I went off season after a wind storm so there was a lot of crunching down to get through the…read morerhododendrons leaning over the path in some spots so be aware of that. Wear sneakers! Bring bug spray if you're going when it's warm and not windy because the mosquitoes will carry you away if you don't. Ps they bloom in July, but it's still cool to see off season. Very impressive!

Lovely, short forest trails with the tallest, densest collection of rhododendrons we've ever seen…read more Natural growth of the trees creates canopies and archways you walk under on the mostly-flat dirt trails. Mucky in shady spots, roots and rocks pop up along the path, so watch your step. The rhododendrons bloom in July, and the state park seems to keep an updated blog so you can time your visit. It is a half-mile loop trail, Luxury porta-potties (mini cabins) for convenient pit-toilets. A few picnic tables in this very woodsy area. Carry-in, carry-out trash on the premises.

What a special day at Quabbin Reservoir! I've always been fascinated by the history of the towns…read morethat were flooded to create the reservoir, so getting to see it in person was something special and our friends told us the history while we drove around and saw different spots along the way. The views were absolutely beautiful, and we may have gotten a little too excited when we spotted the turkeys. The best part was sharing the day with friends we met on a cruise 24 years ago. Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, wildlife, and longtime friends... it doesn't get much better than that.

The Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center is well worth a visit. The history and evolution of the…read morereservoir including indigenous wildlife are explained in detail. Very friendly and helpful staff. Ample free parking, too. The Reservoir is astounding.

"There was a shopping mall Now, it's all covered with…read moreflowers" (Talking Heads) Our May 10th visit to the Bridge of Flowers was marked by two things -one thing we saw and one thing that we didn't see. What we saw were gates locked on both sides of the 400-foot-long bridge to prevent foot traffic. What we didn't see were any flowers on the Bridge of Flowers! We learned that when the Bridge was opened in the Spring, something was wrong with the soil in the flower beds that line the bridge. I heard that the vendor that delivered the soil delivered the wrong thing, so the planted flowers weren't exactly flourishing. Everything (over 500 varieties of annuals and perennials) had to be dug out, all of the plants went to temporary" foster homes" in the community, and the bad soil was removed and replaced with the correct type of soil. Everything should be back to normal very soon, so we'll have to make a second visit to the Bridge of Flowers to actually see the flowers.

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, is an absolute gem. Its located on a…read moreformer trolley bridge. It is easily accessible with nearby free parking, wonderfully kept up by dedicated volunteers, and filled with breathtaking, ever-changing floral displays. It's right in the heart of a charming town with quaint little shops

I was driving by and spotted this out of the corner of my eye. I made a mostly legal u-turn and…read morecircled back to check it out. The Harris Hill Ski Jump was built in 1922 and is meets the standards for international ski jumps. They've hosted national championships here and even run some Olympic Qualifier events. It is open as a park and trailhead during the offseason with a small parking lot at the bottle of the hill. I opted not to climb the entire hill but I did go up a little bit and look around. And while there are lots of crazy things I might do in my life, ski jumping is NOT one of them. [Review 18446 overall - 46 in Vermont - 1968 of 2022.]

Once a year Harris Hill hosts a ski jump competition and if you haven't seen one of these events…read moreyet, then you are missing out. This amazing event draws some of the best competitors in the US and watching them compete is incredible. The tickets for this two day event is a bit high, but it us definitely worth the money. During the off season, this ski jump become a park that is open to the public. Walking around the grounds and actually up to the top of the jump is fun and terrifying. In the end, the event held here is great, but just spending time at the park in the spring, summer, or fall is fun as well. I love you see the view from the top of the jump and I encourage you to try it for yourself.

What a surprise. A NH state park, Chesterfield Gorge has well marked trails, hand laid wooden…read morebridges, a cute gift shop, is conveniently located & the grounds are well maintained. The gorge itself has picturesque views throughout the canyon. Our visit was October so between the fall foliage and crisp air, we really couldn't have asked for a better day. Because of the low water level we were actually able to walk up through the water itself which provided amazing views both up & down the rocks. Be careful of slippery rock surfaces & steep drops in some places.

We pulled up to the ticket booth just off the main road at around 2:15 p.m. on a weekday. After…read morepaying our $5 per person, it took another 15 - 20 minutes to drive up the twisting road to the parking lot closest to the summit. There was only one other car parked there, though the lot looked like it could hold 35 - 40 cars. The hike from there was then a minimum of 0.6 miles (rocky and occasionally steep) to a lookout tower (25 feet tall, maybe). The summit was another 0.1 miles but probably wasn't even as high as the tower. We took the Slot trail up since it appeared to be more gradual (but was a bit longer). On the way back, we opted for the other option: the Slab trail (which was steeper but had steps cut into the dirt or fashioned from large stones, in spots). I would classify this hike as short but moderate. The tower views were pretty nice. It probably took us a bit over an hour to hike up and back.

