this is a super cute park with some baseball fields and playground with walking path.read more

This is a wonderful park all around. It has a fence all the way around. It's a huge play area with…read moresomething for all ages. I took my kids there today for an hour and they didn't want to leave. It has a train that was off for the season. And the Gainesville zoo is behind the park. Also let me tell you the bathrooms were very clean for it being a park. Well done!

Think of just about any outdoor activity on level ground and you'll find it at North Lakes Park…read more The 350-acre property features miles of walking trails, plus countless amenities, from soccer and baseball fields to tennis courts, volleyball courts, a frisbee golf course, a driving range, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing ponds, and a beautifully maintained dog park with multiple pens. The restrooms are kept clean, and there is ample parking, even on the weekend. This is a great place to get some fresh air, whether solo or with family and friends, and enjoy the beauty of nature!

North Lakes Park has been a great resource for me and my family and friends who visit during the…read moreyear; it features the Tennis Center, which is hard asphalt regulation tennis courts that are free to the public during the day. A central feature is the park's paved jogging trails, which includes a model airplane flying center, and the city's recycling center and even a dog park, at the extreme end of the system. The city's Police Department features great officers who can help via 911 Phone Calls, 24/7. Fortunately for the residents who live close by, response times are prioritized by the severity of the situation and the need for urgent assistance. Denton, Texas is going to grow with respect to the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington area by virtue of the local attractions offered to the voting public's attention to the very positive thing that green spaces offer to the people. Cheers, Mark F.

fun place to vist. To fish, and swim. Love going there for a break from dallas.read more

Had the weirdest experience there as first time visitors and we will not be going back. It's 7…read moredollars for people older than 7, so my family paid 21 dollars. Then as soon as we got to the parking lot we realized that it was very full and it sounded like there was a DJ or something there playing Latin pop music and Cumbias. We parked in the gravel parking lot and made sure to back in because we would not have been able to pullout to leave because of how many cars were cramped in. On the way down the path we saw that it was not an actual Dj but rather a party of people sitting under the trees with the large Dj speakers that stand on the tripod poles. We walked to the farthest place on the beach to get away from the loud party. On our way across the beach there were a few other groups with radios, but they were playing them at a much more respectable level only able to be heard for 10-15 ft or so. Once we picked out our spot the sand on the beach is great and it has a really nice slope so you can swim out pretty far before it gets deep. I did make my kids keep their water shoes on the whole time because we picked up over ten pieces of broken brown and green glass. We left around 7 after a lot of people had already left. The craziest part is what happened up in the changing area. They have around 5 portapotties out in the parking lot, then down on the grass, a water cleaning area with three spigots and two changing rooms that are just stalls on wood that you can change in, but you can see peoples feet from the outside. As I was walking up a young girl maybe 10-12 walked up already in dry jean shorts and a dry shirt she walked into the changing stall but didn't have anything with her. She looked confused but closed the door. I stood there waiting in line as the other one was taken. The young girl started URINATING on the floor in the changing stall! Like I just see her feet and a stream of Pee. Insane! Her parents were no where to be seen. They obviously told her to go up and use the restroom and didn't watch her. Either she didn't know the porta-potties were the toilets, or she didn't want to use them. It's really sad that the people there were acting so inappropriately because the beach is really nice. They should have a code of conduct or something, and ranger type people that are monitoring. There are two large dumpsters for trash in the parking lot, but there was still trash all over in the parking lot. As far as staff that we saw there was only the woman in the ticket booth and one worker in a cart probably picking up trash. My husband overheard the worker say that there was 800 people that came thru that day. With people paying 7 dollars a piece for next to no amenities they really need more staff.

Having years and YEARS of experience as a long distance trail runner I very much find solace and…read morepeace in the great outdoors. Ray Roberts Johnson Branch is a beautiful park with lots to do. Bring the family or come solo. This is a smaller part of the Ray Roberts park so it is a very safe feeling here. Fish, hike, bring a picnic basket! I very much enjoyed my travels here, and simply cant wait to visit again to get some trail time in!!

I've camped here twice now (once in Sept and once in Oct) and can attest that the state park is…read morejust as great both times. Both times, you are greeted right at entrance and given an introduction by some really nice staffers. Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or not, they will give you a map and help orient you around the area. The site that we chose (Dogwood Canyon again) was clean and nicely spread out from the next site. We don't know if any staff members come by to check on the place after check-out but every time we've come now, the site is pretty clean and clear from any litter. Unfortunately this time around, the toilets weren't that well stocked with toilet paper so yes, bring toilet paper while camping! This should be for best practice anyways. :-) Other than that, we did have some noise disturbance in the evening from rowdy kiddos - it doesn't seem like anyone really patrols around to keep parties in check like some negative Google reviews may have suggested, who knows! The hikes were great, I would rate the blue and orange trails to be pretty mild-moderate. There are some slopes and there are some spots you may need to "climb" a bit but nothing too bad! I absolutely love having this park to get away to from the busyness of the city. Makes the $75 annual pass so so worth it (otherwise, it would be $7 per person, per day for admission)!

