For all the Triad parks we visited in 2020 (earning the Yelpie for Explorer of the Year,) this one…read moreis our favorite yet by far! It took a bit of travel for us, slightly over an hour each way, but it was worth it! The grounds here, the trail, the surrounding river, and the playground all make for the perfect day for kids and their parents, too! The nature trail is packed well and overall very stroller-friendly, with shortcuts in case you need to cut your walk short. There are also lots of great vantage points to sit for a moment and take in the scenery, if your kids will afford you that luxury. As for the playground, this is one to remember. It is so unique, constructed out of wood and fitting right in with the natural vibe of the surrounding woods. And the added bonus is listening to the flowing current nearby while your young ones enjoy going down the fish slide, swinging, and building a fort with bamboo. Also a lot of good spots for bird watching here! Be sure not to miss the part of the trail by the gravel parking lot. That takes you to the waterfall area, and there's a spot with 4 hammocks rigged up for kicking back and enjoying! Make a plan to come visit this place on a warm, sunny day. If you like nature, you and your family will love this! And if you are a history buff, interested in environmental conservatism, or a homeschool parent, this area is a good experience and opportunity to learn about the Saxapahaw/Sissipahaw natives' life on the Haw River and the development of the hydro mill as a source of energy. This area checks boxes for spiritual wellness, educational opportunity, and physical exercise as well. Aside of that, just fun and enjoyable!

Easy trail around the island with nice river views. Good for beginners but lots of rocks and tree…read moreroots on the path.

Went to go fishing with my son. There is a playground nearby, plenty of parking, and nice walking…read moretrails. Would come back to try to disk golf course.

A historic nature wonderland. This Alamance County park has hiking trails, disc golf, playground,…read morehistoric buildings, picnic shelters, visitor center, sand volleyball, outdoor basketball, historical homes and farm buildings, farm animals, and wildlife. Great history!

You can park at the lower or upper access, I recommend parking at the upper if you aren't paddling…read more It is about a two mile walk that doesn't loop. The trail is very sandy in some parts so be prepared for that, I also recommend wearing bug spray. We had a blast walking out onto the rocks. You can also play in the river, bring a picnic or go fishing.

I went to a Father's Day barbecue at Northeast Park and overall it was a nice experience. There was…read moreplenty of parking, which made it easy, and I liked that the park had a pond, a really big pool, and a nice area for the kids to play. The covered shelter was definitely a plus because it kept us out of the sun, especially with it being hot outside. It seemed like a really good spot for family gatherings, cookouts, and just spending time together. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed being there and don't really have any complaints -- overall it was a pretty decent park.

We visit this spot several times during the year. Huge pool with a couple of diving boards with…read moredeep enough waters to dive from. Always a clean place and friendly staff which we know some personally. Life guards are used to make sure everyone is safe. They have snacks and refreshments to sell and a large children area of the pool for the little ones to enjoy. At times it may get crowded and have fewer lounge chairs than people, so come at different times. The entire property is pretty to walk around and enjoy.

Saw this hiking trail on instagram and couldn't wait to explore it! Plenty of parking, and a nasty…read morebathroom without a sink. Use the bathroom before you come. The hike is hard! There are so many rocks and a steep incline. It took us about 1.5 hours to complete the hike and we had small children with us. Once you make it to the lookout it's stunning! You have to climb a ton of stairs but it's worth it.

Trails are amazing. The original trails at the Pine Hill Trailhead were awesome enough, but the…read morenew trails just down the road at the Oak Hill Trailhead are just has great. The map doesn't how it, but the trails do connect to give the option of hiking from one tailhead to the other. There are 4 campsites at the Pine Hill Trailhead area. I car-camped for one night recently and really enjoyed it. Before you camp here, you should know ahead of time that there are no showers or plumbing restrooms or vending machines. The restroom is non-plumbing as has no running water. However, there is a very nice water-pump on the other side of the parking lot from where the restroom is. This is a very rough-in-it campground, at least for now. There are nice tent-pads, fire pits, and picnic tables at all spots except #4. At this spot there is only parking and the tent would go directly on the ground. Sites 1, 2, and 4 have room for smaller camping vehicles. Site 3 has a pretty small parking area with room for 1, or maybe 2 vehicles if they are both small. A camper-van would fit but nothing bigger. Each campsite has a little distance of woods between them so there is some privacy. A walk from the campsites to the restroom at the parking area is necessary, but you can drive to it during the night easy enough. I just had to take the front windshield privacy visor out. There are no lights anywhere except what you bring for yourself, so it is pitch-dark at night. If you are OK with this type of camping and are looking for great hiking and quiet and relaxation, you should love it. If you need plumbing and lights or other amenities, this site is not for you. So don't forget to bring water or a container for the pump, a cooler for drinks and snacks, and a flashlight!

