I had a great time fishing today. The area was very clean and the lakes are beautiful!read more

This is a beautiful, free park. The trails are totally flat. The old growth trees and boardwalk…read moreviews were stunning.

Really cool walking area right in Little River. Beautiful…read morescenery all around and Lots of greenery! There are even some docks out there that you can fish off of. Tons of one-clawed little crabs; I believe they are called fiddler crabs. Along the paths are some informative little plaques and also some QR codes you can scan for more information. Even saw some dolphins out in the water by the boats. The wishing tree is really cool; I hung a couple of seashells on it.

Jones Lake State Park is located in Elizabethtown, NC. It is full of beauty, science and history…read more European migrants settled in the area and the lakes. Jones Lake was named for a local who donated a tract of land on which Elizabethtown was founded. Salters Lake was named after Sallie Salter. She was an American Revolutionary War heroine who famously spied on the Tories encamped along the Cape Fear River. Jones Lake State Park has a Visitor Center with restrooms and interactive educational displays. These cover the history of the area, the scientific phenomenon and the ecology. Both Jones Lake and Salters Lake are Carolina Bays with highly acidic ecosystems. They are shallow, elliptically shaped depressions found throughout the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Aerial views show that thousands of these ovals are perfectly parallel, precisely aligned along a northwest-to-southeast axis. There are many theories about these geological wonders. From wind and waves to even meteorite impacts. The industry in the area was farming and harvesting cotton and longleaf pines for the turpentine, pitch and timber. The area became overcut, and farmers could no longer survive. This led to an experiment of making these areas into parks. During the Jim Crow Era, it became a refuge for African Americans and was the state's first state park for African Americans. As most areas were segregated, the park is where the community came together culturally for baptisms, family reunions and community celebrations. In 1964, the park became desegregated. I had to double-check the date, as 1964 is not that long ago. The lake's water is tea-colored, and decomposing organic matter produces tannic acids. This lowers the pH to 4.3, so it is closer to vinegar than to lake water. It is nutrient-poor as well, so not much can survive here. The waterlogged wetland and rims create a unique evergreen shrub bog called a pocosin. The bog has evergreen bay trees such as the Sweet Bay, Loblolly Bay, and Red Bay. Bladen County is home to carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap, pitcher plants and sundews, which thrive here. Not many fish can survive here except for acid-tolerant fish species, like the chain pickerel, yellow perch, flyer sunfish, and yellow bullhead catfish. For day visitors, Jones Lake State Park features over 50 picnic tables, charcoal grills, a sandy volleyball court, and horseshoe pits. During the warmer summer months, the park also opens a designated, roped-off swimming area with a white-sand beach.

Jones Lake State Park is a peaceful well‑kept place to camp and explore. The campground is small…read morebut usually easy to get a spot in, and the whole area is taken care of really well including the bathhouse, which is clean and maintained better than a lot of larger parks. The trail around the lake is an easy but rewarding walk. There's no elevation to worry about, just about five miles of flat, quiet trail with plenty of scenery. It's the kind of hike where you can relax and enjoy the water, the trees, and the quiet without feeling rushed. Just make sure you bring bug spray this is a large lake with standing water which is a perfect breeding ground for bugs. The park also has a fishing dock and a small boat launch that's perfect for kayaks and similar setups. One of the best things about Jones Lake is how quiet it is. You're away from crowds, away from noise, and it actually feels like you get space to breathe. Interesting fact (at least to me) Jones Lake State Park was established in 1939, and it holds an important place in North Carolina history. It was the first state park developed specifically for Black Americans during segregation its cultural significance is still a big part of its identity today. The nearby town of Elizabethtown has a quaint little downtown with a few local restaurants. There's not a ton going on, but it's a pleasant place to stop before or after your time at the park.

We took the dolphin cruise yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to actually see dolphins!…read moreThe captain was very hard to hear as he was narrating. As we're docking the captain announced that someone would be walking around with the tip jar. Wouldn't it be better to have the tip included within the ticket price instead of making several people feel uncomfortable? Tipping should be a privilege not mandatory.

Let me start by saying I've been on the Hurricane Fleet at least 7-8 times over the past two years…read more We always take friends and family when they come to town because, even though dolphin sightings are never guaranteed, the ride itself has usually been worth the $31. That being said, I hesitate to post this because I truly do love supporting local businesses. But with tourist season starting, I think it's important to share an honest experience. The first few times we went out with this company, it was amazing. We followed the shrimp boats and not only saw tons of dolphins, but also got a close-up look at the shrimp boats pulling in shrimp and other sea creatures. They would even bring a few things onboard for the kids (and adults) to see before tossing them back. It made the experience feel really unique and memorable. However, ever since the shrimp boat has been out of commission (probably the last year and a half), we honestly haven't seen dolphins the last 3-4 trips. I completely understand there are never guarantees with wildlife, but it has been a little disappointing. It's still a nice boat ride for the cost -- I would just suggest not getting your kids too excited about dolphins and making sure they understand sightings are never guaranteed. Yesterday, we went on the sunset cruise, and unfortunately it was one of the worst experiences we've had. I understand the policy is that the cruise runs rain or shine, but the ocean conditions were rough enough that I truly don't think they should have taken people out. There were young children onboard, people getting sick, and several passengers who were visibly scared as we went through large swells offshore. As someone who has been on this boat many times, even I was uncomfortable. If it had been my first trip, I honestly would have been terrified. Considering the boat had already gone out multiple times earlier that day, I feel like they should have recognized the conditions were not ideal -- especially knowing there was little chance of seeing dolphins in waters that rough. I just think better judgment should have been used. If you're visiting for a family vacation, I would strongly recommend checking ocean conditions beforehand, because I'm not sure cancellations are considered unless absolutely necessary.

