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.

Clear pretty cool running trails, well Maintained. The…read morebathrooms are always cleaned and stocked.

We live only 2 miles from Goose Creek State Park and we absolutely love the park.. perfect place…read morefor us to ride our bicycles & take our little Chihuahua ( always on her leash)& walking the numerous trails..& the picnic areas are well maintained as are restrooms.. though we haven't utilized the campground area they definitely appear awesome, the cabins are very nice( our grandchildren have stayed there several times.,,

**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.

The actual address is 1037 Salter Path Rd…read more A small 15 car parking lot with changing area and outdoor showers. Rather secluded and completely empty when I went there at around 6pm mid August Friday evening. I believe there are 2 areas for a small picnic and grill as well. Make your way up the wooden walkway and in a minute you get to the ocean, beach wide open for you after taking the steps down. There are shells everywhere washed up on shore and tiny little crabs burying into the sand. Only been there once but the waves were rather large that day, not good for kids. Could be different on other days, but were far stronger than at the Pier on emerald Isle.

This beach access is a wonderful spot. There are several picnic tables available, so, even if you…read moreare not going to the beach, it is a nice place to stop by. There is a grove of Live Oak here that are gorgeous. Again - even if you are not going to the beach it is worth it to stop and see the trees. There is plenty of parking here and the services are kept up. The place is kept neat and clean. There are bathrooms here as well. I enjoy the outdoor showers as we can get showered off and clean off our equipment after coming in from the ocean before getting back into the car. The walk to the ocean is a dream across a well built and properly maintained wooden walkway. It cuts directly through myrtle and yaupon stands so you can see inside that incredibly interesting biome. It is a unique and wonderful experience for birdwatchers and artists. The walkway continues to rise above the dunes and the view of how a barrier looks in pristine state is received. Wonderful! The walkway continues down to the beach. There are stairs that lead down to the shore. Though it is difficult getting a wheelchair down there is a small deck at the top where, with umbrellas or other means, the view and breezes could be enjoyed. The beach itself is a great place to visit. The waters are clear. There is no lifeguard here so all caution should be taken. Riptides and occasional sharks occur here. At high tide the two 'shelves' that are close in will be obscured, so be careful. During turtle breeding season there may be nests near this location. I love to observe them even if I am not there during hatching. Shorebirds sometimes abound and porpoises, dolphins and even whales may be seen!

Capt Jake is the man! Took 2 adults and 2 young teens, highly recommend Capt Jake for this area and…read morered drum. Very friendly and educational and with the group. Got the kids pumped about catching all types of fish and worked many locations. He works hard to make sure your group has a great time! Will be back for sure-

Great morning, Great Captain. Gave the Red Fish and Black drum a spanking! Definitely going to be…read moreour go to captain. Thanks Catain Jake for the memories!

Great prices on shirts during their weekend sale. Got a few that were only $5 each! We actually…read morecame here for a guided fishing tour. Daniel aka Coach, is the person who took us out to fish on his charter for $500+. It was a great way to spend 4 hours and we caught enough blue fish for dinner. We also caught Spanish Mackerel, Black Seabass, and a Grouper. He also recommended a restaurant that cooked our fresh fish.

The selection left absolutely nothing to be desired, the customer service on the other hand…read morecertainly did. As a lifetime fisherman and lover of all things salty my husband and I decided to take our children to the shop to grab some tackle and a couple of odds and ends on our annual fishing to the beautiful Crystal Coast down east. They provided no help, and little conversation. Which was quite disappointing provided the southern style kindness we encountered at each stop in the region. That said- the shop was not busy and almost no other customers were there. We spent $200 on a couple of t-shirts and 3 pieces of tackle. So I'll let you do the math.

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.

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!