Nice to have some nature in the city. It has miles of trails and fishing ponds. The ponds are stock…read moreregularly and you do have to buy a fishing permit to fish at the ponds. They also let you camp here but you have to reserve at the park office. The trails can go pretty far along the Tar river. Spring and fall is the best time to come

This is such a beautiful area. With such a wide range of facilities, there's something for everyone…read morehere. It's a shame there's no easy way to get to the park from Greenville other than by car. Building a new bridge across the Tar River to carry bikes and pedestrians could connect the park to the Greenway on the other side, creating a truly grand recreation area.

The Ayden District Dog Park is a relatively new addition to the town of Ayden. I believe many…read morepeople still do not know about its existence. Given the relative dearth of dog parks in the area, this is such a welcomed feature for this side of town, saving many folks the drive to the Greenville Off Leash Dog Area. What I have heard others say about Ayden's Dog Park - and what I have witnessed myself - is the quality of the turf. The ground is hard and the grass is thick and covered, making it a nice and relatively clean place for dogs to run around and play, even after there's been some rain. My dog and I really enjoyed it here when we came to visit from Greenville, though the only downside (or not? depending...) is that I have never seen another dog there (yet). I do not think it has grown in popularity such that you can expect another playmate at all times. Sometimes, that is good, though, leaving more room for you to play with your fur baby!

This dog park is pretty awesome. It's tucked away near the main entrance. Watch out because not…read moreeverybody picks up after their dog, but it wasn't too bad and didn't stop our playing. There are two dog runs, both seem about the same size. Had a great time today playing with my very active dog! It makes for a nice change from the yard and he got to do a ton of sniffing. They have bags available for picking up dog doo and trash cans to dispose of it, and when it isn't winter it looks like they have water available (as well as restrooms in a short walking distance, also closed in winter). Note that it might not be perfect for those who want to throw frizbees or shoot balls out as far as they can; the runs aren't very big. A large dog can still run, just not for very long unless it wants to do a bunch of cornering. If you have an adopted greyhound, it would be too small for a safe full-speed run (though still way better than nothing).

**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.

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.

Disappointing not closes at 5 - at least stay open a little later on Saturday. But a cute place -…read moregreat for kids or just let your pup run around!

My friend and I took her 2 boys ages 10 and 14 to this really cute park. It's right on the river…read more On one side of the park there's even a small campground. The nature center and the small science building on premises are both free of charge to the public. There's even an outdoor park for small kids with slides and on nice day take a picnic and hang out there after seeing the sights. In nature center there's lots of live animals to see. The have a program with alligator adventure in myrtle beach where they get to bring baby alligators in for the alligator pool they have inside. Lots of different snakes on display. There's a downstairs cavelike exhibit in that building with all kinds of turtles too. Then travel over to tall science building. That ones more geared to small children but has display of heart and lungs to climb thru. The upstairs has all kinds of things too. There's even a small gift store there. For $1 you can ride a small train around too which peaked the kids interest. They had fun riding but geared more for smaller kids. For a nice day out and great price ($0) it's an awesome way spend time with kids without killing your wallet. These days that's a rare find.

Greenville has a gem of a place called Town Commons. There is plenty of space and activities for…read morecitizens. On a pleasant spring Saturday I saw some enjoying the fishing pier, a couple of artists in the back of their SUV painting the river area, several spreading a blanket on the grass enjoying a picnic, and one female on the pavilion stage doing yoga. They have a wonderful children's play area with varied and unique things to keep the kids busy. Quite impressed with the Town Commons!

Best park in Greenville that I am aware of, but certainly not the best park I've been to anywhere…read moreelse. I took my dog for a walk here a few times, and it was a nice change of pace from the eyesores that possess the rest of this town. You can walk along the river, take some kids to play in the playground, or have your dog walk on a leash in the grass. Of note, I've heard from multiple locals that one should be careful when walking around here as it's not always the safest. I've caught that vibe at times, but I've never run into any trouble personally. Everyone I've talked to while on walks has been friendly, and overall, I've enjoyed my time there. I probably won't go out of my way to come here again, but I'm not against it either. I encourage the Town of Greenville to host more events here and make it more of an attraction!

Flanders Beach has been shut down since Hurricane Florence, so don't get hopeful and think you can…read moreget to the water from this location. It is all blocked off. There is really nothing else to do at this site. I'm

Love this place and was saddened by all the damage Hurricane Florence did in late 2018. The good…read morenews is that the east side trails are open! I just hiked several of them and it appears there has been much work done to clear the trails of debris and add a top layer above the major trails for mountain bikes. I don't think most people know it is back open because the official government websites still list Flanner's Beach as closed. There are several wooden fences that were put up to prevent access to this area and the western trails. In fact, the entire parking lot is gated closed with "No Entry" signs posted everywhere. Although the camping area and circular hard-surface paths are open, access to the river-side trails is also blocked. I had to park at the small lot just south of where the county property ends. There are a few other places to park prior to there that will allow access to trails further away from the river. I'm hoping the western trails will open, but for now am grateful for whoever did the work to open the eastern side - thank you!

Nice beautiful park. I will attend many more times. I like the area the playground the trees and…read morethe grass.

This place on purpose blocks all of the time for the indoor basketball courts. They should tear…read morethis facility down if it is not open to the public. They have a calendar that shows open times but when you show up the place is closed or courts unavailable. This place is a disgrace to the community if you cannot allow the community to use it outside of pickelball. I hope more people bring their friends, children, relatives to this place and try and utilize the basketball courts. The director should be ashamed of himself for creating a schedule that diminishes the opportunity for the public to use the basketball courts. Everytime you show up the courts are unavailable. Replace the executive staff with people that are in tune with the community. I wish I could give them less than a zero star.

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.

Awesome space on the Greenway! So many recreation amenities: little League stadium, Field of…read moreDreams, concessions, playgrounds, bocce ball courts, pickleball, horseshoes, and more! Great job keeping this park accessible, clean, well maintained and inviting.

This is a really great handicap friendly park. There is a tennis court, a baseball field, a…read morehandicap friendly baseball field with a rubber type flooring rather than loose dirt, an older wood park, and a newer handicap friendly park with a covered picnic area to boot. There were so many places for the kids to run and play, and was very impressed with all the efforts they made to make this park play friendly for every child to truly have fun at! The kids had a beautiful time, and felt it was a place that children of all ages could enjoy themselves fully!