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 !

This is a kid-friendly swimming hole that is only a few miles away from Ludlow, VT. Our family…read morestopped by for a visit with our dog in July 2026. Here are 3 tips for newbies. First, it can get very crowded along the road (there is no official parking lot). Be sure to pack your patience. If you arrive mid-afternoon, more spaces near the entrance may open. Second, no public restrooms are available. So, plan accordingly. Third, the middle falls are easiest to access if you're here for a short time. Overall, it was a nice place for a quick visit. However, Buttermilks Falls are not as impressive as other Vermont locations with swimming holes such as Bartlett Falls or Warren Falls. The latter is particularly scenic with a high cliff jump that is for brave teenagers and adults only. The state of Vermont is blessed to have so many natural swimming areas!

Easy access hype…read more This Gorge is easily accessible from the road and worth stopping for a few minutes. It is not a destination worthy but provides a scenic rest stop on your way to elsewhere. Many road trippers and tourist traps are here. There are about 20-30 parking spots near the East side of the bridge. There is an info board and a trailhead at the parking lot. The trail meanders below the road bridge to the Quechee Gorge. This summer (9/25) has been quite dry, so not big cascades but better views into the Gorge can be had. There's a big construction going ON the bridge so there was some traffic (yup). The construction probably will be completed before the winter. PSA - The best vista to this Gorge is actually from the bridge which is a very short walk from the parking lot.

This place has always been a home for me . Home away from home . It is cost efficient due to the…read morehigh hotel rates these days . I remember when a hotel stay would be less than 100.00 a night with amenities. Anyways, this campground is close to work, entrainment and many food choices. It is clean and well managed with a friendly and competent staff. I never felt unsafe or financially cheated. This will always be my go to spot ! Thank you Quechee !

This is a gorgeous waterfall and swimming hole about a 45 minute drive from Burlington, VT! My…read morewife, two teenage sons, mini-poodle, and I came here in July 2024 on a hot summer day to cool off for an hour. Lots of pluses. First, it has a wide receiving pool area that is conducive to large groups and is more kid-friendly than other swimming holes (such as Warren Falls). Second, parking is generally available on the side of the road above the falls. You can descend along the second pathway down which is less steep than the first pathway. Third, dogs with a leash are allowed in the area. Would strongly recommend bringing water shoes (river shoes) if you don't like the pain of multiple rocks on your bare feet. Also, it tends to be a bit more quiet from 3pm-4pm, but got crowded when we departed at 5pm. Overall, this is a great place to experience a swimming hole in Vermont - especially if you are staying nearby in Burlington, VT.

I am into cold plunging for health and wellness. It was a cold rainy Aug. day and we headed to…read moreBristol for food and falls. Bartlett falls are amazing. Very accessible and pristine. We had a lovely swim. We parked on the side of the road and walked down..easy peasy.

A must-visit for all ages! Highly recommend! Wish we had left more time for this. We were 6 adults…read morein our early 30's and 60's. The birds here are all unable to survive in the wild. Mostly outdoor exhibits with well maintained paths. Lots of shade. Enjoyed the very well done Raptor presentation appropriate for all ages. Plenty of room for families with younger kids to "frolic in nature" as one of the VINS inspirational signs shared. Beautiful grounds including a Canopy walk with optional Tower! Pleasant friendly staff. Picnic tables to bring your own food. Would love to go back next time we're in VT. Very reasonably priced Adoption program if looking for a gift. Nice souvenir shop. For a $2 off per ticket, pick up a VINS 5x9 card in racks showing local attractions.

I wish we lived closer to this institute because we would probably visit every weekend! The Vermont…read moreInstitute of Natural Science does praiseworthy work by rescuing aviaries and raptors from the side of highways, etc. These once injured birds are now thriving and the staff working here really care for the inhabitants. It is wonderful to see. It is worth the money to come visit! Kids love it and adults do too. Besides the beautiful rescue stories and gorgeous creatures living here, the nature walk and look out tower is another fun experience! There is a netted trampoline that is many feet up towards the back of the nature walk. It gives kids cool views of down below and is fun to prance on top of! The look out tower walk up is a great work out for the adults and the promising view up top is worth it. The gift store has some lovely treasures as well. I hope we can visit again soon!

This was sooo much fun! We spent almost 2 hours here and loved reading the educational facts along…read morethe boardwalk and exploring the caves! There were so many beautiful areas along the boardwalk. The lemon squeezer and dungeon were the most difficult but also the most fun! We got a bit muddy and wet but that's all part of the adventure! We also loved the huge birds nest at the end and got a huge laugh out of pretending to be baby birds. I would definitely come back here again!

