Trails, a rose garden, water, a playground, and a dog pound(?). This a little gem of a place…read more Think lincoln woods for those from RI like me. This place is huge and one could easily spend hours here. Very quaint and peaceful.

Beautiful park, lots of trails to walk and the water fountains are a nice touch too! We were able…read moreto sit on a bench and watch the ducks and a few turtles too! Beautiful atmosphere and they even have a playground for the kids.

One of the walking trails near the landing. Good views and an easy climb. A nice way to start…read moreyour day on the island. Close to Ballards so if they have a band, you won't want to stay long.

A nice place to see…read more the sea As the name implies, Ocean View Park is a park right on the ocean. Actually over looking the ocean would be a better description because it's located way up on one of the many high bluffs that make up Block Island. The island is a terminal moraine, a gift from the last ice age when the glacier scraped up strata and other older material from the bottom of the ocean and dumped it here when the glacial started melting. The bluffs and boulders are the only thing that keeps the island from being reclaimed by Poseidon. Even though Ocean View Park is only a ten or fifteen minute walk from Old Harbor and the ferry landing, virtually no one goes here except some local people to eat lunch. That's because it's hidden off to the side of a dead end road and is difficult to see. One of those places you have to know exactly where to look. The park has a cool gazebo thing, a few benches, a small board way and of course great views of the ocean. It's not really large enough for a long walk and up too high for easy access to the water; it's more of a place to just relax, look at the water or eat lunch. On the south side of the park some interesting foundations and ruins of buildings can be seen. I have asked about them but have received various stories about their origins. Makes for an interesting discussion but it also makes me wonder if anyone really knows. One person told me they are the remains of an old farm house that burned down and another delineated a long tale about a hotel that got destroyed in a hurricane. Someone else told an interesting but very questionable story about the Manisses Tribe building the structure to hold weapons for war. As with most things, who knows what the truth really is. A cool little park that is a great place for a quick bite to eat, a great view of the ocean or have some fun digging around in some old ruins. A nice place to see the sea.

My husband and I recently started kayaking. As beginners, we aren't comfortable yet kayaking in…read morerivers, so we decided to search for a nice lake to begin our kayaking adventures in. A few friends highly recommended Mansfield Hollow Lake (boat launch), so we made the drive to Mansfield. We were not disappointed! The parking area, in front of the lake, is large, and easy to find a space to park, even on summer weekends. It's easy to get in and launch a kayak or paddleboard from the shallow shore area. The lake itself is clean and beautiful! I love the fact that swimming in the lake is not allowed (because this lake supplies drinking water) and that motorboats must maintain a speed of 5 mph or less. We haven't yet kayaked in any other lakes, but I'm sure that Mansfield Hollow Lake (boat launch) will remain a favorite of ours. Such a beautiful place!

Beautiful and scenic, nice and clean tranquil. So many lakes in the area it is well worth the trip.read more

The Canonchet Preserves offer approximately 750 acres of land between the Hopkinton Land Trust and…read morethe Nature Conservancy. Well-maintained and blazed trails provide miles and miles of trekking and historical points of interest to explore. A stone's throw from I-95, this outdoor space is easy to get to and quick to locate. There are many ways to access this land but I started my most recent visit from the parking lot located on Route 3. Much of the area here is a combination of hills and swamplands. Brooks run through the acreage including Canonchet Brook South Fork and the Tomaquag Brook. These water sources are part of the reason there are so many archaeological finds on these lands. According to information about the property, both were significant in pre-Colonial use and offer pre-industrial revolution water powered mill sites. I had the opportunity to check out a mill dam, the Stone Bridge, Foster Sawmill Ruins (circa Revolutionary War era), and the Jonathan G Foster barn foundation. The trails were not too strenuous... I stayed primarily in the Hoxsite-designated area and put in just under 3 miles (Canonchet Trail to Hoxsie Trail loop). So many rock walls intersections and history here; originally farmland owned by the Hoxsie family. How fantastic it is that the public has the opportunity to utilize this land to get a bit a fresh air and immerse oneself in Rhode Island's past. Closed from the 1/2 hour after sunset to the 1/2 hour before sunrise. Open for hiking and "landscape appreciation". Bring orange during season as portions of this land are open for deer hunting. Do not bring a metal detector to go rooting around in the accessible sites as it is prohibited. I visited in early spring which allowed easy views of the landscape without leaves hiding just how far everything is spread out.

Came here for a walk. Beautiful views and blufs! Great place to view the beach from the cliffs…read more Definitely coming back here. Came with my dog and he loved the views too

Hidden gem of a state park! WW2 bunkers, steep cliffs overlooking the ocean, and a nice walking…read morepath. 10/10

Part of the Montauk County Park, or, correct me if I'm wrong but they're one in the same... For me…read moreit's one of the most beautiful parks on Long Island. Great for hiking and the scenery can't be matched from the bluffs along the ocean to the calm waters of the sound on the north side. An absolute must if you're coming to Montauk.

