The Lowdown: This park is one of the most beautiful and…read morepeaceful places around, with shady trails, clear creeks, and plenty of wildlife. It's perfect for relaxing, exploring, or taking photos. This park is absolutely beautiful. The trails are shaded and comfortable to walk on, even in the peak heat of summer. Along the way, you'll find peaceful creeks with small waterfalls that are perfect for cooling your feet on a warm day. The scenery is so stunning that I chose this location for my son's senior pictures a couple of years ago. Every visit brings something new to see--deer, owls, and a variety of birds. It's a relaxing, scenic place that's perfect for anyone who enjoys being outdoors.

Stopped by here on a recent day off and decided to go off the paved track down to the creek where…read morethere's soft trails. We got to see waterfalls and get up close and personal with nature. It was a beautiful day and park. Definitely recommend coming here for a walk on the next nice day!

We visited E. Carroll Joyner Park for Easter and brought Luna, along with my nephew for a little…read moreEaster egg hunt. The park is very pet-friendly, with plenty of open space and trails for dogs to enjoy. While there were a few other pups around, I have to say--Luna was definitely the cutest dog (and bunny!) at the park that day.

This park is large if you walk down each trail or you can do a quick loop. I walked here this…read moremorning and got in 4 miles and after lunch just 1 mile. The best part is all the green surrounding you. There was a nice breeze today and made it enjoyable even with the heat and humidity. The trails are good for dogs, stopping and sitting along the way and even picnics as well as photo opportunities. There are a few restrooms and even a place to buy water if you forgot yours. Additionally, parking is adequate, but Im sure at peak times then maybe not. So what are you waiting for, get your shoes on and head over to E Carroll Joyner Park to get some fresh air and maybe even some exercise. Don't forget, it is pet friendly as long as it's not an alligator.

We love this park. It's took away off to itself and there's so much open space for events, family,…read moreactivities, and more. Bring your bike out here because there's a gorgeous access trail to the neuse River Trail. There is great parking, super clean bathrooms. This is just an overall great experience. There's picnic tables for groups and more. Definitely a spot to check out.

The area here is quite pretty; the aptly named space next to a river makes a rough horseshoe shape…read moreand showcases a variety of topography and plant life. Paths connect to the Neuse River trail across the river, though you'll have to walk for a bit and cross an impressive-looking bridge to get there. The amount of parking and the hours it was open seem to be somewhat inadequate for the demand on this space, but it's large enough that people can spread out well. There is a restroom area near the parking lot, albeit without running water in the sinks. I could imagine the trails and parking being developed a bit better, but the space is certainly well worth having as a park and well worth visiting.

I've lived in Raleigh for over 20 years and only recently discovered these delightful gardens just…read morea short drive away. There were two separate areas, the Lake Trail and the Waterfall Trail. The Waterfall Trail was more of a true trail, winding through the woods. The Lake Trail primarily looped around the lake. It would have been nice to have distance markers on the sign. There is a port a potty at the trailhead.

I brought my furry son here for his last hike. Unfortunately his cancer had started to wreak havoc…read moreon his body. Jax loves exploring in the woods, going on walks, and playing in water. This was the perfect spot. I'm sure we probably weren't supposed to let him in the pond but it was his last day with us so we let him splash around the edge. The trails were still viable even given all the leaves had fallen. It was a really peaceful walk and we made great memories. There weren't people there at the time we went which I was thankful given our circumstances. Unfortunately it hadn't rained enough lately to produce the waterfall in the waterfall trail but we did get to see a little one on a different trail. If you walk the waterfall trail and get to the top, there's an intersection where you'll see lots of people carved their names in a tree. Stop by and look up, if you see JAX, that's in honor of my boy. Enjoy your fur babies, your children, and your own life, stop and smell the flowers. Take a walk on a sunny day and feel the sunshine in your face. We're only here for a short while.

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!

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.

Awesome spray ground in wake forest. It wasn't too busy when we went but perfect for smaller…read morechildren. There's buckets that dump water, and fountains, jets and more. My kids had a blast. I wore a bathing suit. Next time I think I may just wear shorts with my one piece. Not many parents in the water. My kids had an absolute blast though. They loved to play in the water. Great place to cool off during those summer months! There were a handful of older kids who weren't paying attention. One tumbled into my toddler on accident. They had a first aid station on site but the girl was young and didn't seem to have a clue. My toddler had a busted lip and the girl said "we can wrap it". SMH. I just took some gauze and comforted my kid.

Such a fun place to take kids or if you wanna be a big kid yourself! I like how they have teenagers…read more(maybe some college kids) working there. They're all so friendly and welcoming! Gives them an opportunity to earn some money during the season. We got the aquabana as they call it, for half a day (4 hours) and it was worth it ! We didn't swim but the kids did and they had a blast! You're able to bring a cooler with food and drinks ( juice, tea, soda, water. No alcohol) they have a food truck on site, as well as a "dirty soda" stand. Flavored sodas with cream (very popular in Utah but slowly making their way to the east coast) as well as a first aid bungalow. Everyone gets a life vest but kids under 18 MUST wear theirs at all times! I like that rule! Keeps the kids safe. Of course the teens working there are certified lifeguards just in case! They also offer scuba classes/lessons at the quarry. Would I come back? YES! Maybe one day I would try the courses and swim or paddle board but the go around it was nice relaxing and letting the kids live carefree in the lake!

Me and my husband had such a fun time here! It was just enjoyable sitting in our beach chairs…read morelistening to the music after running and swimming around out there. The inflatables are so much fun and you get tired out after about an hour. They had a food truck that had some great options as well we enjoyed. I would say this is a great spot for all ages.

I took my one year old to this park today and it was so nice. It's very nicely maintained, clean,…read moreand lots of shaded seating areas for parents. There are three different playgrounds. The only thing available for my one year old is a small slide and one smaller swing, but that's to be expected. It was nice to get out and go to a beautiful park. We will definitely be back.

Great little park in Rolesville, NC. Beautiful entrance and nice property. Walking trails and 2…read moreseparate playgrounds. The beauty of this layout is that the two playgrounds sit opposite of each other with plenty of seating in between them. This allows you to keep an eye on all the kids even if they each want to go to a deafferent playground. Trails aren't too long and are nicely maintained.

Forest Ridge Park offers a little something for everyone. Nice sized playground area, picnic…read morepavilions, short hiking trails to Falls Lake, an intro mountain biking 3 mi loop, a welcome center, disc golf, fishing, kayak or paddle boarding if you bring your own. There is no swimming, wading, or beach area. Plenty of parking available.

This is a very nice park in North Raleigh which offers a playground and many walking, hiking and…read morebiking trails that loop around parts of Falls Lake. There is ample parking and there are bathroom facilities on site. You can see lots of birds and other wildlife on the trails. Just keep in mind that during hunting season, there will be hunters in the area and people who are hiking are advised to wear either abs orange vest or sweatshirt.