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.

This small park with a playground is located on a corner of the UNC Lenoir Health Care hospital…read morecampus and has its own dedicated parking lot. The park has a fenced playground with modern equipment that appears in great condition. I like that there is a small fence to limit access and keep the little ones from possibly wandering off. There is also a picnic shelter with picnic tables though no grill. The main attraction here is the walking track that was in good use today with at least a dozen folks doing laps. It alternates days going clockwise and counter-clockwise so that the walking is perhaps a little fresher and less boring. Parts of the track are in the shade and there are some fixed fitness pieces along the way. [Review 15475 overall, 979 of 2021, number 3018 in North Carolina.]

I had the BEST experience at Its A Zoo Life. Honestly I will treasure it. Bobbie Jo and her staff…read moreare such kind and fun animal lovers. Its different from a regular zoo because of the very interactive experience as well as the personal connections between them and the animals. I will 100 percent be back before the end of the month. This was a very therapeutic day. I am so grateful to have found them and only 40 minutes away. Thank you Bobbi Jo and the Its A Zoo Life staff, I am so happy these beautiful animals have you

Don't judge a book by its cover! When you pull up to the parking lot you may think it's unassuming…read more But wow. We had a blast this morning! Cassie our tour guide was a sweet heart. Very knowledgeable, kind, and went out of her want to introduce each person to all of the animals. Kangaroos, various reptiles, zebras, chickens you name it! Each animal has ample space, food, water and things native to their natural climate. So many animals to adore and learn about. This is not like any zoo you've been to before! Can't wait to visit again!

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.

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.

They need to clean and replace the dirty, moldy mats. It could be a fun place but it looks…read moredisgusting inside.

Would not recommend. We had our 3 kids and a grandson here and two of our kids was trying to play…read morewith our grandson (who is 2 years old in the red bracelet area. The workers told them they was not allowed in the area with him. No other children was in that area. My dad sat in one of the chairs and the leg on it was collapsing and the worker was told and she didn't do anything about it. Left it for someone to get hurt. Will not be back. Very unhappy customer.

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.

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!

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.

Such a great playground for kids of all ages! I love the foam padding instead of sand or wood…read morechips! It's spaced out while still being close enough to watch everyone. When we visited, the splash pad wasn't opened yet, but my son (14 months old) adored this area of the playground! I couldn't recommend this enough!!

This park is wonderful. We were there on a very hot day and the only suggestion would be for a…read morelighter colored turf. The whole place is covered in a rubber like substance which is great for falls but it was red and black in some places and blue and black. Outside of the water area the flooring was way to hot for our toddlers bare feet. We had to be very careful when moving from the water area to the dry areas. But wow is this a cool park. Lots to do with a wide age group.