I've come here a few times now for races. With the amount of runners that turn out there has always been more than enough parking to accommodate the turn out. The park rangers have always been helpful with directing traffic and making sure runners don't veer off course. The bathrooms are clean and though I haven't traveled throughout the whole park asides from my runs I would definitely come here during warmer weather. read more

The 5 stars is for the bike path. Nice 4 mile loop, flat and scenic (a relative term). If Jones Beach is the crown jewel of Long Island State Parks, then this park is...well it's the reason why the Southern State Parkway was built. It's good for walking and riding, I would not recommend swimming in that water. read more

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Heckscher STATE Park in East- Islip--Note: not to be confused with Heckscher Park in Huntington NY. Now who would do that? Me? Yep! Anyway the GPS says you are here in Islip- Nope - side road with houses. Heckscher Parkway 3 times round - and no one to ask as locals didn't know! X46 or X45... Seems the Rangers are short staffed this year though I did find them in parking field 1 - when I finally found it 1and the few signs coming in. Of which the 2 young men were kind and did give me a paper map for exit information. ( see pix) This said, the park itself is very nice with the beach in back and many parking fields. The Park entrance fee is 8.00 unless you have a Park pass. That young lady was able to give me good directions passing field 2 to get to 1. Plenty of room and the group I went to had tents, tables and a DJ. I feel I want to go back to explore the rest of it. read more

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Originally Gilded age property dating back to the 19th century, the current property of Hecksher State park once contained two estates located on the great South Bay. After being estate land during a great period of opulence, the land was eventually expropriated by Robert Moses and the parks commission during a time of great development in 1924, then becoming a park in 1929. Heckscher is truly a great place to visit and offers something for beach lovers as well as lovers of leisure activities, these activities include walking, hiking, fishing and bicycling as well as a disc golf course. Camping is also an option as the park offers camp sites along with cottages that can be rented by the day/week. There are Plenty of picnic areas for Barbecuing and socializing. One thing I could say about the park is that it looks like it is in need of some TLC as far as paved surfaces and possibly turning the defunct swimming pool into a possible free concert stage (Example: Jones beach Band Shell), this building was destroyed in 2012 by Hurricane sandy and lies dormant and boarded up. Looking around I can see that this park once had its hay day rivaling beaches such as Jones beach further west. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing New York State try and revive this once impressive location on their roster of State Parks on Long Island. Besides a little wear and tear I certainly recommend people visit this park as the design of it is so interesting and unique, it's still a nice place to get out doors and explore. I recommend down loading the park map if you're going on a walking tour like I did. One of my Favorites :) read more

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Even on a cold and rainy day we had a wonderful time at Heckscher Park. This is the perfect park. If you have a toddler, there are three awesome playgrounds within five minutes walking of each other. Our son was so excited and enjoyed every moment and even though he was freezing and covered in goosebumps, he did not wanna leave. It is also really awesome that they have super clean bathrooms available which is always a plus. We tried to walk over by the water where we found yet another playground, but it was too too cold. Super excited to come here again when the weather is better. read more

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We went to Heckscher State Park (field 6) mid afternoon and the views were beautiful. No toll pay coming in because it's the Fall and off season. It was quiet, parking lot was clean, and just enough time to walk around before it got dark early. We ate in the parking lot for a bit before getting ready to head towards the beach. Walking along the beach, it was really peaceful. There were still a few sandflies around, we were already in sneakers, hoodies and sweats to avoid getting bitten. It was a nice change to come here during the Fall besides the Summer. When we went, temperatures were warm with a slight wind, however it was great to just take the walk until the sun set. The next time we come back to Heckscher State Park, we want to check out the other fields. Field 6 had plenty of parking, public restrooms available, and cool views. read more

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Great park. So much parking. Great place to ride bikes. You have open trails. A little beach to go past or sit near. A bunch of tables and grills to have a picnic. Multiple Playgrounds for the kids. We see people playing softball here a lot. Bathrooms and bike tire stations scattered around. Great spot. read more

