Every-time I come to this park there is always multiple dogs off leash. I find it strange due to…read moreTennessee having a leash law and the park itself is suppose to have a leash rule. I see multiple "park rangers" driving around, but non of the seem to want and or try to enforce said law or rule. I personally always have my dogs on a leash because it's the LAW. I can not enjoy a nice walk at this beautiful state park cause I am always on edge thinking some off leash dog is going to come running up on me and my dogs.

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park was founded in 1976. It has 70 acres, a visitors center, a…read moremuseum, an amphitheater, 2 miles of hiking trails, an abortorium, a butterfly garden, and several historic structures. It has a reconstruction of Fort Watuaga, and one of the oldest still-standing homes in the state. Being in the upper, tippy top, northeastern corner of Tennessee, this one was longer for us to get to than many other parks. When I commented as to such, the park ranger quipped, "Yeah, we're so far in the top corner that people forget about us!" That being said, this park has the best museum we've probably seen. It's gorgeous and incredibly well done. We came at exactly the right time of year because it was beautiful and all of the flowers were fully in bloom.

Me and my wife recently visited this park. We parked by one entrance but didn't know that there was…read moreanother one with a parking lot for plenty of cars. This park has a beautiful story for it and why it's called Jacob's Nature Park . We embarked on a one mile Loop around the path. There was an obstructed tree that was actually black in our path that we had to climb over so be aware of that prior to this review if you were attempting to walk the path. There's also another path too if you follow the white markings on a tree. There is a nice creek along the path to for most of the trail. Overall, I thought it was a good part to check out. No public restrooms by the way! Plenty of park benches to sit on

Easy to get to playground when you're on the road traveling - close to hotels & fast food…read more We stopped here before getting back on the road after a 1 night stay near by. It served its purpose - getting energy out before the next leg of the drive. There's a small area for younger toddlers and bigger playgrounds for older kids. My 2 year loved the taller playgrounds. Many features to run around and play on. There is some wear and tear to the playground. It's muddy when wet out but overall a good park. There is also a free little library - there wasn't much in it while we were there. Easy parking

They have 2 dog parks. Limited seating and NO WATER for dogs, bring your own. Always clean, people…read morefriendly.

Gateway Park sits at the bend where US‑23 slips past Gate City, and the setting gives the markers…read morethere a little extra weight. The handful of historical signs ring the green space in a way that encourages you to slow down and read each one. The small gazebo anchors the park and offers a bit of shade, especially useful on a long drive through the mountains. The open lawn works well for a short stretch break for drivers and passengers who need a moment off the road. Dogs can enjoy it too as long as they stay leashed. It's a simple stop, but the combination of history, scenery, and breathing room makes it an easy place to pause before continuing along the highway. It is a passive park - there are no playgrounds, restrooms or such. [Review 86 of 2026 - 1532 in Virginia - 25276 overall]

Spouse and I decided to enjoy a barge ride on the lake in anticipation of seeing some wildlife. It…read morewas a calm and informative ride on the lake. Children 12 and under are required to wear life jacket for safety. The guide who was a summer intern was friendly, knowledgeable and very capable of handling the barge. On the drive in we saw one deer grazing. Parking is $7 per car and the barge ride was $6 a person. We decided not to visit the nature center during this outing but plan to return again in the fall. The lake has several types of fish, turtles, beaver, water snakes and occasional bear looking for food. We would return and bring a picnic lunch and make use of designated picnic areas. There is a trail along the lake that takes about 2 hours to walk. The park is renovating a building and outside space for river otters to arrive in the future. This is a very family friendly place.

I dont know how they say this place is over 40 miles and 3750 acres. I came here for the barge ride…read morewhich holds a good amount of people. It is very slow so you can look at your surroundings. If you have kids this is a great place to take them because they have a bunch of animals and a playground. No entry fee just a parking fee, I believe it was $7. I guess one of the hiking trails goes to Laurel Run Park, but thats a pretty long run.

We were on a long road trip and looking for spots to stop, stretch our legs, and give the kids a…read morebreak from the car. This was the perfect stop! We loved riding the chair lift down to the tunnel and, wow, what an impressive sight! The river was beautiful and our kids loved wading in just a bit to cool off before heading back up the lift. The ranger service was wonderful with lots of tips and activities for the kids to do on small, manageable hikes. The kids also enjoyed playing on the train engine displayed near the parking lot. Definitely a great spot to visit even just to ride the lift down to the tunnel and back up!

Clearly, this place is marketed to resemble Natural Bridge, Virginia's better known (and frankly,…read moremore impressive) attraction. The park here is set up with a number of camping facilities and trails that have a separate entrance, while the attraction itself is accessible by parking at a visitor center and either walking down a fairly steep trail or taking a (seasonal) chairlift. On the dreary day I visited, there was barely a soul in sight, but the park seemed to be setting up for a winter lights festival. The tunnel itself is used for a railroad line, and a viewing platform allows you to go to the edge of the tunnel but you can't actually go through it, which is disappointing. The trail downstream through the gorge is pleasant and worth a brief jaunt but it terminates quickly. Those seeking more of a hike will find the ridge trail that heads upwards worthwhile, and the views of the tunnel from above are probably at least as good as what you'd get walking up close to it. The local Lover's Leap is majestic (and horrifying, if you think about it). I did not think it one of the more impressive state parks in either Virginia or in the the confluence of states in this region, but there are some nice things to see.

Me and my wife recently visited King Commons Park. This place is the heart of downtown Johnson City…read moresince this town is in a resurgence. Many of your events are gathered here and for this event in the winter time they have their Festival of trees which featured over 180 trees. Many events happen here throughout the entire year. They even have a playground for the kids nearby. Hilariously this sign used to be a U-Haul sign that they refurbished and install the Johnson City Tennessee logo. You can look us up yourself on Google Maps. Plenty of local happenings around this place as well. Overall, you can't visit Johnson City without visiting king Commons park!

Me and my wife recently visited this park while we were in the area. It takes you directly to the…read morewater park but there's a park right next to it that is open to the public. Sure there's a baseball field on one part of it which is the actual Park but we were at the part where there was trails that leads you to Jonesboro and other off trails as well. Overall, I thought this place was a nice casual visit to check out. Great bridges to walk on