Nice community park with kayak rentals and trails. Occasionally crowded and offering so many…read morewholesome community options including the annual crafts festival and Friday music events.

Bond Park Lake Trail is such a lovely spot for an easy outdoor escape in Cary. The trail is about…read morehalf paved and half unpaved, which made it feel a little more natural while still being very accessible. It was especially great for dogs -- there were so many happy pups out enjoying the trail, and the atmosphere felt super friendly and relaxed. A huge plus was how shaded most of the trail is, which made the walk comfortable even on a warmer day. The lake views along the way were beautiful and peaceful, and there are plenty of large grassy areas throughout the park that are perfect for picnics, tossing a ball around, or simply lounging outside with a book. The park itself is also very well maintained with lots of parking, clean restrooms, and helpful amenities. I also liked seeing the workout stations scattered along the trail for anyone wanting to turn their walk into a little fitness moment.

Incredible park with something for everyone. Love love loved this park. It is in a nice shady area,…read morethere's playhouses, multiple picnic/patio table areas for parties and people to eat meals and/or snacks. It also has a big range of play equipment for different age ranges. Did I mention that I love this park? There are cool statues inspired from fantasy themes like a lion with a squirrel body or a tortoise with a hare's head as well as a giant sea monster on a hill, complete with a nest of eggs. There's also an area with water spray thingies. That's my best attempt at describing them. They had been off for the winter but they're back on since a couple weeks ago! The kids love it especially with the weather heating up!

"Can we go to the dinosaur park, mommy?" I don't think he fully gets the difference right now…read more There is a large dragon sculpture that kids can climb on but there's no dinosaurs. The park is in heavy usage and it seems like due to this, likely, there are often things broken here. A bench, a fence, etc. There are multiple different play areas and a water play area. It's a delightful park to visit. We have played here for two hours straight. There is a covered picnic area that you can rent and people often do so for kids birthdays. The variety of play experience make this play so popular - sandbox with play excavators, climbing areas, platform rocks, a tree house area, dragon area, water play, slides and Roller slides, instruments, young kids play areas. This park is recommended (by me).

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.

The Downtown Cary Park was an intentional visit this time. Although this time I had a knee injury,…read moreso I wasn't sure how much I would see. The park is very accessible so I came to appreciate that as I was able to take the ramps and paths to avoid the stairs. The maps and signage make the park easy to navigate. Parking was also very easy; you can park behind the Cary Library, in the Town Hall Deck, in the parking lot on Charlie Gaddy Lane or in street parking spots. I enjoy the public art while strolling through the park. The cardinals in the play area, the water fountain, the Skywalk, the Gathering House, and just taking in nature. The park offers many options for visitors. It is a nice addition for the community.

What an amazing local outdoor park! There's the coolest kids' playground, splash area with…read morefountains, beautiful botanical park with walking paths, cute and spacious dog park, a small soccer field and even a performance stage! Loved this place so much! It's not too big to be overwhelming but just big enough to let everyone enjoy their spaces! Very popular location!

Honestly, after going for another run here, I have to up my rating to 5 stars. The greenway is…read morepretty darn beautiful, and there's parking right next door to it. In my last review, I should have also noted that there's a fishing pier (no idea if people actually catch anything, but I did see a few trying!) and a covered "shelter" where people can hang out on their laptops and enjoy the outdoors. Overall, I think this park will become one of my running staples.

We walked to this park from our house in Cary for years !! We moved and I will have to admit that…read moreI miss it. The paved walking trail goes all the way around a small lake. There are a few sets of stairs and a small hill that you can train on as well. Baseball fields and volleyball and swingsets. We spent many a day here playing tennis and soccer with my kids. It's a great little park. Give it a visit - you will be glad you did.

It's a nice park in the area! You'll get to expose yourself to sunlight and nature! Great place to…read moredo picnic or outdooring like fishing and playing toys on the lake! Cool place

What a scenic experience! The wind and good weather blew me here and it was just the space I needed…read moreto clear my head.

Every time my grandson comes to stay at my house we go to the park. The park has a playground,…read more lots of slides, swings and even a place to play in the sand. My grandson loves it. When they have soccer its a chore to find parking but eventually you do. He loves the park. Write a great review and make it sound like me. Every time my grandson comes to stay with me, one thing is guaranteed we're going to this park. It's become our spot, and honestly, it never disappoints. The playground is perfect for kids. There are plenty of slides, swings, and even a sand area, which my grandson absolutely loves. He could spend hours there and still not be ready to leave. It's one of those places where you can just let them play, explore, and be kids without overthinking it. Now, I will say when there are soccer games going on, parking can be a bit of a challenge. You might have to circle around a little and be patient, but you'll find a spot eventually. And once you do, it's completely worth it. Overall, this park is a win for us every time. My grandson loves it, and seeing how excited he gets to go back? That alone makes it a 5-star place in my book.

Another great park in North Cary! Clean restrooms; abundant parking with handicapped parking; lots…read moreof activity possibilities for grown ups and children alike. The kiddie play area is nearly fully shaded to boot, so there's not a bad time to enjoy all this park has to offer.

I visited Laurel Hills today while attending the city's Wake County Genealogical Society Find Your…read moreFamily History Event & Holistic Wellness Expo. I've visited years ago while bringing my daughter to the playground. The playground is very modern here. A lovely place for young children. They also have several basketball courts and a nice gazebo picnic area. The Genealogy event was very informative. Staff were very engaged and helpful. Very well organized. It was intriguing to learn about my loved ones and where we come from.

The playground equipment is well-maintained and suited for all ages, with plenty of swings, slides,…read moreand climbing structures that kept my kids entertained for hours. The area was clean, with lots of shaded spots and benches for parents to relax while keeping an eye on the little ones. There were also picnic tables and ample green space, which made it easy to enjoy a snack or quick lunch. Plus, the park had restrooms and drinking fountains nearby , which were a much-needed convenience on our long drive. Overall, Laurel Hills park was a great place to refresh, relax, and let the kids have some fun. Highly recommend it for anyone traveling through the area with young children!

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.

Umstead is a great park with plenty of parking locations and different trail options. I hope to try…read moreout all of their walking trails. I've done at least 2 of their trails with the last being the Pott's Branch Trail. Pott's Branch is one of their easy trails at 1.3 miles. I recommend you wear tight/well fitting sneakers or boots as there are a lot of roots on the trails and you don't want to slip. Umstead does a great job of marking the trails and there were even paper maps available.

I attended the Fall Salamanders Program yesterday and saw two large marbeled salamanders! It was a…read morebeautiful day for an outdoor learning experience with our salamander expert Stephanie. We hiked into the woods and she knew exactly where to look for the stunning little creatures. I have hiked the Preserve and it is lovely and a good workout with steps and small hills. There is a great visitors center with info and bathrooms too. Hemlock Bluffs is a small park that makes a huge impression. You should definitely check it out and have fun!

This place is designated as a preserve. This means that there are ample paths and boardwalks, but…read moreyou aren't supposed to go off of them. The bluffs are a couple of stories high; even without greenery in full bloom. It's tough to see all the way down. The area serves as a safe harbor for numerous birds, and with the geography of the bluffs you get a lot of echoing birdsong. It's a free space, and there are educational and playground facilities at the entrance.