The 413 Mom

Outdoor Ice Skating at Piper Pond (West Springfield)

This ice is nice this season at Piper Pond in West Springfield. Ice skating at the pond is available daily until 10 p.m. (when the lights are turned out). Park in the lot for Memorial Pool at 51 Smyrna Street and follow the footpath down to the pond. There are two benches available for getting skates on and off. Lots of hockey players here but plenty of space for everyone. This is a BYO skates experience -- there are no rentals available. 

We'd love to discover some more places with outdoor skating as it is so hard to find indoor ice time right now. Where is your favorite skating spot? 

Gotta Visit: The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve (Suffield, CT) #gotakeahike

If there's one way to make your offspring adore you even more than they already do, convince them to join you on a hiking trail on a raw December morning in a thick fog. I mean, hiking in a cold, dense fog -- it there anything better? Not during a global pandemic there's not. Try it and I'll bet you'll make memories most families can only dream of. 

Deep sarcasm aside, The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve in Suffield, CT is a perfectly maintained trail just over the border. TBH there's not much to report here except an easy family hike that covers a small portion of the New England Trail. So if you're trying to knock off the whole NET like we are, you can count this jaunt toward your total. Also, there's no such thing as a bad day in the woods irregardless of how much grumbling and whining must be endured. 

You can park in one of the pull-offs at the intersection of Mountain Road and Phelps Road -- there are several to choose from. The blue blazes that greet you at the trail head are a sure sign that you're on the M-M (Metacomet-Monadonock Trail) AKA The NET (New England Trail). If you're seeking a quad workout or need to commit to a leg day -- head here. The trail starts with a few switchbacks on a steep hill but because the trail is incredibly well maintained it's easy to navigate. Eventually the climb evens out and you'll hike for a while along the ridge before the trail descends again. 

There's nothing too exciting here except that Spencer Woods is one of the best maintained trails we've ever had the pleasure to visit. This is for sure the best marked section of the NET that we've been on yet. Spencer Woods is part of the Suffield Land Conservancy so kudos and gratitude to them for maintaining this space. It may be steep to start but it is an easy hike. You'll need a carrier for a little one. I wouldn't recommend this hike for any independent hikers under age six. I don't think anyone under six-ish could manage the steep descent back to the parking spot (two hikers in our party slipped and fell on the way back down. One of us did not. I won't mention any names but I am trying not to gloat). This hike is best suited for ages six and up. There are no facilities on the trail. We did not find anything remarkable besides trees, rocks, and leaves but I have heard that there is a large chimney to be discovered along the trail somewhere.

Also, this trail is pretty busy. Even on a foggy, raw, glum morning we encountered several other hikers on the trail. Be prepared to social distance and have your mask ready if you visit here. Technically, this is the Peak and West Suffield Mountains Section of the NET -- 4.9 miles through but we just popped in and out for a quick 45-minute explore. 

And in the end, despite all the griping, both offspring asked if we could come back someday and one even uttered the phrase "that was fun." I hope you have as much success with your kids on your next hiking adventure. See you on the trail! #hikingwithkids

Gotta Visit: Woodland Trail at Mittineague Park (West Springfield) #hikingwithkids

It was 78 degrees in October today. We had a half day of school. The only question was which trail to hit. We ended up at the Woodland Trail at Mittineague Park in West Springfield. Despite visiting the playground and stream here countless times we had never actually hiked the trail. Our loss. So glad we finally discovered it for ourselves because it will definitely be in regular rotation. You can pick up the trail at many locations throughout the park but we started near the parking lot for the soccer fields (just follow the signs). This is also near the Unico Playground. Which is actually why we started here. Because, playground. Wherever you decide to pick up the trail, look for the blue blazes.

This is such an easy, pleasant hike. The trail is wonderfully maintained. If you have a hardy kiddo I'd even say you could bring a jogging stroller through here (let's just say I've brought a jogger on trails worse than this). There are some slight slopes but no big climbs. Also, the only thing you need to worry about while hiking with littles is that a portion of the trail parallels active train tracks. Very closely. So, you definitely want to keep hands on little daredevils as you approach the tracks. This could be a real treat for any little Thomas enthusiasts. Alternately, it could be a nightmare for sensory sensitive kiddos -- the train screams through here.