This park is beautifully done and obviously cared for by volunteers who love what they do. The…read moreinformation that's here is fascinating and there are lots of plaques to read and benches to sit and take it all in. It can be pretty loud (it's maybe 150 feet from I-35 and on one of the busiest streets in Gainesville) and the plaques are starting to peel off in the sun, but it's definitely worth visiting if you get a chance.

Been here twice now. It's very well maintained and dose a great honor to those who served and…read morereceived the nations highest honor.

We love this state park. Very quiet and peaceful with nice hiking trails. We fell in love with the…read morepig and goat at the "petting zoo". However, we were VERY disappointed in two things: 1) The cabins are old and unkept. We had a hole in the wall near the front door and daylight showing under the front door. The entire cabin was filled with ants. They were on the floor, walls, and ceiling. Every hour I was running around squashing ants. We had to hang everything on hooks/hangers or leave it in the car. Water leaked from underneath the tile in front of the shower. The staff said the State has the money to renovate, but they keep delaying it. So sad to lose customers because they won't spend the money to update it. 2) The pet fee is $40 per day per pet. We had 2 dogs totaling 22 pounds. There was NO extra work on behalf of the staff after we left. Most place charge a deposit that is refundable if there is no damage. They should review their pet policy and consider reducing or eliminating the fee and instead having a refundable deposit. With $80/night for the dogs and $110+ for the cabin, we could have stayed in a nice VRBO home with a fenced backyard and without bugs.

This is the place to get away from it all and not worry about the danged old pandemic. We reserved…read morea cabin at Lake Murray State Park and enjoyed a few days of extended social distancing in the countryside of Oklahoma where they don't seem to care about wearing masks at all. Apparently, the powers that be have figured out that they can make more money off day users by charging $10 / day for a parking permit. Our pass was included with our cabin. Our cabin had many creature comforts. Air conditioning, cold but too loud to sleep with (cycling on and off every few minutes), cable tv, full size fridge, cooktop and microwave. Choice of 1 big bed or 2 little ones. Nice bathroom, too. Towels and bedding are provided and daily cleaning is offered, but we declined and lived in our own squalor, lol. Due to the corona bug, the pots, plates, utensils, etc. were no longer provided. Not sure why these things couldn't have been left with a suggestion that we wash them before using them. Fortunately, we have a camp box with those items, ready to travel. Outside, we had a picnic table, a bbq grill and a fire ring. The grill was about what you expect at a public p k-9ark, with wide gaps and it was really nasty, so I grilled our burgers on a sheet of aluminum foil. Yum! We also brought firewood with us, but there are places nearby where you can buy some. I also brought a smudge pot with citronella scented oil in case the mosquitoes were a problem, but there were only a few of those pests. There are plenty of places to explore in the park and the beautiful lake to enjoy. Break out of your seclusion and reep the benefits of this safe spot to recharge your batteries.

Eisenhower State Park includes most of Lake Texoma lakefront businesses that make up Oklahoma's…read moreshare of the biggest local lake in north central Texas, which is about an hour's drive north on TXHWY 377N, and a day sail from Gordonville's gorgeous and lively Cedar Mills Yacht, where my family lived during the weekends and holidays, often dining with the keen Bahama 28 yacht owned by North Texas State University's Dr. Bruce P. Foster. Our ragtag racing team included Bruce and Trudy's sons, Rob and Greg + a rotating volunteer from our home church, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Denton. Apparently, from certain times of the year, the sailing vessels known as Valiant Yachts produces various forms of sailing vessels, which are often shipped to every place in the world. I worked on the foredeck, raising the colorful and elegant spinnakers for sailing quite fast pointing down wind. I love the local scene of rural communities in the north Texas and Oklahoma region and the culture of our farmers and ranchers who cultivate their cash crops and send to the local markets in Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth and mid-cities. Cheers, Mark F.

We really enjoyed a marvelous weekend at Eisenhower State park not long ago!! I definitely…read morerecommend visiting, before it gets too crazy hot. We came here in late spring. They have really nice nearby cabins along the peninsula where we stayed. There's a lot to do for the entire family, trail running, hiking, fishing etc. Plus it is a short drive up north offering the "we are not in DFW" vibe. It is worth checking out for sure!

Beautiful park, did a picnic and fishing. Nice relaxing day, people swimming and boating. Just a…read moregreat little park. Only complaint is the dog owners who don't pick up their messes. That's not on the park. Be responsible for your own mess, even your dogs.

Lake Texoma is an awesome place for daily recreation, family vacations and all other resources…read morenational Sam Bass festival.

there is a nice trail here with some views looking out at the water. it cuts by a neighborhood and…read morecamping.

This is a beautiful big park by the lake there is so much to do there and is a great place to take…read moreyour family especially if you have dogs or kids! I totally recommend this park.

It is so beautiful here. We came at a perfect time and got to see a beautiful sunset.read more

PROS -beach area for…read morethe kids if you like that sorta thing -nice mostly-shaded hiking trail(s) -can observe deer -playground for the kiddos allbeit small CONS -those annoying trees with the spiky balls that are just havoc and painful -ant piles galore -ridiculous getting in to begin with but getting back in with day pass, even more ridiculous. Only one lane open and there should be enough staff to open another lane. Please do it or else there's no point in coming back.