Loved Lake Devin. While visiting my mom in the area, I decided to bring an early dinner and enjoy…read moreit lakeside. This is the perfect little quiet place to enjoy nature, and soak up the sun locally. It's a little difficult to find the entrance. Oxford is very rural and there is a lot of empty land. Look for the Lake Devin sign. Parking is available on the gravel providing easy access for those with mobility challenges. This was perfect for mom. We sat under the sheltered picnic area which kept us cool from the sun. There were families fishing for catfish on the docks and the weather was perfect. I've found a sweet little escape on sunny days.

Driving through NC and stopped to pick up food and found this cute park to eat our lunch outdoors…read moreduring this Covid time. Sat at a covered picnic table with a view of the lake on one side and corn fields on the other.

Can't wait to return next year. This place was awesome. Came here for a nice relaxing weekend at…read morethe end of the summer. We had a tent site right on the water. Every day we would eat drink and swim all day and had a blast. There was no place to buy wood at this park. So make sure that you have some wood for fires. We bought some from a 7-11 prior to coming. But we also found a tree that fell over that someone at the park cut up and let us take to burn. The bathrooms were not the best. Only one of the toilets door would close In-N-Out bathroom. But if you walked a little there was another bathroom. The showers didn't allow for much privacy. But we were swimming every day and got a quick shower in when no one else was there. Some of the sites have these cement areas near the water that are not comfortable to lay in. But I saw a few younger purple on them. I didn't even like sitting in them. Also near the water they get slippery. Make sure you are bringing some type of water shoes. There were a lot of people that had campers and boats near us. Lots of kids and many dogs. A great family destination.

The big lakes have never really been my favorite state parks in NC. Not that that makes them…read moreinherently boring. In fact this one has quite a lot going on. With several access points, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing and boat slips there's no end to summer time enjoyment out here. And lemme tell you, this lake is huge. I wasn't quite aware of Kerr Lake until this stop through. As it seems most of the lake is in Virginia, it's not really heard of as much in NC, I feel like. But it's significant to the history of the area and of course for the energy infrastructure of this part of the country. I took a scenic drive along the expanse of the lake and drove into VA where I crossed the dam "just to say I did". The sheer size of the lake makes for incredible views. While it isn't a park that I see myself going back to anytime soon, I know it would be enjoyable in particular for families going on summer trips to camp and enjoy the water.

I wish an Ox was a Chess piece, because then instead of moving a pawn, a rook, or a knight I mean…read morehorsey I mean knight forward, I would move my Oxford. At first I thought I was home and then I realized I was in the Deep South. Well maybe not the Deep South but definitely the South. This town is nothing at all like my hometown but I still love it anyway. It was the site of the first orphanage, so the woman I keep meeting every time I stop in this town tells me. I mean she does work in a gas station that I frequent, but still. Creeeeeppppyyyyyy. In the nearby Triangle, try this food: There is a lot of great food here too, such as Rise and Sunrise (2 biscuit shops), Clyde Cooper's BBQ, and the amazing Cook Out chain, where you should always order Cajun Chicken sandwiches and fresh banana shakes. If you include Chapel Hill (where Sunrise is, home of the best chicken biscuit in the region), then you get the greatest BLT on earth at Merritt's, and the greatest BBQ in Carolina at Backyard BBQ Pit. Honeydew Bubble Tea at Crema, and especially the Brown Sugar Milk Tea at Quickly in Morrisville. Happy & Hale in Durham for excellent healthy salads. There are some great taco places (like Vaquita) and lots of little holes-in-walls all over the region that you will discover yourself. I'm kind of an orphan. But not. My parents are in England. I moved here alone when I was 16. So, maybe they'll scoop me up and give me the childhood I never had.

A great spot for a nature hike, Wilton Slopes is nearly entirely undeveloped space. The park has…read morehiking trails, a small boat launch for kayaks and canoes and a covered picnic shelter. If you were hoping for a playground or a ballfield, that's not here. The launch is on the Tar River Paddle Trail which could be awesome if that's for you. [Review 2413 of 2024 - 3869 in North Carolina - 23426 overall]

myself and a friend visited here yesterday while riding our motorcycles. The trails were decently…read moremaintained but there was a huge hole on one wooden walking path/bridge. Short trails here easily walked in an hour or less. Gravel entrance seemed OK to me.

I love this place. It's close to my house and quiet. Great for occasional morning runs before work…read moreor a short hike on a lazy weekend. Beautiful property with a rocky creek and wonderfully frog saturated still ponds.

This marker is located in front of the Masonic Home for Children and points out the currently…read moreoperating facility. There isn't really room to park but the wide driveway of the orphanage has space for a quick stop and photo. The marker reads, "Opened by Masons, 1873, with John H. Mills first head, in plant of St. Johns College, which they had operated, 1858-1861." Online, there is more information. "The Oxford Orphanage began when the statewide organization of Masons, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, passed a resolution in 1847 indicating that a seminary of learning should be created to educate children, whether poor or rich, whether orphan or not. The committee assigned to create the school proposed that astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, electricity and application to machinery, various processes of manufactures, metallurgy, natural history and engineering be taught. The Masons wanted the students at their school to have as good an education as could be attained anywhere in the nation. On June 24, 1855, the anniversary of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the cornerstone of St. John's College was laid. The building was completed in December 1857 and opened on July 13, 1858. From the outset the school was unsuccessful. The campus was offered to the state for use as a military school, but, during the war years, served only to house squatters or war refugees. "John H. Mills in December 1872 suggested that the school should be turned into an orphanage. Trustees accepted his proposal and the former St. John's College became the first permanent orphanage in North Carolina. Mills moved onto campus and remained in the post until 1884. In February 1873 the first orphans, Robert L. and Nancy Parrish and Isabelle Robertson, took up residence. In the first year of operation, the orphanage welcomed 136 children, 109 of whom remained at the close of the year. The name of the institution was changed in 1923 to Oxford Orphanage and, in 1994, to the Masonic Home for Children. In 2000 the home launched an ambitious campaign to attain state licensing, improve and expand services, and construct a set of new, handicapped-accessible one-story cottages." This is marker number G-7 and it was first cast in 1936. [Review 2129 of 2024 - 3797 in North Carolina - 23148 overall]

Oxford Orphanage gets and deserves a 5 STAR - GREAT rating. Why someone would give it a 3 star…read morerating shows just how low our humanity has sunken. Take my word for it. I grew up there over 40 years ago. I left with a good head on my shoulders and have made myself a wonderful and productive life. I am educated, upper middle class, contribute to the community and world I live in, treat everyone as with dignity and respect. I am an E-level manager in the corporate world as many of my former classmates are. Most importantly, I left there with a sense of purpose and am happy with life and live in the present. I'm 60 now, but will never forget my roots as Oxford Orphanage paved the way for me to live a life that is reflective of it's founders back in 1873. One of contribution, caring for my fellow human beings, and a drive to be the best I can be in this world. I encourage those at the now MHCO to do what I did. Dream the biggest dream you can....and go for it. God bless all the Masons of NC for creating this magnificent place to begin a wonderful journey. I left with 100 dollars and a new suitcase the evening I graduated and have built a rich life full of love and contribute to my church, community, fellow-man, and the world I live in. Yelp, please remove the 3 star rating left by Bruce K. He obviously doesn't have a soul. THANK YOU to all my counselors, teachers, and administrators that taught me the respect for humanity and to have a spine. Kindly, Eric Earle / Class of 1984