Such a great playground for kids of all ages! I love the foam padding instead of sand or wood…read morechips! It's spaced out while still being close enough to watch everyone. When we visited, the splash pad wasn't opened yet, but my son (14 months old) adored this area of the playground! I couldn't recommend this enough!!

This park is wonderful. We were there on a very hot day and the only suggestion would be for a…read morelighter colored turf. The whole place is covered in a rubber like substance which is great for falls but it was red and black in some places and blue and black. Outside of the water area the flooring was way to hot for our toddlers bare feet. We had to be very careful when moving from the water area to the dry areas. But wow is this a cool park. Lots to do with a wide age group.

Located behind Town Hall and adjacent to Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation Community Center. Shaded…read moreareas for families to relax. Features Include: Basketball Court, Bike Rack, Fossil Pit, Gazebo, Playground (monkey bars, swings, sandbox, slide, little playhouse), Picnic Pavilion, Benches, 2 Lighted Tennis Courts, and Restrooms (with changing tables)

The landscape was beautiful and the trails were clearly marked. I was there by myself and felt very…read moresafe. If you're ever looking for a nice quiet place to go for a nature hike, this is your spot.

This lovey trail is part of Croatan National Forest. It's free, and there's a small parking lot…read morewith a restroom at the trailhead. I visited on a warm weekday afternoon between Christmas and New Years and saw only a few other folks out on the trail. There's a big loop that's about 1.5 miles, or you could do a shorter loop. The trail is mostly shaded and quite flat, making it an easy stroll and accessible for kids (including strollers) and people who need low intensity hikes; there are many benches along the way. Many parts are wooden bridges out over the marshland; at the right time of day you can see fiddler crabs in the water. (If it's recently rained, don't go at high tide; parts of the trail may be wet or muddy!) You'll find a really nice variety of trees and micro climates- the grasses and small trees in the marsh land are quite different from the hardwood forests and pines just a few feet further inland. This trail would be especially lovely at sunrise or sunset. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Emerald Isle/Swansboro area!

I totally forgot that I left a crappy review for Flanners Beach three years ago back when there was…read moreno beach access. Access was restored recently, and whereas this is not a beach where I'd spend a weekend (too small), it is a good place to go for a brief trip to enjoy water and nature! I'm so glad they have reopened this beach.

Love this place and was saddened by all the damage Hurricane Florence did in late 2018. The good…read morenews is that the east side trails are open! I just hiked several of them and it appears there has been much work done to clear the trails of debris and add a top layer above the major trails for mountain bikes. I don't think most people know it is back open because the official government websites still list Flanner's Beach as closed. There are several wooden fences that were put up to prevent access to this area and the western trails. In fact, the entire parking lot is gated closed with "No Entry" signs posted everywhere. Although the camping area and circular hard-surface paths are open, access to the river-side trails is also blocked. I had to park at the small lot just south of where the county property ends. There are a few other places to park prior to there that will allow access to trails further away from the river. I'm hoping the western trails will open, but for now am grateful for whoever did the work to open the eastern side - thank you!

A nice park that serves its community and visitors well…read more The park is a decent size and offers a lot of tranquility and is a great getaway when civilization starts pushing your peace from all sides. I recommend here.

Again I can say this park is for all humans and beautiful animals. But as of yesterday like I…read morepredicted there was animal attack I don't know the full story yet, but they have a training dog school ppl with big dogs and the trainers are not logical trainers. Dogs need there space not to be in the middle of an active field with small dogs, ppl, children. That's a bad connection. The trainers bring dogs that have no control of their senses to a family park in an open space. Park department should not allow this. My dad trained German shepherd , Doberman and he trained them indoor until they were well trained and obedience. If they continue to get complains the park department may listen. I don't know why they are not investigating yet. I would hate to have find another park for my pup because of safety.

From the website: "Leisure waterfront park with benches (6),…read moreconcert stage, covered bench swings (2), covered picnic tables (2), parking, piers (8th & 9th Street), and restrooms." I stopped here before heading to work on a nice Spring day. Well maintained, pleasant place to relax for a few moments. Nice monument titled "The Carolina Sounder" and a sundial are two artistic features of the park. I found it to be a nice relaxing place with a lovely view.

A beautiful waterfront area on the sound side of Morehead City. A large grassy area with a few…read morebenches, tables, and a small concert stage area. Definitely walkable to a few waterfront restaurants to grab a bite to eat or bring to the park area for a meal with a view!

We came here to check out the sunset. Close to our Airbnb. Plenty of parking and wooded trails…read more Nice frisbee golf area. We walked the wheelchair accessible wooden walkway that went to the dock. Clean restrooms by the trail entrance.

Hidden gem! Kind of small, trails aren't marked, but the sound views are lovely. It has disc golf…read moreas well as nature trails.

This was a great afternoon stretch of the legs. Reading the other review of this natural area one…read morewould expect a smoky pit of desolation and ruin. Much to the contrary, The area is green and the underbrush ample. Also being from the mountains of East Tennessee I have seen what can happen when controlled burns are not done on a regular basis to simulate the natural cleansing of the forest usually created by lightening strikes. The buildup of debris on the ground makes an amazing fuel source when fire finally does come along and the destruction is much greater, but I digress... This trail reminds me of hiking in Florida. Lots of pines, short undergrowth, and sandy stretches that make walking a little more challenging. Think walking on a sandy beach. You will have the occasional views of the ponds that are nice. There are quite a few trails in this park that are not on the official trail map so pay attention to the trail markers and use your smart phone for reference if you are unfamiliar with the area. Otherwise that hour stroll may turn into a couple hours of wandering we're the car is. LOL. Note: Something I always do when hitting an unfamiliar trail is download the official trail map or take a quick photo of the park map at the trailhead. These sometime come in very handy no matter what state or mountain range you find your self in.

If you are a beginner hiker or just looking for an nice walk, here is an excellent start. We walked…read morearound for a good hour and saw some beautiful views.

FAVORITE PLACE HERE. We spent hours finding the most amazing shells. The water is crystal clear and…read morethe wanes aren't bad at all. I would come back in a heart beat.

We had so much fun on Shackleford Island. We saw so many horses, found a lot of cool shells, and…read morethe beach was beautiful. It's about a 30 minute ferry ride from Beaufort. There is a restroom but NO amenities or food available for purchase. Bring everything you need with you. Once we arrived, there was a tour guide but it wasn't much of a tour. She walked us to the other side of the island to show us two horses on the beach and then walked all the way back to where we started to show us where to find the best shells. Her "tour" lasted about 30 minutes. We did most of the exploring on our own and that's when we found the majority of the horses. As long as you aren't looking for a super guided tour, this is a great day trip!

We live only 2 miles from Goose Creek State Park and we absolutely love the park.. perfect place…read morefor us to ride our bicycles & take our little Chihuahua ( always on her leash)& walking the numerous trails..& the picnic areas are well maintained as are restrooms.. though we haven't utilized the campground area they definitely appear awesome, the cabins are very nice( our grandchildren have stayed there several times.,,

**RV SITE REVIEW** A…read morecouple weeks back me and my dad camped for one night at Goose Creek State Park, and we stayed at RV site #20. This RV site was fantastic. All of the sites were flat (which is what you want), and offered plenty of privacy (The sites were very spacious from one another). All RV sites consist of 30 and 50 amp hookups, as well as a connection to fresh water, and a sewage pipe. The bath house was new and clean. It was modern on the inside, offered hot water (even in 20 degrees), and was well taken care of. The camp host does a great job at taking care of this site. I would highly recommend that you stay/visit Goose Creek when you can. It is a great hidden spot that offers a wide array of trails and activities.