Goose Creek State Park

27.9 mi

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.

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Washington Waterfront Docks

(6 reviews)

10.0 mi

The Washington Waterford is a scenic and peaceful place to hangout, especially when the weather is…read moregreat. They have a long boardwalk that you can stroll while taking in the lake views and wildlife. While I was there, I saw many birds, fish and turtles. Along the boardwalk are benches and swings as well as a small, shaded park area for children equipped with a slide. There were a number of boats docked all around. Across the road from the boardwalk are restaurants and what appears to be a nice quiet neighborhood. Not too far away, you'll find the downtown area and all that itnhas to offer. This is a pretty cool place.

Beautiful place...peaceful friendly people. The sunsets are amazing shopping and dining are…read moreexcellent.

4th of July fireworks!

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City Lake Park

(1 review)

64.3 mi

I had a beautiful walk around City Lake Park today! The weather was perfect! I enjoyed taking…read morephotos of all the sculptures around the lake which was a nice touch. The lake had a 1/2 mile concrete path around it with plenty of benches. There's also a gazebo to enjoy shade at the center of the lake or go fishing. If you enjoy feeding the ducks, geese, and fish, there's food for 25 cents. When you're walking and work up an appetite, Chico's Mexican restaurant is a short walk away at the old power plant. Come enjoy the lake!

Duck, geese, and fish food

Pigs

Old power plant

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Sylvan Heights Bird Park

4.9

(43 reviews)

54.3 mi

I had the absolute best time and the park rangers and staff are all friendly! There are so many…read morebirds and exhibits! I loved the landing zone where you can feed flamingoes and parakeets and there are a couple sun conures in there too!

This was worth the two-hour drive from the Triangle to spend a couple of hours in a…read morebeautifully-landscaped retreat with a huge variety of birds. It's a bargain at only $14 for adult entry. I recommend getting one of the seed sticks for the Landing Zone, where a flock of colorful parakeets will eagerly perch on the stick and eat out of your hand. If you're skittish, note that they will also maybe land on your shoulder or head, or pull at your shoelaces until they realize they aren't food. But for those who are game, it's a ton of fun and the birds come in a beautiful variety of colors. All of the various sections have plenty of birds, and they're easy to see, not hidden away in the back of some enclosure. They all look healthy and comfortable and seem to have plenty of room. There are also tons of plants and lovely flowering bushes throughout the park. Some particular favorites of mine were the Wings of the Tropics and the boardwalk (sponsored by Duke Energy) where you can get an idea just how much an impact beavers have on creating essential wetlands for bird habitats. All of the various zones are close together, and there are plenty of benches and places to rest throughout, so it's not physically taxing and guests with mobility issues could still enjoy it. It's definitely off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip if you have an interest in our feathered friends.

Flamingo feeding frenzy

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Plum-headed parakeet

Pettigrew State Park

4.5

(4 reviews)

34.7 mi

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.

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Neuse River Recreation

3.5

(13 reviews)

34.9 mi

I totally forgot that I left a crappy review for Flanners Beach three years ago back when there was…read moreno beach access. Access was restored recently, and whereas this is not a beach where I'd spend a weekend (too small), it is a good place to go for a brief trip to enjoy water and nature! I'm so glad they have reopened this beach.

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!

Great spot for a morning walk on the beach

Walk on beach at sunrise

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livermon Recreation Park and Mini Zoo

3.5

(2 reviews)

36.0 mi

Great little zoo in a small town. They have a bison, llamas, goats, peacocks and miniature horses…read moreamong other animals. There are plenty of places for kids. The swamp causeway across the street is also interesting. It was a cute little treat to stop at when driving south.

This is a Recreation Park and Zoo. Got some animals. You can not pet or feed them. Only take photos…read moreand look at them. They have grills to cook on and plenty tables to have a nice gathering if you choose. It is nothing that you need to go out your way to see. But if you drop in cause your near by. You might enjoy it.

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Pitt County Arboretum

(1 review)

28.2 mi

I enjoyed my visit to the Pitt County Arboretum. When you arrive and park in the big lot, there is…read morea sign with a map of the different gardens and trails. The Arboretum is on the same property as the Agriculture Building which may or may not be open, depending on your visit. The Arboretum surrounds the building so I found it the easiest to walk around the building. There is a walking garden that goes near the water and has a few different trails with different ability levels and lengths. I was amazed at all the pollinators here. I've never seen so many before together. This Arboretum was a highlight of my trip and I hope to make it back to see it at different times of the year.

