Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is located in Seven Springs, NC. The park is named for the 90-foot…read morecliffs that overlook the Neuse River. I first stopped at the Visitor Center. I like visiting these as they are like a little museum in each state park. This visitor center was very interactive and had bright colors with the storyboards. I like that they covered the local ecology, the history of the river and also how we can help make better choices to keep the water safe. In the lobby, there are some taxidermies; you will see a black bear, an owl, a fox and a bobcat that lived in the area. When the fault formed, the water created the cliffs. The cliffs are unique in the layers formed. The white and yellow layers of sand and gravel are remnants of ancient beaches. The Atlantic Ocean once covered the area. Then the dark gray and black layers were made of clay likely deposited by ancient marshes. Between these layers are marine life, seashells, shale, and gravel. These got left behind as the sea levels rose and fell. These formations are 90 feet high and 200 feet underground. Native Americans gathered here, the Tuscarora and Saponi tribes. The river acted as a transportation route and a source of food. They used canoes to go from the coast to the inland forest. The high ground served as a lookout point, allowing them to see anyone approaching. They hunted deer and turkey. The museum has stone tools and other artifacts that were found in the area. During the Civil War, in the Battle of Whitehall (now Seven Springs), the Union soldiers used the higher ground to fight the Confederates. The Confederates were building an ironclad ship (the CSS Neuse). They thought being upriver would keep them safe from the Union ships. They had hoped to retake New Bern with it. The ship survived the battle with only minor damage and was moved to Kinston to have an engine and heavy iron armor added. (The ship can be seen at the CSS Interpretive Museum in Kinston, NC) I liked the phones available for a glimpse into the past from people who were part of the park, and the viewer glasses. The building is air-conditioned, and restrooms are available. There is a small gift shop too. The staff were friendly as they were expecting campers. There is an Overlook for a beautiful view. It is just steps away from the parking lot. The view was stunning. The signs make it easy to find from the visitor center. There are some trails to follow as well if you want to explore more.

The name caught my eye, and despite this being far away from the mountainous part of the state…read morethere are indeed cliffs. The river was at flood stage due to heavy rains throughout the region when I visited, but there was no danger of getting wet at the top of the cliffs. You can pretty much drive right up to where the views are, and this being a NC state park, you can simply motor on in without paying a fee, which is not the case in neighboring states like SC and VA. Trails take one from the cliffs down to the riverside in fairly short order, and there were plenty of interesting sights to see in the short time I spent there, another on my list of sights seen in a fascinatingly diverse state.

It speaks well of the Visitor's Bureau ("Visitor's Center?") that even after I've lived here for…read moreyears I can still find things though here that I didn't know about. They have tons of information about things you'd never have guessed even existed (come here if you're bored with the local food scene and want to find something new) in an easy-to-find format. The staff isn't always the most friendly though... Sometimes they come off as kind of distant, not exactly the most welcoming.

The Visitor's Bureau has a wealth of information about sites, restaurants, shops and events going…read moreon in and around Chapel Hill. It's an excellent resource for new comers to the area, as well as, anyone looking for ideas for new places to eat or shop. I've found lots of information on the arts and entertainment in the area. There are places I keep saying I'm going to go there, like the Planetarium and this restaurant called Mariakakis that features cuisine from different parts of Eastern Europe; from Bulgarian to Hungarian and areas in between.

The Kinston Visitors Center is a great first stop when visiting the area. Besides being a visitors'…read morecenter, it is also a Civil War Museum. There are restrooms and vending machines as well. The center is located on a battlefield and there are a lot of artifacts throughout the building. There is an audio visual display of the battle area and so much more. Travel brochures are available for the Kinston area as well as other parts of the state and other states (even Alaska). These are available as you enter the front doors. Maps are available at the desk as well as invaluable advice.

We live in Durham but pop in on occasion when they have a Friday evening open house. They have lots…read moreof brochures and other materials and offer activities and free food samples on certain open house dates. The materials cover a variety of interest and activities, so there's something for everyone. Parking can be an issue since there really is not much nearby other than a tiny lot behind the building. If you can park nearby, just wander over and check it out.

Horrible place. Didn't provide good customer service. I was trying to figure out how to navigate…read moreDurham and they kept ignoring me. Don't expect good help from here.