Easy to find, off the Sunrise Highway, this park is safe for a single gal like me. There is plenty of parking, which is grouped according to fields. Example: Field 5 is for dog walkers and boat owners. Field 7 is for beach goers. There are lots of people including police, so this place is relatively safe. Many mask-less individuals are abound, like myself, maintaining a six-foot distance between others. It is early Spring, so the beach is closed. I can't wait until the quarantine is over so I can play volleyball here. I definitely will come back. read more

Heckscher State Park - Field 5 is for dog lovers and boaters - Parks Near Me - East Islip, New York

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I spent the past two weekends at Heckscher Park. Two weeks ago I rented Pavilion 3 for a work picnic. When I arrived the site was clean. We just went and set up. I had received my permit in the mail. Everything went smoothly. This past weekend a booked one of the newly built cottages. It was awesome! It was clean upon arrival. Had cups, plates, coffee pot etc. you need to bring coffee filters, paper towels, bedding, soap. They provide toilet paper. There is a broom to sweep. My cottage had two bedrooms. A master with a queen and the second room had two twin beds. The couch pulled out as well. Our cottage had beach access. We had a fire pit with a grate over it so you could barbecue. I brought my kayak and bicycle with me. There are designated bike lanes. You can put your kayak in right off the beach. My husband would go fishing every morning. I loved that we had a screened in porch and they had Adirondack chairs. They really thought of everything. Check in and out went smoothly. I will definitely be renting again. And they do not have air conditioning but they are installing them for next summer. read more

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Such a gorgeous place! Also a great spot to hear the Spring Peepers in the spring time!

Live on long island and decided to stay in their cabins for a few nights. I have mixed feelings Pros- serene and beautiful surrounded by nature - close to lots of restaurants, shopping ect - park has alot to do; beaches, multiple playgrounds, frisbee golf, bike trail, camping ect - cabin itself is minimal but beautiful deck/patio Cons- way to expensive for what they provide and a three night minimum (when I booked atleast) $225 per night came to $700+. - counted about 20 dead crickets over the course of three days and a few alive in our cabin. If you come home at night you will fight spiders and tons of crickets jumping up from the deck. - Toooo many mosquitos, I came home with too many bites to count for someone that was in a cabin and not a tent - bed is terrible - cabin is stocked with bare minimum and they take a $200 deposit. Seems excessive especially since they make it clear you should sweep daily and clean a bit before you leave - No T.V. and slow wifi All in all we had a nice relaxing time, my husband loved waking up every day and having coffee in the screened in patio. I just honestly rather go camping if I'm going to deal with so many bugs and bites, it's not worth the price tag. read more

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Heckscher State Park is a place that has a variety of things to do. It has beach, grass, trees, camping, bbq grills, running and riding paths, and multiple playgrounds. It is located on Long Island's south shore about an hour drive from New York City. But this review is mainly for the on-site cottages. We opted to stay here for 2 days for a quick long weekend getaway. The cottages offered our family a mix of nature without sacrificing luxuries/amenities like personal bathroom & shower, comfy bed, kitchen, hot water, and heat and A/C. Overall a nice getaway at a nice location but the place could definitely use a face lift. Pros: - smooth check-in (fill out some paperwork, pay deposit via credit card, grab keys and go) & check-out process (drop off keys and you receive your deposit back in a few days) - cottages are for the most part clean upon check-in and layout was perfect for our family of 4 - rules are reasonable. - plenty to do from laying around, sightseeing, and plenty of physical activity options around the area. - very close (within 15 min drive) to local restaurants and shops outside the park - rates are great for the area. We paid $255 per night at the time of our booking Cons: - the park definitely needs some maintenance. Lots of potholes along the main roads; weeds and grass around the house needed trimming when we arrived; beach behind the house had trash and weeds in the sa - the cottages are starting to show some wear & tear. - cleanliness of the cabin is not the most thorough. you'll probably want to give the place another wipe down upon check-in. read more

