Close to Colonial Hotel, this is an accessible gem. A new parking payment machine has been set up…read morebut no charges at moment. There are lots of picnic tables and looks like swimming in a Great Lake with s sandy beach. Trails are clean and shady. I wish there was a map that showed distances: I was unsure how long it would take for me to hike around it, so I did not take the trail. Clean bathrooms, but only open until 3 pm at the moment.

The pavilion was rented for a birthday party on, what turned out to be, a very cold and windy day…read more The staff offered indoor warm space and hot chocolate in the visitor center. The building is beautiful. On a warm day, the pavilion would be great...large with 12+ picnic tables. The park has walking trails, a beach and a playground. The staff go out of their way for the visitors. Highly recommend!

The park is the best park in the world. I grew up playing here and it never lets me down. Lots of…read morememories built here. I love this park!

If you love architecture, community-built projects, imaginative spaces for kids to play and…read moreexplore-- and playgrounds with a view plus lots of shade,Kiddie Junction at Pirone Park is for you!! One of my fondest memories from childhood and we were delighted to find it still in good condition and still beloved by children of all ages. This place is truly magic!

My GOD took me to the dump instead of the park. Good luck finding an entrance if you are not from…read morehere.

The Leominster State Forest is a beautiful adventure into all the sexy sites of Massachusetts. The…read moretrails around here are well worn in, making outdoor activities such as hiking, jogging and rock climbing easy to approach and appreciate both above and below the tree line. The rock faces around here are great to scale, and the lakes around here are more than kayak-friendly. Don't miss out on this outstanding slice of nature!

my kid likes the skate park... otherwise, it looked to be a good spot for the little ones to stay…read morecool, on a hot summer day.

Baseball diamonds, skateboard, basketball, playground and tennis court (although the latter is out…read moreof commission). Park crew was working when I was there: they seem to keep things well mowed and picked up. Saw several dog walkers, but all on leash. There are some woods and a power line corridor, loaded with tradh. Cute little stone bridges cross a drainage ditch. Very little shade in main parking lot. Splash park is what it is and was not in use when I visited.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour…read morethe Earth & take you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist! We have set the dial to 1906 in the town of Groton MA. Located about an hour outside of Boston & perched on top of Gibbet Hill in Groton, are the cryptic ruins of The Bancroft Castle. Many people think that you have to jump the pond & go to Europe & other continents to see castles. Not True. Here in America we have many castles; ironically they just aren't being promoted. This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. THE HISTORY: In 1906 General William Bancroft constructed his castle on top of Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts. This place was a gift for his wife. It was originally intended to be a bungalow & more additions were going to be added to create a large castle. Unfortunately he didn't have the funds to complete his vision. In 1918 it became a sanitarium & in the 1930's the bungalow became an entertainment venue. On July 4 1932 the fireworks celebration went haywire & the bungalow caught fire. All that remained were the exterior stone walls. Since 2000, The Castle & it's trails became a protected open space for the city of Groton & open to the public. Great News for us! There is free street parking below the Castle on Lowell St . There is NO PARKING from DUSK TO DAWN otherwise you can Park there. There is also a sign with a notice that this is a Tick area. Take all precautions with DEET or other spray, long sleeve shirts & tucking pants into socks & shaking out of clothes etc. You can visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tick-borne-disease-prevention for the latest tick guidelines. Also just stay on the main cleared path & with precautions & spray you should be Fine. I wouldn't picnic here because of the ticks even though it's a beautiful spot. It's only a short walk up the hill to The Bancroft Castle. IT'S BEAUTIFUL! You will see meadows, trees, green grass, a beautiful Castle & a white structure in the distance. You can get right up close to the stone structure of Bancroft Castle. It offers a clear open window to the natural setting on all its sides & above too. After your exploring adventure, come on down the hill & it's only a few minutes drive to see that white building. It is The First Parish Meeting House built in 1755 in Groton. Happy Traveling. AND IT'S ALL FREE! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

Cool little structure to check out if you find yourself in Groton. Easy hike from main road- May…read moreeven see skins wild turkeys and cows

Doyle field is a great place for kids and adults alike. There is a great playground that has a…read morereally great jungle gym and a few slides. Most of the equipment is fairly new and all well maintained. There is a 1/4 mile hard track, a 1/2 mile single track, a baseball field and a soccer field all open for public use. The tennis courts are currently being completely redone. They are planning on 8 courts with new lights. I can't wait!

My only complaint is that the benches at Doyle field playground are super uncomfortable…read more The playground is large enough for my son to run around and have fun without feeling crowded, but small enough that I can easily keep an eye on him. (He is 6 and doesn't need Mom following him around at a playground.) Nice trees, nice walking/jogging path. Okay variety of things for kids to play on.

It was a damn fine day to be at the Wachusett Reservoir Dam, in the low 80's and partly sunny. This…read moreis a beautiful spot, with hundreds of steps to conquer if you want to go to the bottom of the dam and back up. There is also a picturesque fountain with a pool at the bottom of the dam, a great spot to picnic as there are shade trees around the fountain. There are many trails around the reservoir, boasting great views of the pristine waterfront. You can't walk on top of the dam however, as it's been closed off for security reasons. There are many aprking spots around the reservoir, and near the busy dam, you can park on the side of the road. Be careful crossing, it's busy there. We've been here multiple times, and would be happy to return.

It is not a business, it is run by the government. Totally roped off for safety concerns. So you…read morecannot go onto the top of the reservoir but can view Wachusett reservoir from the sidelines. Beautiful view, nice hike and street parking.