A beautiful park with amazing trails and interesting history. The rangers were helpful and…read morefriendly. I definitely plan to return.

Wow ! What a hidden gem ! We were visiting Ludlow VT and saw this fall . Kids wanted to enjoy…read morewater and this was a perfect choice for us . The water was colddddddddddd though. Ufff . Very cold . The first dip was tough ! Later once you get use of it , it felt a bit better . Pathway was a bit crazy , in some places .it is about a 2 mile walk but we just went not too far : .. the lower and middle falls is also accessible from car parking lots outside . Parking is outside and sometimes you have to park 5-8 mins away from the falls . Not much of restrooms around . Lots of dogs in the water :) It was an amazing tint though ! Loved it . 5 stars !

Solid spot to see small waterfalls. Very peaceful and not a lot of rushing water…read more Parking is available on the shoulder at the lower and middle falls, located further up the road, and also at the upper falls at the end of the road. No restrooms available here

The best kept campsite in Vermont! Immaculate bathrooms/showers and manicured grounds. Friendly…read morestaff and great accessibility to hiking trails is excellent. I arrived early on Labor Day and they allowed me to setup my camper as the site was ready. Made for a great extra half day in the sun!)

One thing about me: I'm gonna make my annual pilgrimage to Vermont for a maple latte, maple buffalo…read morewings, and some clean air hiking. Read on for the hike, the campground, and the park. Me, husbo, and dog hit a twofer this weekend - 2 hikes, 1 day. What can I say - I was feeling inspired. Hike We did the Mount Olga trail - accurately rated moderate. It was up, up, and more up. There's no lookout after all that uphill but there is a fire tower that gives 360 degree views. Ordinarily, I like to see fire towers, but not climb them. I was determined this time, tho. Unfortch right at the turn off for the tower my hamstring started to twitch which means I have about T-5 minutes until a debilitating cramp unless I get myself together. I didn't want to chance it so we continued around the loop. I REALLY liked this trail. I found all the uphill interesting, somewhat challenging, a few good rock scrambles, too. On the way down there were a few butt sits, and a water crossing, too. I love varied terrain like this. Minimal bugs and just enough people out to not feel alone, but to also go for 20 minutes at a time without seeing anyone else. The hike starts outside the visitor center and ends just above the campgrounds. About the campground: It's beautiful, wooded yet airy. Huge sites with sturdy picnic tables and glorious fire pits. They even have lean-tos! I've a right mind to book one this week before they close for the season. Bathrooms My husband used them before the hike and said they were CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. Now I know that well-run campgrounds always keep a pristine bathroom but this was a surprise to him. Between the bathrooms and the camp sites he was really excited about finally going camping as a family (I usually go solo). Visitors Center Charming building and wonderful staff. The man checking us in provided accurate information and was very warm and friendly. I cannot WAIT to go back here once the spring rolls around. Lovely all around. Things to Know: -parking and overflow parking at Visitor Center -$5 entry fee per adult person. Day pass also valid at other state parks during the same day -dog friendly

Look Memorial Park (aka Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park) is a privately run non-profit park that…read moreopened in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1930. Located in the village of Florence, the 150 acres of land were given to the City of Northampton by Mrs. Fannie Burr Look (widow of Frank Newhall Look). Mr. Look had been a long-time resident of Northampton and the chief executive of the Prophylactic Brush Company. Operation and maintenance are dependent upon the trust fund, visitor fees, grants, and gifts. Owned by the city but operated as a non-profit organization, Look Park receives no funding from the city or state. The park contains a number of notable features including walking paths, an outdoor amphitheater, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, a miniature golf course, paddle boats, playscapes, a spray park, a wildlife center, a sweet shoppe, covered picnic areas, covered bridges, and a miniature railway. I recently visited Look Memorial Park with my family. I first visited the park last summer with my older son. We had so much fun that we decided to return this year with my wife and younger son. We first set out to visit the park's 5,000-square-foot spray park. It was a hot day and my two sons had a blast exploring the various ground jets, bucket dumps and water umbrellas. After a change of clothes, we explored one of the playscapes and the wildlife center. What we were most looking forward to was a ride on the park's miniature steamer train. Manufactured by Wichita, Kansas-based Chance Rides, the miniature train is a replica of the circa-1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The train runs every half hour on the weekends and rides last about 10 minutes. The train is transformed into 'Santa's Train' during the Christmas holiday season and it can also be rented for birthday parties. The train ride was easily the highlight of our park visit. We look forward to visiting Look Memorial Park again and again!

I planned a fun birthday picnic today, only to find out after paying to get into the park that half…read moreof the services were closed. I wish management would be more proactive about notifying incoming guests that many park services are closed before paying to get in. We also went to the sweet shop to get root beer floats, and paid $11 for two root beer floats that were actually half full. I would recommend the place for people looking to enjoy the scenery, but apart from that the experience was lacking.