Not to disparage the charming and historically registered buildings of the Waterford Historical Society, but this time of year is particularly excellent just in terms of the organization’s acreage.

Set on the corner of Rope Ferry Road and Avery Lane, the Society is fronted by a huge, beautifully kept lawn with an unhewn timber fence line and a backdrop of age-old maple trees whose autumnal colors are like a red, yellow and orange paintball fight between Paul Gaugin and Owsley Stanley III.

One could do worse than to simply sit on the commemorative Hank Daniels Bench (he was the first director of the Waterford Recreation & Parks Department) and … well, just LOOK at the grounds.

Of course, there is the buildings/museum component, including the Lydia Orrin Beekes House, a schoolhouse, a barn, a blacksmith shop — all properly acknowledged by various state historical outfits. At this point, to actually go in the buildings, you’ll need to call for an appointment. Or you could just sit on Hank’s bench like some inspired cross between Dreyfus and Walden.

Waterford Historical Society, 65 Rope Ferry Road at Avery Lane, Waterford; free; call for appointment at (860) 608-1904, www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org.