Nobody said getting back in shape was easy--but if you're going to suffer, you might as well do it…read moresomewhere beautiful. I picked a hiking trail in Vermont after getting lured in by some stunning photos online. Inspired (and slightly delusional), I stopped and picked up a pair of Oboz hiking shoes and some solid hiking socks--thankfully, one of my better decisions. Let me be clear: this trail was no joke. It twisted, turned, and climbed in ways that made my heart rate spike enough to question my life choices. At one point, I genuinely thought I heard Bigfoot breathing down my neck--turns out it was just me gasping for air. Here are the stats: 4,083 ft summit 7.4 miles round trip 2,645 ft vertical rise 6 hours of hiking The mountain is known as Tawabodi-e-wadso, which means "The Saddle Mountain" in the Waubawakee Native American language. Yes, I did my research--mainly because I felt like I needed to know the name of the place that almost killed me. (Kidding... kind of.) But here's the real truth: it was absolutely worth it. The trail winds through beautiful groves of maple and oak, with peaceful river streams breaking up the climb. It was majestic, serene, and a perfect reminder of why nature is one of the best places to push your limits. And yes, the shoes held up like champs. Bottom line: A tough but rewarding hike--equal parts humbling and awe-inspiring. If you're looking to reconnect with nature and your cardiovascular system, this one's for you.

We started the hike via the Huntington parking lot and hikes the Burrow trail…read more Do not underestimate this hike. It is all incline up and lots of rock scrambling. We are not experienced hikes and took us 5 hrs to finish. It is true that it is shaded the whole time, but no one mentioned about the amount of bugs on the whole trail. After asking a local, we find out that they are called "black flies". They are small and annoying little bugs that cling on to your skin and bite you. We put bugs spray but did not keep them away from us. Apparently they come in season that received alot of rain. (first week of June) And it just happens to hatch new eggs as the weather gets hot and wet. So if you plan to hike this with there is alot of rain, I suggest wearing a netted hat. Because these flies are soon annoying and just takes out the fun of the hike. Although it was not an easy hike with annoying bugs biting our skin, the summit was one of 360 view of the landscape. It is beautiful and view are breathtaking!!!!

I found the perfect spot for a sunset picture, landing here after dinner at Bluebird Barbecue…read more There is a small parking lot with space for a half-dozen cars. There are a couple of benches or you can sit on the wall. And around the corner to the south, there is a trail that takes you down to the Winooski River. But tonight, way too many mosquitoes to make that trip worth while. Instead, I stayed at the peak and took these pictures. [Review 18502 overall - 101 in Vermont - 2024 of 2022.]

A shark proposed to me..... I said no he almost BIT ME…read more I ALMOST DIED Horrible Beach

Perfect place to lounge, paddle, and catch up with friends. The sandbar keeps the boats a little…read morefurther out so they are never too close to shore/the swimming area. You can paddle-board/kayak a good distance in the bay without the fear of in the way of boats. And amazing views of the Adirondack Mountains, of course!

Charlotte Beach is a playground and beach in Charlotte. It has bathrooms, pickleball and tennis, a…read morecovered bridge, a swim dock, easy parking, and swings. There are no dogs allowed, there are lots of gnats in spring, and you have to pay. It is only open in a little bit in spring and all of summer. I would recommend sunscreen, bug spray, and extra layers. I felt excited there,I give it . -Ayla Grade 3

This place is pure natural gorgeousness. I mean wow. Lovely beach area (no sand, rocks) on Lake…read moreChamplain. There are several floating docks in the water that you can swim out to to lay out or relax. Views for days..... stunning . There's a few picnic tables and benches around the area. Right down the road is a beautiful old covered bridge. If you're in Charlotte, check it out!

Nice and relatively easy hike with a beautiful views of the pond for about half the trail…read more This is a 3 mile loop trail with about 3-4 steep ish parts that might get your heart rate up a bit but for the most part the path is flat and good for easy walking. Dogs are allowed but must be on leash. Lots of people fishing! In the beginning there were a lot of people walking but as we were getting close to the end of the hike we didn't see anyone. Check this spot out! Its fun, easy and a good way to spend some time outside this summer!

An awe inspiring natural wonder enhanced by human engineering offering a great day of rafting,…read morehiking , tubing and other activities with history all around you. Eight of us, 4 adults and 4 kids enjoyed a day of exploring the chasm and learning about its formation and use. A great destination even to plan a short getaway around! Our tour guide Jacob was an added bonus with his knowledge and enthusiasm adding to the experience. Add this to your bucket list and you won't be sorry!