We took a field trip here and this is a nice park! A lot of parking, an enclosed sand box, a mini…read morerock climbing structure, swings, trails and more! There were staff here and they were nice!

Great little park in Elon. Good sized area for kids to play. Beautiful garden elements (such as a…read morespace full of azalea bushes and other beautiful plants). Walking trails through wooded areas. Easy, plentiful parking. Free Little Library near the kid play area. Clean restrooms. Shade. Solid.

When you set out to kayak the historic Haw River it's hard to suppress speculative thoughts about…read moreyour adventure and wonder how it will all turn out. This was on our minds as my wife and I drove past an "entering Alamance County" road sign on our way to the Haw River Canoe & Kayak Company at Saxapahaw, North Carolina. A leisurely drive along Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road parallels the Haw and suggests a hint of our forthcoming adventure. A tough bridge built for hard times stands over massive, craggy, dark gray rocks, chiseled into the river bottom by the waters bonding the town of Saxapahaw to the earth and the history of this area. On arrival, we could see paddlers struggling to sandwich their watercraft among the rocks around the Saxapahaw bridge. But we never foresaw when we left here, our memories would bear an indelible imprint of this place as "Aramanche" -- a place where Native Americans saw water flow through blue clay. One reason to rent a Kayak here is to unplug yourself from the present and reconnect with the past. In fact, the owner and his staff will tell you his fondest wish is for customers is to "unplug and reconnect." When you cast your eyes out over the Haw as you paddle a kayak, you'll see tranquil and rapid running waters, deep cuts into riverbanks and tree lines, and evidence of the dominating torrential waters that have run for millennia along this 110-mile river down to the Cape Fear basin near the Atlantic coast. The geological history of this place is violent. But there's more. There's tons of history and culture to absorb. Generations of native Americans and later, European colonists, are bound up in the history of this river. Native Americans ran The Great Trading Path that ran from Chester County, PA, along the Shenandoah Mountains roughly to where I-81 and route 220 meet near Danville, Virginia, today. From there, settlers found their way into North Carolina along the Haw. Why Go? If you're interested in American history, you'll visit to have fun and to bask vicariously in the river that was once part of the Underground Railroad. Along this river, Quakers would shepherd slaves from house-to-house, across the Ohio River, and into the free territories in the west. If you're a history buffwith an archaeological bent, you'll visit the Haw to find that blue-gray clay the Siouan Indians used as body paint. It was found in Saxapahaw, and the Indians called this clay "Aramanche", meaning, a place where "water flows through blue clay" in Eastern Siouan. If you're interested in seismology, you'll be curious about the natural fault line running from this area down to Charleston, S.C., that triggered the Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886. You can see this line on the surface under a little bridge in the nearby village of Glencoe, N.C., along Highway 62. If you enjoy riding the rapids as a Kayaker, you'll need to sign up for a class-III white-water adventure. The fault line that runs from Glencoe down toward the Cape Fear river basin features sharp drop-offs triggering the rapid waters adrenaline junkies crave. A guided tour along the Haw lasts about 3-hours. Go, unplug, reconnect with American history and, enjoy!

This place is great! Recently came here with some friends for the day and had a blast…read more So it's a little confusing on their website, but you can indeed just rent kayaks, paddle boards or canoes. It made it seem like the only way to go on the river was through signing up for a class, but that's not the case. For $30 you can rent a boat for half the day and they'll drive you upstream a bit to the dock. From there you can go upstream on your own and enjoy some paddling + swimming. We had a great time! There ARE a bunch of fun day trips (and a moonlight night trip!), plus some other routes so I'm definitely going to sign up for one of those. But if you just want to rent for a few hours, that's cool too! Pro tip: Come before 11 a.m. It's a little cooler, and they won't be as crowded.

Of the FEW companies I had narrowed down to call, I called REI first and was directed to their Corp…read moreoffice and my interest died right there - second call was to Trek in GSO, was lucky that I got Chris (location owner) on the phone and in a matter of minutes got a few bikes, amongst other items from helmets, to lights to computers for bikes ....I think he built us 5 new bikes the same day. White glove service compounded by the owner's interest in providing an A+ service and making sure the experience is continued on ....be it a a few $ component to thousands of dollars worth of purchase. I only hope the rest of the staff are as driven as Chris the owner .....that is a tough ask of any business. I am impressed, and hope they continue and provide loyalty and the same white glove service at all levels of employ at Trek.

I am in the market for a kayak. Having zero knowledge and experience, I visited this location on…read morerecommendation of a more experienced, avid kayaker. While their selection was limited due to it being the off-season and changeover for next season's new models, staff was friendly, knowledgeable and informative. I learned a lot about the different styles of kayaks, paddles and personal flotation devices (PFDs). I walked away with considerable knowledge to weigh my options before making a commitment. They also offer classes and instruction on water safety and skills enhancement. Highly recommend visiting!