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.

A 15-minute walk that's partially uphill toward the end once you reach the falls. Such crisp, cool,…read morewet air as you approach the falls and a gorgeous view of how powerful they are. Quick, easy, and rewarding hike for any age. 5 stars!!!

Very short and enjoyable easy hike. It is boarded half way…read morethen up some steps to see this heavily flow waterfall. You can also go down to the lower fall with a bit of rock scramble. We did the hike in first week of June and it is very nice and easy. Our first attempt was back in mid April. The trail was still covered with snow. This time going back, the trail looks totally different and more enjoyable. My recommendation go in the month of June and till there is snow in Vermont.

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!!!!

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.

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.

We came here today for my sister's Bachelorette weekend to do a group raft tour. Once we actually…read moregot on a raft it was great but the management of the line and loading for the raft and tube floats is run by a bunch of college kids who move at a snails pace. We waited for about 1.5 hrs to get on a raft, which is fine, they did advertise this. What was very frustrating is the lines diverge a the top of the stairs, one clearly labeled for tubes, one for rafts. Then they meet back up at the middle. The raft line was so long that a few groups cut the line by going down the tube line and then boarding a raft. When the people in line watching this called it out to the staff, the staff couldn't have cared less and let the groups who cut about 45 people waiting patiently in the correct line still continue on their raft. Their needs to be more staff to manage this in the future and a better system for confirming that people are held accountable for cutting the line.

This is a great hike - well marked, and with great views at the top. My only small complaint is…read morethat I wish the highest peak marker was larger. It looks like there may have been something more there in the past, but now it is just a small circle on the ground marking the spot. Overall, it really feels like a great accomplishment to reach the top. There are multiple trails to the peak and a good bit of rock scrambling to keep things interesting, but nothing too difficult. Definitely a rewarding hike. PS - there is off-season parking, you just will add an extra mile or so getting onto the trail, but it's never closed.

This is a great little hike to the top of Vermont…read more We choose the steepest and shortest trail: Hellbrook. The trail is steep but well maintained with frequent "blazes". As someone that has never hiked in the east...I was shocked with how easy it is to stay on trails here. Just follow the blue or white paint marks! There are some "slimey slabs" on the way up. Unbroken surfaces of rock that can get slippery if it has recently rained. There might be a few sections where using your hands would be helpful. This meets all the other trails at the summit. The summit area is beautiful...save for all the random ski resort hardware. There were friendly trail guides on the summit making sure people don't stomp on the tundra. One of them even took a picture of my climbing partner and I. Took us about 1.5 hrs up, a little less down. (we are pretty quick though)

Beautiful views, and special place to celebrate the life of your pet. They have a collection box…read morewhere you can place your pets photo and a note. You can also put your commemoration and photos in one of several photo albums

This is a very interesting place with a chapel built for folks to honor their dogs. The chapel is…read morecovered with pictures and notes from around the world of people's dogs. The stained glass is beautiful. The gift shop/ gallery next door is nice with a lot of cool things. Definitely worth a stop for all animal lovers.