Lee

This historic pond was the site of a fierce 1690 battle during King William's War, where 18 soldiers and Native Americans died. Today it's a peaceful 102-acre pond accessible through the Alfred C. Durgin Preserve in Lee Town Forest. The dark, tannic water reflects towering hemlocks, and while there are steep, root-tangled trails to the water's edge, locals know the quiet spots for kayaking and fishing. The pond holds centuries of stories beneath its still surface.

What looks like just a town recreation area hides a network of three interconnected trails that locals love for quiet family hikes. The Forest Loop Trail climbs through cool hardwood groves, the Ridge Trail offers level walking with glimpses through the canopy, and the River Trail winds down to the Little River's edge where you'll find a secluded bench perfect for a snack break. The trails connect via residential roads, creating a longer loop that few visitors discover.

This weathered cemetery dates back to Lee's earliest days and contains some of the town's oldest gravestones with intricate colonial-era carvings. Unlike the more maintained town cemetery, this burial ground has a wild, forgotten quality with tilting stones and lichen-covered slate markers that tell stories of Lee's founding families. It's the kind of place where history buffs can spend hours deciphering faded inscriptions and admiring the stonecutters' artistry from the 1700s and 1800s.