Located on the outskirts of downtown Durham, the Eno Quarry is nestled unassumingly after a mile…read morehike through the woods. It is best visited during the summer, once you have had a chance to work up and sweat, and for the cool spring waters to feel inviting. The plants and small animals along the way is the start of the journey that transports you to a place that feels like one of it's own. It may begin with the brightly colored insects, and the thickening of the trees, which sprawl and almost take their own sort of personification. You'll cross over wooden steps that lead you down to large stones across a creek, which are reminiscent to childhood memories of playing in the woods. It is then as you venture deeper, the space suddenly opens up to reveal a one of a kind swimming hole, and one of nature's great treasures for the area. Swimming isn't recommended here, but it isn't prohibited either. Go here with others, and always bring a floatation device. If you like the feeling of being submerged in the water, like myself, than bringing a noodle will work just fine. But you definitely want something. If you are particularly concerned, I've seen some wearing life jackets too. The quarry is bowl shaped, and uniformly deep, about 60 feet. There is no where to touch the bottom, or any kind of graceful way to get in- Just hold your float and jump out. There have been several deaths here over the years, but most of those were attributed to inexperienced swimmers, and others, who neglected to exercise their common sense. Teenagers and college students alike often enjoy the trill of the 40 foot cliff dive, but I never would. Be mindful of the that which is unseen below, such as underwater trees, and old machinery. Exercise common sense and you'll be fine. There's a supernatural hold about this place, and a sensation of being open and vulnerable to nature, which is part of the appeal here. Respect the forest, and it will respect you. Like a snake shedding skin, I leave here with a sense of rejuvenation each and every time. If you want physical exercise along with a clearing of mind, this place is highly recommended. Come here for Zen, walk away from any pressures of the week floating on the bottom.

This is a relatively easy trail with some fairly consistent inclines. From the parking lot to the…read morequarry and back is about 1.9 miles, so a decent hike that shouldn't take too long. We went in the winter when there were no leaves on the trees and only one other car in the parking lot. We also went in the late afternoon and didn't realize that they closed a 5:30. We got to the car at 5:31 and there was a ranger waiting. We apologized profusely and promised to pay better attention next time. The hike is nice but the quarry is absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth the walk. I know that this is a popular spot in the summer but I truly cannot imagine swimming here as it doesn't exactly look safe. I need to go again soon because I bet it's lovely right now with all of the leaves changing colors. You will not regret making this hike!

I've come to walk the puppets around here! It's a short but nice hike! Close to town but very much…read morein nature!

A beautiful little hidden gem tucked away! It was a beautiful day and I wanted a spot to eat my…read morelunch and found this park. My picnic table was right by the water. If you don't see this lake on the map, you will miss it!

Who knew that this huge lake existed?! My native North Carolinian buddy Tim did, apparently! After…read morea bit over an hour long car ride heading east of Winston-Salem, we found ourselves unloading our fishing boat at the dock of B. Everett Jordan Lake. Everyone there was so friendly, quick to wave as you passed them by while zipping over the waters. The beauty of this place - from the flora to the fauna - is breathtaking; perfect location for camping, fishing, swimming and/or water sports fanatics such as myself. Even the wildlife (falcons, cranes, etc.) will stun you.... in the best way! Whatever (ahem) floats your boat, if you're looking for a quiet, serene location to escape the insanity, Jordan lake is definitely it! My friends (seen pictured upon the boat, in the background) didn't believe me when I said I would dive into the deepest end of the lake and swim my way back to shore... so these selfies snapped are proof of my claims! Hopefully, next time we return they'll be brave enough to join me in making a splash!!

There were ample camping/picnicking sites near the water. There was plenty of shade and the sites…read morewere clean.

Lake Johnson Park is one of Raleigh's best spots when you want a workout that actually comes with a…read moreview. The 3-mile loop gave me the perfect mix of cardio, scenery, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting. The trail is mostly paved and very well maintained, but there are also a few off-road paths if you want to switch things up. The lake views are gorgeous throughout the walk, and the heavily wooded sections make it feel peaceful and shaded even on warmer days. I also appreciated that the trail has a few solid uphill stretches. I'd say it's ideal for intermediate walkers, runners, or cyclists looking for a scenic challenge without venturing into hardcore hiking territory. The only downside is the parking situation, which can get pretty tight during busy hours. Still, once you're on the trail, it's absolutely worth it. Raleigh really lucked out with this gem of a park.

Natures finest!…read more Local park with free (but limited) parking. Walking trails. Kayak and paddleboard rentals. Birdwatching. Clean picnic and public bathrooms. Great place to go and enjoy nature.

I have been wanting to go to Fantasy Lake since last year and I finally got to go…read more We reserved a 2 hour slot and got there 25mins before our start time to get changed and settled. The obstacle course is really fun for both kids and adults. The slides were my favorite part. They also have scuba diving on the end side of the lake. The only negative I will call out is that they don't have a water fountain or a filling station. I get that they allow outside food and drinks but for an outdoor water park, having a water fountain/filling station is a bare minimum.