There are a lot of trails (over six miles of them) throughout the park but this blue line trail is about a mile. Just follow the blazes. But even if you take an alternate trail, you will still end up on a park road or on the disc golf course and and be able to find your way back to where you parked. No worries about getting lost here. 

Planning for an hour on the trail is a fair guess if you're hiking with kids. And, of course, if anyone needs a little inspo to keep going, there is this super fun playground to celebrate the end of the hike with:

Mittineague Park is located at 1695 Westfield Street in West Springfield. You can also access the park off of Park Drive, Harwich Road, or Churchill Road -- head down any of those streets and you'll find Mittineague. There is plenty of free parking on site. The park is open daily dawn to dusk. We hope you enjoy this explore as much as we do. See you on the trail! 

 

Gotta Visit: Eyrie Ruins & Goat Peak at Mt. Tom (Holyoke, MA) #hikingwithkids

Mount Tom State Reservation is one of the most popular hiking spots in this area but as we head into fall exploring the top of this mountain should be put on your Must Do List. Pack the snacks and water, make the kids put on real shoes, and get ready to reconnect with Mother Nature. 

If you can devote the better part of the day to this explore you can complete two hikes in one atop Mount Nonotuck in Holyoke  -- traversing up Goat Peak and taking in the beautiful vista and exploring the old ruins of the Eyrie House. 

Once you drive into the reservation, keep going up the road. Ignore all of the turn offs. Keep driving until you get to the top of the road where you HAVE to take a left or a right. Park in one of the lots near the playground. With your back facing the playground start up the road to the right. You'll see a sign pointing to the Eyrie Ruins. Go that way.

Most of this hike is paved road (crumbling though it is) which makes it easier for new hikers, but not quite good enough for a stroller. Definitely want to use a carrier for the babies. All the hike in is uphill, which of course promises the walk back to the car at the end of the trek to be all downhill. Remind the kids of this fact. 

Just keep walking up the paved road until you see the right hand turnoff for Goat Peak. (Don't like heights? Skip Goat Peak. Just keep following the road to the Eryie Ruins.) Fire up your quads as you billygoat it up that trail for a while and you'll come to an amazing overlook where you can take in the Pioneer Valley in all of its glory. Once you've had your fill of photos there, turn around and climb up the steps to  reach the lookout tower. 

The scenic overlook side of Goat Peak provides a few benches to rest on. Your legs will thank you. If you have a thing about heights, stop here. Turn around and traverse back down the path to the main road. 

If you don't have a thing about heights turn around and follow the stair path up to the lookout tower. Climb up the fire tower and cool off in the wind. Take some amazing photos. Enjoy. When you're done, traverse back down the steps and back down the path to the main road. This is probably one of the best places to be during peak foliage season. 

If you've been needing a leg day workout, this hike will provide it. Your quads will be burning by the time you head down from Goat Peak. 

Once you return to the main road, hang a right to continue up to the Eyrie Ruins. Just keep walking up the road until you see the small turn off for the Eyrie House Ruins. Follow that path and be transported back in time to explore the ruins of a 19th century hotel that used to be a popular resort.

You can scramble around the ruins for a while peeking in windows and trying to imagine what life was like for the residents of this resort. And what a job it must have been to get all the supplies and building materials up here. 

The walk to the Eyrie House ruins from the parking lot is about two miles. Adding the trek up to Goat Peak probably adds another half mile to the hike. The kids will definitely sleep well. Everyone will.

The nice thing is that the walk back to the car is all downhill. By the time you reach the car, the kids will probably want to check out the playground for a bit. If anyone still has still has any steam left, you can check out Bray Tower which is just up the road from the parking area -- in the opposite direction from where you just hiked. This is a another lookout tower similar to the one at Goat Peak but it's easier to get to. 

There you have it! A perfect day on the mountain. The nice thing about exploring here during Covid is that with the wide road there is plenty of space for safe social distancing. The usual parking fee is $5 for in-state vehicles (usually $20 for out of state residents) but I have not seen this fee collected on any of our recent visits. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Don't forget to pack plenty of snacks and water. Set the GPS for 125 Reservation Road in Holyoke. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. See you on the trail! 

Road Trip Worthy: Scantic River Park South (East Windsor, CT) #hikingwithkids

Super fun explore ALERT!  Time to review the third leg of the Scantic River State Park, this trail is in East Windsor, CT. 

