Open field, check. Playground, check. Restrooms, no. Clean, no. Luckily we go prepared so we had a…read moretowel and wipes on us to clean off some of the playground equipment before the kids played on them. They were very dirty so I dint know how often its cleaned. But to tale kids to an open field to run around is beautiful. Not having a real restroom nearby was hard with kids around.

We were on a spontaneous trip to the mountains and on the way home we decided to drive through Lake…read moreLure. The leaves were absolutely beautiful and we had to get out and take a closer look. The park to me is beautiful! It's pretty basic with an open field to run around in or have a picnic, a playground, boat landing area, and public bathrooms. It also has some walking trails that we went down and saw some of the prettiest trees filled with fall colors. We had the best time just walking around and taking it all in before heading home.

***Have your records ready!*** Visiting from out of town, we…read moreabsolutely loved our time at Wagbar. Before entry, you must check in and provide vaccination records- we were very happy to hear that, but we weren't prepared, and had to spend time finding them. Tons of NA options and our energetic boy was exhausted when we left. Will definitely stop again!

Our dog did not come with us on this trip but that did not stop us from visiting Wagbar. We had a…read moreblast playing with dogs while sipping on a craft beer. If you are bringing your dog then they must be 6 months or older and be spayed or neutered. You must also show proof of current vaccinations which includes rabies, DHPP and bordetella. Cheers!

This is one of many beautiful roadside stops that you can find throughout the state of North…read moreCarolina. It is free and located just off of the main road. This isn't a place you hang out for a long time at unless you do a picnic. Really , it is a great place to admire the vast beauty of nature and take some Instagram worthy pics, then keep it moving. Certainly worth stopping for at least once.

This spot is the first or second that I stumbled upon as I drove along a portion of the Blue Ridge…read moreParkway. So glad it has plenty of parking because the view from here is breathtaking. I'd love to spend a bit of time just observing the way that the sun moves along the mountains, because the way the mountains cast shadows on the trees here is stunning. In fact, at one of these outlooks there may have been a couple doing just that.

Oookay, just to advocate for the average citizen without a dog or fishing pole, this is a lovely…read morein-city lake to walk around for ~2 miles of exercise. Parking is probably the trickiest part since the dedicated parking lot is quite small and maxes out at around half a dozen vehicles. We ended up touring the bird sanctuary first and then starting the perimeter trail from there. There's a nice amount of benches around the lake, a patch of wildflowers, and a section of the trail is just roadside sidewalk. A popular lake trail for joggers but not overcrowded.

If you walk this lake trail, (not the bird sanctuary trail, the lake trail) don't bring your dog…read more There are no signs at the beginning of the lake trail stating that you need a $100 per year permit to walk your dog on the trail. Halfway through the trail, you'll be assaulted by the lake warden / bully. He will be deliberately obtuse and will say almost anything short of claiming he has the power to arrest you (he doesn't), to stop you continuing on the second half of the trail. He called me an idiot for wanting to walk down Merrimon (it's public property), saying it was nearly a guarantee that I would be hit by a car if I walked in the bike lane. He very clearly gets a hard-on from making people turn around. He'll remind you a couple of times that he is filming the interaction you're having. I called him a hyper-aggressive asshole and went on my way. I won't be returning to this trail, and as a local, I'm ashamed that the rich people who live by that lake haven't hired someone who isn't a total creep. I would give this experience a 1 star, but the trail was pretty. :(

Beaver Lake offers mostly beautiful views and makes for an easy, relaxing walk. One side of the…read moretrail can get sunny, so it's a good idea to bring sunscreen. It may not be a must-see destination, but if you're looking for a walk around Asheville, it's worth a stop.

Operated by the Blue Ridge Audubon society,this 8 acre sanctuary is located in the heart of…read moreAsheville. Open daily, no admission fee,there is a wooden boardwalk that allows you to observe various birds and other wildlife in a natural setting. The boardwalk makes a complete loop so easy to navigate. Dogs are not allowed. Small parking area at the entrance.

Hiked this since '95. Much of the ruins are buried under downed trees toppled by Helene though…read moretrail has been cleared. If you're from lower elevations expect the hike from the parkway at the Tanbark tunnel to wind you. Bears are not unusual & it's easy to surprise each other on this hardpacked trail. I tap my hiking staff frequently to avoid this. Don't leave items of value viewable in your vehicle at the parkway. Please refrain from leaving toilet paper along the trail!

The hike is worth checking out if you are in the Asheville area for more than a month. Otherwise…read moreperhaps prioritize other hikes. The parking area was kind of a joke...it only fit 3 cars, maybe more if the people didn't park like jerks. I enjoyed the hike but be forewarned that if you come on a weekday morning like we did, it's a bit eerie because it is almost TOO quiet. But if you are lucky enough to not encounter any bears you'll have a grand time. Maybe bring a knife or bear spray if you have bear anxiety like me and you'll feel better The hike gently slopes with the switchbacks and isn't too strenuous at all but not too boring either. The payoff at the top isn't a view, but rather the remains of the lodge which included several buildings. It's neat and I enjoyed seeing it and picturing what it would have been like 100 years ago. There is an informational sign. The hike down is very enjoyable and quick as it is all downhill.

There were a couple of sites along the side of the river where little parks are set. This one just…read morehad a gravel road and parking lot and a couple of educational signs, some of which were in Spanish. The view of the river was pretty, but there wasn't much to actually do.

Run down not taken care of . Needs more parking expansion…read more Views where great lots of plant trees .