We had a great time fishing with Captain Johnny. Very professional. He knows where to go to catch…read morethe fish and how to catch them. Definitely will do this again.

Had a great time today! Captain warned us that fish weren't biting that morning- (the weathers been…read morefunky) but we still caught some flounder, bass, hogfish(so funny!) saw dolphins and had a great time being on the water. We will definitely be repeat customers when we come back.

This is a nice establishment. The atmosphere is relaxing and fun. I like to sit around and look at…read morethe water so beautiful... would recommend and I will return

This is a marvelous little State Park with a cool ambience on the water. There's only 17 RV spots…read moreso it can be a bit hard to get a spot but it's worth a try.

Lake Waccamaw State Park is located in Columbus County. The Visitor Center was a great place to…read morespend a rainy day! It is filled with history and ecology. It is on the smaller side but filled with interesting information and dedicates a lot of space to the history and artifacts of the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe. The Lake is the largest of the Carolina Bays. The bays are multiple oval-shaped lakes that were likely formed over the last ice age. The Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe viewed the lake's formation as the result of a meteor that left a deep crater. The Visitor Center explores that theory, as well as others. Lake Waccamaw was a logging town, and cypress trees were used for shingles. The weather-resistant shingles were chosen for George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. Fifty years after the Lake Waccamaw Dam was built, the state established a state park. It started at 273 acres, but over time, more land was acquired, and the park is now 2,300 acres. The park is considered a hyper-unique ecosystem because the limestone bluff keeps the water clear, and the alkaline conditions support fish and mollusk species found only here, and nowhere else in the world, such as the Waccamaw spike mussel and the Waccamaw darter fish. They have a fossilized skull of a Balaenula whale that swam through the coastal plain millions of years ago. The Lake Waccamaw State Park is home to black bears, bobcats, carnivorous plants, and American alligators. Though the rain kept me inside this time, the park also features several trails and a scenic boardwalk that I look forward to exploring on a sunny day.

Pulling into the visitor center for this park yielded a non-functioning water fountain. When I went…read moreinside, I didn't find much in the way of exhibitions, and when I asked about Venus Flytraps, the person there didn't know where to find them, which seems odd to me as I can't imagine I'm the first person to ask. The end of the road yielded a parking lot with no shade and a worn boardwalk to the lakefront. The lakefront is nice. The trails were a bit overgrown, and I quickly abandoned my search for rare carnivorous plants. For some users, the park will be quite nice, but I found plenty of room for improvement. Like all NC state parks, it is free.

Absolutely beautiful area and well worth the visit…read more We took a drive out to Conway yesterday. It's truly an Americana town with so much history dating as far back to the 1732 British settlement. We took a lovely stroll on the Riverwalk and soaked in the scenery. Saw many different types of boats coming thru on the water as the trailhead is right there. Boaters can even dock, do lunch or simply just walk around town. Few people were fishing, and many families were enjoying the fully fenced in playground. A local hot spot right on the edge of the riverwalk is a place called Chanti's Pizza, it's a popular local restaurant that caters to many homeowners, as well as great reviews by numerous visitors that come to town too! Would be a perfect place to dine if spending some time here and wanting to have lunch or dinner on the water. It's truly an iconic boardwalk trail (approximately 1.5-mile of a scenic pathway) along Waccamaw River that goes under the US-501 bridge and over some extremely old railroad tracks. Stunning views of the river and an abundance of Spanish moss draping the trees. Definitely a must do if you are near this community or while traveling on vacation just as we were.

Highly recommend adding Conway downtown and the riverwalk to your local holiday sightseeing…read moreentertainment after sunset. Some light exhibitions have music to add to the ambiance. There's plenty of parking on the side streets and parking lot. Check out the official Conway town website for the most updated information of events starting in December - tree lighting, caroling, shows in the theater. 20-30 minutes from Myrtle Beach. Best of all, it's free. In October, definitely come back for the Halloween town when the trees are decorated with hanging pumpkins and there are spooky displays everywhere. The calendar features events like movie nights, food trucks, and the scare factory.

This park is adjacent to City Lake and has a great view even on a rainy day like today. There is a…read moredecent sized parking lot and that was helpful for me to hang out and figure out how to get back to the highway. The park has some covered picnic areas, a nice playground with a soft mulch base, and a walking path next to the lake It's a nice spot and I'd like to spend more time here soon. [Review 13957 overall, 1279 of 2020, number 2599 in North Carolina.]

Beautiful place an love fish there I mostly fish alone so it's nice to be where people can see you…read moreif something go wrong

My family had an amazing time on the 2 hour kayak tour. It was so fun seeing the swamp up close. We…read morerented two tandem kayaks with our kids and it worked out great. Highly recommend.

First of all, this fantastic young man, Matt, was our guide. He was patient, knowledgeable,…read morethoughtful and kind! Black River Outdoors hopefully knows the gem they have in him. Second, 9am kayak trip was breathtaking! We saw so much wildlife and learned about many fish, mollusks, birds. Finally, great value! I would 100% recommend a kayak tour!!