If you want to explore the entirety of the Scantic River State park, you can read my reviews of the Powder Hollow Loop and the Bailey Road trail both of which are in Enfield, CT. 

This is a gently sloping, easy hike with very clear, well marked, wide trails -- so much gratitude to the collection of volunteers who must spend many hours maintaining this site. 

When you arrive at the parking lot at 101 Melrose Road in Windsorville, CT (better known as East Windsor) you see this:

Even though the bridge is tempting, DON'T GO THERE! The bridge only leads to some rambling, brambly paths and some swampy ponds. There are no good trails here. Instead, head to the actual trail head here -- this is where the good hiking is:  

You'll start off walking along the river before you turn into the woods and get into some small hills. This is a loop trail so stay on the River Path and you'll eventually end up back at the parking lot. Follow the yellow diamonds. Along the way you'll see things like the cool teepee shown above and an old car graveyard. There's a geocache here in one of the vehicles but don't tell anyone I told you. There's also a few owls who might say hello. The loop trail is a little over two miles. 

Unlike other sections of the Scantic River trail, there are no rapids along this trail. There are some good spots to splash and and cool off your tootsies. This is the calmer, quieter section of the river.  

There is plenty of available parking on site, but no facilities. Bring a carrier if you have a little one, the trail is not stroller friendly. The park closes at sunset. The teepee is towards the end of the hike -- you can bribe your reluctant hikers along with the promise of this super cool added attraction. See you on the trail! 

Gotta Visit: Granville Gorge (Southwick)

It's been such a hot summer who doesn't want to visit the coolest spot in the 413 -- The Granville Gorge. The gorge is located on Route 57 in Southwick, MA as you approach the Granville town line. It's a great spot for families with bigger kids to explore and cool off during the summer months but especially during this strange summer of social distancing. 

Once you pull in the gravel drive, find a spot to park around the circular lot and follow a trail down into the gorge or just freestyle it down the ravine. 

Even though I've been visiting here since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I actually wouldn't recommend this gorgeous spot for littles. The rocks are extremely slippery and it is a very steep slope down into the gorge. I mean, the definition of gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls. That screams big kid adventure. 

Unfortunately, there is often some broken glass scattered around the parking lot, trail and banks left behind by asshats who can't respect themselves nevermind Mother Nature. So it's important to wear real shoes to visit here -- not flip flops. 

No matter what age you are when you visit, wear the swimsuit or bring a change of clothes. The water is too inviting and I've already warned you about the slippery rocks. I'm not a water shoe type of girl, but if you have them, bring them here. 

There are plenty of shallow pools where you can relax and let the kids play and explore. There are lots of water skimmers, tiny fish, and newts to find here. Bring your nets to catch and release the many nature friends to be discovered. 

In these times of social distancing it's important to note that this is always a popular spot in the summer. The main swimming hole is usually busy. But there are lots of other spots you can chose to cool off in. Just continue along the banks until you find a quiet spot of your own. Or visit later in the day around dinner time. We've had good luck this summer finding a socially distanced spot later in the afternoon. 

The Gorge is located on Granville Road (Route 57) in Southwick, MA. There is no charge to visit, hours are posted as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There are no facilities at this property -- use the bathroom at home before you trek out. 

It really is one of the coolest spots in the area -- you can literally feel the temperature cooling as you descend down into the gorge and feel the heat rising as you make your way back out. 

I can't give you an exact address to load in the GPS but look for this sign: 

 

Things to bring: real shoes (not flip flops), towels, and a bathing suit or change of clothes for anyone who likes to explore. Follow the gravel road to the parking area and hike down to the water. Enjoy! 

 

Road Trip Worthy: Newgate Wildlife Management Area (East Granby, CT) #hikingwithkids

I've got another quick and easy explore to add to the list -- Newgate Wildlife Management Area in East Granby, CT. This property surrounds the Old Newgate Prison & Copper Mine, so once museums reopen to the public you can easily make a day of it and add a historical bent to the trip by purchasing tickets to the historical attraction; however, you do NOT need to purchase any admission to explore the trails surrounding the property. This is a FREE hiking area -- although the hiking description is generous. The trails are not maintained and while you can get a little ways into the woods, we could not discover any legit hike through points. It was all explore and turn around. But, still, worth the trip.

