I thought this was a lovely campground…read more The grounds and restrooms/showers were immaculate. Everything was incredibly well maintained. The sites offer decent privacy. They're not on top of each other, although you can see your neighbors. The staff was wonderful--incredibly friendly. They sell wood if you need wood (for a fair price, too), and they have books to borrow in the check-in cabin if you want a book to read (and movies if you have an RV, or a device that plays movies). There are some decent features to the grounds, also. They have a playground on the campsite, as well as basketball hoops. Right outside the campsite is Thompson lake, where you can fish, boat, and kayak. They have a pretty big disc golf course, which we enjoyed, and some hiking trails. I would definitely come back to this campsite. I'm a big fan of Recreation.gov, and this was one of the better ones I've been to.

Great little little campground in the north eastern part of CT. Technically, this campground is in…read moreNorth Grosvenordale which is a part of Thompson not Putnam. We stayed here when the tornado occurred on 8/18/21 and we were fine. The tent kept us nice and dry and it was beautiful and sunny after the storm. If you like hiking, there are some descent trails around the lake and the airline trail is also nearby. Putnam is also a cute little town that is worth a visit. Walmart and grocery stores are about 10 minutes away too. This years hosts and the hosts in 2019 were both incredibly friendly and helpful. They did a great job at keeping the place well maintained.

My parents purchased an RV here last summer and it has been great! It was very affordable. Everyone…read moreis very nice. There is a nice clean pool, a nice park. There is a general store on the premises. They maintain an active events calendar!

WOW a campground with AMAZING food.... WHAT? We went on opening weekend and I cannot wait to go…read moreback... quite possibly some of the best food for the price.. Cheap eats done right... nothing fancy but large portions... quality ingredients and honestly everything we had was delicious... There were other couples eating alongside us and we all agreed that the food was fantastic... The sandwiches were loaded with stuff, the chicken wings were plump, crispy and on point! The little store they had also was well stocked with campaign essentials... forgot ketchup? don't worry... they have it and if i recall it was like $2 for the bottle... Need sticks for smores? $1 a package... Staples and an awesome price.. Thank you for the Fantastic lunch......

The boat launch is a little awkward to use if you don't have a boat trailer, but entirely…read morefunctional. It is a wide ramp, with enough theoretical room for at least three vehicles abreast, at a time. However, the parking area is a few hundred feet away, back up the road. The Lake itself is very nice. The water is pretty clean (likely thanks to ongoing cleanup efforts). I just hope that there aren't any herbicides in the water I should be worried about. I haven't used the beach, here.

Fed by Aborn Brook, located at the south end Crystal Lake is replaced about once every year…read more The entire shore is lined by residential property with only one public beach located on Sandy Beach Road (Rt. 140) Off of Route 30 in Ellington, the State operates a boat launch on the west shore of the lake. However there is no public boat docking. There are also no restaurant or sanitary facilities located on the lake to the public. Occasionally ice cream trucks roll through for the little ones. If you're looking to kayak, paddle-board, relax and go tubing -- and you aren't a resident or local, I recommend finding street parking or walking over to the lake. Be careful, as some residents can be very picky about the parking situation The beach is open to the public from June 16-August 17. If you decide to park in the small beach lot, residents pay $5 and non-residents pay $10

Stumbled upon this place while looking for a quick walk somewhere new. This place fit the bill…read morenicely. Fairly decent sized dirt parking lot, short, well maintained trail, small turnaround area for launching canoes, kayaks, etc. into the river for some upstream or downstream paddling on the Willimantic River and Eagleville Pond (to the south). I hope to find my way back here with paddles in hand at some point. Hiking: I use the word hiking very loosely. It's more of a casual stroll, but it was pretty nicely maintained and meanders around a bit through wooded areas, grassy areas and marshy areas, with a short duration along the shoreline of the river. To find the trail, park in the dirt lot, then walk all the way to the back right corner of they grassy field. Grassy areas were low while I was there due to it being the winter, but I'd certainly be cautious for ticks if that grass gets longer in the summer. Looks like good potential for mosquitos as well due to the marshy areas, so show up prepared. Paddling: The river looked very calm and with good potential for wildlife sighting. You could paddle upstream or float down into Eagleville Pond. There's another park at the end of Eagleville Pond where you can end your trip if you have the means to do so. (Note: the pond ends with a pretty wide, marked dam. Go to the far left while facing downstream to get out at the other park). Adjacent park / Lynch Landing: The trail connects to the Lynch Landing trail, and in fact this review is admittedly glossing over that fact and considering it to be all one trail system. Know that you could also park in the VERY small Lynch Landing parking lot on Depot Road if you preferred. (...or possibly a the "EO Smith Depot Campus" building next to the Lynch Landing parking area, but I can't advise on whether or not that's allowed at this time.) Note: Yes, you can go across the bridge on your way out and instead of back out on Plains Road, but know that it's narrow and unpaved for a good distance. There's a great looking property shortly past the bridge. I could definitely see myself living there...

