It speaks well of the Visitor's Bureau ("Visitor's Center?") that even after I've lived here for…read moreyears I can still find things though here that I didn't know about. They have tons of information about things you'd never have guessed even existed (come here if you're bored with the local food scene and want to find something new) in an easy-to-find format. The staff isn't always the most friendly though... Sometimes they come off as kind of distant, not exactly the most welcoming.

The Visitor's Bureau has a wealth of information about sites, restaurants, shops and events going…read moreon in and around Chapel Hill. It's an excellent resource for new comers to the area, as well as, anyone looking for ideas for new places to eat or shop. I've found lots of information on the arts and entertainment in the area. There are places I keep saying I'm going to go there, like the Planetarium and this restaurant called Mariakakis that features cuisine from different parts of Eastern Europe; from Bulgarian to Hungarian and areas in between.

First and only visit took a bit of a drive from where I lived but did not disappoint. The hiking…read morewas fairly level with a great meditative and uncrowded nature walk. Deserving of good hiking boots to navigate the trail's obstacles.

Nice park with many trails of varying difficulty. A couple trails were closed due to a past storm,…read morebut we still enjoyed our hike along the river

Falls Dam and the greenway trails around it are a great and quick escape to nature. In minutes…read moreyou'll be away from the traffic and the stress of your particular day. I hope plans to turn this into a white water park do not come about. Let nature be nature. We need it more than it needs us.

I feel so lucky to live close to the dam. I am an hobbyist photographer and the wildlife here is…read moreamazing. I have watched a Osprey dive in and catch a fish. I have seen numerous Blue Heron and have gotten pictures of them catching fish. Eastern Blue Birds, vultures, and too many other birds to count. The Neuse River Greenway Trail starts here and you can walk up and down the trail from here. There is ample parking and you will see numerous people there ready to jog, hike or bike from the parking lot. You can park at the dam during the hours it is open and hike across the dam. The place is clean and there are bathrooms and a visitors center where members of the Army Corp of Engineers will happily answer any questions that you may have. Great place and it is all free.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is located in Seven Springs, NC. The park is named for the 90-foot…read morecliffs that overlook the Neuse River. I first stopped at the Visitor Center. I like visiting these as they are like a little museum in each state park. This visitor center was very interactive and had bright colors with the storyboards. I like that they covered the local ecology, the history of the river and also how we can help make better choices to keep the water safe. In the lobby, there are some taxidermies; you will see a black bear, an owl, a fox and a bobcat that lived in the area. When the fault formed, the water created the cliffs. The cliffs are unique in the layers formed. The white and yellow layers of sand and gravel are remnants of ancient beaches. The Atlantic Ocean once covered the area. Then the dark gray and black layers were made of clay likely deposited by ancient marshes. Between these layers are marine life, seashells, shale, and gravel. These got left behind as the sea levels rose and fell. These formations are 90 feet high and 200 feet underground. Native Americans gathered here, the Tuscarora and Saponi tribes. The river acted as a transportation route and a source of food. They used canoes to go from the coast to the inland forest. The high ground served as a lookout point, allowing them to see anyone approaching. They hunted deer and turkey. The museum has stone tools and other artifacts that were found in the area. During the Civil War, in the Battle of Whitehall (now Seven Springs), the Union soldiers used the higher ground to fight the Confederates. The Confederates were building an ironclad ship (the CSS Neuse). They thought being upriver would keep them safe from the Union ships. They had hoped to retake New Bern with it. The ship survived the battle with only minor damage and was moved to Kinston to have an engine and heavy iron armor added. (The ship can be seen at the CSS Interpretive Museum in Kinston, NC) I liked the phones available for a glimpse into the past from people who were part of the park, and the viewer glasses. The building is air-conditioned, and restrooms are available. There is a small gift shop too. The staff were friendly as they were expecting campers. There is an Overlook for a beautiful view. It is just steps away from the parking lot. The view was stunning. The signs make it easy to find from the visitor center. There are some trails to follow as well if you want to explore more.