There are two entries to the trails -- we took the one just south of the Newgate property. It's a fun space to clamor around and explore some cool rocks and trees. The memorable feature of this spot is the land immediately surrounding the historic prison. You can check out a few of the museum's accessories as you head from the parking lot to the wide trail:

There are lots of fun photo ops here -- I'm sure they'll only improve with foliage season. If you plan to visit this space near sunset you will NOT be disappointed. There are a few good picnic spots too. I'd recommend making an evening of it and pack a dinner to eat in this beautiful space. As you can see there are some open spaces where kids can run around and play. 

These trails are NOT stroller friendly -- bring a carrier or hike with big kids only. This can be a quick visit to break up a day. I wouldn't plan for more than an hour here.  There is plenty of free parking on site -- easy in, easy out. Set the GPS for 115 Newgate Road in East Granby, CT -- the trail shares parking with the museum parking lot. Look for the Newgate sign. 

*Once museums are back open, if you want to extend your day, purchase admission tickets to explore the Old Newgate Prison & Copper Mine. You can work in a little sneaky learning for the very affordable admission price of $6/adults and FREE for kids ages 12 and under. History nerds will rejoice. Read my review here.

Road Trip Worthy: Scantic Rapids Powder Hollow Loop (Enfield, CT) #hikingwithkids

One of our new favorite hiking spots is right over the Massachusetts border in Enfield, CT-- The Powder Hollow section of Scantic State Park.  This hike has it all -- rapids, easy access to safe water, frog ponds, lots of fallen logs to practice balance on, wide open clear trails and old ruins. What more can you ask for? 

Powder Hollow is a local favorite. The trail is nearly always busy -- even though we're practicing 'social distancing' right now -- if you don't like to be alone on a trail this is a good pick. You're also close to a neighborhood the whole time so there's no deep woods creepiness. However, if you're worried about social distancing on the trail -- this might not be the right time for you to explore here. 

Powder Hollow is named for the Hazardville Powder Factory -- a gun powder factory that supplied over 40% of the gun powder used by the Union during the Civil War. Follow the obvious trail in this park to discover the remains of this old gem. This is the type of spot that immediately makes kids think of a "secret hideout." Take it from our experience: Stay. On. The Trail. There are a few spots where it seems like you can blaze ahead on a less travelled path but you will end up frustrated (you can't really get too lost here as you are right off Route 190 and surrounded by neighborhoods) and needing to cut through the brush. Not a pro move if you've got littles with you. The woods are very overgrown in season and who knows what itchy leaves are hiding in there. If you really want to explore, visit during the dead season and you can walk all around to the discover all the hidden remains without fear of poison anything. 

There are a few frog ponds to explore, lots of fallen trees to practice balance on, tons of bird calls to identify. This is a really fun spot. In the summer you can bring your bathing suit and a floaty if you want to enjoy the rapids at the entrance to the trail. Or pick any other of a number of spots to enjoy the water. Bring water shoes for the littles if they don't appreciate natural water. There are many fun spots with different depths to explore and even some spots with still water. Lots of opportunities to cool off. 

This is an approximate two-mile loop hike. The terrain is easy with some slight elevation. Not stroller friendly. You need a backpack carrier if you're bringing a toddler or younger. Very dog friendly trail. You will meet lots of furry friends along the way. The trail is obvious and easy to follow. Even off season there are a few spots where you can cross the dry stream bed to collect rocks. 

A good turnaround point is when you reach the high cliff over the river -- you'll find some barbed wire and no trespassing signs. Although you can continue the trail here around the private property it's a little risky for little kids. 

For a delicious treat after your hike visit Collins Creamery located right up the street at 9 Powder Hill Road. Some of the best locally made ice cream and soft serve around. (Open daily in season -- early spring through fall). 

If the parking lot at the corners of Maple Avenue and Powder Hollow Road is full (which it often is and often patrolled by police), head over the bridge and take a left past the big red barn. Follow Dusthouse Road back to the baseball fields and park there. Parking here adds a quarter mile to the hike, but it's worth it (and you'll miss out on a chance at a parking ticket). 

Set the GPS for Scantic River State park at 98 S. Dusthouse Road in Enfield, CT. You'll be glad you did. See you on the trail! 

