Easy to get to playground when you're on the road traveling - close to hotels & fast food…read more We stopped here before getting back on the road after a 1 night stay near by. It served its purpose - getting energy out before the next leg of the drive. There's a small area for younger toddlers and bigger playgrounds for older kids. My 2 year loved the taller playgrounds. Many features to run around and play on. There is some wear and tear to the playground. It's muddy when wet out but overall a good park. There is also a free little library - there wasn't much in it while we were there. Easy parking

They have 2 dog parks. Limited seating and NO WATER for dogs, bring your own. Always clean, people…read morefriendly.

Me and my wife recently visited this park while we were in the area. It takes you directly to the…read morewater park but there's a park right next to it that is open to the public. Sure there's a baseball field on one part of it which is the actual Park but we were at the part where there was trails that leads you to Jonesboro and other off trails as well. Overall, I thought this place was a nice casual visit to check out. Great bridges to walk on

Spouse and I decided to enjoy a barge ride on the lake in anticipation of seeing some wildlife. It…read morewas a calm and informative ride on the lake. Children 12 and under are required to wear life jacket for safety. The guide who was a summer intern was friendly, knowledgeable and very capable of handling the barge. On the drive in we saw one deer grazing. Parking is $7 per car and the barge ride was $6 a person. We decided not to visit the nature center during this outing but plan to return again in the fall. The lake has several types of fish, turtles, beaver, water snakes and occasional bear looking for food. We would return and bring a picnic lunch and make use of designated picnic areas. There is a trail along the lake that takes about 2 hours to walk. The park is renovating a building and outside space for river otters to arrive in the future. This is a very family friendly place.

I dont know how they say this place is over 40 miles and 3750 acres. I came here for the barge ride…read morewhich holds a good amount of people. It is very slow so you can look at your surroundings. If you have kids this is a great place to take them because they have a bunch of animals and a playground. No entry fee just a parking fee, I believe it was $7. I guess one of the hiking trails goes to Laurel Run Park, but thats a pretty long run.

Gateway Park sits at the bend where US‑23 slips past Gate City, and the setting gives the markers…read morethere a little extra weight. The handful of historical signs ring the green space in a way that encourages you to slow down and read each one. The small gazebo anchors the park and offers a bit of shade, especially useful on a long drive through the mountains. The open lawn works well for a short stretch break for drivers and passengers who need a moment off the road. Dogs can enjoy it too as long as they stay leashed. It's a simple stop, but the combination of history, scenery, and breathing room makes it an easy place to pause before continuing along the highway. It is a passive park - there are no playgrounds, restrooms or such. [Review 86 of 2026 - 1532 in Virginia - 25276 overall]

Beautiful hiking trails! Most of them are on the moderate or harder level but amazing views and…read moreeasy to get to!

Definitely my favorite hiking spot! I have a tight work schedule, so hiking isn't something I have…read morethe opportunity to do often. However, this is my favorite spot to go to. They have mild spots for beginners, and extremely difficult long hikes for those who love a challenge! There are many paths to take and different destinations, so you never get bored of hiking the same trail over and over. There's always a surprise. The view is absolutely stunning, and somehow, it's always so clean! I absolutely adore this trail, it's the only trail I go to now. Here's a photo of me after the hike! This has become my usual spot to just hang out and enjoy nature. It's very peaceful closer to the top, so I enjoy meditating here, as well. Definitely recommend this wonderful place!! Will never go anywhere else!

This is a tier waterfall . None of the sections are really that big 25' or so for the tallest one …read more Not much hiking maybe 1/2 mile total . There are some stairs down to the pool part and the bottom tier but they are tall and a pain . The overlook is the best part but be extremely careful because you will not walk away if you fall . People get hurt here often and some never make it home

Every-time I come to this park there is always multiple dogs off leash. I find it strange due to…read moreTennessee having a leash law and the park itself is suppose to have a leash rule. I see multiple "park rangers" driving around, but non of the seem to want and or try to enforce said law or rule. I personally always have my dogs on a leash because it's the LAW. I can not enjoy a nice walk at this beautiful state park cause I am always on edge thinking some off leash dog is going to come running up on me and my dogs.

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park was founded in 1976. It has 70 acres, a visitors center, a…read moremuseum, an amphitheater, 2 miles of hiking trails, an abortorium, a butterfly garden, and several historic structures. It has a reconstruction of Fort Watuaga, and one of the oldest still-standing homes in the state. Being in the upper, tippy top, northeastern corner of Tennessee, this one was longer for us to get to than many other parks. When I commented as to such, the park ranger quipped, "Yeah, we're so far in the top corner that people forget about us!" That being said, this park has the best museum we've probably seen. It's gorgeous and incredibly well done. We came at exactly the right time of year because it was beautiful and all of the flowers were fully in bloom.

Me and my wife recently visited this park. We parked by one entrance but didn't know that there was…read moreanother one with a parking lot for plenty of cars. This park has a beautiful story for it and why it's called Jacob's Nature Park . We embarked on a one mile Loop around the path. There was an obstructed tree that was actually black in our path that we had to climb over so be aware of that prior to this review if you were attempting to walk the path. There's also another path too if you follow the white markings on a tree. There is a nice creek along the path to for most of the trail. Overall, I thought it was a good part to check out. No public restrooms by the way! Plenty of park benches to sit on