The name caught my eye, and despite this being far away from the mountainous part of the state…read morethere are indeed cliffs. The river was at flood stage due to heavy rains throughout the region when I visited, but there was no danger of getting wet at the top of the cliffs. You can pretty much drive right up to where the views are, and this being a NC state park, you can simply motor on in without paying a fee, which is not the case in neighboring states like SC and VA. Trails take one from the cliffs down to the riverside in fairly short order, and there were plenty of interesting sights to see in the short time I spent there, another on my list of sights seen in a fascinatingly diverse state.

We needed to stop and use the restroom and saw the signage indicating the visitors center was just…read moreoff the highway. The grounds are very well maintained and there is plenty of room to stretch your legs or walk your animals for a moment. The restrooms were very clean and well taken care of. There was a lobby area featuring a map of North Carolina to reference and a nice memorial for NC dot workers who have been killed on the job. The visitors center had a lot of pamphlets and brochures and the ladies working were very friendly and helpful. The visitors center is limited to printed materials, we did not see any other items for sale. There is a vending machine area located in a building outside. Great place for a pit stop!

This is a very nice restaurant stop. Extremely clean. Piped in music. Quick on and off.read more

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!

This place is designated as a preserve. This means that there are ample paths and boardwalks, but…read moreyou aren't supposed to go off of them. The bluffs are a couple of stories high; even without greenery in full bloom. It's tough to see all the way down. The area serves as a safe harbor for numerous birds, and with the geography of the bluffs you get a lot of echoing birdsong. It's a free space, and there are educational and playground facilities at the entrance.

The Johnston County Visitor Bureau is in a business park and has plenty of parking. There is a wall…read moreof brochures to get an idea of places to check out while in the county. The staff was friendly and suggested some brochures that would be the most helpful.

This is a very helpful resource for anyone looking to visit or live in this area. There whole…read moreoffice is very knowledgeable.

Good bathroom break- we managed to stop on a Tuesday and the Visitor Center is closed on Tuesdays…read more I did love the outdoor area!

Very nice visitor center. Not big, main building just had the bathrooms which were pretty clean and…read moreincluded a family room. Grounds are well kept. A lot of room to walk around or take your dog for a walk. Small visitor center to the left and housed vending machines in the back with a variety of selections. A few shaded pavilions and there's plenty of parking. Great place to stop for a wee

I only recommend if you MUST stop. I just stopped, not sure if staff is on duty on Sunday at 5pm…read more The women restroom are not cleaned and does not appear to have been cleaned today. First rest stop I've ever made and the restrooms were dirty. Vending machines were not stocked! Not a good welcome experience to Virginia

This is very nice Welcome center off 85. It's spacious with clean bathrooms and a nice vending…read morearea and gift shop. Easy access off and on to

Well I have used the services of Viking Travel for many years and moved to Florida and just…read morereconnected with them and glad they're still around .. Support them you will not only be helping the small business but also your peace of mind in your travels ..

We had a great experience with Viking Travel for a 2-week-long European vacation this past July. I…read moreworked with Avery on details for a few months, and he was able to get us flights and hotels on either end of our travel for cheaper than I could find flights alone. Not only that, but the flights were ideal (great travel times, minimal layovers), and the hotels in Milan and Paris were so great-- especially for a family of 4! Our hotel in Paris had 2 separate bedrooms (a third if you count the living room, which had its own door), as well as a full kitchen (microwave, stove, plates/silverware, refrigerator, etc.). And none of the hotels were super touristy or packed-- we felt like we had found some hidden gems. Throughout planning and during our travel, Viking Travel was available to us by phone or email, and they were always quick to respond. They helped with COVID preparation, which was a big concern of ours going into Europe. I have to admit I had concerns with using a travel agent in this day and age, but it was worth it for sure. I'm not sure if it's like this for all packages, but we didn't pay Viking anything extra, there were no out-of-pocket costs to use them, we just paid for the flights/hotels and that was it. I can't recommend Viking Travel enough. We're already planning our next trip through them for next year :)