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!

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.

Such a fun place to take kids or if you wanna be a big kid yourself! I like how they have teenagers…read more(maybe some college kids) working there. They're all so friendly and welcoming! Gives them an opportunity to earn some money during the season. We got the aquabana as they call it, for half a day (4 hours) and it was worth it ! We didn't swim but the kids did and they had a blast! You're able to bring a cooler with food and drinks ( juice, tea, soda, water. No alcohol) they have a food truck on site, as well as a "dirty soda" stand. Flavored sodas with cream (very popular in Utah but slowly making their way to the east coast) as well as a first aid bungalow. Everyone gets a life vest but kids under 18 MUST wear theirs at all times! I like that rule! Keeps the kids safe. Of course the teens working there are certified lifeguards just in case! They also offer scuba classes/lessons at the quarry. Would I come back? YES! Maybe one day I would try the courses and swim or paddle board but the go around it was nice relaxing and letting the kids live carefree in the lake!

Me and my husband had such a fun time here! It was just enjoyable sitting in our beach chairs…read morelistening to the music after running and swimming around out there. The inflatables are so much fun and you get tired out after about an hour. They had a food truck that had some great options as well we enjoyed. I would say this is a great spot for all ages.

This is the place to go in Garner for your July 4th fireworks! You can rent a paddle boat during…read morethe day, walk the perimeter, have a picnic or play flag football on the gigantic fields. This park had bathroom facilities, dog parks and a playground. Police frequently patrol and keep the park safe for families. Don't miss the US War memorials! Such history at your finger tips.

Beautiful, spacious park in Garner! I visited Lake Benson Park mainly because I heard about the dog…read morepark. I stopped by on a Thursday night and the park was packed. Lots of kids on the playgrounds, people walking on the paths, and dogs in the dog park. I enjoy seeing parks full of people enjoying the outdoors. Pros: -Large dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs -Dog park is free for anyone to use (no pass required) -Clean park -Ample parking in lots or along the road -Beautiful, respectful veterans' memorial -Labelled areas and trails -Ample areas to sit -Multiple playgrounds and shelters Cons: -Dog park is open to anyone so the dogs may not be fixed, vaccinated, or well-trained -Most of the driving paths are not paved. This kicks up a lot of dust -Lots of bird poop on signs and benches. It's an outdoor park so this is understandable. Bring a towel if you plan to use the benches

Nice to have some nature in the city. It has miles of trails and fishing ponds. The ponds are stock…read moreregularly and you do have to buy a fishing permit to fish at the ponds. They also let you camp here but you have to reserve at the park office. The trails can go pretty far along the Tar river. Spring and fall is the best time to come

This is such a beautiful area. With such a wide range of facilities, there's something for everyone…read morehere. It's a shame there's no easy way to get to the park from Greenville other than by car. Building a new bridge across the Tar River to carry bikes and pedestrians could connect the park to the Greenway on the other side, creating a truly grand recreation area.

Wonderful experience will definitely go back Great trails very educational we sat at the water…read morefor quite awhile serene and peaceful

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.

We visit this park frequently it's such a nice park and well maintained. There are 2 separate…read moreplayground areas and today we just visited 1 side. We played on the side next to the tennis courts and it did have some updates. 1 of the slides was repaired, which was nice to see. They have a sizable restroom and lots of picnic tables under a pavilion. There are baseball fields and a paved walking path all the way around the park. They just installed a new fitness center for adults in the farthest field from the SRAC. My personal favorite is the playground with the pirate ship and rubber mats under all the equipment. My only complaint for today was that they had fresh mulch delivered, it looked like it was sitting, waiting to be spread and it was on top of one of the slides so the equipment couldn't be used. Other than that, it's a great park!

Its a very nice park that you can take your kid to play and walk. also has a green way that is 6…read moremiles. 3 miles all the way to downtown Smithfield and 3 miles on the way back to the park. I highly don't recommend coming when they are cutting the grass. The people that cut the grass don't care if they hit ur car. I had a guy blowing the grass off the cement with the leaf blower and he would blow the air on my car mind you I was inside my car and he could see me. I had several tiny rock hit my car as he was blowing air into my car. I would think its common since if your using the weed eater or an leaf blower you have the use it so when u cut the grass nothing would fly onto the cars or the people but they don't care about that so there is grass, rocks and stick thrown up in the air which can hit a car or a person!

A delightful rest stop to take a break on a roadtrip down I-95 from Richmond to Wilmington, NC…read more This is well-worth the short detour on US-64 east if you have dogs or young kids in tow. Battle Park is easy to find in the heart of Rocky Mount near the waterfall and mills. Parking can be found in a small lot on the northbound side of the river. Restrooms are very clean with lot of pine trees and a nice mix of paved trails and dirt paths with a view of the river. Great for a quick 20-30 minute stop to stretch your legs and enjoy fresh air with your dog before resuming a long drive on I-95 to your final destination. I think some stores and restaurants are available in the mill area if you need to take a longer break. I'm so glad we decided to visit Rocky Mount, NC even if it was just for a 30 minute pit stop to stretch the legs with our dog!

This was an awesome park to visit today for Disc Golf. It is a mostly wooded 18-hole course with…read moresome open baskets. Pars are mostly 3 with some 4 and one 5. Baskets range from 300-800(!!) feet. The terrain is awesome, and being there today made me forget I was in eastern NC (I guess hence the name Rocky Mount...) The course design isn't intuitive but using the UDisc app helps. Along with disc golf are also mountain biking trails and walking trails. I also saw people fishing and signs about using a boat ramp. It felt nice and shaded today even in 80-something degree weather. Cant wait to come back again in the fall!

There's a lot of workout equipment to choose from for a full workout. I enjoy having disinfectant…read morespray to clean equipment before and after each use. I also enjoy a daily pass to access to indoor track and gym. There are plenty of restrooms available, and there is a playroom for children. I love the fact that multiple activities are scheduled, and there is an indoor swimming pool. I enjoy the indoor track. My biggest peeve is people slamming weights while lifting weights. It would also be great to have more cameras onsite. I recommend this recreation center.

We grandsons enjoys the playgrounds and spaces to run. You can pay to use the indoor pool and…read moresplash pad, which are very nice. Will definitely go again.

Always a great time. Walking around and looking at the whirligigs is one of my kids favorite…read morepastimes times. I encourage you to stay and check out a local eatery as well.

Plenty of free parking, located downtown and there are a few places to grab a bit to eat and enjoy…read morethe park. The park is small but a wonderful sight to see in person. If you're in town this is a must see.