Windsor's favorite summertime swimming destination family friendly nice quiet pond perfect for the…read morelittles and big kids

A small pond right in the town of Windsor, VT. Small beach and open to the public for a small…read morenominal fee, only during summer. I learned to swim here. Managed by the the town's rec dept. One can also kayak or canoe. Water comes from the Brownsville Brook and Mt Ascutney. The pond drains out into the Connecticut River. ONe can also skate here in winter if its been REALLY cold and no snow.

What can I say... At…read morefirst I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live with all that water underneath me and by my side... BUT THEN... I got on that boat, (no life jacket either!!), and then jumped into the water in the middle of the lake after being egged on by friends and lo and behold... I REALLY COULD STAND IN THE WATER!! Are you kidding me? I am in the middle of the lake and the water is only up to my chest, this is AMAZING, can I stay in here all day? I love water but am afraid of getting on boats, and much less JUMPING in the water...but this lake was amazing! Did I also mention that another it met my other large body of water criteria?? You could actually see down to the bottom of the lake where we were standing...um hmm...that's right...so clear, but of course it is! It's one of the 10 cleanest natural lakes in the WHOLE world! Imagine that, in tiny New Hampshire to boot! All this beauty surrounded by large trees, and cute lake houses. Even the islands in the lake looked like mini forests! P.S. Hate to harp on about how shallow some parts of the lake were, but I will because it was pretty amazing to see people standing in the water and playing catch in the middle of the lake, or a man pulling a nice sized boat with his fam on it with the water only up to his waist...it was practically like seeing Jesus walking on water or something!! I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't making this up!!. I've never seen anything like it!!

Beautiful beach with lots of area for picnics. The view of the mountains off the lake is breath…read moretaking! Unfortunately, today the water was full of pollen so we didn't get in the water. The one downside that made us pack up and leave, was within 10 minutes of putting our blanket in the sand, we found 5 ticks! Obviously this is something out of the parks control, but definitely something to be aware of if u go, especially with small children like myself.

Beautiful lake. Saw people swimming there too. It can get crowded and hard to find a parking spot…read more But the view is pretty

Awesome state park on the shores of lake George. Clean, well kept, plenty of parking and life…read moreguards for the swimming areas. Also very convince t to park and walk into town.

With so much rain this summer 2021, I decided to make most of it and do a waterfalls tour…read more Huntington is a bit out of the way and this review is based on my first visit. HG is a dramatic natural stunner. It's compact, STEEP and loud with ROARING waterfalls. Many falls, you cannot see from above and without endangering self. There's been many fatalities over the years so swimming and climbing down to the falls are heavily discouraged by the local government. There are several very short trails from the road for viewing but the trails were ridden with poison ivies! Also, there were poured granite gravels in an effort to alleviate a landslide (which is rare in VT) from the paved road. One could cross AFTER (not upstream) the Gorge to cross to the opposite side. If you desire to, I'd recommend wearing a pair of water-shoes and perhaps not soon after rain. HG is unlike any other rapids I've seen in VT. It is worth visiting to see the extreme changes of water flow and power of nature. It's an out of place, tiny compact version of gorges that you see out West. Parking is sparse...a handful of spots above the Gorge. It was a bit of a downer to see so much (signs) discouragement. Obviously peeps don't stop coming....maybe they could embrace and build safeguards for everyone to access and enjoy this beauty safely?

Huntington Gorge, the site of Richmond's first grist mill and electric generating plant, is an…read moreawesome, natural beauty. A gorgeous (and dangerous if not respected) gorge complete with waterfalls and swimming holes. Had I not read about it, I would not have known of its previous history... on first glance it appears to be an untouched site as there are no obvious signs of its previous industry. The gorge attracts a number of different types of visitors... photographers, hikers, swimmers, etc. There is a very small parking lot to house everyone stopping in. There is very strict signage posted around the property warning of the danger the site. Heed these warnings as there have been over 2 dozen deaths spanning the last 50+ years in this area. It is easy to see why... the power of these waterfalls can be heard and felt as you approach the rim. If you choose to swim here, do so in the lowest basins (avoid the upper and its currents) and be safe... stay aware of your surroundings. I was more than content viewing the falls from a safe distance despite the elevated outdoor temperature that day. The risk that some people took during my short time there (hanging over the rim for photos, wading through the waters of the upper pools) was just incredible. Be smart. There are several short paths that deliver you to various views of the area. Tread carefully and you will be rewarded with some spectacular views. I just happened upon this location on my way to hike Camel's Hump but I'm so glad my GPS brought me down the dirt road this is located off of. It's worth the visit!

