As someone who loves to travel and explore, my weekends tend to fill up faster than I could have ever imagined. Because there are so many wonderful outdoor places to visit throughout the state of Massachusetts, I often find myself having to pick and choose between the activities that will fit into my family’s busy schedule. I am always pleasantly surprised and so appreciative when I find a place that offers multiple activities so that everyone in my family will find something to enjoy. I recently discovered one of these special hidden spots, and I can’t wait to tell you about it.

Great Brook Farm State Park is a fabulous gem that is located in the town of Carlisle, Massachusetts. This place has it all - farm animals, hiking trails, outdoor adventures, and even ice cream!

The park is set on 1000 acres of stunning land. There are over 19 miles of trails, a beautiful pond, Native American sites, and gorgeous farmland.

A highlight of this unique state park is the farm yard. It is a wonderful place to visit with children. Cows, chickens, goats, alpacas, and sheep are some of the animals that you will see here.

Great Brook Farm State Park is also a working dairy farm. The first robotic milking system in Massachusetts was installed right here. From late spring until early autumn, you can take a free guided tour of the farm and learn about the milking process.

Be sure to also visit with the cows roaming the fields.

The property also contains 20 miles of trails which are used for hiking, walking, and horseback riding, The Great Brook Farm Woodchuck, Chicken, and Beaver Loop Trail is a popular 5.2-mile, moderately challenging hike.

The hike can typically be completed in under two hours.

Great Brook Farm State Park is open year-round and is a wonderful place to cross-country ski in the winter. The park offers 10 miles of groomed trails for all abilities. You can even rent equipment at the park’s Great Brook Ski Touring Center.

And you won’t want to leave Great Brook Farm State Park without sampling some delicious ice cream! Feature flavors this fall included pumpkin and pumpkin Oreo. The ice cream stand is open from April to October.

Have you taken a trip to Great Brook Farm State Park? What was your favorite part, the hiking or the ice cream? To find out more about this fantastic spot, please visit the Great Brook Farm State Park website and the Great Brook Farm State Park Facebook page.

If you are looking to visit more animals, you may also want to make a trip to Endicott Park in Danvers and Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon. If you enjoy visiting state parks when you travel, you should definitely check out the 50 States 500 State Parks travel guide.