A very quiet, heavily forested hike in the quiet corner. It's a beautiful place for a fall hike…read more The only downside is that there's no real elevation gain. Great for trail running though! Take note of the reservoir bog and bird lookout. Shout across the open space and you might be able to hear your echo!

Since I was a child, this has been one of my favorite places to collect my thoughts and enjoy the…read morebeauty of Mother Nature.

A short hike brings you to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by large boulders perfect for…read moresunbathing. The area is posted "no swimming", but there were people in the water. It is also posted "no picnicking". The Willimantic River is not known for it's purity, so bathe at your own risk. Although the hike is short and easy, it is rocky and tree roots are staggered throughout. If you're careful you could probably get away with flip flops. There is also a

Beautiful!!! This little spot is amazing. The water is so beautiful. Definitely be mindful of the…read moreweather.

Unreal. Every dish was more incredible than the last. This was the juiciest pork I had ever had in…read moremy life! The flavors of each course were masterful. Lobster ravioli and lavash with homemade butter are to die for. Coming from Boston, this was worth the trip, I can see this rustic, farm to table culinary EXPERIENCE being the next French Laundry. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are and the passion that the chef and staff have for their craft. Not to mention, the property is breathtaking. It is peaceful farm with a stunning lookout point and lake behind the restaurant. Overall decor is ultra authentic and sourced directly from the chef and staff, or part of the history of the farm. Each dish and each part of the restaurant seems to have a unique story behind it. I would drive the 1.5 hours from Boston, or farther anytime to experience this again!! Shout out to Crystal for taking great care of us and sharing fascinating tidbits about the history of the farm, the food, and how it's made!

NEVER AGAIN!! The GOOD:…read moreLocation Atmosphere Taste of food offered The Bad: Food quantity for the price!! After my partner's friend told him about this place and how it was wonderful, all you can eat (he went to a meat offered menu) we chose to try the shellfish and champagne on August 15th. Again the venue is wonderful the setup was beautiful there was oysters on the half shell and those seem to be very plentiful but we didn't over eat on those we wanted to save for the main meals which was supposed to be halibut Lobster, &scallops. when we got there the menu card added herbed crusted chicken for some reason. Everything was family style, truthfully, the chicken platter had the most plentiful amount of food on it!! Of which I took one piece of chicken breast and whatever vegetables sauteed with it I think they were just mushrooms, my partner took none of the chicken cuz he didn't want to fill up on chicken. The white meat was dry the sauteed vegetables were delicious and when eating with the chicken it was palatable. Then my partner and I got ONE SMALL scallop each, the family style "platter" that came out had FIVE scallops on them so he and I both took one as did the couple across from us and then the last one was taken by another couple next to us which is fine because we share family "platters", those five scallops were not meant just for my partner and I, they were meant for the vicinity of where we were sitting which was 10 of us. I think the long table held about 40 on one side 40 on the other. The lobster, same thing, luckily I got one piece which was a white meat and I split that in half to my partner and it wasn't a lot it was literally, for me, two bites and he got some claws which I never tasted and they were so tiny!! the halibut again small pieces on the family style "platter" I took one he took one and then later he took another one that was still sitting on the platter, I think maybe 6/7 pieces were on that platter. Honestly I've tasted better halibut it was on the dry side unfortunately. So for the money,$150 EACH, we expected family style portions even if they weren't going to be filled after the first time at least give us a family style portion and when the guy across the table from us asked about getting more Lobster the wait staff said "I'll have to see", of course none ever came. When my partner asked if more scallops were coming the wait staff said "I don't think so"... so all in all it was very disappointing for the amount of money we paid per person, we will never do that again or recommend it. His friend either gas lit us or his night of a meat dinner family style "platters" were very significant!!

Another great hike at GWSP at 6.79 miles! I'm adding some…read moremore pictures including how the trails are marked. Just follow the color! If you find my glasses and case, let me know.

great wooded hike starting in Pulaski State park on the snow-shoe trail then completed the orange…read moretrail which take you out on an eastern route put of the park where you will spend most of the walk between Pulaski and George Washington camp ground. some great features of the remains of a home and an associated man-made pond. in time the orange trail does turn west and ends on the dam at the western edge of Pulaski. The trails are hilly and so.e trees are down, but none interfered with the walk. I would category this as a easy hike. we will be back in the fall yo be sure!