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Visit Date: September 13, 2020 I came here with my son for the last time off I'd have with him before he started pre-k. I accept he's growing up and that he has to but I am still a sad mommy about it. He's been in pre-school since he was 2 but he was only going part-time so I always had a little more time with him during the two days I had to take him to my sister's house to be watched. Now he's in pre-k and I get worried about my family getting to see him like they did before pre-k and that I will not get enough time with him since I no longer have those extra few hours of driving him to my sister's. Anyway you don't want to know about my sad mom feelings. I wanted to geogache with my son and find a wooded hiking trail but I wasn't sure where to park for that when we entered the park and I ended up by the playgrounds. Well that was it we forgot geogaching because when a 4 year old sees playgrounds that's it lol. The playgrounds were really nice they had 4 different ones to go on and my son had a great time. His visit got even better when the ice cream man came by and he got a spongebob ice pop. I believe the playgrounds are relatively close to the campgrounds I haven't camped yet but want to try it out and could do it on Long Island even though I live there. This park is so nice I can't wait to eventually get back for the trails to either run or hike on. read more

Stayed in Cabin 7 with a view of great South Bay. Cabin is clean and had all amenities you need. Bring your own Matthew cover for bed as it a bit hard. If you want quiet and tranquility this a great spot. read more

It has become a desolate waste land. Appears ignored by the state. No police or security patrolling. We had to see two people pulled off on the side of the road getting each other off and nobody around to prevent this behavior. read more

Hecksher is a great place to spend the day. There are plenty of fields and a beach! They even have cottages now that you can rent for up to a week, which is nice. I usually only end up here during events (the most recent being the LI Craft Classic). But if I lived closer I would probably be here a lot more. Parking is $10 since it's a state park (think Jones Beach) and NY needs to nickle and dime us for everything. read more

We rented a cabin here for a quick getaway in September 2020. Everything was new and clean and reasonably priced, although not cheap by any means. Cabin overall was pretty comfortable, although the mattresses were a bit firm, I suggest you bring some extra pillows to compensate. The outside grill was great, as was the deck. A bit disappointed because I lost a sentimental necklace while there and it was very difficult to get in touch with the staff to ask them to look for it, and they never followed back up with me. Also the cabin heater was a little finicky, I suggest you ask staff to show you how to operate it when you check in. Lastly, 5pm check in time is really really really late and inconvenient, especially if you are traveling from out of town. read more

This is one of my favorite spots. I can't says it's the prettiest beach on Long Island but it's nice enough, offers a ton of walking paths, several options for enjoying a swim or peaceful water views and/or different areas for a nice picnic (including tons of picnic tables and barbecues). Also on location is a boat launch, disc golf course and they even have an air field for remote control planes, helicopters and registered drones. It also seems to be a favorite location for wind surfers. Another interesting activity that's cropped up in recent years is cricket games, though I do wish the league owners would clean up after themselves better and appreciate that the park lets them use this nice big open field for their sport. Park staff does clean up, but it's gross when people don't keep up after garbage themselves. There's a few areas that have been shut down in years past, like the camp ground and the swimming pool, so here's hoping they'll revitalize those areas into something else interesting. I know there's some rumors (2016) about rental cabins. During the week and off season it's generally pretty quiet and easily accessible, it's only on weekends in the summertime that it can get a bit crazy busy. Even when it's packed at it's busiest times, park staff do a fairly good job cleaning up at the end of a day so there isn't garbage strewn all over. It's really a nice place for a walk or to enjoy a picnic lunch/dinner with the family. We go often. read more

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You have to love the beauty and preservation of state parks. One of the few maintenances I don't mind my tax dollars supporting. Driving in from NYC it's very welcoming to be greeted by blankets of lush grass, sand trodden by seagulls and calm water. There is an $8 fee for parking and entry. Once in the park you can pick the field space of your choice. There are several picnic tables, playgrounds, basketball courts, trails perfect for biking and taking a nice stroll and you can't forget the opportunity to relax next to tranquil water at the beach. Accessibility to boating is also available. The grills at the park are very low, so if you are really about the "grill life" bring your own. There are several trash cans and places for disposing your hot coals. Bugs were not a nuisance at the park and the restrooms were clean and equipped with tissue paper and soap; which can sometimes be a lot to ask for in parks. There is an abundance of trees to give you shade from the sun-rays but the breeze from the water cools the temperature a good 5 degrees. If the parking at Jones Beach is full, the state park is not a bad alternative. read more