Don't throw away those Bunch O Balloons stems! Create something new instead. #upcycle #reuse #summerfun

The self-tying water balloons from Bunch O Balloons have been our go-to this spring for outdoor fun. We've had some pretty epic water balloon battles. Which means we also have a bunch of the plastic stems that are left behind once the water balloons are filled and dropped. We love the bright colors and design so much we just knew there were some ways we could upcycle them. Here's our top five ideas for reusing these stems you might otherwise throw away:

 

1. Photo display -- Don't spend money for a cute photo branch holder. Use these water balloon stems to make fun photo displays. Weave larger photos through the individual stems to hold in place.

 

2. Hose attachment -- thread the stem back onto the hose to create a gentle stream of water for tender plants. This attachment also makes for fun water play for the kids. 

 

 

3. Crafting -- there are a lot of fun crafts you could imagine with these. We created this flower bouquet using tissue paper squares and those teeny tiny rubber hair ties. 

 

 

4. Recipe card holder -- similar to the photo display, keep one of the stems in your kitchen utensil drawer for an easy recipe card holder. No more lost recipes when creating your favorite meal. 

 

 

5. Pool toys - the sweeping, flexible straws make for fun, floating pool toys in a toddler pool (best for little ones over age 3). Or as float sticks in a big pool to encourage new swimmers. 

 

 

If you're unfamiliar with Bunch O Balloons, here's what they look like in their original form:

 

 

And if upcycling isn't your thing but you still love these water balloons as much as we do, please consider participating in their recycling program with Terracycle. Wishing you many epic water balloon battles this summer! #upcycle #reuse #recycle #summerfun

Road Trip Worthy: Stony Brooke Park (Suffield, CT) #hikingwithkids

I needed a quick trail hit this afternoon as we were gifted a half-day of school by our district and it was 60 degrees outside. In March. I didn't want to drive too far so we finally checked the loop hike at Stony Brooke Park in Suffield, CT off of our to-hike list. 

This was a quick, easy jaunt -- perfect for when you need to get in the woods but are short on time, energy or initiative (or convincing other family members that the woods would do them good too). It's an approximately 1.5 mile loop trail of easy, rolling terrain. The park itself is easy to find, there's plenty of paved parking, and a small picnic pavilion at the trail head.

It's important to note that Stony Brooke Park has two entrances, and this hike detailed here is found at the Remington Street entrance. There is no access to cross the brook so if you want to hike the other side of the park you'll need to drive around to the Mountain Road entrance. 

While parts of the trail are obvious -- just follow the wide, open path -- in some spots it can be easy to lose the trail. Although to be fair we were hiking in March where everything looks the same --  dead and brown. But as a default, just follow the brook and you'll eventually get back on the trail. 

Some sites that keep the hike interesting: there is a lovely set of rapids, an old, abandoned trail trestle and you'll even find scattered pieces of an old (really old) car along the trail. There is also an abandoned camp site about 2/3 of the way into the trail -- like a broken down tent, old garbage, clothes and gross old mattress abandoned camp site. Tell the kids to steer clear.

Don't make my mistake: we decided we could hike in our street shoes. DUH. It's March. The mud on this trail reminded me of the mud run obstacle courses we do every summer. I thought for sure we were going to lose our shoes. Our Chucks and Vans are currently in the washing machine. Don't be dumb like me. Wear your hikers or your oldest sneakers -- ones that you don't care about tossing. Younger hikers should wear wellies. 

But TBH, I wouldn't recommend this trail for the littlest hikers. The brush surrounding the trail is very, very thorny and brambly. Our clothes got caught many, many times. Jean or thick pants are a must. I wouldn't recommend shorts or leggings on this trail, ever. (I've also read these woods are a poison ivy hotbed in season, so dress accordingly). I would be concerned about bringing anyone under age 7 here for fear that their faces or eyes could get scratched by the thorny branches. This trail is not stroller friendly. I'm not even sure I would bring a little one in a backpack for concern that their legs could get scratched. 

If deep woods creep you out, this hike is a good fit because you're surrounded by neighborhoods and farms the whole way. We consistently heard traffic or farm equipment throughout the entire trail so you never feel far from civilization. 

It took us just about an hour to complete the loop while hiking at a steady pace. Although this hike is a fun escape off season, we'll definitely return on a summer day when we can cool our tootsies in the stream. You can definitely make this a longer experience than just a quick loop hike. 

If you'd like to check it out, set the GPS for Stony Brooke Park, Remington Street, Suffield, CT. We'll see you on the trail!