Loved it! Good…read moreForeSt Wide easy paths Great views of Lake Champlain & Mt Philo Not crowded Perhaps RRP is my favorite of the Burlington parks as this is more of a real forest with canopied trees. Good views of red rock walls and rocks along the trail. We went with a local who knew the park well and we very much enjoyed the short easy hike!

We wanted to take a morning stroll with our coffee and this was perfect! It's a short walk to the…read morebeach and it was nice and quiet. There was a decent amount of parking spots but can easily see them filling up during a busier time of the day.

Do you like hiking? Go to Laplatte River. It has forty five acres. I like the steep parts and the…read moretroll bridge. I didn't like the mud in the spring. I suggest you bring boots. I felt happy, tired and excited. I would recommend this place. -Oliver 2nd grade The Laplatte river is magnificent. It has a troll bridge,4.5 miles of trials, a river and rock cliffs.I like that you can offer things to the troll. If he likes it he might play a tune. I don't like that it is muddy in the spring. I would recommend bug spray and an offering for the troll. I felt happy. I would recommend this place. -Whit 3rd grade

Cute and tiny little spot in a more rural area…read more My friend showed me this place while we were in the Burlington area. We only made a quick stop and grabbed some photos. If you are a photography buff, I would recommend stopping here to take some pics. I'm a novice trying to learn how to use a real camera, but it was fun to snap a few shots. If you like history, check out the sign about the Mills at Shelburne Falls. It is a very peaceful and serene setting. It was great to have a zen moment and listen to the rushing waters.

Charlotte Beach is a playground and beach in Charlotte. It has bathrooms, pickleball and tennis, a…read morecovered bridge, a swim dock, easy parking, and swings. There are no dogs allowed, there are lots of gnats in spring, and you have to pay. It is only open in a little bit in spring and all of summer. I would recommend sunscreen, bug spray, and extra layers. I felt excited there,I give it . -Ayla Grade 3

This place is pure natural gorgeousness. I mean wow. Lovely beach area (no sand, rocks) on Lake…read moreChamplain. There are several floating docks in the water that you can swim out to to lay out or relax. Views for days..... stunning . There's a few picnic tables and benches around the area. Right down the road is a beautiful old covered bridge. If you're in Charlotte, check it out!

Wrong address!!!! 645 Pine Street is the Dept of Parks building!…read moreWater Front Dog Park is about 2 miles further north. It is not really accessible by car (Penny Lane is the closest a car can get). it's about 1/2 mile walk north of Waterfront Park. From the north end of Waterfront Park, walk along the bike path, past Burlington Skate Park, past Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center and you'll see it on the left. The park itself is awesome. Very open fenced-in space with lots of grass. They supply poop bags and there is access to the lake from the north edge of the park. No drinking fountain unfortunately, but a great park nonetheless. If you are looking for lots of dogs, Starr Farm might be a better bet, but if you are looking for something a little more low-key, this is the place. Here is a link to the google map coordinates: http://bit.ly/1sN8Z81

This is a huge grassy dog park that is about the size of a football field! It is usually not…read morecrowded at all, and poop bags are provided. There is no separate small dog park, but the park is next to Lake Champlain. If you trust your dog you can let it splash around in the nearby small uncrowded beaches. For some reason there are never any tennis balls left in this park, so BYO. After your dog gets tired, you can walk up to church street, and grab a cold beverage and a bite to eat. Awesome Park!

Colchester is my hometown. The view of Lake Champlain is beautiful. Colchester also has a nice…read moreschool system. There are some great parks to play at here such as Bayside Park (even has a skate park) and Airport Park. There is also a bike path that goes from Colchester all the way to downtown Burlington. I'm sure it goes even further but I usually stop once I'm downtown.

5/5 - Our Favorite Dog Park!…read more We've been bringing our GSP here 4-5 days a week for nearly a year, and 95% of the time it's a fantastic experience. There's a strong community of regulars, and most dog owners are responsible and attentive. You'll find a rhythm to the park: the 9am crew, the noon "puppy hour," and a lively 5pm group (avoid this time if your dog prefers a mellower vibe). In summer, there's water available and people often bring kiddie pools. The park is donation-based, so consider bringing your own water for your pup (and others!), just in case. As with any public space, you'll occasionally run into an untrained or aggressive dog--usually brought by someone new to dog parks. In the past year, I've only seen two serious incidents. In one case, a dog attacked another and was subsequently banned by the city. In another, a dog aggressively "resource guarded" its favorite best friend dog at the park, and attacked any other dog who wanted to play with his best friend. It was handled by the community. Incidents like these are rare but worth being aware of. Personally, I stay vigilant. I screen every new dog my pup meets and carry a pet corrector spray and small foghorn, just in case. I never assume others are as proactive, so I ask questions and stay alert. It's every owner's responsibility to manage their dog to ensure everyone's safety--that's how public spaces like this thrive. Overall, Starr Farm is hands-down the best dog park around. The positive experiences far outweigh the negative, and we've made great connections. There's even a "Friends of Starr Farm Dog Park" Facebook group, which has grown to include social outings for dog owners. My dog does well here because she's highly trained, socially savvy, and prefers fetch over pack play. If something seems off--like a checked-out owner or a dog with concerning behavior--I create distance or leave. There's also a smaller fenced-in area for shy, small, or young dogs right beside the larger fenced in area FYI. It shares the same parking lot and it's gated entrance is on the left side (when you park). A few asks to keep this space safe: - If your dog resource guards other dogs, please don't bring them here. If they resource guard high value "toys" or other dogs balls, please be aware of this while at the park and manage the situation (like don't bring it's favorite toy) to avoid creating triggers for aggression. - If your dog isn't up-to-date on vaccines or parasite prevention, please stay home. - If your dog is aggressive or attacks other dogs, this is not the place--try a private "Sniff Spot" rental instead. Community spaces only stay safe and welcoming if we protect them. This park is a gem because people genuinely care. Let's keep it that way!

Very nice large fenced dog park with friendly dogs and people…read more Lots of action around noon

Added this beach, but the information could be wrong. Went here countless times when up in upstate…read moreNY since I'd personally heard it was a beautiful and secluded beach. It truly was. Would go as many times as I could, I mean truly amazing. It had paths to the tracks for the trains and led up to a calm neighborhood. Great place! Heard it might be closed though. So sad. Lovely place to visit tho!

Rarely have I gone on a hike in the mountains, but Mount Mansfield was a great experience. We drove…read morefirst to Lot A via the Toll Road, which is pretty pricey to pay... but it's not realistic to climb to the top from the parking lot at bottom of the road... at least for a day trip. The weather was good, although you could feel autumn approaching. Keep in mind - The only "facilities" are Porta Potties by the entrance by the Visitor Center parking, and there are no spots (even in any woods) until you are back! We were lucky to get a spot in Lot A, because the lower Lot B adds to your hike. We explored the initial part of the Long Trail, luciously green, covered my trees and full of moss, flowers, and mushrooms. Then, we returned to the Visitor Center to begin our walk along the ridge trail from the "nose" towards the "chin." I made it about half way, using a useful pair of hiking poles - something I'd recommend. Good outdoor shoes with appropriate treads also made navigating the rocky terrain easier. Both views - on one side the Adirondack mountains across Lake Champlain and the opposite side over to New Hampshire - were spectacular. If you're looking for an active outdoor jaunt for the day, recommend exploring Mount Mansfield. Nevertheless, you may want to check out in advance the Toll Road fees so you won't be shocked once you arrive.

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.