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.

A delightful rest stop to take a break on a roadtrip down I-95 from Richmond to Wilmington, NC…read more This is well-worth the short detour on US-64 east if you have dogs or young kids in tow. Battle Park is easy to find in the heart of Rocky Mount near the waterfall and mills. Parking can be found in a small lot on the northbound side of the river. Restrooms are very clean with lot of pine trees and a nice mix of paved trails and dirt paths with a view of the river. Great for a quick 20-30 minute stop to stretch your legs and enjoy fresh air with your dog before resuming a long drive on I-95 to your final destination. I think some stores and restaurants are available in the mill area if you need to take a longer break. I'm so glad we decided to visit Rocky Mount, NC even if it was just for a 30 minute pit stop to stretch the legs with our dog!

This was an awesome park to visit today for Disc Golf. It is a mostly wooded 18-hole course with…read moresome open baskets. Pars are mostly 3 with some 4 and one 5. Baskets range from 300-800(!!) feet. The terrain is awesome, and being there today made me forget I was in eastern NC (I guess hence the name Rocky Mount...) The course design isn't intuitive but using the UDisc app helps. Along with disc golf are also mountain biking trails and walking trails. I also saw people fishing and signs about using a boat ramp. It felt nice and shaded today even in 80-something degree weather. Cant wait to come back again in the fall!

Goose Creek is family oriented, nice place nice cabins campaign and good primitive camping areasread more

**RV SITE REVIEW** A…read morecouple weeks back me and my dad camped for one night at Goose Creek State Park, and we stayed at RV site #20. This RV site was fantastic. All of the sites were flat (which is what you want), and offered plenty of privacy (The sites were very spacious from one another). All RV sites consist of 30 and 50 amp hookups, as well as a connection to fresh water, and a sewage pipe. The bath house was new and clean. It was modern on the inside, offered hot water (even in 20 degrees), and was well taken care of. The camp host does a great job at taking care of this site. I would highly recommend that you stay/visit Goose Creek when you can. It is a great hidden spot that offers a wide array of trails and activities.

Greenville has a gem of a place called Town Commons. There is plenty of space and activities for…read morecitizens. On a pleasant spring Saturday I saw some enjoying the fishing pier, a couple of artists in the back of their SUV painting the river area, several spreading a blanket on the grass enjoying a picnic, and one female on the pavilion stage doing yoga. They have a wonderful children's play area with varied and unique things to keep the kids busy. Quite impressed with the Town Commons!

Best park in Greenville that I am aware of, but certainly not the best park I've been to anywhere…read moreelse. I took my dog for a walk here a few times, and it was a nice change of pace from the eyesores that possess the rest of this town. You can walk along the river, take some kids to play in the playground, or have your dog walk on a leash in the grass. Of note, I've heard from multiple locals that one should be careful when walking around here as it's not always the safest. I've caught that vibe at times, but I've never run into any trouble personally. Everyone I've talked to while on walks has been friendly, and overall, I've enjoyed my time there. I probably won't go out of my way to come here again, but I'm not against it either. I encourage the Town of Greenville to host more events here and make it more of an attraction!

Merchants Millpond State Park is located in Gates County. The park was created in 1973. The park is…read more3250 acres. The Visitor's Center has restrooms, a small gift shop and picnic tables outside. The area was originally home to gristmills and a sawmill, and a farm supply store, where the trading happened. When the mills closed around World War II, the land was sold to developers. The land was donated to the state and became the park. The pond has a unique ecosystem. Some artifacts from the old mill are displayed in the visitor center. The exhibits cover the history of the area and the wildlife there. Who knew that alligators are this far north? You will also find beavers, otters, bobcats, birds and fish.

Camping on an island that you canoe to. Seeing an…read morealligator. Turtles. Beautiful. Best when radios are not playing.

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.

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.