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I came here for a hike and I was shocked I have never been here before especially during the warmer months. We started our hike by the water and we got beautiful views of the island. This place is really nice and has a lot of path for walking and biking. read more

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Here's the Scoop: Heckscher State Park at field 7 is lovely. The beach is clean and the water is soothing to watch. My honey and I come here for lunch every now and then and one of those times was today. Enjoying the breeze and sounds of the waves and water views while having lunch with my honey is fabulous. This park has so much to offer. Concerts during the summer are great. There are some repairs happening around field six but you can still drive through. During the summer fields 4-6 get filled quickly because of the picnic grounds, pool, playground, baseball and basketball courts. They also have a place to fly model planes. Park passes are available at new rates to accommodate everyone. Check out the park, you'll enjoy it. read more

Heckscher State Park - Soothing - Parks Near Me - East Islip, New York

Forgot how much I used to love this park! Usually had family gatherings here every year but not this one. There's the boat ramp, disk golf, cottages to rent, great water views, and bike-hiking and fitness trails! So many fields to explore. During covid - kids playgrounds are closed, golf thing is closed. The pool has been closed a long time. There are some random swings in one area, many fields are closed during the week. However there's plenty of room to set up grills and keep distance. The beach area in one field is open mid-week. Bring outdoor games to play! From the storm some areas are taped up from tree falls. (Also, please everyone -no hate just respect eachother and practice acceptance) way too much negative floating around! Bathrooms are open but were pretty crummy so come prepared with your own supplies to wash your hands etc. This park needs some serious TLC but still a nice spot to go. read more

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The Frisbee Golf course at Heckscher is so fun! Frisbee Golf is similar to regular golf except you use frisbees and try to throw it into a basket (while trying to throw below par). There are 21 "holes" each with a detailed sign showing where you should aim to find the basket at the end, where the long tee and short tees are, and what par for the hole is. I appreciated the detailed directions to find each hole, and the course signs which were very clear and well-maintained! I wish that the lawns were mowed a bit more though. It costs $10 to get into the entire park during the summer season, but the frisbee golf is not an extra charge. If you have time, explore the bike/walking paths, and the general park areas too! Pro tip: Bring bug spray!!! read more

Heckscher State Park - Detailed frisbee golf signs - Parks Near Me - East Islip, New York

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We barely made it into the park (field 4) before we were attacked by mosquitos. We went to the beach there instead and had a lovely time.

Parking Lot 5 is for dog walkers. This morning there was feces all over. People aren't picking up after their dogs. Gross. So allowing dog walking in the park was a good idea? Not like this! read more

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What's happening to this park? Used to be the go-to for a nice, scenic, daily stroll. Paved/flat path, good use of each field, also a good spot for bike riding. However, it's gone down hill. The fields seem to barely be maintained lately. The grass is so overgrown the park is largely beige now rather then green. Can't walk off the path anymore as the grass is shin-tall in most spots. Years past there were always park maintenance around cutting the grass in all the fields. They built those nice cabins and stopped maintaining the rest of the park. Definitely would not pay the entrance fee to come here. But if you have the Empire Pass it's worth checking out. read more

Do NOT go! Just drove all the way out here hoping for a nice beach to swim in. I've never been here before & was looking for a new spot. This place smelled so bad. The water was disgusting. We basically paid the entrance fee which at least was only $10 & left within 10 minutes of trying to see if any part of this beach was worthwhile. Not sure how on earth anyone actually swims or picnics here. read more

