Swim at either end of a nice woods ramble: Public beaches available at Beaman Pond at the Otter River end and Lake Dennison State Recreation Area at the other end. In between, enjoy a mellow stroll through tall pines and varied vegetation (including wild blueberries and raspberries), over a few wooden bridges and a few manageable hills and dales. If you go out and back, it's about four miles, or do as we did and park your car at one end and a friend's at the other and keep it to an easy two miles one way. Trailheads are located in the midst of the Otter River campground and just beyond the first right at the gated road walking back toward MA 202 from the Lake Dennison Day Use parking lot.

Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, MA (about 40 minutes away); dining, shopping, movie theater in Brattleboro, VT (about an hour away).