Ausable Chasm, NY - billing itself as "the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks" is a shamelessly…read moreambitious boast for an attraction that I'd more accurately describe as Watkins Glen with the consumer interface of Bushkill Falls, but there's no denying Ausable Chasm is a fun, scenic, and daring adventure for all ages! We came during the off season at the end of April, before the more high thrills activities like rafting & tubing, riverwalk, Via Ferrata adventure trail, rappelling, rock climbing, etc. were open for the season (usually around late-May to June through autumn). That was no problem as we are visiting with our toddler who isn't old enough to do most of these activities anyway, and, as we discovered, it was actually perfect and to our advantage, since as first-time visitors we only wanted/had time to explore the chasm itself. And as there were very few other visitors on a weekday, it was as if we had this private park all to ourselves! No need to jostle for views/photos, can enjoy lunch & snacks at the best picnic tables by vista points, and it's also more pleasant than hiking in hot summer, though many of the trails are shaded. The basic "trails only" admission is about $20 for adults & teens, $12 for kids 5-12, and free for under 5. All the other activities have additional fees, which can add up so you might explore packages, or even stay overnight at their campground & cabins. We are a family of hikers so wanted to do the whole perimeter and see the entire gorge (about 2 miles). But if you only wish to see the exciting parts and leave time for other activities, then you can turn back halfway and do the shorter loop (1 mile if you do the Inner Sanctum Trail which I 100% recommend as this is the "signature" trail along the canyon's edge. But note it has many stairs up & down). We took the Inner Sanctum (yellow) trail, crossed over to Big Dry Chasm and hiked to the Whirlpool Basin Overlook at other end, then looped back around on the orange trail via Little Dry Chasm. The trails are well maintained, with most of the outer edge trails on comfortable soft padded ground. They're mostly well marked except the end part is not really shown clearly on the park map so I used AllTrails. The orange trail (Dry Chasm Trail) is marked as more difficult, but it's basically just a regular wooded hiking trail that's not paved, with rooty and rocky sections. The park is very walkable for most able-bodied people. Even our 3yo was able to hike the whole thing by himself, with a bit of help over the orange trails. We loved our visit and are excited to come back when our child is older to do more activities! Will update my review when we've had a chance to experience all the action-packed adventures the park has to offer. TIP #1: No trail maps are given out so take a photo ar a screenshot. But there are maps placed along the trails marked with where you are. TIP #2: Porta-potties only on either end of the trails, so I recommend taking your nature break before setting out. TIP #3: There's a cafe by the Welcome Center but it's only open seasonally. Bring water. No garbage bins along the trails (cos bears!) so trash is carry-in carry-out.

I loved, I mean LOVED this park. I can't believe no one has reviewed this park yet! Just walking…read morearound and seeing the nature and character of the place had me thinking and saying to my mom "5 stars!". Yes, really. Easy nature walks, beautiful surroundings. Extremely friendly people and dogs all over the place, everyone seemed to know each other and the name of the accompanying dog. It had a great community feel, it really made me wish I had a dog! I'd come here every week. Maybe I'll steal my mom's dog for the day! There is a large section of the park that is off leach and you can go down by the river for the dogs to swim. We didn't go down to the river, but saw numerous wet, happy dogs coming from that directions. There are lots of picnic tables and benches to stop and enjoy the mountains, grass, ponds, breed spotting and people watching. I'm not sure if the address goes directly to the park, but here are some directions from the website: "Mills Riverside Park is located directly off of Vermont Route 15 in the Town of Jericho. Driving North/East on Route 15, just before entering Underhill Flats, you will see the entrance to the park on your right." You can't miss it! Check it out and bring your dog if you can!

5/5 - Our Favorite Dog Park!…read more We've been bringing our GSP here 4-5 days a week for nearly a year, and 95% of the time it's a fantastic experience. There's a strong community of regulars, and most dog owners are responsible and attentive. You'll find a rhythm to the park: the 9am crew, the noon "puppy hour," and a lively 5pm group (avoid this time if your dog prefers a mellower vibe). In summer, there's water available and people often bring kiddie pools. The park is donation-based, so consider bringing your own water for your pup (and others!), just in case. As with any public space, you'll occasionally run into an untrained or aggressive dog--usually brought by someone new to dog parks. In the past year, I've only seen two serious incidents. In one case, a dog attacked another and was subsequently banned by the city. In another, a dog aggressively "resource guarded" its favorite best friend dog at the park, and attacked any other dog who wanted to play with his best friend. It was handled by the community. Incidents like these are rare but worth being aware of. Personally, I stay vigilant. I screen every new dog my pup meets and carry a pet corrector spray and small foghorn, just in case. I never assume others are as proactive, so I ask questions and stay alert. It's every owner's responsibility to manage their dog to ensure everyone's safety--that's how public spaces like this thrive. Overall, Starr Farm is hands-down the best dog park around. The positive experiences far outweigh the negative, and we've made great connections. There's even a "Friends of Starr Farm Dog Park" Facebook group, which has grown to include social outings for dog owners. My dog does well here because she's highly trained, socially savvy, and prefers fetch over pack play. If something seems off--like a checked-out owner or a dog with concerning behavior--I create distance or leave. There's also a smaller fenced-in area for shy, small, or young dogs right beside the larger fenced in area FYI. It shares the same parking lot and it's gated entrance is on the left side (when you park). A few asks to keep this space safe: - If your dog resource guards other dogs, please don't bring them here. If they resource guard high value "toys" or other dogs balls, please be aware of this while at the park and manage the situation (like don't bring it's favorite toy) to avoid creating triggers for aggression. - If your dog isn't up-to-date on vaccines or parasite prevention, please stay home. - If your dog is aggressive or attacks other dogs, this is not the place--try a private "Sniff Spot" rental instead. Community spaces only stay safe and welcoming if we protect them. This park is a gem because people genuinely care. Let's keep it that way!

Very nice large fenced dog park with friendly dogs and people…read more Lots of action around noon