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

This park is a hidden gem! Literally, it's down powhatan rd and kind of in the middle of nowhere…read more The restrooms were squeaky clean! Parking was right near the playground and close to the pavilion. They had paved handicapped parking spaces. The equipment looks brand new and they have hand sanitizer units on every section. They have shade umbrellas, 2 sliding sections, lots of climbers, 2 full swing sets, teeter saws, a sand volleyball pit and it looked like they're still developing. So happy to have found this place!

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!

Wonderful experience will definitely go back Great trails very educational we sat at the water…read morefor quite awhile serene and peaceful

Fantastic local place for woods walking. This park is often crowded on the weekends in their…read moreparking lot. Your car will get dirty driving in on their gravel road. They offer a few hiking trails plus cooking grills.

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!

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.

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.

Love this park and the water splash area for kids when it's hot! Sometimes they have marketing…read moreevents there with information and free handouts samples promoting community services. The play equipment isn't as exciting as other places but the open space and freedom to burn off some energy is fabulous

Chavis Park is named after John Chavis, a free Black educator, Presbyterian minister, and American…read moreRevolutionary War veteran. In 1808, he opened his first school, the site of which was located near the grounds of modern-day Chavis Park. There is rich black history here at this park. If you visit the community center on its grounds you can see the black and white photos adorning the walls of the center dating back to the 60's featuring the people of this African American community. This is a beautiful park that is home to the main attraction its early 20th-century carousel. Allan Herschell Carousel, showcases a Wurlitzer 146A band organ, oil paintings of waterfalls and other natural scenes, and thirty-six jumping, hand-carved, hand-painted horses. There are several indoor and outdoor spaces available to the public and for rent. In addition a playground, tennis courts, and a pool, the park offers a community center, picnic shelters, a gymnasium, a lit, outdoor track, a fitness center, and a game room. A half-mile of Raleigh's Capital Area Greenway traverses the park via Little Rock Trail. During the week my daughter attends basketball practice here and we love the view of the city skyline from the community center This is my favorite park in the Raleigh area.

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.

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!