I really enjoy hiking this location, especially in the winter. There is a train trestle that…read morecollects giant icicles. That's really cool to look at. We did the Pinney Loop which is just under 4 miles. The trail was obviously covered in snow as we had hiked January 1.

What goes great with a hike is coming with a group of friends and/or family, and Steep Rock…read morePreserve brings it all. It's worth the trip from surrounding areas for a weekend get-together or definitely the holidays. Free parking is provided with plenty of spaces to park. The trail map is provided at the beginning of the hike, or looking online and printing it out. Very useful to have on the whole journey. The main hiking trail is a gravel trail that parallels the Shepaug River from the parking lot, where cars pass through and also horses, which I found quite interesting. There are also dirt trails along the way with different colors (see map or online). Some highlights of coming here are checking out the old train tunnel, a bridge that crosses the river (which is wobbly, so be careful), and Steep Rock Summit, which can be tiring but well worth the climb with a decent view of the Clamshell section of the Shepaug River Valley. Bring snacks and a lot of fluids, it's needed according to the big map.

ORIGIN: Natalie Van Vleck (1901-1981) found the Flanders…read moreNature Center & Land Trust in 1963 (@flandersnaturecenter). This was in effort to preserve the environment she enjoyed as a resident, artist, and environmentalist. LOCATION: Born in NYC, Van Vleck studied at the Art Students League (@aslnyc), and made a studio on the property of the farm her parents had purchased in 1926. The studio currently is the site of a variety of programs offered by the nonprofit, including fittingly art classes! EXPERIENCE: The legacy of Natalie Van Vleck has been sustained and expanded through the nonprofit -- Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. Quite a few parcels of land around her family's Woodbury farm have been preserved, complemented by programs dedicated to the activities she enjoyed -- art and nature. The Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary is a destination that is particularly ideal for all ages. The trails are shaded, flat, short, and sprinkled with benches and picnic tables. The center coordinates activities that facilitate or enhance trail activities, including guided walks and letterboxing (a popular treasure hunt activity). A surprisingly large variety of art and nature activities are organized by the non-profit... check out the website (www.flandersnaturecenter.org) to see the latest offerings!

Pancake breakfast is fantastic! Delicious pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee. All served…read morewith a smile! their syrup is outstanding!

Lovely walk I was lucky to find a Amazing Couple who allowed me to walk with them due to me not…read morebringing a bear whistle the trail was flat and clean. Hopefully my talking and walking was what they enjoyed their Love Story was magical just like this trail. To My Two New Friends Thank you for the Lovely Sunday Stroll. Next time I'll walk farther with a Bear whistle and family.

Great historical area with awesome up keep and no vandalized buildings!! (So far). You can also…read morefeel the cool breeze from the caves, the bat cage mine as well as the shaft on the main hiking trail.

Fantastic place to see some possibly once in a lifetime birds. Take the trip out to visit, it's…read moreworth it.

ORIGIN: S. Dillon Ripley, Professor of Ornithology at Yale,…read morewas the first to propagate in captivity many threatened and endangered species of birds. In 1985 he and his wife donated the property that supported this effort, allowing it to be a non-profit bird conservatory. LOCATION: The conservation center is located on an unpaved road that is just a few minutes away from Route 202. CONCEPT: Ripley's continues Dillon Ripley's legacy by supporting bird conservation and education initiatives. EXPERIENCE: Periodic educational events are offered at Ripley's. I enjoyed a mid-winter "owl prowl", led by one of the center's aviculturists. I learned about the sounds, behavior, and appearance of three types of owls that can be found in North West Connecticut. Most memorable, I got to see a screech owl several different times as we walked along the road. TIP: Upcoming events and tickets can be found on the center's website.

I didn't see all of the Audobon, but went for their Raptors and Rieslings event and got to see…read moretheir birds. They have about five habitats for birds who don't seem ready or ever ready for release to the wild. One is a dopey but regal looking American eagle. You can walk around the area for wild birds, and bathrooms seem to be limited to a portable toilet. The area is peaceful and seems to be a good place for well behaved children. The birds are adorable!

Lovely walks in the woods, plus killer birds and serene ponds. The raptor aviaries are the closest…read moremost people will ever get to owls and a bald eagle. The indoor displays of birds, snakes and other animals are interesting too. The walk out to the pond can take almost 45 minutes round trip through quiet woods, so it's pretty good exercise in addition to being relaxing. Lots of stuff for kids, but also a great place for adults to spend an afternoon.

If you're coming to the River Walk through Kent, be prepared to drive for a while to reach the…read moreentrance. Don't worry, you haven't missed it, just keep driving until you see a gate. The parking lot can fit about six, eight cars and is accessible to the water. We walked about forty five minutes down the trail, until the humans decided it had been enough for the little paws accompanying us (even though he would have gone until he collapsed). The trail is gentle, not too many inclines and they're not very steep. It seems mostly shaded by trees on each side, but don't let that stop you from using sunscreen. It's a narrow path so if someone is coming, the polite (and in the case of my hiking companions, the dumb) will walk on the side in the taller, tick inhabited grass. I wish it had points of interest signed, like the foundation we passed about five minutes from the entrance. What was there, and where did it go? Other than great, a great place to bring the dog and walk in peace!

Wonderful hike! Not too tough. Right by the water for most of it…read more Drive to the END of the road. (Ignore your GPS. Ignore small paths on the right of the main road. Drive to the end, a small parking lot with a gate.) It's not a loop, so there's a bit of repetition when you turn around walk back to your car.

Situated on the corner of Pleasant Street and Route 6 in Woodbury, CT, this little park is often…read moreforgotten by the residents, except at Christmas, when the town's tree is decorated and lit. It's not included in the list of the town's recreational facilities, nor is it one of the popular sites for family picnicking. One of the reasons is the lack of parking, which makes this a great place to walk to from anywhere in town, instead of taking the car. There's a number of benches, some provided by the town, others, built and dedicated by the local Lions in memory of deceased members. The bandstand (NEVER call it a gazebo!) was also built by the Lions in 1986, and is dedicated to the memory of local composer Leroy Anderson. It's popular with local residents as a dog walk area, or as a place to sit and quietly reflect. There are several large trees, and an open space that's great for that quick Frisbee toss. It's also the place with the most advertising signs because of its location along Route 6, and the traffic light that requires cars to stop in front of them. I'm all for green space in any town. I wish this little park would get more use.

This is a nice little area to rest in Woodbury. It is down the road from the Orenaug Park and…read moreHollow Park which could be part of why this area is overlooked when visiting the town. The gazebo and benches make a nice pit stop when walking along the sidewalk of route six. Like many other town greens, there is not much to do and it is not big enough for town wide events, but nice little areas to bring your family for some fresh air on nights and weekends.

Bantam River Park is across from the former Bantam Town Hall. It's small but cute. There's a lovely…read moregarden in the spring, and currently signs explaining former historical landmarks in Bantam. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I forget some of these small towns used to have THINGS, instead of just shopping and restaurants. Bantam had factories like many other small towns. They made horse carriages, one of which is on display in a small barn. There's a waterfall you can admire, although I believe access is restricted by gated fence.