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.

My oldest is on a HS Crew team and we've been to this location three times for regattas. There is…read moreparking off Dekoven with a connecting tunnel that leads you to the water. For the suspicious the tunnel does have cameras, lights and there's frequent foot traffic. The park itself is clean and family friendly. There is a bar located on the deck which is nice to watch a regatta, casual rowers or a sunset. The park has cement step seating, benches, and bench swings to relax on. All in all, this is a nice place to spend an afternoon.

Came here for the fireworks celebration! Middletown always knows how to put on a good show with…read moreplenty of things to do We ended up getting some fried dough and some jerk chicken from the Irie pot fusion and it was probably some of the best jerk chicken that I've had in the states.

Nice for walking nice view of the Connecticut River cows in the neighbors farm and cottontail…read morerabbits ‍

The Riverfront Park is a nice outdoor space in Portland on the CT River. Volunteers have worked…read morehard over the last few years to clear walking trails and make it a nice little spot to visit. There is a walking trail with beautiful views of the river, as well as picnic tables, brownstone benches and a Pavillion area, that can be rented for events. Just in the last year they added restrooms (much better than the porta potties) and a covered stage area for bands and other entertainment. In the month of August there is a summer concert series with local bands. It is a great community event. The park is located very close to the Brownstone Exploration Park, which is also another great outdoor activity to check out in Portland.

We love coming here with our dog for a nice walk!…read more There are two athletic fields to walk in/around, two baseball fields, a playground, a basketball court, a soccer field AND a skate park. There is also a pavilion available to rent/use! There is definitely something for everyone!! There is a nice covered bridge that covers a stream and a walking trolley line that goes through the woods. Fun fact, there are old mink cages in the back woods from when a fur company used to be operation

This is a great park. There is something to to keep everyone busy. Bring your sports equipment…read morefor the basketball court, skate park, baseball or soccer fields. Don't forget to stretch in the workout/warmup area. You can let the kids run free on the playground with a choice of 2 playscapes that are perfect for different ages. Grab a bench in the shade and catch up on your reading or Yelp posts...while your partner keeps an eye on the kid(s)! There are bathrooms for public use at the pavilion and port-a potties near the sports fields, The pavilion is available to rent. It is equipped with a kitchen, water fountain and picnic tables galore!

The playground is huge and has recreation for kids of all ages, and comes complete with athletic…read morefields. The community-wide Trunk or Treat is worth the admission, and comes with a kid-friendly Halloween movie projected at the football field. and on snowy days this is an excellent spot for sledding, bumps and all. It's also great for a quiet walk beside the stream or visiting the butterfly selfie-stands.Food trunks and food vendors like Neil's Donuts have appeared at trunk or treat some years, so it definitely lives up to community park on these nights. This is a great community park all year!

This is our favorite playground for our son, who's now three. We have been visiting this…read moreplayground for about a year. It has been great to watch him grow and explore. While the playground is geared toward the play school age child (up to 12 years old), there is a sandbox and swings for younger children. There are 2 large playscapes. One unit is smaller, for the less adventurous child. They also have a small rock climbing wall, a rope web, a sea dragon to climb, a few bouncing trucks and a bouncing seesaw. Outside of the playground, there is a walking/running track, football and baseball field and a party pavilion. Kudos to the Town of Cromwell for such an awesome, clean and kid friendly park!

This is a great little spot on the CT River, that is quiet and relaxing. This isn't a park with…read moreactivities for kids. Pack a lunch, bring a fishing pole and get back to basics. There is plenty of open space for a gathering, if you wanted to bring some lawn games, a cooler and a grill. The grounds are always clean and there is ample parking. Unfortunately, this park is directly across from a stable. On warm days, you can not escape the smell of manure.

They have a great trail that goes along the water that it pretty flat it just has a lot of roots…read more The Meriden parks department did a goat walk there and I highly recommend following them to know when the next one is !

USE CAUTION! This trail resides along a steep cliff side (not the main trail area) and may not be…read morefor suitable for a beginner hiker. Dogs are welcome on leash. Oaths are uneven with roots poking through. Watch your step One of my favorite local parks where every season is beautiful! Well maintained and marked trails, fishing areas a free little book library and a path to the rock quarry if lucky to find! If you travel to the far end of the reservoir (main entry area next to trail map) you come to a nice opening along the reservoir. Venture a bit further along the pond to the furthest end of the water; Left brings you further into the woods and over the bridge brings you full loop around the reservoir

Cool area. lots of places to lay low and relax. Biking is not a problem. The water is nice feeling…read moredue to a cold spring as well.

If you need breathtaking views especially this time of the year where the trees change color, this…read moreis the spot for you. There is more than one trail and if you have a map you can decide which trail to follow. If you are interested in just a walk around the lake the red trail would be perfect but if you are more interested in the view of the lake from higher up, then the blue to the orange trail, blue and blue to the red trail will get you there. The entire hike got us was about 3 miles. A simple hike that is good enough for a beginner. It had a steep hill and I was so out of breath going up but when you get to the top at the lookout point it was all worth it. The lake wasn't the cleanest as the water was green but there were still people fishing. A lot of picnic tables to sit, eat or hang out and a big parking lot with adequate space.

This gem is quite a bit off the beaten path. If you travel off season, which we do most of the…read moretime, you are rewarded with a serene nature experience, and relatively few fellow humans. It is dog friendly. From April to September the water is comfortable, with a pleasant sandy bottom. There seems to be a path all the way around the lake, but we've never gone that far. You are expected to carry your trash out to the parking lot, where you will find the only toilet facility in the form of a porta potty. Always a great place to lose the stress.

Miller's Pond's desirability is very time dependent. Spring, summer, and fall are no go due to…read morelimited parking, disgusting trash, and rude people. If you like used diapers, beer cans, and broken glass, then go for it. Sad!

Beautiful playground that is loved by children of all ages! It is far enough off the road with a…read morelarge parking lot and a safety gate that helps help the littles from running out. It is not large but it packs a punch of multiple slides, climbing structures and brand new soft padding to absorb any falls. The playground doesn't have much shade so prepare for that on sunny hot days. Only thing noticeable missing are swings but the kiddos will get over it as there is so much to explore!

Picnics and ponds…read more Veteran's Memorial Park is a 21 acre park that has a whole lot of different activities available including football, basketball and baseball fields, several tennis courts, a playground for kids, a large and wooded picnic area and a swimming pool. There is even a small duck pond located in the park. Most of the facilities are in excellent condition except for the basketball court that has lots of long cracks in the surface from the ice and snow. Definitely time for some repaving. The fields are used by several different leagues but are open to anyone when not in use. In fact everything in the park is open to anyone except for the swimming areas which can only be used by town residents. The park gets very crowded in the summer, especially on weekends, and picnics and parties are very common here. The park can be loud and pretty chaotic with lots of kids running around and people playing various games but is always friendly and pleasant. A nice park that offers a whole lot of different things to do.