My go to Place to reflect and unwind…read more Peaceful at times is an understatement. Weekends are a lil. Crowed if the weather is nice. Bugging obviously after the rains and warmer weather.

This is a nice place to explore! I enjoyed walking and relaxing at a picnic table there. Be aware,…read morethough, that the only bathroom option is a portapotty, which is better than nothing, I guess.

Had a very good experience with family at the park. Had a 6, 5, and 1 year old and we played from…read morethe splash pad to the park. It was great and definitely kept the kiddos entertained. I wish there was a bit more sun shades provided as the playground was a bit hot. But the bathrooms were pretty clean for a park so i was happy about that.

Since I've been here it's been renovated and it looks awesome! This is such a great playground with…read moreso much to do and see. There is something for everyone. Playground for the smaller kids maybe ranging from 1-10, swings, a green space for older kiddos that may want to bring their balls or fly kites, a trail if you want to get in some steps and even a splash pad for when it's warmer out. There are toilets and even a shelter if you wanted to host a party. My kids really enjoyed their time there and they are 7 and 3.

We love this park. It's took away off to itself and there's so much open space for events, family,…read moreactivities, and more. Bring your bike out here because there's a gorgeous access trail to the neuse River Trail. There is great parking, super clean bathrooms. This is just an overall great experience. There's picnic tables for groups and more. Definitely a spot to check out.

The area here is quite pretty; the aptly named space next to a river makes a rough horseshoe shape…read moreand showcases a variety of topography and plant life. Paths connect to the Neuse River trail across the river, though you'll have to walk for a bit and cross an impressive-looking bridge to get there. The amount of parking and the hours it was open seem to be somewhat inadequate for the demand on this space, but it's large enough that people can spread out well. There is a restroom area near the parking lot, albeit without running water in the sinks. I could imagine the trails and parking being developed a bit better, but the space is certainly well worth having as a park and well worth visiting.

I have been wanting to go to Fantasy Lake since last year and I finally got to go…read more We reserved a 2 hour slot and got there 25mins before our start time to get changed and settled. The obstacle course is really fun for both kids and adults. The slides were my favorite part. They also have scuba diving on the end side of the lake. The only negative I will call out is that they don't have a water fountain or a filling station. I get that they allow outside food and drinks but for an outdoor water park, having a water fountain/filling station is a bare minimum.

A couple of staff members were unnecessarily rude to me, my girlfriend, and our child during our…read morevisit. At one point, a blonde female staff member approached my girlfriend in a very confrontational manner while we were simply saying goodbye to family members on the dock without wearing life jackets. We understood the life-jacket policy, but the way the situation was handled was disrespectful and could have been communicated much more professionally. Later, as we were leaving, we initially walked up one side of the ramp. We had already washed the sand off our feet and changed, so we did not want to walk back through the sand, get dirty again, and have to wait in line to rinse off a second time. We walked back down so we could leave through the other side. A young blonde male staff member stopped us simply to tell us that we could not be on the dock without life jackets, and his tone was extremely rude. I explained that we were aware of the rules and were only trying to leave through the other side because we had already cleaned the sand off and did not want to go back through the rinse line. Instead of simply acknowledging that and allowing us to leave, he continued to speak to me and my family in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner. What made the situation even more frustrating was that two older women were standing at the end of the same dock without life jackets, and neither staff member addressed them. That inconsistency made us feel singled out and raised concerns about whether the rules were being enforced equally for all guests. This business needs to take a serious look at its staffing and customer-service expectations. Some employees appeared to lack the communication skills necessary to interact appropriately with customers. We also encountered staff members who were not welcoming upon arrival, appeared disengaged in their responsibilities, and created the impression that certain guests or demographics were being treated differently than others. I am not normally someone who leaves negative reviews for businesses, but this was one of the most disappointing staff experiences I have encountered. Families should be able to visit, follow the rules, and still be treated with basic courtesy and respect. Based on our experience, I would not recommend bringing my family back.

The Lowdown: This park is one of the most beautiful and…read morepeaceful places around, with shady trails, clear creeks, and plenty of wildlife. It's perfect for relaxing, exploring, or taking photos. This park is absolutely beautiful. The trails are shaded and comfortable to walk on, even in the peak heat of summer. Along the way, you'll find peaceful creeks with small waterfalls that are perfect for cooling your feet on a warm day. The scenery is so stunning that I chose this location for my son's senior pictures a couple of years ago. Every visit brings something new to see--deer, owls, and a variety of birds. It's a relaxing, scenic place that's perfect for anyone who enjoys being outdoors.

Stopped by here on a recent day off and decided to go off the paved track down to the creek where…read morethere's soft trails. We got to see waterfalls and get up close and personal with nature. It was a beautiful day and park. Definitely recommend coming here for a walk on the next nice day!

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!

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.

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

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 is a quaint little park right on the Neuse River Trail. It has a a boat launch, clean…read morebathrooms, bicycle repair station, paved trail, and a kiddie play area. The area is really clean, and a nice place to take your little ones to play, or as an access point to reach the trail. It is right behind the River Bend School, almost in the back of the parking lot. I would recommend this as a nice place to drop the small ones to play for a little bit. #460

Small park but plenty of things to climb, slide and play on to release energy and have some fun…read more Small slide for toddlers, big swing, climbing ropes, climbing rocks, and see-saw. They also have some places in the shade for parents and caregivers to sit.

For years, Lake Benson has been my go to for outdoor activities. Walking the paved loop is about a…read moremile (small dirt trail goes past lake and detours off path)and you can cross Benson Road into White Deer park to easily get 3 miles. They also have a boat house with limited hours but the prices for renting kayaks, canoes and Jon Boats is minimal... $10 for two hours kayaking if you are a garner resident

We live in a neighboring town close but and bumped into this gem. Nice area to walk and plenty of…read moreroom for children