"But I remember us riding in my brother's car Her body…read moretanned and wet down at the reservoir" (Bruce Springsteen) Want a low impact walk on a paved trail where you'll see some beautiful scenery and water views? You'll find all of that right here in New Hartford on the Nepaug Reservoir Trail. The mile long trail is wide, paved, flat and about as easy to walk on as any trail we have visited. We parked at the main parking lot on Route 202, walked through a chain link gate, and found the start of the trail to begin our scenic walk around the reservoir and across the historic 109-year-old Nepaug Dam, established in 1917. The 600-foot long dam has a concrete spillway in its center. The spillway is over 100 feet tall and is quite spectacular. The trail around the dam has a few cutouts that serve as observation platforms to take you out over the top of the dam. You will love the views ! The overall scenery is fantastic with great water views of the enormous reservoir. We saw quite a variety of folks out there today - kids on bicycles, young families with strollers, couples of every age, joggers, and lots of leashed dogs.

I have been eyeing the pristine blue water of the Nepaug Reservoir and the dense emerald green…read moreforest surrounding and protecting the watershed over the past 55 years. FINALLY, I took the time to park at one of the two access gates. My preferred gate is near the intersection of Torrington Lane and Country Lane, map-it because this gate is off the beaten path. The other gate is off Litchfield Turnpike, CT Route 202. Both locations have limited parking. This is a very simple walk, not necessarily a hike. 1.0 mile from gate to gate, then the same 1.0 mile back to your original gate, 2.0 mile loop. Not a strenuous walk along it's well maintained paved road. At about the halfway point is the stunning 109 year old Nepaug Reservoir Dam, built between 1912 - 1916 (some say 1917). If you're shy of heights, keep your eyes on the Reservoir side, the downstream side of the dam is rather an extreme drop. Either way both views are worth the experience. Access is limited to only the paved maintenance road, going past the road & into the woods down to the Reservoir is strictly enforced and posted along the road. Despite, this is a beautiful place to visit, greet other walkers with or without a pup, and bikers.

New Preston Falls has a 20 ft drop and is located behind some shops. There were a handful of…read moreparking spots and a small rock to stand on to look at it. It's located on the Aspetuck River. If you're in the area and love waterfalls, it's worth checking out. I love seeing the rushing water and the beautiful sounds. We were exploring the town and stumbled upon this behind some shops.

"The moon is big and yellow And the stars are all a' glow…read moreFrom the bridge, I see reflections In the waters far below" (Dolly Parton) The Upper Sheffield Covered Bridge was built in 1999 as close to a stick-by-stick replacement (as close as modern engineering standards would allow) of the original 1832 bridge that was destroyed in a fire in 1994. Some materials salvaged from the original bridge were used for continuity. It's a nice example of "One Span Town Lattice Truss" open construction with a wood plank floor and wood siding painted grey. No vehicles are permitted on the 93-foot-long bridge that spans the Housatonic River. I read that the original 1832 bridge was the oldest covered bridge in Massachusetts and one of the oldest Town lattice truss bridges in the U. S. There's an information kiosk with vital information about the history and restoration of the bridge. There's a parking lot and a little park where you can access the bridge, and a hiking trail at the other end of the bridge, It's a very peaceful place to stop, take a stroll, enjoy the construction of the bridge and a nice water view at the park.

Cool little place to stop - over the Housatonic river in Sheffield. There is a small dirt parking…read morelot and a wide path for walking.

The Apple Map app did not direct us correctly. We were unable to find this landmark and didn't have…read moretime to explore. This is where we ended up. Beautiful, but no statue or memorial to be seen. Be sure to check your directions.

It's not every day that you see a park fountain with three fish spitting water out of their little…read morefish mouths. But I saw that and more yesterday at this very cool landmark in Norfolk. If you look carefully at the Joseph Battell Fountain, you'll also see a stream of water exiting from a lion's mouth, basins, benches and a sundial. Located on a village green where Routes 272 and 44 intersect, this fountain was built in 1889 as a tribute to Joseph Battell. He was a local businessman known for his support of local charitable and civic causes. It's made out of pink stone with a central round column topped by a sphere and those water spewing fish. Basins or troughs near the ground were designed to water horses. The center column is inscribed with the words: In Memory of Joseph Battell Born in Norfolk 1806 Died in New York in 1874.

