I have hiked A LOT of mountains in New England but I had never hiked the mountain it seemed like…read moreeveryone I knew had hiked. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to change that and now I can see what all the hubbub is about. What a great mountain with fantastic views. After doing a bit of homework, I realized it was in my best interest to make a park reservation so that I could secure a parking space for the day at the start of the trailheads I was eyeing for the next day. As one of the most hiked mountains (in the world?), this park reports hosting a massive number of visitors each year and from first hand experience, I can attest that it is a busy one. The $15 was worth the peace of mind and my ability to pull right in and hop onto the trail. I had a hard time locating their "opening hours" but I arrived shortly after 8am with about 20 cars there ahead of me. I really appreciated the park ranger that checked me in for my reservation at the Poole Road entrance. Incredibly welcoming, inquisitive about plans, quick to offer advice for the best experience, and even shared a weather update (30 mph+ winds at the summit that day) before I was on my way. Supplied with a paper map and an idea which trails would be least busy and most scenic, I felt well-prepared for an enjoyable morning on the mountain. I opted to start out on the White Dot Trail. For less crowds, I branched off to the Cascade Link, then hooked a left onto the Red Spot Trail which delivered me to the summit. Gaining elevation at a slow and steady pace, I found the whole climb quite enjoyable. I rejoined the crowd at the summit but still with plenty of room for photos of the scenery and some quiet time to enjoy a snack. Wide open, bald summit with views for days. I would have stayed longer if not for the strong winds. After nestling in between the rocks away from the air currents to enjoy a brief snack, I was on my way down the mountain via the White Cross Trail. There were even glimpses of Boston in the distance! Each trail was clearly marked by it namesake (literally white dots, red dots, and white crosses) which made wayfinding a breeze. That said, I still came across a party or two that had gotten turned around. Do your homework, connect to a trail app if you have the means, practice your map reading skills, and heed the recommendations of the rangers and you should have the basic tools you need to keep you on track and still smiling. So many trails and options that can keep you coming back for more. The visitor center at this entrance was a welcome amenity, restrooms, and all. I cannot comment on the park store because it was closed for lunch when I was finishing up. All in all I got in just under 5 miles using the route that I did. Beautiful peak, beautiful day. Highly recommend.

Great day hike and not for those with weak ankles! Took the white dot trail up and used the white…read morecross trail to come down. Forgot the bug spray which would have kept the critters at bay with much of the trail having slow or puddled water. Parking wasn't too crowded, $15 for access to park. Snack and gift shop in the lot and the headquarters building just up the trail. Great restroom facility to use prior to starting the hike as well. Very rocky terrain all the way up, clearly marked with white dots (crosses as well for the return). Enjoyed the fact there were multiple volunteer guides hiking or positioned at locations (one steady at fork for dot/cross) if needed. Had low reception all through the hike for emergencies as well. Beautiful views towards the top and of course 360 once on the summit. Definitely worth the time spent. Pack in pack out, bring water and snacks along with the spray (both bug and sun)! Enjoyed a quick snack on the top with the views and a quick tsp of the marker before heading back down. Time to get up to the peak, what are you waiting for?!

This is a very cool playground with a lake feature. Definitely recommend wearing bug spray too! My…read more18 month loved this park!

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.

This is a nice little waterfall trail. It's not terribly long but it is on an incline. There are a…read morecouple of different small parking areas available (for a couple cars a piece). We found a spot in the top parking area, which is right by a large waterfall, so it was easy to start off by enjoying the view. The trail than meanders through the woods and down along the side of the rapids and waterfalls with lots of nice scenery. It's an enjoyable little hike!

Very short hike to witness beautiful waterfalls. If you are in the area, it's worth a stop.read more

This is less of a park and more of a scenic pull over. A tiny loop off a country road, one that can…read moreaccommodate perhaps five parked cars at most, affords a single picturesque view of a tree-fronted pond favored by a healthy flock of Canada geese in season. Appreciate it for one or two minutes, then move on.

Cute little spot to pull off of 202 close to downtown Jaffrey. There's a bunch of picnic tables, a…read moregrassy area with neatly kept shrubs, & great views of Cheshire Pond. Sunny & shady spots to park & relax. Only downside is it's right on 202 which can get busy. Sometimes a family of geese hang out here & you can sometimes see herons on the pond.

