Lake Waccamaw State Park is located in Columbus County. The Visitor Center was a great place to…read morespend a rainy day! It is filled with history and ecology. It is on the smaller side but filled with interesting information and dedicates a lot of space to the history and artifacts of the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe. The Lake is the largest of the Carolina Bays. The bays are multiple oval-shaped lakes that were likely formed over the last ice age. The Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe viewed the lake's formation as the result of a meteor that left a deep crater. The Visitor Center explores that theory, as well as others. Lake Waccamaw was a logging town, and cypress trees were used for shingles. The weather-resistant shingles were chosen for George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. Fifty years after the Lake Waccamaw Dam was built, the state established a state park. It started at 273 acres, but over time, more land was acquired, and the park is now 2,300 acres. The park is considered a hyper-unique ecosystem because the limestone bluff keeps the water clear, and the alkaline conditions support fish and mollusk species found only here, and nowhere else in the world, such as the Waccamaw spike mussel and the Waccamaw darter fish. They have a fossilized skull of a Balaenula whale that swam through the coastal plain millions of years ago. The Lake Waccamaw State Park is home to black bears, bobcats, carnivorous plants, and American alligators. Though the rain kept me inside this time, the park also features several trails and a scenic boardwalk that I look forward to exploring on a sunny day.

Pulling into the visitor center for this park yielded a non-functioning water fountain. When I went…read moreinside, I didn't find much in the way of exhibitions, and when I asked about Venus Flytraps, the person there didn't know where to find them, which seems odd to me as I can't imagine I'm the first person to ask. The end of the road yielded a parking lot with no shade and a worn boardwalk to the lakefront. The lakefront is nice. The trails were a bit overgrown, and I quickly abandoned my search for rare carnivorous plants. For some users, the park will be quite nice, but I found plenty of room for improvement. Like all NC state parks, it is free.

This is a gem of a find off a busy street in Shallotte. This lovely park offers beautiful views,…read morebenches, tables and serene strolls. Bring your dogs and enjoy the walk. We enjoyed a nice leisurely walk and watched the birds. This is a perfect spot for lunch or to lay out a blanket and get some sun or take a nap.

Lovely little green space near downtown Shallotte. There is a small walking path that weaves along…read morethe riverside (partial path; partial wooden deck), with some grassy space and assorted benches along the way. It's not huge, and there aren't any amenities (eg a bathroom or playground), but if you're looking for a space to take in a bit of nature and wildlife, this is a gorgeous option. When we visited there were a few people fishing off of the deck, so if that's your thing, it may be worth looking into.

A great park to take a break from the heat on the sand. The…read moresplash-pad area is fairly new and super clean. It does close for cleaning every day from 4p to 4:30p. Nice gazebo area. There are not public restrooms, however a public shower is down the street about a block at the beach access point. Playground is very well themed. There are two food trucks stationed across the street as well and the site hosts additional special events through the summer season.

Lovely park! My kids and I really enjoyed it. It was safe & clean. Don't hesitate to visit!read more

This large park along US-17 would have been the spot for my picnic, but I ate my Wendy's on the way…read moreand ended up using their dumpster to tidy a bit of trash. Oops. The 35 acre park has four baseball/softball fields, two basketball courts, two tennis courts, a shuffleboard and bocce ball court, horseshoe pit, picnic shelters, TWO playgrounds and a dog park. Pretty much everything. I did get a little bit of a walk on the walking trail. There is more than enough parking here and easy access from the roadway. [Review 13993 overall, 1315 of 2020, number 2633 in North Carolina.]

Gorgeous park a hidden gem nice walking trail around the perimeter and play area for children…read more lucky me it's not too far from home

Great park! Lots of courts for tennis and pickleball. I checked out the dog parks. One for small…read moreand large dogs. And I found a nice area to throw the ball deep for the pooch which he loved. This park well Maintained and clean. This is a beautiful park with many options.

If you've just had more than enough beach, or perhaps you live here and are looking for something…read moreelse to occupy the kids, Ocean Isle Beach Park. The park includes tennis and pickleball courts, baseball fields, an outdoor amphitheater, basketball and a huge soccer field. The playground looked like fun and I couldn't get a picture without including kids so that's not shared here. Lots of parking, lots of activities. [Review 13989 overall, 1311 of 2020, number 2629 in North Carolina.]

Great small park with a pier to enjoy the intercoastal waters. You must park and walk down to it…read moreand it gets kinda crowded at times especially during a nice sunset. Most of the time you'll probably have it to yourself though. Just head to the very northern end of OIB to find it. It's great place to sit and relax with a book if you need a change from the beach, just bring a chair with you. Overall a great hidden gem of OIB.

The large dog park is well shaded, large enough to accommodate large breed dogs, has running water,…read moreand plenty of waste bag stations along with waste cans. The problem is that too many people do not clean up after their dogs. Leaving dog waste for bacteria to grow and flies to nest. It's a great place for dogs to socialize, play, and run, but it is also a place where dog owners need to be mindful of their dog's behavior and diligent about cleaning up after them.

Great dog park. Large dog and small dog parks separate. The complex is open until 8pm. Love the big…read morefenced area! Sand and grass mix. Lots of shade and seating. Water fountain and hose off area at entrance. Nice people. Everyone I saw was watching the dogs closely and picking up poo.

Driving into this park is serene and tranquil. Lots of gorgeous nature trails and boardwalks on the…read moremarshes. Dog friendly, and lots of tables if you want to hang out. The park has many trail options and placards everywhere to inform you of what's there. Trees, birds, fish etc. There's a part filled with trees that have shells hanging on them. People write on the shells and hang them everywhere. If you a shell collector this is the place to be. It's charming and memorable here. Beautiful park!