Not many state parks and trails come with as much history as Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury. Take a walk down the 1.5-mile trail for a visit to Hublein Tower, a structure characterized by its beautiful white walls and bright orange terracotta tile roof. Originally built in 1914 as a private summer home, the building was then purchased by the Hartford Times who entertained guests like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Then in the 1960s the land surrounding was purchased by the state, which now offers it as a place to unplug and unwind.

After you enjoy a beautiful hike up to reach the tower and museum, you may enter and take a peek around the museum and enjoy the sprawling views from the lookout tower. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day to Oct. 31. Now through Oct. 31, the museum is open Tuesday through Thursday.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Amanda Capasso