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.

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

We live in a neighboring town close but and bumped into this gem. Nice area to walk and plenty of…read moreroom for children

Great recreational spot! Playgrounds, trails, picnic areas and a big old lake to ride around in…read more We brought our paddle boards and cruised around the afternoon. It was free, parking is limited near the boat launch area, but other options aren't too far away.

Fantastic place for family fun, athletics, or just get togethers for groups…read more Suggest folks to come by and take time to sit out at the lake and enjoy the scenery.

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.

What a daydream this spot is so beautiful and a very easy walk. I loved coming in to explore this…read more park and we even saw some deer when walking here. It was so cute. For more recommendations follow@raleighunlocked on Instagram.

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

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.

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.

Enjoyed finding and driving over Falls Lake Dam. It's a nice little area, with parking, a…read moreplayground, a fishing area, and even a family cemetery. I found a geocache there, to boot!

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.

TLDR: Peaceful lake in Holly Springs. Check out the retreat center (they have animals!). Relax in a…read morerocking chair on the deck and listen to the flowing water and birds. Note that you cannot fish off the deck. Why have I not visited this lake before?? I have passed by it several times and decided to stop and enjoy my breakfast here on a gloomy morning. The lake has benches on the grass near the shore, ample parking, trash cans, lost and found, restrooms, water fountains, dog waste stations, posted rules, weight scale, and marked trails. The retreat center has a large, clean deck with picnic tables and umbrellas. The deck provides a beautiful view of the lake and plenty of bird sounds (mainly from the geese). Inside they have resources and reptiles. Excellent area in Holly Springs to learn, exercise, fish, and appreciate nature.

Enjoyed a walk around the lake after breakfast. Beautiful walking trail and a nice dock area with…read morerocking chairs overlooking the lake. The trail is unpaved with lots of trees, perfect for walking and running.

Surprised I haven't reviewed this park yet. We have been exercising here for several years. The…read morepark is clean and well marked. It has ample walkways mostly flat with some intense hills. It used to be a golf course converted to a public park. Previously it included a large area across Hilltop Needmore Rd, which now houses a new community center. Overall lovely place for family walk.

My dog and I like to walk the trails at this park. There are (3) trails; I consider the red trail…read moreto be the hardest because it has the most hills (it's a little over 2 miles), so your legs really feel the burn, the yellow trail (also a little over 2 miles) is an average hike, and the blue trail (0.6 miles) is easy breezy. This park is very scenic and it used to be a golf course. It's surrounded by large homes, and you can peek at everyone's backyard and sometimes that's awkward. Lol. My biggest complaint is that the trails need to be wider. It's impossible to social distance and when someone is walking in the opposite direction, someone ends up in the grass (usually me). I appreciate all of the doggie poop bag stations, and there are several bathrooms located off the trails. I give this park 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I'm generous.