This Sculpture park is a unique and hidden gem located on Green Hill Beach rd on the border of…read moreSouth Kingstown and Charlestown. There are 23 sculptures nestled amongst the trees and trails. Bring bug spray during peak season. Even though the walk is short, there is quite a bit of vegetation and amazing art on display. My favorite was the HUGE bull as you first walk in. This thing is massive and a fun way to enter the park. More info: The South Kingstown Land Trust Sculpture Trail is a short .4 mile walk that mingles nature with art. Enter the trail at the midpoint and notice the large map indicating the location of each sculpture. Walkers may turn right or left to explore the 3 acres of easy trails and diverse sculptures. Look for dream catchers and crystals, poetry boxes and a giant red cow. The Sculpture Trail is a great place for a slow walk through the woods or a visit with children who will love to find each sculpture. Be sure to stop at the final sculptures and turn around, as the property and trails come very close to private property.

A truly different experience from the exemplary SKLT, the Sculpture Trail is whimsical and charming…read morewhile taking full advantage of the natural beauty inherent. Kudos to those who made this possible and the artists who contributed their work! If visiting in the fall, the brilliant foliage colors and drifting leaves complement the artworks nicely. My only quibble is that I wish there were informational tags attached to the sculptures so that you knew what the piece was called and the artist (apparently, there's supposed to be an informational placard at the trail entrance, but this was missing at the time of our visit; the SKLT trail map brochure, however, does list the pieces' name/artist, but we didn't have one on us). Upon entrance to the trail, you are greeted by a massive bull made from, of course, a barbeque grill ("Sir Loin Barbeque Bull" by Sean Harrington) - and from there, you're off to follow the meandering trails to discovery. There's also a Fairy Village for visitors to build their own fairy houses, so would also be a fun place for the kids.

There are trolls here…read more Plenty of parking and other things here, too! Very much worth the trip, highly recommend.

A wonderful place to walk around, see giant trolls, an old airfield from WW2, coves/beach…read more Our daughter lives nearby and wildlife conservation biology is her 'thing', so walking around the trails at Ninigret was a fun & informative experience. Rhode Island has 5 giant trolls in various parks, and Ninigret has 2 of them: Greta Granite & Erik Rock. We stayed to the main paths as there are a lot of ticks around. And we saw a couple of fat turkeys who are probably feasting on the ticks. There are tennis courts, picnic area, a playground, observatory & senior center on the grounds. And plenty of parking.

This 134-acre parcel of land is a great place to go for a hike, no matter the weather! I visited…read morein the wintertime and had the opportunity to trek around the multiple trails in this location in the snow. There are a couple spaces set aside to park at this trailhead located in a somewhat residential area. Hikers are almost immediately rewarded with a high vantage point overlooking Winnapaug Pond, Misquamicut Beach, and the Block Island Sound. There is a healthy mix of ups and downs, flat terrain, rock walls, and so much more. Maintained by the Westerly Land Trust, there are more than 2 miles of marked pathways. Benches, ponds, birdhouses, and poetry are part of the sights along your route. Former farmland, this protected land is quite picaresque. Check it out!

One of my favorite places to go and walk my dog. The trails are well maintained. I usually do the…read moreouter loop, which is about 2.25 miles.

Labor Day Weekend 2021 - Everything is open!…read more I came on a whim of intuition, with tent in tow, that my 3.5 he drive from the city might, just might result in a walk-up campsite for one or two nights. At first I was turned away because I was too late- all the available sites had been given away before 3pm. However, I stayed curious and asked some extra questions about how the walk-up system worked in the event I would try again the next day. To my luck, the park attendant said to come back in a couple hours because I might get lucky with some later call backs... and 4:30pm lucky I got!!! I did have a backup plan- that I would head to Wildwood on North Fork which had plenty of availability if I couldn't get a spot at Hither Hills. Everything was open- even the kitchen making egg sandwiches and salads in the General Store. Lifeguards on the beach. Beach stand selling alcohol. Showers and restrooms all open, and very clean. I stayed in the A section of the campground, which has the most sand on the lots, and backs up to the dunes, which was exactly what I wanted/needed. The campsites don't have electric, but there is a water spout in the middle of some sections. The bathrooms are never too far and the showers are clean. There are some electrical outlets in the bathroom for things like hair dryer and electric razor, or for me, charging a battery pack while I shower, brush my teeth, and do my hair. The beach on this weekend was pristine and perfect. Despite hurricane Ira moving through only days earlier, after the storm, the beach at Hither Hills had barely any debris or carnage and just smooth waves and perfect weather for a long holiday weekend. I didn't bother bringing a cooler or camp stove because I was just one person and there are plenty of restaurants and bars and cafes around to visit by car during the day- and that's part of the fun for me (and every yelper?!?)- exploring local food options! I also really enjoyed visiting the East Hampton library to pick up some free books, get WiFi connected, and recharge phone battery during the day. You definitely won't find a cheaper stay in the Hamptons or Montauk unless you're invited to someone's beach house!!

Genie helped us check in and was INCREDIBLE. She was so kind and friendly and helped us get…read moresituated once we arrived. We were new to the campground and she helped us with how to set up our fire as well. She really made our whole experience 100x better. Thank you Genie!! -J12