This park is a hidden gem. The hiking & biking trails are well-maintained and the facilities,…read more(pavilion, campgrounds, restrooms) are clean and new. If you're in eastern NC and think Raleigh has a corner on the state park 'market' give this pretty place a try. Come up for a day trip. Hike the trails, go fishing in the creek(s) -- with a license of course then jet to Littleton for a good selection of cuisine. Or, camp at the pristine campground, where a sweet little cabin, complete with Adirondack chairs will finish off your relaxing, peaceful day. Kudos to the Medoc Mountain State Park crew.

I have always drove by the park entrance so I decided to visit one day with my dog for a little…read morehike. There are a lot of trails here that makes for an excellent workout via hiking, running, or walking. It has a visitor center with bathrooms. I particularly like that there are picnic tables and fun jungle gym area for kids. It is worth the visit.

Can't wait to return next year. This place was awesome. Came here for a nice relaxing weekend at…read morethe end of the summer. We had a tent site right on the water. Every day we would eat drink and swim all day and had a blast. There was no place to buy wood at this park. So make sure that you have some wood for fires. We bought some from a 7-11 prior to coming. But we also found a tree that fell over that someone at the park cut up and let us take to burn. The bathrooms were not the best. Only one of the toilets door would close In-N-Out bathroom. But if you walked a little there was another bathroom. The showers didn't allow for much privacy. But we were swimming every day and got a quick shower in when no one else was there. Some of the sites have these cement areas near the water that are not comfortable to lay in. But I saw a few younger purple on them. I didn't even like sitting in them. Also near the water they get slippery. Make sure you are bringing some type of water shoes. There were a lot of people that had campers and boats near us. Lots of kids and many dogs. A great family destination.

The big lakes have never really been my favorite state parks in NC. Not that that makes them…read moreinherently boring. In fact this one has quite a lot going on. With several access points, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing and boat slips there's no end to summer time enjoyment out here. And lemme tell you, this lake is huge. I wasn't quite aware of Kerr Lake until this stop through. As it seems most of the lake is in Virginia, it's not really heard of as much in NC, I feel like. But it's significant to the history of the area and of course for the energy infrastructure of this part of the country. I took a scenic drive along the expanse of the lake and drove into VA where I crossed the dam "just to say I did". The sheer size of the lake makes for incredible views. While it isn't a park that I see myself going back to anytime soon, I know it would be enjoyable in particular for families going on summer trips to camp and enjoy the water.

Short camping trip to this hidden gem with the family (about 4 hours). This is our third time here…read moreand has camped in multiple sites but this site is definitely my favorite. Private beach front. Quite location. This time of the year not buggy. Unfortunately, the leaves haven't turned yet. There's local store about a mile or two from the site where you can purchase firewood, gas and whatever else you may have forgotten to pack. Across the street is a new Mexican place before that it was a pizza place - hopefully they stay open till our next visit. We tend to meal prep when we camp. Overall, an amazing camping experience and it is the closest you can get to water with a full electrical (50 amp) and water hookup. Till next time!!

This is a great place to camp. so much to do. Very clean. Great for families. Staff are very…read morepleasant. If you like water this is the place to be. Boating, fishing, beaches. you name it it's the place for you.

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.

Excellent Visit; Worth the Drive!!…read more We spent our 28th anniversary here in November and it was lovely. As we proceeded through the exhibits, I really enjoyed the scenery of the well-kept aviaries throughout this park. Employees are all educated and helpful. The parakeets in the Landing were very active, but if they don't come to you right away, don't be afraid to scoop one up to encourage it to interact and/or eat the millet stick, per my husband & not me because I am afraid of birds swooping like that haha (Buy the seed sticks at ticket counter before going into park) Highlights: The kookaburra laughed for me and the cassowary ran back and forth like a Dino raptor and they were definitely my favorite exhibits of the day! We both have mobility issues, so I wanted to provide the following info: This park is laid out in a loop with many inclines, rocky pathways, & root growth under pavement making for treacherous rolling. Using a wheelchair with small front wheels proved challenging to say the least. (large wheels are recommended) That being said, I CAN walk a bit and had to to maneuver the wheelchair through some of the trails. Also, there are many benches and picnic areas to rest along the trails, but we still had carried a fold up stool for my husband but he only had to use it once. There is a golf cart rental= 5 people for $100 I think. So that will be what we do next time likely, because this park is worth every penny!

