This is one of my absolute favorite park to go to. It gives me such a calm feeling. I bring my pets…read morewith me when I visit. They just love the sounds of the birds and squirrels. My chihuahua can walks forever here he just loves it and they have bags please clean up after your pets and yourselves. There's wild animals in the area that could get sick off your trash. I can't say enough about the views. From the woods to the trails to the benches for lunch. There's is a small playground for the lil ones. If you want to get away from the bustle and hustle of the Fayetteville streets even if you only have a few minutes trust me come here and breath and take in the beauty.

This was a cute park to walk around. We got to Fayetteville early and were killing time before we…read morecould go to Cape Fear Botanical Garden so we went for a quick walk, it was pretty extensive.

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.

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!

A skillfully constructed wooden playground that stimulates the imagination…read more This park has everything a kid needs to have an awesome day! Lots of places to sit and relax too. Surrounded by gorgeous trees in a nice neighborhood... and it's near the hospital just in case your kids get a little too "spirited" with their jousting. Ha! Adjacent to a soccer field, swimming pool and public restrooms. A gorgeous, spacious park the kids love. Can't wait to spend more time here.

Went here with 4 adults and three children. The uniquely designed castles and cars and other…read moredesigns not only allowed for the kids' imaginations to run. All the adults and children role played as if we lived way back in the day and we were able to facilitate this given the awesome playground. There is seating outside and inside the area with benches everywhere. There are restrooms available. Oh and there was a Pokemon gym so that was awesome to have as I do like to play when I can. We didn't utilize these features but we could see a few fields and there was a team practicing baseball. There are also a few areas for hopscotching and four square. Well work the visit for all parties involved.

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.]

My kids love to play here! They have updated it fairly recently and there's a plethora of areas for…read morekids of all ages and abilities to play! They also added a splash pad which is fun in the summer.

Hope Mills Municipal Park was a huge part of my youth growing up very close by. I've lived in…read moreseveral different houses in or near Hope Mills and even volunteered at the library that sits beside this park. This little center of town makes up the perfect collection of services that make up an All-American place. There's the library I mentioned, fire station, police station, town hall and a park all wrapped up into one spot. The park itself is surrounded by a mostly paved one mile trail for walking, running or casual bike riding. Inside you can find plenty of parking, a few lit baseball fields, basketball court and even a couple football/soccer fields. There are picnic shelters, water fountains and bathroom. They even have concession stands for when the local games are played here. Last, and perhaps most important, there is a lightly attended recreation center here which I understand is free (or maybe just really cheap) to all residents of Hope Mills. In general, one would be remiss not to scope out this quiet and charming park.

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 area is a blackwater river that has a haunted, ethereal quality to it. However, you'll quickly…read morebe brought down to earth by the swarming insects in my experience. Both times I've been I've really wanted to take more pictures and walk more trails and cut my visit short. It's the kind of place where ordinary insect repellent may not be enough. The constructed facilities are minimal, the trails short, but the environment is a place that is worth trying to explore. Doing it by kayak might be the way.

P Pretty place to…read moreexplore fish great for a family or friends to hang out or play around