For years, Lake Benson has been my go to for outdoor activities. Walking the paved loop is about a…read moremile (small dirt trail goes past lake and detours off path)and you can cross Benson Road into White Deer park to easily get 3 miles. They also have a boat house with limited hours but the prices for renting kayaks, canoes and Jon Boats is minimal... $10 for two hours kayaking if you are a garner resident

We live in a neighboring town close but and bumped into this gem. Nice area to walk and plenty of…read moreroom for children

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!

Lake Johnson Park is one of Raleigh's best spots when you want a workout that actually comes with a…read moreview. The 3-mile loop gave me the perfect mix of cardio, scenery, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting. The trail is mostly paved and very well maintained, but there are also a few off-road paths if you want to switch things up. The lake views are gorgeous throughout the walk, and the heavily wooded sections make it feel peaceful and shaded even on warmer days. I also appreciated that the trail has a few solid uphill stretches. I'd say it's ideal for intermediate walkers, runners, or cyclists looking for a scenic challenge without venturing into hardcore hiking territory. The only downside is the parking situation, which can get pretty tight during busy hours. Still, once you're on the trail, it's absolutely worth it. Raleigh really lucked out with this gem of a park.

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.

What a hidden gem! The drive back into the parking lot felt neverending, but once we got there it…read moreseemed very inviting! We made 2 full trail laps and experienced the extra educational tools with the 5 kids tagging along. They have little buttons with speakers and wooden signs telling you about the trees and nature nearby. We went to the pond and saw several turtles and fish. All of the pavilions that we observed were roped off, not sure why, but didnt bother us. The trails are well traveled and in good condition. This park is only open certain hours so make sure you check before you make a trip there.

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.

This park is a great place to take a walk and kill some time. From the parking lot you can walk…read morethrough down the path. You will see basketball courts. baseball fields, sitting areas, and several fields for various activities. There were paths if you wanted to venture into the woods which i started to do but once i saw the giant spider webs, i turned around lol. There is a body of water. There is a huge playground if you have kids. There is also a building, im thinking it was a community center but i had no reason to go inside. Other than the kids in the playground this place was pretty quiet. Its a good place to enjoy your day outside.

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.

White Deer Park is such a beautiful and accessible place in Garner... There is something for…read moreeveryone! Paved roads that is easily accessible for moms with strollers, off road trails with clear markers and trail names, play ground for the kiddos, and dog stations with poop bags! There are also multiple picnic tables that you can rent. The facilities are very clean and there are also many educational opportunities. I thoroughly enjoy every visit! Not very busy the times I've come though. The entrance can be kind of hard to miss, so pay attention!

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.

Great local park for the kids or a picnic located in Historic Garner. Also, there's a Dog Park…read moreadjacent. Good spot for trainspotting, too.

Beautiful park in the downtown Garner area with a ton of parking and lots of areas for recreation…read more I particularly enjoyed watching the dogs in the dog park. There were at least two separate fenced areas, one for larger and one for smaller dogs. Makes me miss mine as I'm on the road. Lighted baseball fields, picnic shelters with grills, a mountain bike trail, walking trail and restrooms. Lovely large park! Definitely would return. [Review 11932 overall, 1714 of 2019.]

Very well kept park located in south west Raleigh not too far from downtown. The parking is…read moreeffortless. The restrooms were clean. The trails were scenic and relatively easy to navigate. I enjoyed the trails and I recommend hiking here. There is a nice pond loop trail area that's really nice. I'd definitely return. No pets are allowed here. That's the only downside. Besides that it was a great time here. This is a nice 3.5 miles when covering all the trails.

Although out of the way from Wake Forest, this park is nice. Not too easy and not too difficult…read more Very little elevation change, however the trail is mostly dirt. So, if it is raining be prepared for some muddy conditions. The trail is pretty much covered by trees that provides some shade. Yesterday it was in the 90s, but with the breeze and shade, I was able to get 12000 steps. There are clean restrooms at the entrance/exit of the park. There was also ample parking. The trail is a little over 1 mile if you just go around the lake. There are more steps if you take the trail into the woods. Stay on the paths and they will loop you back. Yesterday, the only disappointment was the water wheel wasn't being used and we didn't get any pictures of that.

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.

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

Nice little park for families. Very clean and well maintained. Some great play areas and some low…read morecost amusements. Highly recommend!

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!