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De Hart Botanical Gardens

4.5

(16 reviews)

89.8 mi

I've lived in Raleigh for over 20 years and only recently discovered these delightful gardens just…read morea short drive away. There were two separate areas, the Lake Trail and the Waterfall Trail. The Waterfall Trail was more of a true trail, winding through the woods. The Lake Trail primarily looped around the lake. It would have been nice to have distance markers on the sign. There is a port a potty at the trailhead.

I brought my furry son here for his last hike. Unfortunately his cancer had started to wreak havoc…read moreon his body. Jax loves exploring in the woods, going on walks, and playing in water. This was the perfect spot. I'm sure we probably weren't supposed to let him in the pond but it was his last day with us so we let him splash around the edge. The trails were still viable even given all the leaves had fallen. It was a really peaceful walk and we made great memories. There weren't people there at the time we went which I was thankful given our circumstances. Unfortunately it hadn't rained enough lately to produce the waterfall in the waterfall trail but we did get to see a little one on a different trail. If you walk the waterfall trail and get to the top, there's an intersection where you'll see lots of people carved their names in a tree. Stop by and look up, if you see JAX, that's in honor of my boy. Enjoy your fur babies, your children, and your own life, stop and smell the flowers. Take a walk on a sunny day and feel the sunshine in your face. We're only here for a short while.

Register at the gazebo when you arrive for a map and a brief history of the park

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Dowry Creek Marina

4.7

(10 reviews)

20.7 mi

Kind of cold inside, a bit pricey, but generous portions, fresh ingredients, clean and new looking…read morewith a nice view. Service okay for such a slow day. Sunday specials included chicken wings or chicken sandwich. Chicken was dry. Lots of alcohol choices.

Ate at the restaurant. Place is nice. Food is good. As for the help? Well, let's just say you'll…read morebe getting an extra side of vegetables.

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Ocracoke Beach

59.3 mi

Camped here for three days. Excellent camp grounds right next to the dunes and the ocean. The sky…read morewas amazing - millions of stars and no light bleed. The beach was clean and there were lots of shells. Camp spots were aplenty with space. Not crowded. The camp ranger Scott was a pleasure to converse with. A wonderful and intelligent man. Has showers but not hot water. Bathrooms were clean. No electric or water hook ups. Primitive camping.

Ten stars for the fabulous Ocracoke Island. Peaceful, relaxing, beautiful. I enjoyed my time here…read morevery much. There's just something about the isolation of being two hours from the mainland, independent in your own RV and not having to deal with the fast pace of the real world. The beach was beyond belief, free of crowds and noise and litter. Just watch the waves crashing is like pushing a reset button. The sunrise this morning was perfection itself. My only complaint here? The dang golf carts! These people drive like they are immune to traffic laws and physics, pulling out in front of my three ton RV that would crush them flat. Yes, there is a 20 mile per hour speed limit on the island and I adhered to it, but wow. Look out for these people zipping in and around parking lots. [Review 785 of 2025 - 4217 in North Carolina - 24345 overall]

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Shackleford Wild Horse and Shelling Safari

3.9

54.5 mi

FAVORITE PLACE HERE. We spent hours finding the most amazing shells. The water is crystal clear and…read morethe wanes aren't bad at all. I would come back in a heart beat.

We had so much fun on Shackleford Island. We saw so many horses, found a lot of cool shells, and…read morethe beach was beautiful. It's about a 30 minute ferry ride from Beaufort. There is a restroom but NO amenities or food available for purchase. Bring everything you need with you. Once we arrived, there was a tour guide but it wasn't much of a tour. She walked us to the other side of the island to show us two horses on the beach and then walked all the way back to where we started to show us where to find the best shells. Her "tour" lasted about 30 minutes. We did most of the exploring on our own and that's when we found the majority of the horses. As long as you aren't looking for a super guided tour, this is a great day trip!

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Jeffrey M.

Elite 23

1375

601

1628

3 years ago

Goose Creek State Park is an absolute treasure for nature lovers! My wife and I recently explored its scenic trails, covering a delightful 4-mile hike. While we did have to deal with some persistent mosquitoes, I can't stress enough the importance of having repellent on hand. Nevertheless, this hike served as a beautiful reminder of the rejuvenating power of nature. Spending time outdoors in the company of towering trees, glistening waterways, and the soothing sounds of wildlife was just what we needed to recharge our spirits. The park's serene ambiance allowed us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life, offering a sense of tranquility that's often hard to find. So, to anyone considering a visit to Goose Creek State Park, I wholeheartedly encourage you to embrace the experience. A little bug spray is a small price to pay for the immense benefits of immersing yourself in the wonders of the natural world. Nature has a unique way of rejuvenating the soul, and this park provides the perfect setting for that revitalizing escape. Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect with nature and create lasting memories at Goose Creek State Park! read more

Goose Creek State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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North Carolina Estuarium

4.4

(12 reviews)

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