We did a family canoeing trip for an hour at Cape Fear River Adventures and it was nice. The…read morescenery was nothing exciting and it was full sun the whole time, but our daughter enjoyed the experience. I think tubing would be a little more exciting. Everything was very organized and well run. The grounds are nice too; there's some chairs to sit, relax, and watch the river while the kids play.

I enjoyed learning about the Cape Fear River for the Outfitter Assistances at the Lillington…read morelocation. I also saw River otters, Beavers wrestling on a bank while I kayaked between Boone Trail Canoe and Kayak Access Point to Deep Rover park. I was lucky and excited . I had a good time learning about the ecosystem, geography and cultural history of that area.

Such a fun place to take kids or if you wanna be a big kid yourself! I like how they have teenagers…read more(maybe some college kids) working there. They're all so friendly and welcoming! Gives them an opportunity to earn some money during the season. We got the aquabana as they call it, for half a day (4 hours) and it was worth it ! We didn't swim but the kids did and they had a blast! You're able to bring a cooler with food and drinks ( juice, tea, soda, water. No alcohol) they have a food truck on site, as well as a "dirty soda" stand. Flavored sodas with cream (very popular in Utah but slowly making their way to the east coast) as well as a first aid bungalow. Everyone gets a life vest but kids under 18 MUST wear theirs at all times! I like that rule! Keeps the kids safe. Of course the teens working there are certified lifeguards just in case! They also offer scuba classes/lessons at the quarry. Would I come back? YES! Maybe one day I would try the courses and swim or paddle board but the go around it was nice relaxing and letting the kids live carefree in the lake!

Me and my husband had such a fun time here! It was just enjoyable sitting in our beach chairs…read morelistening to the music after running and swimming around out there. The inflatables are so much fun and you get tired out after about an hour. They had a food truck that had some great options as well we enjoyed. I would say this is a great spot for all ages.

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.

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!

This is the place to go in Garner for your July 4th fireworks! You can rent a paddle boat during…read morethe day, walk the perimeter, have a picnic or play flag football on the gigantic fields. This park had bathroom facilities, dog parks and a playground. Police frequently patrol and keep the park safe for families. Don't miss the US War memorials! Such history at your finger tips.

Beautiful, spacious park in Garner! I visited Lake Benson Park mainly because I heard about the dog…read morepark. I stopped by on a Thursday night and the park was packed. Lots of kids on the playgrounds, people walking on the paths, and dogs in the dog park. I enjoy seeing parks full of people enjoying the outdoors. Pros: -Large dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs -Dog park is free for anyone to use (no pass required) -Clean park -Ample parking in lots or along the road -Beautiful, respectful veterans' memorial -Labelled areas and trails -Ample areas to sit -Multiple playgrounds and shelters Cons: -Dog park is open to anyone so the dogs may not be fixed, vaccinated, or well-trained -Most of the driving paths are not paved. This kicks up a lot of dust -Lots of bird poop on signs and benches. It's an outdoor park so this is understandable. Bring a towel if you plan to use the benches

I started coming to the Beaver Dam entrance of Falls Lake since there is a public beach, as well as…read moreaccess to the lake where you can open water swim. I have been practicing some open water swimming here. It is populated but has plenty of parking, making it feel family friendly and safe. On warmer weekend days I've seen families come out and have a BBQ. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the summer if you do not have access to a pool or can't make it down to the beach.

It's always nice going out to the Falls Lake area to hike. There are many trails for that and for…read moremountain biking too. Some of the trails are easy while others more challenging. Some off shoot trails go along the shorelines and people come out here to fish or put a kayak in the water. There are plenty of birds and other wildlife to watch in the lake areas. Just a historical note. The Falls Lake area is part of the Neuse River system and is the main supply of water for Raleigh & Durham. It was created in the 70s to supply drinking water for a quickly expanding area of the state. Many valley, farms, and pasture lands were flooded to create it. In times of drought it's not uncommon for the top of an old barn to be seen in the water.