The Visitors Center of Surf Center is small with a ton of amenities. Arriving was a bit confusing…read morebecause the parking lot said spaces were $5 which seemed steep for a 10 minute visit, but there are several spaces devoted for people going to the Center and limited to 15 minutes. The staff in the Center is friendly and eager to assist. She provided pamphlets and recommendations for sites. The Center has an event center that can be rented for special events. In addition, there is a walkway outside to the beach with bathrooms and a covered deck to sit. The walkway provided us with our first views of the beautiful beach and pier. The Center is worth a quick trip if you are first timers, like we were.

Great place to learn about ALL that Surf City has to offer! Nice covered porch and wooden walkway…read moreconnecting to two public restrooms and Public Beach Access #18. They allow you to park here for free to enjoy the beach, too! Be sure to stop in here first when you visit Surf City, the staff are very warm and welcoming, as well as being very informative! Surf City has so much to offer everyone staying in the area and the Visitor Center helps you plan your current and future stays, too! The sea turtle hospital is probably my favorite part of Surf City's atmosphere but the surfers add a lot, also. You will find plenty of information about the sea turtle hospital here and you can witness plenty of surfing from the adjacent Public Beach Access #18! Enjoy your stay in Surf City but don't forget to educate yourself while there! The more you know...

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.

Did you know they have a a super cute event room that you can rent? Me neither!…read more Came here for a baby shower and was floored by the view of the lake. So beautiful. It felt as if you were floating on the lake. The trail too is so fun, lots of people and a great way to get some light exercise in. Parking can be busy during the weekend but just trail someone and you should get a spot. Get your steps in here, your body will thank you!

Across the street from Walmart if you need groceries or something along your long I-95 journey…read more It's a clever way to draw tourism for I-95. They call themselves "the birthplace of independence" hmm as a Philadelphian I feel we have claim to that slogan. I rummaged through the brochures available outside to see what they had to support their claims and I can't say they brought it. In their favor, they do have a cryptozoology museum which my kid would like. Anyway very clever means of drawing traffic and piquing curiosity. Dog runs open later than the visitor center, which is helpful. As far as I could tell they don't lock the gates so probably available throughout the evening. The fences are 4' high so you can jump them if it's 2am and your dog is desperate to run. It was a bit of a cluster-f getting from 95 to this place amidst too much crammed into too little space around 95. This lot was okay but all around it were undersized lots and econo-sized parking spaces so they can accommodate every fast food chain in the nation.

Nice visitors center, friendly staff. Great dog run for small and large dogs. We've stopped many…read moretimes on our trips to florida and back. Not to far off I95 and a Walmart and restaurants in close proximity Thank you RR it's much appreciated!

Probably the best welcome center I have been to. Plenty of…read moreparking and picnic tables. New big building with swings on porch, big screen tv with comfortable seats, maps, information, clean, plenty of stalls in the clean bathroom, there were 3 employees standing around talking to each other- if you needed help I am sure the could give it. My only suggestion- since the employees were chit chatting in the middle of the room- maybe have them behind a desk so you could walk up to them.

Very welcoming staff there were like 5 ladies welcoming folks. There are two entrances and lots of…read morestaff to answer questions about their state. Hotels and restaurants and tourism. Lots of brochures. The bathrooms were gigantic and tidy. Very grateful to all the wonderful staff that does their job so well and cares for us all.

Nice welcome Center chock full of local info for visitors. Clean facilty and restrooms. Friendly…read moreand helpful staff! The Crystal Coast awaits you!!

Are you like me ... meaning you have never been to Emerald Isle ??? Well start here first . The…read moreCrystal Coast Welcome Center . Information overload is what you have in here . There is information about all the local areas . From Beaufort , Emerald Isle , Swansboro , MooreHead City , Salter Path and so on and so on ! Nice area to sit and look over the things you'd like to take. Husbands there is a T.V. in there as well . No beach access here those are at : Western Ocean Regional Access ( 9003 Louise Ave) Eastern Ocean Regional Access (2701 Emerald Dr) Station St (11001 Station St) 3rd Street (301 Ocean Dr) So stop by and take a minute to grab some books and pamphlets on all the great things to discover and do here on the Crystal Coast. I know it really aided me in making my short stay here count .