This was a simplistic nature preserve (misty fallen trees), but well maintained ADA trails. A nice,…read moreclean pavilion and bathroom. The time of year that we went (May 2018) was on the tail end of winter season, there wasn't much to look at, but chipmunks were happy and plentiful.

The hiking trails at the Gravely Nature Preserve seem to be lesser known. The preserve itself is…read moredown a quiet little road in Ridgeway and we did not see any other hikers when we were there. Unlike other trails in the area, there is a lot more fallen dead along this trail so it looks rougher. The trail was easy to follow and there are several things to see along the way. Start on the end with the tobacco barn because the other end (the intended exit) is a fairly steep gradient. This is a rough trail and my mother could do it pretty easily with a cane but that hill at the end did concern me. There are several separate trails here. One, called the Rhododendron Trail, says that it goes through a tunnel of rhododendron. They bloom somewhere around May in our area so that is on my list to go back to see when they are in bloom. There is an old graveyard about midway along the main trail and one of the spur trails will take you to the old homesite. I want to go back sometime to find Eggleston Falls on the Smith River. I'm not sure that you can see it from here but I know that it is close. Eggleston Falls is, I think, a class II rapid on the Smith River.

I always love this place. It's my happy place…read more Peaceful, quiet, clean. Ppl come to for fishing, boating, walking, jogging, picnicking or just relax.

We've always loved to visit Lake Reidsville over the years for many different reasons. We've went…read moreto birthday parties, we've hosted one of our baby showers there, we visit the park there a few times a year, we go fishing there and attend the festival usually hosted during July. It's easy to locate everything, and people are usually friendly. The only thing we don't like is that the playground area is always soft and soggy feeling even when it's been a week or more since rain. Our kids hate feeling like they're sinking in the dirty mulch.

The Animal Park at the Conservators Center is a non-profit wildlife center in Burlington that's…read morededicated to abandoned and rescued exotic animals. It's a sanctuary with a focus on the animals' well-being where the residents get to live out their lives with genuine dignity in a safe, caring environment. If you are looking for a typical zoo experience where you can show up without planning ahead and gawk at caged animals for entertainment, this isn't the place for you -- and that is exactly why I love it. What makes it special to me is the meaningful mission and intimate guided walking tours of 10-15 participants led by dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers that last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You aren't just looking at animals, you're meeting survivors. Most of the residents -- from lions and tigers to wolves and lemurs -- come from difficult backgrounds or private owners who couldn't care for them. If you're lucky, you'll hear the lions vocalizing -- a deep, rhythmic sound the staff calls "oofing." It literally vibrates in your chest and is something I'll never forget. PRO TIP #1: Reservations are a must. Because it's a wildlife sanctuary, you have to take a guided walking tour led by volunteer guides that share the individual backstories of the animals and answer (or find someone on staff who can answer) any questions you may have, which makes the experience so much more impactful than a self-guided walk. Limited weekend-only hours and required reservations mean you have to plan ahead due to volunteers' availability. PRO TIP #2: The habitats are designed for the residents' comfort and enrichment, not for yours. Expect unpaved gravel and dirt paths, so wear mud-friendly shoes or rain boots if it's been raining.

All the animals looked content well fed and clean! Probably the healthiest specimens I have seen…read morewhen visiting these types of places. The place is clean and is a supervised walking tour. There are no hands on or petting and feeding here. No loose companion animals. This is a very serious place with more rigid rules and expectations than similar experiences. Affordable and enjoyable if you are interested in various species of cats! Trail is not paved so mobility could be hard for some.

Don't like it. Don't like the park at all the equipment was broke and needs To be replaced.read more

A small neighborhood park with a nice little playground area for the young tikes and a couple…read morepicnic shelters available for rent through Reidsville's Parks & Rec Dept. There is a section across the street from the playground part that is a bird sanctuary that has picnic tables and park benches scattered around the area.

We wanted to play mini golf and found this little gem! The guy in charge was super friendly, and my…read moreonly goal was to win. I did end up with only one hole in one but that was all I needed. It's a cute challenging course, but it needs to be updated. A little TLC would go a long way! We still plan to come back and try it out again.

This is a great place to visit in Danville. I'm glad that this place is back open despite the…read morehurricane and covid. The owner is a joy to be around and he has done a wonderful job getting the course back open. I highly recommend this place and I will be coming back all summer.

This 3.2 mile hike is wonderful. The trail is well shaded for summer travel. We enjoy it because…read moreyou can take you dog on a leash, your children can run and play and enjoy the nature of trees and the fresh air. You do not have to worry about them being ran over by mountain bikes, horses or runners. This trail is always less traveled than most. The trail is a non bike trail. I feel safe taking my son on the trail, there is always someone on the trail that is local. Which is fantastic. Its super safe!

Went with my family and we had the best time.They make sure you are safe and they take good care of…read moreyou.We had the time of our life.We most definitely will go back again.

We had the best float ever. The people who run the place are very cool. They gave very clear…read moreinstructions and prioritized our safety. Out tubes were so cool and fit together like puzzle pieces. Our cooler tube was a great size and we fit our cooler and a dry bag in it. The weather happened to be perfect at 1 pm and the water was high bc of all the rain. There are 3 little rapids at the beginning and it took us a minute to figure out how to navigate it once we dropped in, but once we were past, it was very peaceful and fun. We will be doing this one again! Best place yet!

The Bike Barn can be a little challenging to find if you are looking at a map instead of being…read moregiven directions because its on Doyle Street and one of the streets that looks like you could access it from actually goes over it. Once you've found it, though, it's straight forward. They have a small fleet of bicycles and helmets which they will loan to you for use on the Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail. The trail is currently 4.5 miles long but a new expansion should open in the Fall of 2018. (Be aware that the Bike Barn is seasonal and will close for the winter some time in October). From the bike barn, if you turn right, the trail is almost all downhill. It's very pretty and there is access to Uptown Martinsville from the Uptown Connection Trail that connects to the DIck and WIllie along this part. Obviously, you'll have to pedal coming back to the barn from that direction but its not too bad. Take water because you will exert yourself a little but couch potatos should fear not. If you turn left out of bike barn along the trail, you go up some, then down. Again, the gradient is not all that bad coming back. This part of the trail has more industrial buildings along it but it is still pretty. This is the leg of the trail that is being lengthened and it will eventually go all the way out to the Smith River Sports Complex.