Have you been to Nickerson State Park in Brewster? We are fortunate to live very close to the 1900 acres of beautiful woods, ponds, bike trails, camp sites and beaches. All year long, we access the park via a fire road at the end of our street. We can bike to Cliff Pond and be swimming within 7 minutes - it's pretty wonderful.
In the summer, Cliff Pond is like the swimming pool we never had. The water is so clear and refreshing. We have hiked around the pond a couple times, which is absolutely the best 3 mile walk our dog has ever experienced. Once summer, with my transistor radio playing the Red Sox game, we kayaked across the pond and relaxed on a sandy beach, all by ourselves (and David Ortiz).
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Cliff Pond, Nickerson State Park
There are over 400 campsites that book months in advance of the summer season. Nickerson offers hilly bike trails and connects to part of the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Every pond you visit, you'll see fishermen quietly waiting for a bass or perch. Kayaks, sailboats, motor boats and paddle boards abound. It is such a special place in that there are so many people there enjoying all that the park has to offer, yet it rarely feels crowded. When my kids were young, we would drive into the park and play on the playground.
Nickerson feels old-school and basic. You don't need much to really enjoy the day. It reminds me of being a kid when all we did was play outside and explore. And our dog - he's never been happier.
Not a camper? Look for a Brewster vacation rental nearby Nickerson State Park : Brewster vacation rentals