Great time, amazing owner, and all around fun. Excellent place for a day at the lake, great music,…read moreBring some picnic items, or just grill.This place is owned by a gentleman who is probably the nicest guy I've ever met. We caught a lot of bluegill, not sure what else is in the lake. Small lake to kayak around. Plenty of shelters to beat the heat. A hidden gem in Pinebluff

Absolute gem right in town. Cardinal Park has everything you need to spend the day or night having…read morefun with your family. We went to swim and ended up taking with the owner who was great. Will definitely go back!

Jones Lake State Park is located in Elizabethtown, NC. It is full of beauty, science and history…read more European migrants settled in the area and the lakes. Jones Lake was named for a local who donated a tract of land on which Elizabethtown was founded. Salters Lake was named after Sallie Salter. She was an American Revolutionary War heroine who famously spied on the Tories encamped along the Cape Fear River. Jones Lake State Park has a Visitor Center with restrooms and interactive educational displays. These cover the history of the area, the scientific phenomenon and the ecology. Both Jones Lake and Salters Lake are Carolina Bays with highly acidic ecosystems. They are shallow, elliptically shaped depressions found throughout the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Aerial views show that thousands of these ovals are perfectly parallel, precisely aligned along a northwest-to-southeast axis. There are many theories about these geological wonders. From wind and waves to even meteorite impacts. The industry in the area was farming and harvesting cotton and longleaf pines for the turpentine, pitch and timber. The area became overcut, and farmers could no longer survive. This led to an experiment of making these areas into parks. During the Jim Crow Era, it became a refuge for African Americans and was the state's first state park for African Americans. As most areas were segregated, the park is where the community came together culturally for baptisms, family reunions and community celebrations. In 1964, the park became desegregated. I had to double-check the date, as 1964 is not that long ago. The lake's water is tea-colored, and decomposing organic matter produces tannic acids. This lowers the pH to 4.3, so it is closer to vinegar than to lake water. It is nutrient-poor as well, so not much can survive here. The waterlogged wetland and rims create a unique evergreen shrub bog called a pocosin. The bog has evergreen bay trees such as the Sweet Bay, Loblolly Bay, and Red Bay. Bladen County is home to carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap, pitcher plants and sundews, which thrive here. Not many fish can survive here except for acid-tolerant fish species, like the chain pickerel, yellow perch, flyer sunfish, and yellow bullhead catfish. For day visitors, Jones Lake State Park features over 50 picnic tables, charcoal grills, a sandy volleyball court, and horseshoe pits. During the warmer summer months, the park also opens a designated, roped-off swimming area with a white-sand beach.

Jones Lake State Park is a peaceful well‑kept place to camp and explore. The campground is small…read morebut usually easy to get a spot in, and the whole area is taken care of really well including the bathhouse, which is clean and maintained better than a lot of larger parks. The trail around the lake is an easy but rewarding walk. There's no elevation to worry about, just about five miles of flat, quiet trail with plenty of scenery. It's the kind of hike where you can relax and enjoy the water, the trees, and the quiet without feeling rushed. Just make sure you bring bug spray this is a large lake with standing water which is a perfect breeding ground for bugs. The park also has a fishing dock and a small boat launch that's perfect for kayaks and similar setups. One of the best things about Jones Lake is how quiet it is. You're away from crowds, away from noise, and it actually feels like you get space to breathe. Interesting fact (at least to me) Jones Lake State Park was established in 1939, and it holds an important place in North Carolina history. It was the first state park developed specifically for Black Americans during segregation its cultural significance is still a big part of its identity today. The nearby town of Elizabethtown has a quaint little downtown with a few local restaurants. There's not a ton going on, but it's a pleasant place to stop before or after your time at the park.

This park clearly has the main investment of the city of Raeford. It is in fantastic condition and…read morefeatures a smooth concrete path that loops around the whole thing. There is a really nice basketball court that's also in great shape. And a large playground that was in full use by quite a few toddlers and parents today. The park has some decent shade. There is street parking all around, just look out for the driveways and such. [Review 15017 overall, 519 of 2021, number 2878 in North Carolina.]

A big spacious park in downtown Southern Pines. There are swings, tall slides, play structures,…read morerestrooms and plenty of shade. Separate areas for small, medium and big kids including lighted tennis courts and a basketball court. The perfect, well kept neighborhood park!

Excellent park for many activities. I enjoyed a walk around the pond and sitting on the benches…read moreoverlooking the pond.

This park is adjacent to City Lake and has a great view even on a rainy day like today. There is a…read moredecent sized parking lot and that was helpful for me to hang out and figure out how to get back to the highway. The park has some covered picnic areas, a nice playground with a soft mulch base, and a walking path next to the lake It's a nice spot and I'd like to spend more time here soon. [Review 13957 overall, 1279 of 2020, number 2599 in North Carolina.]

Beautiful place an love fish there I mostly fish alone so it's nice to be where people can see you…read moreif something go wrong

This large park is at the end of East 7th Avenue. There is a large parking lot and that's certainly…read morehelpful for me and my RV. The park has a playground, picnic shelter and a large open baseball field. It is in good condition and there is a fence at the parking lot to keep people from driving into the park. Which is probably a good idea as the road stops for the park on each end and then picks back up again. Not much shade, so this would be tough on a hot and sunny day. [Review 15016 overall, 518 of 2021, number 2877 in North Carolina.]

Nice place to take the Grand kiddos for a walk...run down the trails. Throw rocks (pinecones) in…read morethe pond, look for tad poles. Have a pic nic. Great for a few hours of killing boredom with littles.

Not the most exciting trail, but worth doing if you have some down time and want to see some…read moreRockefeller History. The Carver Creek State Park is broken into two different sections: Long Valley Farm Access (with the historic Rockefeller Retreat House) and the Sandhill Access (just flat trails for hikers/horses). They are about 20 minutes apart. Between the two, I'd go to the Long Valley Farm Access since the history component whereas the other is just trails. Overall, there is really not much else here and you can complete it within an hour an a half or so. The loop is 2 miles long, but if you go straight back then it's about 1.5 miles total.

Nice little park with a walking/running trail surround the Reservoir. About a 2 mile loop which was…read moreperfect for my evening run. Not too busy during the weekdays

Excellent park with a superb 2 mile loop around the lake. Benches, a dock, bathrooms, picnic…read moretables. Very scenic, peaceful & clean. I hope it stays this way :)

I really wish the city would advertise this park I had to do some digging to finally find a park…read morehere in Rockingham. This park was very big and nice. He area was beautiful with the river nearby and a old dam right behind it. Will definitely bring the kiddo back when it's cooler possibly in the evening it was way too hot today to really enjoy it.

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.