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    Roanoke Rapids Day Use Area

    5.0 (1 review)

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    De Hart Botanical Gardens

    De Hart Botanical Gardens

    4.5(16 reviews)
    49.2 mi

    I've lived in Raleigh for over 20 years and only recently discovered these delightful gardens just…read morea short drive away. There were two separate areas, the Lake Trail and the Waterfall Trail. The Waterfall Trail was more of a true trail, winding through the woods. The Lake Trail primarily looped around the lake. It would have been nice to have distance markers on the sign. There is a port a potty at the trailhead.

    I brought my furry son here for his last hike. Unfortunately his cancer had started to wreak havoc…read moreon his body. Jax loves exploring in the woods, going on walks, and playing in water. This was the perfect spot. I'm sure we probably weren't supposed to let him in the pond but it was his last day with us so we let him splash around the edge. The trails were still viable even given all the leaves had fallen. It was a really peaceful walk and we made great memories. There weren't people there at the time we went which I was thankful given our circumstances. Unfortunately it hadn't rained enough lately to produce the waterfall in the waterfall trail but we did get to see a little one on a different trail. If you walk the waterfall trail and get to the top, there's an intersection where you'll see lots of people carved their names in a tree. Stop by and look up, if you see JAX, that's in honor of my boy. Enjoy your fur babies, your children, and your own life, stop and smell the flowers. Take a walk on a sunny day and feel the sunshine in your face. We're only here for a short while.

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    De Hart Botanical Gardens
    De Hart Botanical Gardens
    De Hart Botanical Gardens

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    Kerr Lake State Recreation - Beautiful day at Kerr Lake.

    Kerr Lake State Recreation

    4.6(13 reviews)
    40.4 mi

    Can't wait to return next year. This place was awesome. Came here for a nice relaxing weekend at…read morethe end of the summer. We had a tent site right on the water. Every day we would eat drink and swim all day and had a blast. There was no place to buy wood at this park. So make sure that you have some wood for fires. We bought some from a 7-11 prior to coming. But we also found a tree that fell over that someone at the park cut up and let us take to burn. The bathrooms were not the best. Only one of the toilets door would close In-N-Out bathroom. But if you walked a little there was another bathroom. The showers didn't allow for much privacy. But we were swimming every day and got a quick shower in when no one else was there. Some of the sites have these cement areas near the water that are not comfortable to lay in. But I saw a few younger purple on them. I didn't even like sitting in them. Also near the water they get slippery. Make sure you are bringing some type of water shoes. There were a lot of people that had campers and boats near us. Lots of kids and many dogs. A great family destination.

    The big lakes have never really been my favorite state parks in NC. Not that that makes them…read moreinherently boring. In fact this one has quite a lot going on. With several access points, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing and boat slips there's no end to summer time enjoyment out here. And lemme tell you, this lake is huge. I wasn't quite aware of Kerr Lake until this stop through. As it seems most of the lake is in Virginia, it's not really heard of as much in NC, I feel like. But it's significant to the history of the area and of course for the energy infrastructure of this part of the country. I took a scenic drive along the expanse of the lake and drove into VA where I crossed the dam "just to say I did". The sheer size of the lake makes for incredible views. While it isn't a park that I see myself going back to anytime soon, I know it would be enjoyable in particular for families going on summer trips to camp and enjoy the water.

    Photos
    Kerr Lake State Recreation - Site next to us had this then the ranger removed it.

    Site next to us had this then the ranger removed it.

    Kerr Lake State Recreation - Showers. Curtains don't close all the way

    Showers. Curtains don't close all the way

    Kerr Lake State Recreation

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    Sylvan Heights Bird Park - Cherry blossoms in February!

    Sylvan Heights Bird Park

    4.9(42 reviews)
    27.0 mi

    This was worth the two-hour drive from the Triangle to spend a couple of hours in a…read morebeautifully-landscaped retreat with a huge variety of birds. It's a bargain at only $14 for adult entry. I recommend getting one of the seed sticks for the Landing Zone, where a flock of colorful parakeets will eagerly perch on the stick and eat out of your hand. If you're skittish, note that they will also maybe land on your shoulder or head, or pull at your shoelaces until they realize they aren't food. But for those who are game, it's a ton of fun and the birds come in a beautiful variety of colors. All of the various sections have plenty of birds, and they're easy to see, not hidden away in the back of some enclosure. They all look healthy and comfortable and seem to have plenty of room. There are also tons of plants and lovely flowering bushes throughout the park. Some particular favorites of mine were the Wings of the Tropics and the boardwalk (sponsored by Duke Energy) where you can get an idea just how much an impact beavers have on creating essential wetlands for bird habitats. All of the various zones are close together, and there are plenty of benches and places to rest throughout, so it's not physically taxing and guests with mobility issues could still enjoy it. It's definitely off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip if you have an interest in our feathered friends.

    Excellent Visit; Worth the Drive!!…read more We spent our 28th anniversary here in November and it was lovely. As we proceeded through the exhibits, I really enjoyed the scenery of the well-kept aviaries throughout this park. Employees are all educated and helpful. The parakeets in the Landing were very active, but if they don't come to you right away, don't be afraid to scoop one up to encourage it to interact and/or eat the millet stick, per my husband & not me because I am afraid of birds swooping like that haha (Buy the seed sticks at ticket counter before going into park) Highlights: The kookaburra laughed for me and the cassowary ran back and forth like a Dino raptor and they were definitely my favorite exhibits of the day! We both have mobility issues, so I wanted to provide the following info: This park is laid out in a loop with many inclines, rocky pathways, & root growth under pavement making for treacherous rolling. Using a wheelchair with small front wheels proved challenging to say the least. (large wheels are recommended) That being said, I CAN walk a bit and had to to maneuver the wheelchair through some of the trails. Also, there are many benches and picnic areas to rest along the trails, but we still had carried a fold up stool for my husband but he only had to use it once. There is a golf cart rental= 5 people for $100 I think. So that will be what we do next time likely, because this park is worth every penny!

    Photos
    Sylvan Heights Bird Park - Flamingo feeding frenzy

    Flamingo feeding frenzy

    Sylvan Heights Bird Park
    Sylvan Heights Bird Park - Plum-headed parakeet

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    Plum-headed parakeet

    Roanoke Rapids Day Use Area - hiking - Updated May 2026

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