Bucklin Beach is one of those things that give New London NH such great quality of life. Nestled in…read moreseveral acres at the Northeast part of Little Lake Sunapee, Bucklin Beach and its sister beach at Pleasant Lake provide for town residents' recreation, amusement and family enjoyment. Bucklin Beach is owned and operated by the town of New London and access is limited to town residents and their guests. An ample parking area allows access to the beautiful sandy beach. Once in the beach there are several pavilions available for common use. The town also owns several kayaks, canoes, row boats and Stand-up Paddle Boards available free of charge. Users have to sign a liability waiver once a year. However, personal-owned craft are not allowed on the beach. For that purpose, there is a docking station at the other side of the lake. The beach is staffed by some of the nicest lifeguards ever, many of them in their third or fourth consecutive season. Every time we have been there, we have found them to be honestly devoted to customer enjoyment. There are no refreshments or food sold at the beach. Another beautiful side of this location is the unbelievable sunsets.

Outstanding view all 360* arouud. Perfect for a cook out (pinic) on the summer or when its worm out!read more

A nice little escape in Northern NH. Mascoma Lake is an unassuming and easily accessible lake for…read morelocals and travellers alike. There are several businesses along the lake, although mostly seasonal, as well and free and public boat launches and beaches around the lake. Beaches could probably be made a little more open with additional amenities, but given the small spaces they're allocated and the fact that it's free it's hard to argue with that. Would recommend checking out the beach at the south end, or the Baited Hook for good summer food. Launch your boat at the north end for small wait times and good access. During the winter, the Rail Trail lines the eastern portion of the lake for super easy snowmobile access. Also great for ice skating and pond hockey if the snow cover (and ice depth) allows!

I appreciate that Life Guards are on site. However, I do not appreciate their tone when speaking to…read moreour kids. It's my prayer that my own wouldn't treat others the way the Windham Beach Life Guards treat the residents at the beach. I would ask the Life Guards to please consider politeness and show appreciation for where their paycheck comes from. Maybe try and enjoy the kids or seek a different summer job. 5 stars because I love my town beach. 2 stars for the Life Guards.

My family has been enjoying Stoughton Pond for many years…read more Since I was a kid, we have been going there for picnics, swimming, hiking, and family get togethers. SP is great because it is local, and not too many people use it. It is rarely crowded, and the beach and picnic area is always immaculately clean. There are bathrooms and a changing area as well. So much wildlife to see here. The best of all, the park is free to use. There is a shelter, for groups to use for a nominal fee. Trash is carry in and out, and there is a No pets rule :-( There is a ton of land here with some wonderful hiking trails well off from the picnic area. A wonderful Vermont resource.

There's a reason why this place is always empty and free. Because the water is GROSS!! We used to…read morelive right around here when I was growing up and the water was always NASTY! I wouldn't be surprised if people caught parasites from swimming in Stoughton!

Nice little beach at the south end of Newfound Lake…read more This beach is maybe 500 yards long, and anywhere from 2 to 20 feet wide. It's got nice white sand, especially for a fresh water lake. There are parallel parking spots along the left side of (one way) Shore Drive. No bathrooms or lifeguard, but it's free - unlike the state park at the north end. There is one decent restaurant across the street, named The Big Catch, and they do have bathrooms. The water is crystal clear, as Newfound is one of the ten cleanest bodies of fresh water in the world. And you can't beat the views of the mountains.

The UVAC has always been consistent in helping me to better myself. Everyone there is so nice and…read morehelpful. I go twice a week and do the water aerobics classes in the warm pool. The instructor is so inspiring and fun. I can already see an improvement in flexibility and it's only been a couple of weeks! I'm losing weight and the whole experience is such a joy. It's really my only hope of getting exercise and I'm so grateful to the folks there who make it possible for me. Thank you SO much UVAC.

The Upper Valley Aquatic Center is committed to the community. Over the past year I have seen how…read morethey can adapt the mind and bodies of underprivileged youth in the community. UVAC is a very special place to stay healthy in the water or in one of the many group fitness classes. They have such a special place to carve out whatever my fitness goals are now and what they may be in the future. I'm incredibly grateful for their generosity by offering financial assistance to those who may not be able to afford the full membership price but want a place to challenge our mind body and soul.