"Well, open your eyes, girl, look at me I'm gonna show you…read morehow it ought to be We're gonna have a good thing Such a good thing, baby" (Paul Revere and the Raiders) Good things tend to spread, don't they? The 1908 Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA inspired the 1996 addition of flower baskets and boxes to the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury, which in turn inspired the 2015 addition of flowers to what is now known as the Canton Flower Bridge. The bridge is actually a section of the boardwalk along the Farmington River Walk on River Road in the Collinsville section of Canton. The bridge parallels the Farmington River, and on today's gorgeous summer day we saw at least ten groups of adventurers enjoying the water, in kayaks or on paddle boards or on rafts. The boardwalk was full of activity today -dog walkers, bicyclists, carriage pushers and folks just out getting some exercise and upping their step count. The bridge is decorated with hanging baskets and flower baskets that are maintained by volunteers. Another nice feature is the dozen or so placards highlighting some of the land and sea wildlife creatures that inhabit the river environment. What a lovely oasis of color and peaceful water scenery.

This is a very pretty bridge with flowers as the name says…read more It is connected to the Farmington River trail. On one side you will see the Farmington River and on the other, you can see the road. There are signs on the bridge detailing what type of wildlife lives around the river. I like reading each one, nature is beautiful. Once you cross the bridge, there is a park like area with benches. There are plenty of pedestrians using this area and it's a nice place to get some exercise and fresh air!

One of my favorite places on earth, breathtaking I don't think I've got to see all of it yet cause…read moresometimes certain parts of the park are closed, but just seeing that amazing building over the water and how it was made and how was created such lovely pictures, such lovely memories of my family, and I taking a walk and taking pictures shared it with my friends and they brought their family such a nice drive

This is a beautiful place for pictures, picnics and to just get some fresh air. It reminds me of a…read moreprincess castle. The Dam is right of the main road. There are several lookout areas where you can park to then walk up to the structure. It's such a serene place if you go when it's not busy.

Town Bridge is located in Canton, CT and is a historic one lane truss bridge, built in 1895. The…read moreroad is called Town Bridge Road and it goes over the Farmington River. This pin connected Parker truss bridge is one of two left in the state of Connecticut. There were about 100 built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company; the company was known for building iron bridges at that time. Prior to this bridge being built, a wooden bridge was in its place. The price to build it was $8,500 in 1895. Also at that time, there were only 300 automobiles in the United States. Aside from automobiles, horses and wagons would frequently cross it. Town of Canton had approximately 2,500 residents and 4 automobiles. The bridge is located in a rural neighborhood. During its life span, it has been through hurricanes, snowstorms, and floods. In modern times, it was removed via crane in 2019 for major rehabilitation and reinforcement. After it was painted, it was placed back via a crane in late 2021. After touch ups and paving, there was a ribbon cutting; people with antique automobiles were the first to drive across the newly rehabbed bridge. In the end, this historic bridge is well loved by the community and has served its purposes for over a century; after some setbacks, it seems it will continue to serve its purpose for future generations. I think this landmark is a rare New England gem and a symbol of resilience.

Similar in design and execution to other Civil War memorials in the north, this one is located in…read moreEast End Park. The park had been a military parade ground a century ago, making this an apt placement. Summarized from https://chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/132.htm... The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1905. The original donor, Charles H. Pine (1845-1915) was present. At the age of 16, he served as a drummer in the 19th Connecticut Volunteers and served for three years. The memorial is 27 feet tall and features a soldier in greatcoat and cap, leaning on his upturned rifle. It could be said he is staring off into the distance at those who did not come home from the war. The inscriptions read... 1904 For The Dead A Tribute - For The Living A Memory - For Posterity An Emblem Of Loyalty To The Flag Of Their Country. On the north side... The Gift Of Charles B. Pine In honor of the patriotism and to perpetuate the memory of these 368 brave men who went forth from this town from 1861 to 1865 and periled their all that the nation might live this monument has been erected that all who come after them may be mindful of their deeds and fail not in the day of trial to emulate their example On the column, the battles where they fought... Petersburg * Antietam * Port Hudson * Cold Harbor There is parking along the street next to the park. [Review 1692 of 2024 - 96 in Connecticut - 22715 overall]

This simple and modest World War Two monument is located in the town green where Main Street (Route…read more44) intersects with Park Place (Route 8). The green is a busy place, with all sorts of other markers, monuments, and memorials everywhere. It's a 2-sided marker that on one side honors the 1,551 Winchester citizens that served in the Second World War. The other side honors the 39 from Winchester that were killed in the war The inscriptions read: Dedicated To Those Veterans of W W II Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Freedom In Memory Of The 1551 Men & Women From Winchester Who Served In W W II The statue was dedicated on May 29, 2000. The memorial is a lot smaller than some of the other WW II memorials I have seen. It's also a lot less flashy. It's probably exactly what most members of the Greatest Generation would have wanted.