Heckscher is a great place for walking and biking. They have a sidewalk that runs along the roads as well as trails that cuts through the parks. There are several parking fields and picnic areas - some by the water, others closer to the shade and trees - but all easy to walk to. We love coming here to eat our dinner and take a walk. Also a great place for sunset with a nice view of the bridge to Robert Moses. I wouldn't recommend the beach for swimming. It kind of grosses me out, to be honest. A lot of seaweed. I don't even like to walk along the water here. But! Absolutely come here in the fall - it'll make up for what it lacks in swimming conditions. I try to come down here at peak times in the fall (usually the first/second week of November). The trees are beautiful and the park is quiet - complete bliss! read more

Heckscher State Park - great place to park & sit in the car & eat if it's too cold to sit outside - Parks Near Me - East Islip, New York

Large state park at the very end of the Southern State Parkway between East Islip and Great River. It over looks the Great South Bay with nice views of Fire Island. There are plenty of hiking trails all of which are paved that go along the bay, salt marshes and the woods. There are plenty of picnic areas and beaches as well. Having said that, the upkeep of this park is kind of poor. The picnic grounds are shoddy and the beaches are pretty gross due to all the seaweed that washes up. Plus, I wouldn't go swimming in the bay either due to the notorious red and brown tides. Also, the horrid stench from the bay during the summer is kind of nasty. But, coming here for a hike or biking during the spring and fall is quite nice. Just be careful driving through the park because there are a lot of deer. I do like coming here, obviously not in the summer or winter. read more

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This park say's "dog friendly" and once they have your $10.00 they direct you to Lot 5 which isn't really a beach, but rather a gravel access road between a lagoon and marsh which should be called "Mosquito Alley" because they attacked me with a vengeance..and tried to fly off with my dog. All over the park has "No Pets Allowed" despite the claim of being pet friendly. I didn't see any concession stands, and this place is a waste of time.. not worth dealing with the LI Expressway. read more

Decent sized park with some sandy beaches and lots of trees. Plenty of parking lots..lots of BBQ pits and space for nice picnic or family BBQ. Plenty of flat trails for walking and biking. But be warned, bring your bug spray! If you have an electric tennis racket handy, bring that too! When I came with my family in mid-August..we were walking in one of the trails..and we were attacked by swarms of mosquitoes!! I was wearing long sleeves..and I still got stung multiple times! T_T read more

This park is not being well managed. We experienced a lot of ticks. We pulled at least 10 ticks off the dog and 2 off my daughters arm. She had the dog on her lap, so the ticks were on her too. I will not go back. The park had the look of a relic of the past. read more

This used to be a great spot to get away but it has gotten worse. The lifeguards didn't know what they were doing and just kept blowwing their whistles at us for 1. No kite flying on the beach (when we saw people do it on 3 seperate occasions). No flotation devices in the water (when we saw boogie boards being used). So we ended up putting our blow up boat away. They made us take off the Life Jackets from my 3 year old and 5 year old because they said it is a flotation and that it can come off in the water causing them to drown. (Even though I explained It had a strap on the bottom and was approved by the coastguard for safety ,he didnt know what tobdo with himself. It was not a good feeling being called out constantly while other beach goers looked on. There is no list of prohibited items or activities and it was a headache to try to turn it into a relaxing day. I couldn't even put my kids in the water for fear they may drown and I would have to rely on a bunch of teenagers to try and rescue them. As for the water...it was nice but you have to walk through many rocks and boulders! Bring water shoes. I think personally this Summer was my last try for thisvplace. We will continue to look elsewhere. read more

This park is a little different in the sheer quantity of trails that are estuary-like. You can walk around for a while amongst the tall plants before making it to the beach. read more