A couple of staff members were unnecessarily rude to me, my girlfriend, and our child during our…read morevisit. At one point, a blonde female staff member approached my girlfriend in a very confrontational manner while we were simply saying goodbye to family members on the dock without wearing life jackets. We understood the life-jacket policy, but the way the situation was handled was disrespectful and could have been communicated much more professionally. Later, as we were leaving, we initially walked up one side of the ramp. We had already washed the sand off our feet and changed, so we did not want to walk back through the sand, get dirty again, and have to wait in line to rinse off a second time. We walked back down so we could leave through the other side. A young blonde male staff member stopped us simply to tell us that we could not be on the dock without life jackets, and his tone was extremely rude. I explained that we were aware of the rules and were only trying to leave through the other side because we had already cleaned the sand off and did not want to go back through the rinse line. Instead of simply acknowledging that and allowing us to leave, he continued to speak to me and my family in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner. What made the situation even more frustrating was that two older women were standing at the end of the same dock without life jackets, and neither staff member addressed them. That inconsistency made us feel singled out and raised concerns about whether the rules were being enforced equally for all guests. This business needs to take a serious look at its staffing and customer-service expectations. Some employees appeared to lack the communication skills necessary to interact appropriately with customers. We also encountered staff members who were not welcoming upon arrival, appeared disengaged in their responsibilities, and created the impression that certain guests or demographics were being treated differently than others. I am not normally someone who leaves negative reviews for businesses, but this was one of the most disappointing staff experiences I have encountered. Families should be able to visit, follow the rules, and still be treated with basic courtesy and respect. Based on our experience, I would not recommend bringing my family back.

We took our boys fishing here for the first time and had a blast! They have live bait (worms) to…read morepurchase and we brought our own fishing gear. You can even rent boats to fish out on the lake! Plus there are walking trails surrounding the lake - it's a beautiful place to spend a day. Bring a picnic and plan to make it an experience!

This marina is a quaint and relaxing "jumping off point" for getting out on the pristine Lake…read moreBrandt. For just $6 you can bring your own kayak, SUP, or canoe to launch on their sandy little beach. Or you can rent one of their kayaks. Even on weekends with decent weather I've seen them mostly available on the spot. There are also options for an annual pass, fishing, and even a paved ramp to put in motorized boats. You could also very easily just sit and relax here by the waterside or stroll around. But if you want to get on the lake, this is the prime spot. Bird watching along the shoreline is great from the vantage point of the kayak. With a vast array of birdsong to ID, you can even see kingfishers ducking, diving, and doing anything to ruin your chances of proving they exist with a photograph. But at least you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing float to ease the soul.

I had a beautiful walk around City Lake Park today! The weather was perfect! I enjoyed taking…read morephotos of all the sculptures around the lake which was a nice touch. The lake had a 1/2 mile concrete path around it with plenty of benches. There's also a gazebo to enjoy shade at the center of the lake or go fishing. If you enjoy feeding the ducks, geese, and fish, there's food for 25 cents. When you're walking and work up an appetite, Chico's Mexican restaurant is a short walk away at the old power plant. Come enjoy the lake!

I did not give 5 stars since there are no longer are any goats on goat island . It's a fun…read moredestination to go meet up with friends and jump in the water .

Couldn't make it to shore. The island is only about 50 yards across and 3 boats raced past us to…read moreanchor. Looks like a decent spot though.

Seaforth recreation area is clean and offers easy access to Jordan Lake…read more This park has a boat ramp, basic trails to hike, picnic tables, a beach area with water that goes about 4' deep, and grills. On holidays or when the weather is nice it they can fill up. The cost is around $6 per car during peak seasons and free to use most of the off season. Bring your own food and drinks. There is a lot of parking here although it does get busy in the summer, especially on Holidays. Directly across HWY64 is "Parker's Creek Recreation Area". Your day pass covers all parks so keep the receipt in case you want to visit another one of Jordan Lake's recreation areas. Parker's Creek recreation area offers deeper swimming waters and campgrounds.

The area was nice, one area is a bit roped off and has sand. It also have a fair amount of picnic…read morebenches and plenty of parking. We went in the off season so it wasn't too crowded and was peaceful which was nice UNTIL: One tip for the ladies: there is a guy that was walking/jogging along the beach so I'm not sure if he goes often but seemed like it. He basically was a creep and started a conversation with me and my girl friend even though we obviously were away from other people and made clear signs that we didn't feel like talking to him. Kept asking personal questions and wouldn't move along so we ended up leaving. Fit white guy probably in his late 30's Made the whole experience annoying and stressful in the end It's not obviously the beaches fault but be cautious and safe!