kinds of things from clothing to furniture and everything in between... all about dogs and all designed by Stephen Huneck, the creator and owner of Dog Mountain. In addition to this great gift shop is a Dog Chapel, also created by Mr. Huneck. It is a very beautiful, spiritual homage to dogs... a place where people of all faiths and walks of life can gather to reflect on the love of their dog(s)... living or departed. When I say there were THOUSANDS of post-it notes and pictures of dogs, I think I may be way off... maybe MILLIONS, plastered on all of the walls of the interior of the chapel. Truly amazing and inspiring. I felt bad because I didn't realize we could bring our own photos to affix, but maybe if we ever return, I certainly will bring some. I did, however, write a message to our dearly departed doggies in a big notebook. I couldn't help it, but I cried buckets while there. It's okay cuz I wasn't alone, to be sure. It is DEEPLY moving, and while it was very sad for us, it is also very uplifting, too, because it's a place to honor your loving dog(s). I heartily encourage you to visit whether you live locally in St. Johnsbury, in the State of Vermont, on the east coast, or from wherever you reside, if you are a dog lover, you need to go !! Such an amazing place, and one we will NEVER FORGET.