Great place to get away from the crowds while camping. Very nice WIDE spot with FHU. Great bath…read morehouse, fishing, boat docks, boat ramp, general store with fishing needs, live bait, groceries. Very friendly hosts. Mostly full timers (retirees) but they're in the back. A very clean well maintained place. They have 4 cabins also.

Very cool boat launch, marina, RV park and general convenience store right off the river/Pamlico…read more On my first boat outing in the area we put in at a public launch just up the road. We rode the boat around and down to Washington then stopped by here on our return to the launch to drive home. It was getting to the end of the day with the air cooling down and the sun setting. This spot combined with the Blount's Creek that lets out through here made for a wonderfully peaceful and quiet setting. The docks were clean. There's a gas pump with extending hose line so you can fill your boat at the dock. Inside there's an expansive store with shirts, food, snacks, boat and camping supplies. Even tube, kayak and SUP rentals. But I would be remiss not to mention the funny and friendly staff serving up ice cream. It's not 31 flavors but I think most anyone can find something they like out of the 6 or so they have. Looking for a chill out to wrap up a day on the water? This is the place.

**RV SITE REVIEW** A…read morecouple weeks back me and my dad camped for one night at Goose Creek State Park, and we stayed at RV site #20. This RV site was fantastic. All of the sites were flat (which is what you want), and offered plenty of privacy (The sites were very spacious from one another). All RV sites consist of 30 and 50 amp hookups, as well as a connection to fresh water, and a sewage pipe. The bath house was new and clean. It was modern on the inside, offered hot water (even in 20 degrees), and was well taken care of. The camp host does a great job at taking care of this site. I would highly recommend that you stay/visit Goose Creek when you can. It is a great hidden spot that offers a wide array of trails and activities.

This was a beautiful little park with a small beach and lots of beautiful walking trails. Also pet…read morefriendly.

I stop here at River Landing at Moratoc Park often. I love this place on the Roanoke River. It is…read morea stretch place for me on a long drive from Chesapeake VA to New Bern NC. There is a great boardwalk along the river and a cool boat ramp and there is a rest room - maintained well. There is also a camping cabin over over the wetlands that looks to need to be reserved, I love to walk this park along the river and it looks different on each visit - but always looks cool.

Stopped here during the 2014 Striper run. Lots of parking, well-laid-out boat ramp. Nice looking…read morewalkway/pier. Facility looked very well maintained. Had receptacle for used fishing line and trash. If you're interested in this stretch of the Roanoke River, this is an excellent boat ramp.

Hidden gem in Craven County, the Cow Pen Landing NC Wildlife boat ramp in Vanceboro is a quiet…read moreplace to reflect while watching the Neuse River stream past you. Nice floating dock where you can sit and have lunch while you listen to the area's birds sing the favorite songs. This boat ramp is a small one without much activity. There are no picnic tables, so we sat on the fishing benches on the dock to enjoy our lunch. Also, this is a very rustic launch with no bathrooms, so be prepared to hold it. If you're in the area and want to get away for a quick break, Cow Pen is a nice little oasis.

Pettigrew is one of many hidden gems in the NC State Park system. When I visited I found it quite…read moreempty as it was nearing the end of fall. A bit brisk out, and just after a late fall rain it was the perfect time for a visit. There were yellow leaves fallen along the wet boardwalk and nobody around. You can take the hike along the boardwalk all the way to the end where you will find that the park connects to the State Historic Site called Somerset Place. The boardwalk also takes you to the swimming hole. I imagine this place gets quite popular in the summer with families and kids coming out for a swim. The incredibly secluded Lake Phelps is by all accounts in my opinion another Bay Lake of the Carolinas. However, supposedly it is not officially listed as such. Nonetheless, it has all or most of the features of one, including being no deeper than about 10 feet at the deepest point - quite shallow for its size. A good half of the lake is quite difficult to access. Private residences are few and gamelands crossed by only gravel roads aplenty out this way. If you're working on your state parks passport, you will certainly eventually find yourself out here. But even if you aren't, you owe it to yourself to pay it a visit. Especially with kids in the summer.

It's kind of of out of way as close to The coast as you are…read moreit would seem more Logical to make the extra 30 minute drive the the beach or islands Otherwise it was worth the trip to check out once and allow me dog to run around considering how few were there.

I finally got the chance to paddle with Knee Deep Adventures yesterday and it was absolutely…read moreincredible. We took a relaxing paddle down the Tar River and it was obvious how experienced Kelsey was. She spent time explaining what we were seeing, where we were, and different trips that they offer to see additional wildlife and locations. I will definitely be paddling with them again soon!

Great company!!!! Whether you're going out on your own or doing a guided tour, I HIGHLY recommend…read moreKnee Deep Adventures. We have been paddling with them for a couple of years now and love it! They make your experience super smooth by meeting you at the launch point, helping you get on your way, and meeting you at your end point. They will tell you all you need to know before you set off. If you do a guided tour, they are extremely knowledgeable about the area and wildlife that you may see along the way. 10 out of 10!

This park is a hidden gem. The hiking & biking trails are well-maintained and the facilities,…read more(pavilion, campgrounds, restrooms) are clean and new. If you're in eastern NC and think Raleigh has a corner on the state park 'market' give this pretty place a try. Come up for a day trip. Hike the trails, go fishing in the creek(s) -- with a license of course then jet to Littleton for a good selection of cuisine. Or, camp at the pristine campground, where a sweet little cabin, complete with Adirondack chairs will finish off your relaxing, peaceful day. Kudos to the Medoc Mountain State Park crew.

I have always drove by the park entrance so I decided to visit one day with my dog for a little…read morehike. There are a lot of trails here that makes for an excellent workout via hiking, running, or walking. It has a visitor center with bathrooms. I particularly like that there are picnic tables and fun jungle gym area for kids. It is worth the visit.

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.

Lawson Creek Park is another city maintained gem in New Bern! Both visitors and residents need to…read moremake this a must visit stop! From the Navy jet that greets you at the entry parking lot to the boat launches to the picnic pavilions to the boardwalk and trails, you'll find plenty of reasons to visit this park again and again! We enjoyed a picnic on Jack's Island. It's a little oasis in the park with picnic tables surrounded by water views! The trails are easy to walk and very accessible. Plus, did I mention the water views! So much better than walking around your boring neighborhood, right? Make sure you stop and enjoy this treat!

My Maltese and I discovered this park located within the river inlets and marsh area a little…read moresoutheast of New Bern, North Carolina's peninsula beside the Neuse River. You can see glimpses of the park along the I-70 freeway on the south side of the Neuse River Bridge. There are boat launch areas and lots of beautiful wooden walkways with small fishing piers, benches, picnic areas, trails, a playground and the feel and scents of a marine environment. We discovered this fascinating, historical 'boat hauling machine' at one of the parking areas. The park is a great location to explore, exercise, fish, and relax.