As fall made one more last gasp, I took advantage of the unseasonably warm (50 degrees) weather and made my way up north to the picturesque Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, New Hampshire.
Located about an hour and a half north of Boston, MA, Pawtuckaway is a 5,000 acre preserve with a camp site, lakes, a beach, a spectacular view of the Pawtuckaway Mountains and 15 miles of trails. The parking lot is pretty big so parking shouldn’t be a problem if you get there early in the day during the spring and summer. There were only 4 cars there when I went in December. It costs $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-11. It is free when it is not staffed (from 11/2 until 5/1). The park hours are 8 am-7 pm.
The trails can be challenging not so much because of their inclines, which can be tricky at parts, but because of the rocks which are randomly placed throughout the trails. They can come in handy, though, when you have to cross the puddles along the trails.
I arrived at Pawtuckaway early in the morning. Mist and frost was still visible on the way to the lake.
Looking into the pond was like looking into a mirror.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The views from the rocks trail on the Fire Tower make the long ascent (about 3 miles from the entrance) worthwhile.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The fire tower is located a short distance (about a quarter of a mile) from the rocky ledge with all of the beautiful views.
While I preferred the views from the ledge, the fire tower offered views from every angle and both sides of the vista.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There were also many pretty trees at Pawtuckaway.
There is also a beach at Pawtuckaway. I got there just in time for the sunset.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Pawtuckaway is said to have been derived from a Native American word meaning, “big buck.” I didn’t see any bucks but I did some dogs! From top to bottom Artie, Lulu (on the left), Rooster (on the right), Tucker and Duke.
Video from the fire tower at Pawtuckaway. As you can tell by the audio it was quite a windy day.
Video from the rocky ledge it was less windy there)
Spending a crisp autumn day at Myles Standish State Park makes you long for summer days.
Since it is so big, Myles Standish has several parking areas. I parked at the main parking area where the ranger headquarters is located on Cranberry Rd. There were about 30 or 40 parking spots at this parking area. It wasn’t a problem finding a spot when I went but I bet it fills up quickly if you don’t go early during the spring and summer. Myles Standish also has camp sites for tents and some for RV’s. It costs $8 for MA residents and $10 for non MA residents to visit for the day when the park is open for the season. It is free off during the off season.
As beautiful as the forest is in late fall, it must be even so much prettier when all the flowers are in bloom or during foliage season. The wind was just strong enough to give the water a little ripple effect.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There were birds a plenty at Myles Standish. The woodpecker in the second photo was too busy pecking to be scared away.
Myles Standish is a huge forest and it extends into several towns. There are 16 ponds, 13 miles of hiking trails and 15 miles of biking trails in Myles Standish. I stopped by Fearing Pond.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There was also quite a few pretty trees and vegetation at the forest.
My one gripe about Myles Standish is the amount of trees they had cut down. It wasn’t clear why they had the trees down. But, it was unsettling nonetheless.
Bear Hole is not just a name give to the much traveled reservoir in West Springfield.
Tales of bear, deer and other animals have been told from many visitors at the park.
I didn’t see any bear, though. I only met the occasional dog (from top left to right Figueroa, Lily, Jyp, bottom from left to right Oreo and Connor)
and owl
The main attraction at Bear Hole is the waterfall.
and the pond it flows to
The trails are clearly defined (unless you go off trail to get a closer look at the waterfall and pond as I did from time to time). And runners and cyclists use the trails frequently.
Click below to view the video of the waterfall in all its splendor.
From the outside Northwood Meadows State Park doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary.
A pond, a creek, pretty trees and a few unusual rock formations are on the main trail.
But, it’s the meadow that sets the place apart from other parks.
Of course, after a few minutes, it began to snow.
Then, just like any typical New England day, it stopped and the sun was out after 5 minutes of driving snow.
There are some beautiful views of the meadow.
Northwood Meadows is also a popular spot for dog walking. You may notice some of the dogs are wearing orange. That is because hunting is allowed in some designated areas of the park.
The photos don’t do it justice, though. Northwood Meadows is a must see for dogs and humans!
If you have a dog or if you are a pooch lover like I am and you live in the Massachusetts area, then you must make a trip out to Callahan State Park in Framingham, MA. In fact, they should rename it Canine State Park.
