We visited E. Carroll Joyner Park for Easter and brought Luna, along with my nephew for a little…read moreEaster egg hunt. The park is very pet-friendly, with plenty of open space and trails for dogs to enjoy. While there were a few other pups around, I have to say--Luna was definitely the cutest dog (and bunny!) at the park that day.

This park is large if you walk down each trail or you can do a quick loop. I walked here this…read moremorning and got in 4 miles and after lunch just 1 mile. The best part is all the green surrounding you. There was a nice breeze today and made it enjoyable even with the heat and humidity. The trails are good for dogs, stopping and sitting along the way and even picnics as well as photo opportunities. There are a few restrooms and even a place to buy water if you forgot yours. Additionally, parking is adequate, but Im sure at peak times then maybe not. So what are you waiting for, get your shoes on and head over to E Carroll Joyner Park to get some fresh air and maybe even some exercise. Don't forget, it is pet friendly as long as it's not an alligator.

For years, Lake Benson has been my go to for outdoor activities. Walking the paved loop is about a…read moremile (small dirt trail goes past lake and detours off path)and you can cross Benson Road into White Deer park to easily get 3 miles. They also have a boat house with limited hours but the prices for renting kayaks, canoes and Jon Boats is minimal... $10 for two hours kayaking if you are a garner resident

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.

I was in the area and looking for a nice place to enjoy my lunch. Being in Cary frequently, I can…read morealways find a well-maintained and beautiful park close by. This Nature Preserve was super close so I paid it a visit. Wow is it gorgeous here. Even though you can hear traffic from the parking area, you are quickly whisked away into some of the best nature scenes that Cary has to offer. There is plenty of signage, so you always know where you are. There's also plenty of signage describing what's around you and how to get there. This is one gem of a park!!

I attended the Fall Salamanders Program yesterday and saw two large marbeled salamanders! It was a…read morebeautiful day for an outdoor learning experience with our salamander expert Stephanie. We hiked into the woods and she knew exactly where to look for the stunning little creatures. I have hiked the Preserve and it is lovely and a good workout with steps and small hills. There is a great visitors center with info and bathrooms too. Hemlock Bluffs is a small park that makes a huge impression. You should definitely check it out and have fun!

The park Is closed for construction, however it says it's open still. All I wanted to do was look…read moreat it for my child.

I like White Deer park, the trail is a nice good workout. I even had my gender reveal here at one…read moreof the shelters. The only downside is, the left entrance. They use to have a big slide that was alot of fun & they had seesaws. Maybe too many people got hurt and they removed the seesaws but that was the best part about the left side. The slide, last time I saw it - wasn't in the best shape. But that's just normal wear and tear. The right entrance however, big playground - lots to do. I had fun here even as a teenager. I still occasionally come here to walk the trail, I like this park alot. Lots of good memories here.

A very nice dog park convenient to Holly Springs! Loved there is a small dog side. Beautiful trees…read moreand clean! Pema loved it!

Highly recommend coming here for the Independence Day fireworks which are typically on July 5…read morestarting at 9:15 PM. There are a few vendors there from 5 to 10 PM. Police did a great job directing traffic and long lines of cars. Large parking lots available and restrooms. Everything was very organized, and even though the crowd was large, it moved very smoothly. We parked in a neighborhood and had no problems getting out onto the main street. Fireworks were very nice and the open space was perfect for viewing the fireworks with no trees or buildings in the way.

Looks very promising but currently under major renovation construction. Parts of the park are…read moreclosed down not useable. Noise and dust everywhere. It will be open this summer so I'm going to try again!

This is a nice, well guided park. We started off on the Falls Lake Trail, did the Laurel Loop and…read moretook the Beaver Point and Azalea Loop to get back to the parking lot. We really enjoyed the views from the loop that we hiked. This park features hiking trails, fishing, playgrounds, picnic areas with and without grills and Go Ape Treetop Adventure.

I love this park. It's definitely one of my top 5 favorite playgrounds in Raleigh! My daughter…read moreloves it. She'll be 4 this month. They've got covered patio tables/seating and I've seen people have birthday parties here before. There are two bathrooms with plumbing that are a little older but they do the job. Occasionally they need servicing but there's a QR code and phone number on the wall that you can use if it needs it. Honestly I was going to give this place a 5 because I love it so much but the restrooms were looking pretty neglected today. Lots of things to do on the playground including a sandbox, 3 toddler slides, and 3 large slides, lots of climbing and spinning equipment too! It's right next to Crabtree creek trail which links onto a greenway. There are also tennis courts and plenty of parking spaces in the lot.

A great playground and park nestled into a North Hills neighborhood. This park is connected to the…read moreCrabtree Greenway. The playground itself looks pretty new and updated. They have a great sand area with diggers and a seesaw. They have a decent sized area of slides and climbing structures, as well as a spinning chair and a spinning swing type thing. Certainly some unique stuff compared to some parks. They have plenty of shade over the playground and covered picnic areas. The greenway access is also right by the playground. It's a pretty steep hill, so if that isn't your thing I wouldn't plan to take that walk. It's quite pretty in the middle of the trees. Not a lot of mask wearing on the playground, but we are usually able to keep somewhat of a distance.

As my family and I were visiting my sister, we had heard that Durham Central Park was hosting a…read moreReggae Event. We decided to go to get a taste of the Caribbean in the South. We arrived and there was a live DJ playing Dancehall and Reggae, which had a great selection of music. There were tents and food trucks around the perimeter which had long lines and for good reason. There was good food and great merchants which my sister bought a shirt and I got a bucket hat with the Panamanian flag on it. My sister told me that there were a couple events being hosted in the coming weeks. I would definitely return when I go visit my sister.

Downtown Durham is cool and Durham Central Park is a big reason why. When I think of Durham Central…read morePark, I mainly think of The Pavilion and Foster Street, which hosts the Durham Farmers' Market (https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-farmers-market-durham), and the adjacent public greenspace, playground, and skate park located between Foster Street and Rigsbee Avenue. However, Durham Central Park extends well beyond that. It's really a neighborhood, encompassing some of the coolest spots in the city. Aside from the aforementioned farmers' market, highlights at Central Park for me have included: * Boxcar Bar & Arcade: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boxcar-bar-arcade-durham * Durham Food Hall: https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-food-hall-durham * Foster Street Coffee: https://www.yelp.com/biz/foster-street-coffee-durham Additionally, my wife and her co-residents are big fans of: * The Glass Jug (bar): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-glass-jug-durham-3 There's also a lot of great stuff around Central Park like: * M Sushi: https://www.yelp.com/biz/m-sushi-durham * Pizzeria Toro: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pizzeria-toro-durham * The Blue Note Grill (barbecue and live music): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blue-note-grill-durham-2 * The Parlour (ice cream): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-parlour-durham-2 * Viceroy (Indian restaurant): https://www.yelp.com/biz/viceroy-durham My wife likes to get her hair cut and styled at: * Rock Paper Scissors Salon: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rock-paper-scissors-salon-and-gallery-durham-2 The neighborhood also includes the DAP (Durham Athletic Park), former home of the Minor League Durham Bulls baseball team. According to artwork on the south side of the Liberty Warehouse Apartments, Durham Central Park was established in 2001. The Pavilion opened in 2007. There's lots of amazing public art in the neighborhood too. The municipal space is ideal for events like the farmers' market, festivals, live entertainment, food trucks, etc. It's perfect for the community.