Allis State Park, Vermont

You might be quick to assume the state is to thank for access to this lovely park, but in this particular case the credit goes to one man—Wallace Allis. Mr. Allis, who had opened his land atop Bear Hill to the public, saw that people were enjoying the sweeping views so much that he decided to will it to the state. Whattaguy! Now we can all climb to the top of Bear Hill and take in Vermont from this special vantage point. On a clear day, you can see the peaks of Killington, Pico and Mt Ascutney to the south. To west, Abraham, Lincoln and Ellen rear their heads. A quarter turn more reveals Camel’s Hump and Mt. Mansfield peaks to the north. And if you gaze out eastward, you’ll be greeted by the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the views from under the massive timber picnic shelter, which was built in the 1930s. If you’re loath to leave, the campground is a great place to stretch out your stay. While you’re in the area, feel free to check out some of the nearby attractions such as the State Museum of Vermont, Sugar house tours and the farmer’s market in town. On top of all this, Allis State Park is free to the public, just like the days when Mr. Allis still owned the land.