I didn't expect to like this place as much as I did. It ended up being the best day-trip of our…read morevacation. Caves are rated a,b or c based on difficulty. I stayed away from the a's but there was still plenty for me to explore. The kids had permanent smiles and want to go back next year. Beautifully maintained. Highly recommend.

New Hampshire is full of wonderful natural surprises. For a state of small geographic size, it has…read morean immense variety of geography and related attractions. Coastline, beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers. And one of them is Sculptured Rocks Natural Area. This beautiful, out of the way location is a State Park that spans 272 acres, is of glacier origin and was formed by the action the Cockermouth River, which carved a narrow canyon on the granite bedrock on its way to Newfound Lake. The grains of sand suspended in the river current, carved the walls of the canyon throughout the years, creating a multitude of shapes, potholes and other rock formations. The lore has it billed as the "Grand Canyon of New Hampshire which is a stretch. But it is worth visiting. The lower part of the park is the most nature-intensive and features a bridge with amazing views. The upper part of the park is shallows and you can relax, cool off, allow your pup to be in the water and enjoy the scene. Getting here is a beautiful drive through forests and lakeside cabins. Then you go to the parking lot, cross the highway and things get nicer. You can do several nice hikes through the woods and up the river canyon, admiring what nature has carved. Yes, bring your pet but they must be on a leash because a) it's the park regulations and b) your dog can get seriously hurt if he/she wonders off and falls in the ravine. If you like to do yoga or meditation, it is indeed an amazing place early, before the folks show up. The sound of the falling water is about the most soothing sound ever.

Just had an amazing time at the only Caves in the Adirondacks! We had a blast walking down and…read moreexploring the caves. All the caves are outdoors and can be self guided! Perfect for families but be careful to wear sneakers as some areas are slippery! We brought our newborn and it wasn't too bad! Just go slow if you're also with elderly parents. Fun place!

Absolutely beautiful. Loved every minute of trekking through the caves, bridges and trails. This is…read morea must see attraction in the Adirondacks and a great way to see the natural landscape. Grab a walking stick and get ready for a fun outdoorsy adventure and don't forget to check out the gem & gift shops on the way out!

This place was not at all on my radar when I planned our trip. We had driven up to Windsor to see…read moreanother museum, and the lady who sold the tickets there talked to us about our plans and recommended this place as very worthwhile. So, after lunch, we crossed a semi-narrow wooden bridge and drove a mile or two to this site. You park in a small lot (there was a sign for overflow parking too) and either pay there (if a ranger is on duty) or proceed to the visitors' center (where you can also pay). Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American sculptor in the late 1800s and into the very early 1900s. I was not specifically familiar with him, but his work and that of those who trained with him was featured on a lot of U.S. coins at the time. It seems like a lot of the older coinage (before the models used now) was related to him. He also designed the Shaw Memorial on Boston Commons (related to the 54th Massacusetts regiment of black troops - see the film 'Glory' for background). From the visitors' center, there are several other areas to see. The ground slopes down towards the Connecticut River in the distance. Facing that, there is a small gallery and courtyard featuring some sculptures to your right. There is also a large sculpture of Lincoln. As you proceed towards the river, there are some works housed in spaces bordered by high hedges (including a copy of the Shaw Memorial). These end at the border to Saint-Gauden's original house, which is sometimes open for tours. When we visited, the sign just said 'wait for docent to open the door'. We later learned that this only happens between 2 - 4 p.m., which would be helpful to add to the sign. A bit below that is the studio building, which has examples of the sculptor's work and exhibits on the process of creating some. Maybe 300 yards further down is a memorial (sort of a small Greek temple) where the Saint-Gaudens' ashes (and those of several family members) are buried. It was a pretty site especially if the weather is nice. The sculptures, especially those which are outdoors, make for good photos. They also offer periodic ranger-led tours. We tagged along for part of one, but had already seen some of the areas, so we broke off and continued on our own. If you are in this area and have any interest in sculpture, this is very worthwhile.

Beautiful grounds and entertaining story about artist and a local artist colony. It's only about an…read morehour to 90 minutes to enjoy it. So not really worth making a big detour for-But it is a lovely stop if you're traveling through New Hampshire or Vermont.

Saw lots of eagles, herons, beaver huts, turtles while kayaking. Bear had been present per park…read morevolunteer. Peaceful, uncrowded on a Friday am. Did not reach a dead-end after 2 hrs of going upriver. Favorite spot of 10 trips this summer.

North Hartland Lake & Park is a VT State Park which is very well maintained and a beautiful place…read moreto come and recreate. The lake has a beach, picnic area with grills available, vast open areas to run and play, wooded land to hike and explore. IN the summer there is a small entrance fee to enter - but its free in the off season.