Great for all ages. Clean, versatile and pet friendly on trails. Portable toilets…read moreSet up off season. A couple picnic tables near playground make it nice for a quick lunch or snack.

Had a really good time with the family. Park is clean and the playground is large and and lots of…read morespace for the kids to run without bumping into each other. If you take the trails, there a slow moving creek where there appears to be a small dam built by previous visitors and then added on by kids as they visit. Good fun for everyone.

My family and I stopped in here while we were visiting the city of Keen in New Hampshire. We walked…read morearound this wonderful park it has much public arts it has many nice local stores it has a lot of beautiful flowers and just good scenery it has all kinds of wall art. It has a monument with a great gazebo it's just an overall excellent square and definitely worth visiting when you're in the area we had a great time

Driving by and I saw this wooden covered bridge so we had to pull over and check it out! So glad…read morewe did, The bridge is located right with this cute,well cared for small park. Well maintained trees, bushes and plants. Love to see how well they take care of the landscape here, also lots of garbage cans around. The park even has a few benches to sit and relax on. The wooden covered bridge was very cool to see and walk through. No cars allowed.... so this allows you to walk right inside the bridge ( love that there is a picnic bench inside too)The bridge goes over a small stream loaded with rocks and wildlife. On the outside of the bridge there are also another pathway to get a closer look at the stream. Very cute area perfect for a quick lunch break and rest before getting back on the road.

Living Memorial Park is a local gem. Just past the quaint Creamery Covered Bridge off Rt 9, you'll…read morefind this park, central to the Brattleboro community. On one side of the entrance around the corner from the public pool there are play areas, basketball hoops, a gazebo and benches. Residents and non-residents alike may use the pool and small children's water park for a small fee. There are public bathrooms, but they are what you would expect from an old, public park bathroom...built with concrete blocks and minimally cleaned (ie: kinda gross), but at least they're available. On the other side of the entrance is a baseball field. In the winter, the hill is a popular spot for sledding and skiing. There is a T-bar and the capacity to make snow. Many local children get their start skiing here because it is incredibly inexpensive to buy a day pass and free for children under 5. If you venture further up the hill you'll find other fields, an ice skating rink, a small outdoor stage, and a picnic pavilion. The views from the top of the hill are beautiful, and from the top there are hiking trails through the woods around the park.

We spent the day there. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. The Park was very clean and it…read morewas a very relaxing atmosphere. The staff doesn't breathe down your neck

Close to Colonial Hotel, this is an accessible gem. A new parking payment machine has been set up…read morebut no charges at moment. There are lots of picnic tables and looks like swimming in a Great Lake with s sandy beach. Trails are clean and shady. I wish there was a map that showed distances: I was unsure how long it would take for me to hike around it, so I did not take the trail. Clean bathrooms, but only open until 3 pm at the moment.

Thoroughly enjoyable self-guided walk through this summer home to 19th century diplomat John Hay…read moreand his family. It is incredible how many gorgeous, welcoming mansions New England has, yet with a different wonderful experience every time. Hay House does not disappoint. This beautiful classic home looks out to Lake Sunapee, and features a rock garden, fairy tale stone gate where the roses grow, and access to everything from the children's rooms and bathrooms to the well-stocked butler's pantry. The best aspect of being self-guided is the freedom to go at your own pace, and appreciate the many details without having to stare at someone doling out long bios. Plentiful signs give you the ideal highlights of each room as well as relevant history, and you can admire the decor and architectural elements to your heart's content. We happened to be there for Artists' Weekend, where many painters were positioned in various spots on the lush grounds, painting their happy little trees. Live music was played on the porch, and it was a lovely environment for such an event. Landscaping and flowers vary with blooming times of year, and there are some nature trails around the grounds. The walk from the parking lot at the street, to the Hay house, is about 1/4 mile on the dirt/gravel road with a bit of a hill. There was another parking lot at the house itself, which we did not realize until we were hoofing it back. Restrooms on site. Beautiful venue for a wedding, which is something they do. Terrific site all the way around. Paired nicely with the Ice House Museum of antique cars about 10 minutes away, and lunch at Peter Christian's Tavern nearby.

Beautiful place to walk and explore. My only complaint is I wish the trails were marked a little…read moremore clearly, we took a wrong turn and had to walk back a ways. There was a long (unexpected!) beautiful stream, and it was the highlight of the whole place for me.