Southford Falls State Park

This is the trip for the Saturday when everyone slept badly and nobody wants to commit to a real drive. Twenty minutes up Route 8 and 84, park the car, and the falls are right there. No hike required to see the main event.

Papermill Pond sits at the top with a little covered bridge you cross to start the loop. The falls tumble out of the pond in a series of short drops, and there are enough safe vantage points that you can let the kids lead without your heart rate spiking.

Twenty minutes of driving for a covered bridge, a waterfall, and turtles. Some Saturdays don't need to be complicated.

The loop trail around the pond is flat and shaded. There's a spur up to an old fire tower if the crew has energy; it's short but steep, and the tower itself is the reward. On a clear day you can see a long way.

The turtles are the sleeper hit. Bring a snack, sit on a bench by the pond, and count heads popping up. We got to eleven before someone needed a bathroom.