When I arrived at the park, shortly before 9 on a Saturday morning, the fairly ample parking lot was already almost full. It did not take long to find some cute canines to photograph. I had more trouble deciding which dogs to photograph.
Casey wanted to get an extra close up photo.
Lucky’s dad used a ball to get his attention.
Luna looked right at the camera for me.
Shelby wasn’t sure if he should play with his ball or pose for me.
Finn, an Australian cattle breed mix, wanted to say hi. Right after I took this photo, he ran up to me and snuggled with me.
Heboo dressed for the seasonably chilly weather with a sweater.
Ella gave me a big smile for her photo.
Duke (on your left) and Pete (on your right) were busy looking at their mom/walker.
Gracie looked sharp!
This guy was a great poser!
Leaves carpeted most of the trails and the foliage was not at its peak. But, there were still so many pretty views.
There is lots of open land for dogs to play or run around on.
There is a creek that runs across the park
It began to rain, only for a few minutes, when I was at the creek. It stopped just after I get a few shots of the rain making ripples on the water.
Callahan State Park also has a pond.
There is a little island in the middle of the pond.
This rock caught my eye.
The dogs went in for swim and one of them even retrieved a stick.
The park has a circular path which is great for joggers and anyone who wants to take a leisurely walk. The Greater Framingham Running Club held a 5k/10k run the day I was there.
The runner in blue and yellow waved to me. Who said runners aren’t friendly?
There are so many things you can do at Callahan State Park. This radio plane enthusiast took his plane out for a spin.
This father and son their bikes for a ride.
If you want to check out my other blog on WordPress, please click here. Thank you.
Tucked away in the quaint village of Mystic, Connecticut, stands the hidden gem known as The Olde Mystic Village.
At first glance, Mistick Village may seem like a nondescript shopping center. But, Mistick Village is much more.
There are many cramped stores for specialty merchandise such as custom made clothing and hand made jewelry, pet shops and eateries that dot the village. It would be easy to dismiss it as just another shopping center. But Mistik Village has many unexpected charms. One of the biggest surprises at Olde Mistik Village is something very unique.
Right there, smack dab in the middle of the village is a pond.
Forget about the cinema and the fudge shop. The ducks are the most popular attractions at the village. People feed them their dietary recommended food. Signs prominently remind people crackers and bread are not safe for the ducks to eat.
They are not restricted to the pond area either. You can regularly see the ducks roaming the walkways of the Mistik Village.
And, since so many people feed them, they are not shy.
The flowers and trees at Mistik Village are another unique feature of the shoopping center.
Yes, that is a birdhouse on the flag pole.
Keeping with the aquatic theme, a waterfall leads to a stream with koi fish.
Some of the most charming elements of the village are the decor. Walkways are furnished with wooden gateways.
Wooden chairs rest in front of this fashion shop.
Various structures are scattered throughout the village.
Of course, the Mistik Village is a dog friendly area.
I met Theo and Rebel. Theo was happy to see me. Rebel, on the left, not so much.
I also made a friend at Old Mistik Village. Charley is a rescue dog from Hurricane Katrina. His dad told us how, after noticing Charley, he arrived at the dog shelter at 5 a.m. to make sure he could adopt him. Charley is a very special dog.
After photographing a variety of mountainous, rocky state parks, I thought it was time to mix it up and visit a rocky, hilly waterfall. Initially, we planned on visiting CM Gardner State Park. But, the helpful park rangers at CM Gardner suggested something more picturesque, Chester-Blandford State Forest.
Since it encompasses such a large area (over 2,700 acres), Chester-Blandford has several entrances. The first part of the park we arrived at, Boulder Park, is a rather small area with a pond and a few ill defined trails. But, right from the rocky steps and mossy trails at the entrance it has a unique charm.
The trails also have some unique walkways and structures.
The highlight of the park may be the deep opening off the main trail.
Boulder Rock also has some eye catching plants and wild life.
The pond near the end of the main trail was a nice surprise.
Boulder Rock also had its share of wildlife such as this salamander and mouse.
Alas, our trip to Boulder Rock was over. But, about a mile down the road another entrance beckoned us, the main entrance to the Sanderson Brooks Falls trail of Chester-Blandford.