$8 for this? Like the other reviewer said, Heck No! Heckscher State Park is a big wasteland of flat, manicured terrain interrupted only by small patches of unreachable woods. The landscape is slightly more cheerful than the post-apocalyptic cinematography of 2009 film, The Road. Also, it's peppered with signs: don't park in this parking lot, need a permit for this lot, no not this one either, no wading, no swimming, keep your dog on a 6ft leash at all times. That last one was flagrantly broken by a jogger (probably a local who didn't even pay for admission--sections of this park are literally in the backyard of some private homes) whose dog ran maniacally fifty feet ahead spooking deer, an extra shameful violation since that's the only redeeming feature at the park: The magnificent closeness of deer. The sign at the entrance even proudly states, "Home of the White Tail Deer"; I didn't see a sign that said, "Home of the White tail Deer, Set Your Dog Loose to Chase Them!" Biking around the park, all the paved paths and roadways on this plot of land might be interesting but only if you're local; It's really not worth the drive. Likewise, fields can be useful for large soccer games and such but that's about it. Only 15 miles away, your money will provide better value at Robert Moses State park if you want to go to a real beach and you'd probably see some deer as well. Or for the same fee, if you're interested in a natural atmosphere, there's Connetquot River State Park Preserve just five miles away. In any case, considering how green this spot looks on the map, it's extra disappointing. read more

Heckscher State Park - Parks Near Me - East Islip, New York

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Great place to go during the off-season. Great for walking and riding bikes. Lots and lots of paved and well maintained trails and you have a choice of water view or woods. Very busy place weekends during the summer season but not too busy during the week. There is a fee during the summer but not other times. Free for seniors during the week. read more

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This place is another disturbing example of the environmental disappointment you're likely to experience in new york. I had a funny feeling about this place as we approached the little gatehouse. The guy working there was either in high school or possibly college. His apathetic answers to our questions about the best hiking trails were a clear sign we would not want to be there but we were optimists because apathy seems to be the general motto of new york locals. So here's what it is. No hiking- just paved walking/bike paths. The water is a slimy brown sludge. There's something really unnatural about it- it's called concentrated levels of pollution. Yep, and no one is in the water- and for plenty good reason. Does this deter anyone from visiting this polluted place- nope. Fellow new yorkers are found here having BBQs, sitting by the water watching the sludge splash onto the filthy sand and the like enjoying the park as one would enjoy any park. There is no concern for the polluted water much less anything else. Also, there's the numerous bugs- mosquitoes and such are in an abundant supply so bring plenty of bug spray. We made sure to bathe in bug repellant and we still managed more than a few bug bites by the time we left. This place is good for bikes rides along the bike path as long as you have a mosquito net covering your entire body. The views from afar seem pleasant but nothing to write home about. We were eager to leave soon after starting on the walking path. Note there are lots of bunnies (cute) and deer (lovely) but I prefer to be in natural surroundings that are valued for nature sake... Unlike some of the locals, when I go to a nature park- well- I want to be around nature- not listening to some local's favorite music at a deafening volume. I also don't want to be surrounded by pollution- as crazy as that may seem. When we left we decided this was definitely Heck NO! Park. read more

I used to come here a lot with my family but each year it seems as if more mosquitoes are taking over the park. A few years ago, we were planning an outing there but had to leave as soon as we arrived because of the mosquitoes. I haven't been there since. read more

I feel bad for this place, compared to its polar opposite which is Sunken Meadow, this place seems like the perfect place to shoot a post apocalypse movie...cause that's how some of it looks like. I usually shoot on the North Shore with my Nikon D3200, but I was in Bay Shore playing cricket and had time to kill. The last time I was at this park was probably close to 10 years ago. This place is actually bigger than I thought but a lot of the fields/parking lot areas are either closed or just straight up crappy. It was probably the nicest day of the year yesterday and we came a little before sunset which was great. The pictures I took here came out great but going close and around the water their was a lot of broken concrete around. Its definitely not a place you'd go to swim in the summer especially around those dangerous rocks and concrete blocks. I took some really good shots here but I just felt bad for this place, it made me appreciate Sunken Meadow State Park a lot more. read more

Not the most beautiful/scenic park I've been to but there are several fields and plenty of place to spread out. As with most parks, it can get pretty busy on a nice summer day so be prepared to arrive super early and hold down your spot for the rest of your crew or to do a little hunting if you arrive later in the morning. The field we chose has brand new, clean restrooms and that's a big plus, especially when you have kids and want things as clean as can be, for their sake if nothing else. We've been coming out here for the past few years and wouldn't hesitate to continue that. read more