Robinson State Park

Located for the most part in Agawarn, but partially in Westfield and Springfield, Massachusetts, the Robinson State Park is an over 850 acre narrow park donated to Massachusetts by John C. Robinson. The park has many facilities that provide entertaining activities for the whole family, including roughly twenty miles of trails, swimming pond, fishing, picnic areas, canoeing, and kayaking. The park has Native American sites which were called to be preserved in 1989, as were several areas that were called to be environmentally protected zones.

After a two year study, sale of timber was canceled from this area and trees considered to be hazardous to the public, were removed. Many dead red pines are left to provide appropriate habitat for wood peckers and add to the natural beauty of the park. A demonstration area of logging is left on the site for the visitors and it further adds to the diversity of the park.

Pearl Hill State Park

Pearl Hill State Park offers guests a campground that boasts some of Massachusetts’ most private and largest campsites. All of these gorgeous camping spots sit beneath lush canopies of statelypine trees. One of this state park’s unique amenities is the newly-constructed bathhouse facilities. Add to this the exceptional level of woodland hiking, the miles of challenging and beautiful hiking trails, and the abundant opportunities for great swimming and antiquing experiences, and it is easy to see why so many people enjoy spending time at Pearl Hill State Park.

This state park offers a wealth of fun things to do and see. Guests to the park can enjoy mountain biking, riding horses, relaxing at the comfort station, taking showers, having easy access to pay telephones, interpretive programs, picnicking, playing with leashed pets, fishing, and many other leisure activities.

Great Brook Farm State Park

Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, MA was founded in 1967 and has a combination of history, adventure and relaxing fun. People of all ages revel in the scented country air and the wonders of nature that surround them at this 1,000 acre park.

Visit the cuddly petting zoo and let your children pet the pigs, sheep, goats, ducks and chickens. There are feed machines for 25 cents so your children can also feed the animals. Then take a nature walk and see all the other natural wonders in the vicinity. Once you work up an appetite, have a hot dog and cool off with a freeze or creamsicle drink. Have an ice cream treat choosing from among 60 flavors. Alternatively, eat some sherbet, sorbet, yogurt, banana split or a peanut butter M&M sundae at the park. The ice cream stand also has bottles of honey from local bee hives. Duffy’s cranberry bog is also within a short walking distance from Great Brook Farm State Park.

Hopkinton State Park, Hopkinton, Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts boasts a lot of splendor and natural beauty within its State parks. Hopkinton State Park, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is one of the many picturesque parks to visit during your stay in The Bay State.

The Hopkinton State Park, and spectacular Hopkinton Reservoir, offers 1450 acres of scenic beauty, encompassed within both towns of Ashland and Hopkinton. Since the Park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, you can rest assured that the grounds are protected and preserved, making it a wonderful place to observe and study the plants and animals in their natural habitats.
Recreational activities abound all throughout the year, with swimming, fishing, picnic and cookout areas, and canoeing, sailing, kayaking, and paddle boating in the summer. For the winter months, the Park is a fun place for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Mountain biking, horseback riding, and the expansive hiking trails can be enjoyed all year long.

Bradley Palmer State Park

Bradley Palmer State Park is one of Massachusetts’ most beautiful parks, located in the northeastern part of the state. This park has a very interesting history. Before visiting, it is important to know a little background about the park to fully appreciate and understand its beauty. Originally, the park was an estate owned by Bradley W. Palmer, a well-known attorney in the area. He graduated from Harvard in 1888 and was responsible for the merger that resulted in the United Fruit Company in 1899. Shortly after this in the early 1900s, he bought the land that is now Bradley Palmer State Park and made a home there. He continued to excel in his career and his advice became highly coveted. He is well-known for being the advisor of President Woodrow Wilson and the Federal Reserve Board. When his estate was built, there were still horse-drawn buggies used as transportation. Today there are still buggy paths that can be seen and used as walking paths. Rhododendrons can be seen neatly lining the carriage paths. Many of the original beauties such as this have been preserved throughout the years, giving visitors the unique opportunity to take a step back in time to the elegant Victorian era.

Another fun activity that visitors enjoy is canoeing on the river that is lined by lush green trees. Fishing is also allowed and there are several different types of fish that have reportedly been caught there, including some very large ones. There are several different hiking trails in the park. A map is available from the main office or online from the website that outlines each trail’s route and distance. More mile walking trails can be found for those who prefer a lighter form of exercise or a leisurely walk through the scenic estate. Horseback riding trails are also available on the property. During the summer months, the tick population is very thick in this part of the country. Bring a high-quality spray that contains DEET to avoid meeting these parasites. The easiest place to pick up ticks is along the horseback riding trails. When riding on a horse, multiple encounters with bushes and thick brush are common; these are the locations that ticks prefer. To avoid them, stick to the walking and hiking trails and stay out of the brush and taller grasses. Diseases from ticks in the area have not been reported.