Pitcuresque views are scattered along the Brooks Falls trail.
Due to the lack of rain recently, the rapids weren’t very, well, rapid. But, the relatively still water and rocky brook provided some good shots.
Sanderson Brook Falls also had a fair share of wildlife such as caterpillars,
Toads
and dogs, like Loona.
After a roughly half an hour trek along some rocky terrain, a number of bridges and some steep inclines, I made it to the falls.
The brooks and falls are sure to be more active during the stormy seasons. But, it is still impressive and worth the trip.
To get the full effect of the falls, click on the short video below.
Is there anywhere in the New England area you would like me to visit?
What are some of your favorite waterfalls?
Feel free to stop by Facebook page and like my page: New England Nomad
Even though it’s only August, today was the perfect day for a trip to Mount October.
Roughly, a 45 minute drive west of Springfield, MA, Mount October is located in the majestic Berkshires. The wild flowers and plant life, which are a staple of the Berkshires, were in full bloom.
The wildlife at Mount October was also abundant.
There were salamanders
toads
caterpillars
centipedes
and dogs!
Olive posed during her walk with her dad
Emily stuck her head out for some fresh air.
While it serves as a campground, the hiking trails are perhaps the most notable part of the state forest. But, the most challenging part of Mount October was the terrain of these hiking trails. Dew and rain made for marshy, washed out paths which made it even more difficult when you had to cross rocky areas. Some parts of the paths were also fairly steep.
Interestingly, I visited Woods Pond earlier this year which is a section of Mount October. The blog for which can be found here. Even though I had already taken photos of Woods Pond previously, I took a few more during my visit at Mount October.
Mount October is the largest state park in Massachusetts. And, despite spending several hours there, we were only able to cover a fraction of the area. Perhaps I’ll come back in the fall.
Pretty waterscapes are not regulated to the coastlines of New England. Hampton Ponds State Park is proof of this. A cute, expansive series of ponds that dot the Westfield area, Hampton Ponds is a popular area for swimmers, sun bathers and boaters.
Upon reaching Hampton ponds, I was greeted by a gaggle of geese.
And this one solitary goose.
Hampton Ponds has some very impressive trees.
But, it was the vivid greens and wild flowers of the ponds that stood out to me.
Dragonflies also seemed to enjoy the greenery of Hampton Ponds.
The water is so transparent at Hampton Ponds, you can see the fish that inhabit the waters.
Birds are also plentiful at Hampton Ponds. This swallow sort of blended into the sand on the beach head.
Boaters and kayakers took advantage of the warm weather and clear waters at Hampton Ponds
The motorboats created pretty ripples along the glassy water.
Hampton Ponds doesn’t have any long walking trails. But, it does make up for it with its pretty views.
Hampton Ponds is also a popular spot for dogs.
Hercules stopped playing so I could take his photo.
Sparky happily posed for his photo.
Hampton Ponds is also the perfect place to reflect
Legend has it the Native Americans called Mittaneague (pronounced Mit-tin-aig) “the valley of falling water.” The park more than lives up to this description.
Mittineague Park was, without question, the park with the most difficult terrain to travel that I have visited while writing this blog. The sharp inclines, fences furnished with barbed wire and “no trespassing” signs, overgrown brush, unkempt make shift trails and other obstacles made it difficult to photograph.
It is a shame because Mittineague has some wonderful views.
Mittineague also has a tunnel under the railroad tracks that run through the park.
During my visit, the train passed by on the rickety rails.
and kept going…
and kept going…
and going…
and, well, you get the picture…
But, the gem of the park must be its stone bridges and walkways.
Mittineague also has an impressive assortment of trees. They are majestic not just in their stature but also in their sheer beauty.
There is also a variety of plant life and wild flowers.
Mittineague is also teeming with birds
frogs
and, of course, dogs.
Lucy did a great job fetching her frisbee.
Lincoln posed proudly with his mommy.
And Annabelle smiled broadly for her photo.
Mittineague also has well manicured soccer fields and baseball diamonds and its basketball and tennis courts as well as a play area for kids.
Or, the kids can just go for a swim in the various brooks and waterfalls at Mittineague.
New England Nomad 