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.

Did you know they have a a super cute event room that you can rent? Me neither!…read more Came here for a baby shower and was floored by the view of the lake. So beautiful. It felt as if you were floating on the lake. The trail too is so fun, lots of people and a great way to get some light exercise in. Parking can be busy during the weekend but just trail someone and you should get a spot. Get your steps in here, your body will thank you!

Wow - the playground here is just amazing! So many features and spots to check out. Parking was…read morealso very easy the day we visited. It was a slightly chilly day, but definitely come prepared to use the water area in hot weather!

Road tripping through the East Coast, our first stop was Dorothea Dix Park and it was such a fun…read moreway to kick everything off! Our main goal was to find the five trolls, and I loved how it felt like a little scavenger hunt throughout the park. It was a bit tricky finding them at first, but that actually made it more fun. Thankfully, each troll had nearby parking, which made hopping around way easier. The park itself is super open, green, and peaceful, with plenty of space to explore in between stops. Overall, such a cool first stop on our road trip. Relaxed vibes, interactive experience, and a memorable way to start the journey!

No doubt the best park in the Raleigh area with lots of things to do for the rug rats. Carousel,…read moreboats, playgrounds, Choo Choo train, and wonderful picnic pavilions. Food stand has a few things which are actually pretty good plus ice cream and soft drinks, which are refreshing in the summer months. New bocce courts are nice addition and the tennis courts are never busy. Check out their live music schedule, too!

Every year around Christmas season, Pullen Park sets up the park in Winter Wonderland mode. This…read moreyear was fantastic and it's easy to see why tickets sell out so fast. There is a train ride through the park with all sorts of lights and Christmas displays. There are numerous free activities and crafts for kids of all ages. There is even a gorgeous carousel ride that seats many. It doesn't hurt that it is inside so you can warm up from the chilly outside. There is even remote parking with comfy buses that will take you to and from the parking lot and the park. It is a great experience and our grandkids ( and grandparents) have such a great time.

I visited Laurel Hills today while attending the city's Wake County Genealogical Society Find Your…read moreFamily History Event & Holistic Wellness Expo. I've visited years ago while bringing my daughter to the playground. The playground is very modern here. A lovely place for young children. They also have several basketball courts and a nice gazebo picnic area. The Genealogy event was very informative. Staff were very engaged and helpful. Very well organized. It was intriguing to learn about my loved ones and where we come from.

The playground equipment is well-maintained and suited for all ages, with plenty of swings, slides,…read moreand climbing structures that kept my kids entertained for hours. The area was clean, with lots of shaded spots and benches for parents to relax while keeping an eye on the little ones. There were also picnic tables and ample green space, which made it easy to enjoy a snack or quick lunch. Plus, the park had restrooms and drinking fountains nearby , which were a much-needed convenience on our long drive. Overall, Laurel Hills park was a great place to refresh, relax, and let the kids have some fun. Highly recommend it for anyone traveling through the area with young children!

It's a nice park in the area! You'll get to expose yourself to sunlight and nature! Great place to…read moredo picnic or outdooring like fishing and playing toys on the lake! Cool place

What a scenic experience! The wind and good weather blew me here and it was just the space I needed…read moreto clear my head.

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.

Umstead is a great park with plenty of parking locations and different trail options. I hope to try…read moreout all of their walking trails. I've done at least 2 of their trails with the last being the Pott's Branch Trail. Pott's Branch is one of their easy trails at 1.3 miles. I recommend you wear tight/well fitting sneakers or boots as there are a lot of roots on the trails and you don't want to slip. Umstead does a great job of marking the trails and there were even paper maps available.

This is the place to go in Garner for your July 4th fireworks! You can rent a paddle boat during…read morethe day, walk the perimeter, have a picnic or play flag football on the gigantic fields. This park had bathroom facilities, dog parks and a playground. Police frequently patrol and keep the park safe for families. Don't miss the US War memorials! Such history at your finger tips.

Beautiful, spacious park in Garner! I visited Lake Benson Park mainly because I heard about the dog…read morepark. I stopped by on a Thursday night and the park was packed. Lots of kids on the playgrounds, people walking on the paths, and dogs in the dog park. I enjoy seeing parks full of people enjoying the outdoors. Pros: -Large dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs -Dog park is free for anyone to use (no pass required) -Clean park -Ample parking in lots or along the road -Beautiful, respectful veterans' memorial -Labelled areas and trails -Ample areas to sit -Multiple playgrounds and shelters Cons: -Dog park is open to anyone so the dogs may not be fixed, vaccinated, or well-trained -Most of the driving paths are not paved. This kicks up a lot of dust -Lots of bird poop on signs and benches. It's an outdoor park so this is understandable. Bring a towel if you plan to use the benches

Beautiful gardens to walk through. Parking area is small but some parking allowed on the street…read more Nice place to spend an hour or so.

The arboretum was gorgeous! Highly recommend to be there for photography or even just a picnic!…read moreWalking with the puppers too! Our group got such amazing photos there during golden hour!

Thank You!!! ...to the volunteers that maintain this treasured garden with hundreds of rose…read morebushes....and thanks to the city for the upgrades recently made : ) Amazing spot that always brings a smile ; ) and such a wonderful asset in our city. FYI- Mother's Day is typically a good time to visit in the spring

This part of my life is called " Stopping to smell the roses". The opportunity presented itself…read morewhen I planned to take myself on a date for the evening to see The Color Purple at the Raleigh Little Theatre. The Rose Garden is located on the property and is a peaceful place to have lunch or take photos. A romantic date or proposal destination as well. The garden is located below the amphitheater. The grounds include sixty rose beds with varieties of hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, miniatures, and antique roses, surrounded by an arboretum of evergreen and deciduous trees. As soon as you arrive, you are instantly transported to an English garden. The promised land of peonies ! For those of you who don't know, pink roses are my favorite flower. This was pure bliss for me ! Be sure to spend time visiting while in the Oberlin Village area.

We stopped in after grabbing ice cream and it was so cool. We enjoyed art the artifacts and…read moredifferent animals inside the building. Teaches a lot about the history of the mill. We took a short walk down there and it was so much easier then I thought. Well worth it!!!

We went in February - so this review is from the "winter" perspective in that we didn't see any…read morewildlife except a handful of birds. We spent close to 45 minutes in the visitor center reading the history of the mill, the industry, and the area. Gave really good context. After that, we walked the trail around the lake (took 25-30 minutes); it was flat and easy. There are a couple of benches. Several trees are marked with numbers; there's a guide for that in the visitors center. Finally, we got to the mill. You can see the restored building, the millstone, various gears, and good interpretive information. Quite peaceful at that time of year.