Aniko's Guidebook
Beach and kayaking/boating
My favorite is Lake Garfield from the many lakes around. There is free parking at a sandy beach with picnic tables, couple of trees to provide shade. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer until 5pm. There is a shallow area for small kids, two docks to sunbathe or jumps. The boat launch is right next to the beach with the same free, no permits required. You can easily kayak, paddle board to the little island, or go through the narrower part to the bigger open parts of the lake. If you go long distance swimming outside of the swim area, please bring a highly visible floaty with you. (I have one in a cupboard to borrow).
It’s the closest beach to the house, the water is clean and refreshing, it is easy to find and has ample of free parking. The lake has an island and a big and beautiful inner bowl to explore on kayaks or paddle board.
14 personas locales recomiendan
Lake Garfield
It’s the closest beach to the house, the water is clean and refreshing, it is easy to find and has ample of free parking. The lake has an island and a big and beautiful inner bowl to explore on kayaks or paddle board.
You can access the beach, boat ramp on paved roads. We love paddle boarding and having long swims.
Lower Spectacle Pond
You can access the beach, boat ramp on paved roads. We love paddle boarding and having long swims.
Food scene
Always reliable open 7 days a week. Indoor and outdoor seating, big parking lot (often full in the summer). Best coffee in the area. Wonderful selection of pastries, sandwiches. Always have some kind of soups and salads on the menu too. A community event message board, as well as local and National news are available inside.
44 personas locales recomiendan
The Southfield Store
163 Norfolk RdAlways reliable open 7 days a week. Indoor and outdoor seating, big parking lot (often full in the summer). Best coffee in the area. Wonderful selection of pastries, sandwiches. Always have some kind of soups and salads on the menu too. A community event message board, as well as local and National news are available inside.
Great place in any season for families. They have indoor and outdoor seating, takeout options. They don’t take reservations and they can be very busy sometimes. If you plan to go with kids, head there early. The menu is always made from fresh ingredients, they have seasonal specials and a great bar.
23 personas locales recomiendan
51 Park Restaurant & Tavern
51 Park StGreat place in any season for families. They have indoor and outdoor seating, takeout options. They don’t take reservations and they can be very busy sometimes. If you plan to go with kids, head there early. The menu is always made from fresh ingredients, they have seasonal specials and a great bar.
Sightseeing
Amazing all year round. Next to the parking area, the river is lazy, the other branch between the trees has the falls over rocks, that begging to climb them. In the summer it’s has very refreshing swimming holes, in the winter you can find the most amazing ice formations. A note, the parking area marked as local residents only, so you might want to walk/hike in if you plan to stay longer than a quick peek around. Also be careful with kids, the rocks can be slippery when wet or in the shallow parts and the water has a strong push even when it’s only knee deep in places.
33 personas locales recomiendan
Umpachene Falls Park
Umpachene Falls RoadAmazing all year round. Next to the parking area, the river is lazy, the other branch between the trees has the falls over rocks, that begging to climb them. In the summer it’s has very refreshing swimming holes, in the winter you can find the most amazing ice formations. A note, the parking area marked as local residents only, so you might want to walk/hike in if you plan to stay longer than a quick peek around. Also be careful with kids, the rocks can be slippery when wet or in the shallow parts and the water has a strong push even when it’s only knee deep in places.
The events are high quality, and real fun as it’s usually not overcrowded. The regular tour is interesting, but with small kids I would stick to the events and the well marked hiking trails. The grounds have the historic house, old stone structures, different habitats and forest types. Parking and the grounds are free to visit.
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Bidwell House Museum
100 Art School RdThe events are high quality, and real fun as it’s usually not overcrowded. The regular tour is interesting, but with small kids I would stick to the events and the well marked hiking trails. The grounds have the historic house, old stone structures, different habitats and forest types. Parking and the grounds are free to visit.
Winter fun
Ski Butternut is our favorite for skiing. It is a smaller mountain, medium in the area, but has the best snow making and maintaining crew, they can also make snow on all the runs. They have a giant crew of ski and snowboard instructors. My kids are in the race team now, but they learned to ski here with the ski school first.
Best snow making and maintaining in the area. Even when you think it’s impossible to have snow and in good condition, they will make it happen. A smaller mountain, but very family friendly with a giant crew of instructors. My husband and kids all learned to ski here, and the kids are now racing all over the neighboring states with their race team. Go early morning, so you get the best condition, almost no queues, before the crowd skies it down!
218 personas locales recomiendan
Ski Butternut
380 State RdBest snow making and maintaining in the area. Even when you think it’s impossible to have snow and in good condition, they will make it happen. A smaller mountain, but very family friendly with a giant crew of instructors. My husband and kids all learned to ski here, and the kids are now racing all over the neighboring states with their race team. Go early morning, so you get the best condition, almost no queues, before the crowd skies it down!
Hiking trails
There are many hiking trails all around. From the Appalachian trail to unmarked local paths, like the one leading to the wonderful views from the Monterey Cobble.
Loop trails with 3 different lengths, with the trailhead accessible year round right off route 23. The trail leads through some wooden planks through the the beaver pond to the loops’ starting point. There is a sign with trail maps and hunting seasons. The longest route will take you past an abandoned boat in the middle of the forest, some stone foundations and a pond with beaver dams. The shortest option provides a viewing platform on the top. We love the trails year round. Wear good shoes!
Bob's way
Loop trails with 3 different lengths, with the trailhead accessible year round right off route 23. The trail leads through some wooden planks through the the beaver pond to the loops’ starting point. There is a sign with trail maps and hunting seasons. The longest route will take you past an abandoned boat in the middle of the forest, some stone foundations and a pond with beaver dams. The shortest option provides a viewing platform on the top. We love the trails year round. Wear good shoes!
Short easy hike from the lower parking lot next to or close to the river. Bash Bish Falls State Park, but I suggest to use the parking in Taconic State Park, and the trail up from there, as you can find a small swimming pond and an iron works trails too from the same spot.
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Bash Bish Falls State Park
Falls RoadShort easy hike from the lower parking lot next to or close to the river. Bash Bish Falls State Park, but I suggest to use the parking in Taconic State Park, and the trail up from there, as you can find a small swimming pond and an iron works trails too from the same spot.