Bond Park Lake Trail is such a lovely spot for an easy outdoor escape in Cary. The trail is about…read morehalf paved and half unpaved, which made it feel a little more natural while still being very accessible. It was especially great for dogs -- there were so many happy pups out enjoying the trail, and the atmosphere felt super friendly and relaxed. A huge plus was how shaded most of the trail is, which made the walk comfortable even on a warmer day. The lake views along the way were beautiful and peaceful, and there are plenty of large grassy areas throughout the park that are perfect for picnics, tossing a ball around, or simply lounging outside with a book. The park itself is also very well maintained with lots of parking, clean restrooms, and helpful amenities. I also liked seeing the workout stations scattered along the trail for anyone wanting to turn their walk into a little fitness moment.

We had our baby shower at Buehler Shelter and had a great experience! You can pay ahead of time and…read morereserve the shelter. It was a large area with lots of picnics tables. It is somewhat secluded. Plenty of parking and bathrooms are nearby(but not too close)

Incredible park with something for everyone. Love love loved this park. It is in a nice shady area,…read morethere's playhouses, multiple picnic/patio table areas for parties and people to eat meals and/or snacks. It also has a big range of play equipment for different age ranges. Did I mention that I love this park? There are cool statues inspired from fantasy themes like a lion with a squirrel body or a tortoise with a hare's head as well as a giant sea monster on a hill, complete with a nest of eggs. There's also an area with water spray thingies. That's my best attempt at describing them. They had been off for the winter but they're back on since a couple weeks ago! The kids love it especially with the weather heating up!

"Can we go to the dinosaur park, mommy?" I don't think he fully gets the difference right now…read more There is a large dragon sculpture that kids can climb on but there's no dinosaurs. The park is in heavy usage and it seems like due to this, likely, there are often things broken here. A bench, a fence, etc. There are multiple different play areas and a water play area. It's a delightful park to visit. We have played here for two hours straight. There is a covered picnic area that you can rent and people often do so for kids birthdays. The variety of play experience make this play so popular - sandbox with play excavators, climbing areas, platform rocks, a tree house area, dragon area, water play, slides and Roller slides, instruments, young kids play areas. This park is recommended (by me).

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.

This park is absolutely beautiful! We visited for the first time when they had a free concert in…read morethe park. Delta Rae was playing and they were amazing as usual! We loved the setup of the playground right near the amphitheater. It allowed us to hang out there for a bit with our son before the show started. It was also nice that we could buy drinks in the park and walk around with them.

Rated number 1 by USA Today and for good reason. It is a beautiful space!!! Very modern and up to…read moredate. This is by far one of the best parks I have ever been to. There is a playground, splash pad, a cafe, air conditioned bathroom, botanical gardens, amphitheater, and a little cafe. There was also a communication board near the playground for our nonverbal friends! Signs mentioned a dog park but I didn't get to that. There was a free art cart for kids. There were signs for a parking garage, but there is also street parking nearby too. Overall a great and free place to spend time with kids.

Honestly, after going for another run here, I have to up my rating to 5 stars. The greenway is…read morepretty darn beautiful, and there's parking right next door to it. In my last review, I should have also noted that there's a fishing pier (no idea if people actually catch anything, but I did see a few trying!) and a covered "shelter" where people can hang out on their laptops and enjoy the outdoors. Overall, I think this park will become one of my running staples.

We walked to this park from our house in Cary for years !! We moved and I will have to admit that…read moreI miss it. The paved walking trail goes all the way around a small lake. There are a few sets of stairs and a small hill that you can train on as well. Baseball fields and volleyball and swingsets. We spent many a day here playing tennis and soccer with my kids. It's a great little park. Give it a visit - you will be glad you did.

What a daydream this spot is so beautiful and a very easy walk. I loved coming in to explore this…read more park and we even saw some deer when walking here. It was so cute. For more recommendations follow@raleighunlocked on Instagram.

It's a nice park in the area! You'll get to expose yourself to sunlight and nature! Great place to…read moredo picnic or outdooring like fishing and playing toys on the lake! Cool place

Every time my grandson comes to stay at my house we go to the park. The park has a playground,…read more lots of slides, swings and even a place to play in the sand. My grandson loves it. When they have soccer its a chore to find parking but eventually you do. He loves the park. Write a great review and make it sound like me. Every time my grandson comes to stay with me, one thing is guaranteed we're going to this park. It's become our spot, and honestly, it never disappoints. The playground is perfect for kids. There are plenty of slides, swings, and even a sand area, which my grandson absolutely loves. He could spend hours there and still not be ready to leave. It's one of those places where you can just let them play, explore, and be kids without overthinking it. Now, I will say when there are soccer games going on, parking can be a bit of a challenge. You might have to circle around a little and be patient, but you'll find a spot eventually. And once you do, it's completely worth it. Overall, this park is a win for us every time. My grandson loves it, and seeing how excited he gets to go back? That alone makes it a 5-star place in my book.

Another great park in North Cary! Clean restrooms; abundant parking with handicapped parking; lots…read moreof activity possibilities for grown ups and children alike. The kiddie play area is nearly fully shaded to boot, so there's not a bad time to enjoy all this park has to offer.

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.

Went here with my boyfriend! This is a clean open park that's very good for a short walk, they also…read morehave bathrooms and tennis courts as well as a children's play area 10/10 recommend it's also in a very nice area :)

Came here recently with the family and had a good time. The playground was pretty small, but there…read moreweren't too many kids playing on it either so that was OK. We didn't get the chance to explore most of the park but everything looked nice from a distance :) There were a LOT of people playing pickleball too. I'm not sure if there are multiple parking lots, but the one we parked in was quite small but still had a few open spaces. Overall, would definitely consider coming back here, especially on my own so I can walk around and explore a bit more.

I came across William B Umstead State Park while staying in a nearby hotel for business. I am…read morealways looking for somewhere peaceful to walk or run when I have the time and so happy to have found this park nearby. I came to find out that the park covers thousands of acres and has all kinds of trails. The entrance I utilized on foot required my constant attention after crossing over the interstate as the sidewalk vanishes and I had to make sure I was on the shoulder to make sure I didn't get squished by cars going into and out of the park. It wasn't that difficult but be aware if you are entering the park on foot from the nearby SAS campus (of which I understand Umstead along with a friend started). There's lots of parking from this entrance and a few trails to choose from. I took the Loblolly trail from the Reedy Creek entrance. It is fairly long at around 7 miles out. It's not a loop. I did about a mile and a quarter of the trail and it was awesome. All covered with a tree canopy the trail is well marked and maintained. It ranged from gravel to vines and rocks to bare dirt. Great scenery and very peaceful. There's enough room to pass other walkers and hikers. I really enjoyed this park. I want to explore it more if I'm in the area again as I had time constraints. I highly recommend this well maintained park and will visit again. Nothing quite like a good walk in nature. Enjoy!

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.