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    Smith Creek Park Preserve

    4.9 (13 reviews)

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    Lisa T.

    Fantastic! A friend and I had brought our dogs here for some good fun in the sun! Love the smaller trails that go off from the main area and the dock makes for amazing pictures! Unfortunately we ran into a cattle dog that had no leash, no harness or collar with a lady chasing behind it. Zero recall and for the life of me I cannot understand why he had nothing on to grab as the owner had struggled to get him away from us too. There are MANY signs stating dogs need to be leashed but unfortunately it's something still ignored. She is extremely lucky our dogs are friendly as well because had her dog ran into a dog with possible dog aggression that was training, it would not have been so pleasant! So if you're here with your pup for training always be aware of idiots like this! (And that pretty much goes for anywhere even with an on leash policy) Other than the unfortunate incident we had, the park is gorgeous and very spacious! Parking is convenient and there are many dog poop stations spread out so you won't have to carry your dogs leftovers for long. There are plenty of shaded areas if you and your pup need a break as well from the sun! There are bikers and runners but the walking route is big enough to where you almost don't have to worry about bumping into someone! There are also little areas where you can access the lake and let your pup dip their feet to cool off! There are kayakers, people on paddle boards or people just taking a dip in too!

    Dee M.

    Clear waters and sandy beaches.. at the lake! It is always perfect at smith creek! We go for many reasons, taking the dogs to play in the water or walk around the lake, paddling, swimming and fishing! It is beautiful and the park stays so clean! There is a huge playground area and bathrooms available. They also have a story walk for children and small trails to explore. Highly recommend Smith Creek!

    Aimee N.

    This is a beautiful park with a great walking trail. Half of is it wooded and the other side is mostly views of neighborhoods. There a few small breakaway trails and you can swim in the water, too! There is a kayak/canoe dock. The park is extremely clean and it offers a pavilion and playground as well. There is one picnic table half way around the walk. I feel safe here and it is great to take animals for a walk with many shady spots.

    Kira Tianna H.

    Probably my favorite park and place on earth!! Very well walked path so I never feel scared for my safety, nice neighborhood, and the staff who tend the grounds are extremely friendly !!

    Lake view

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    4 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    Photo of Mike N.
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    1 year ago

    Great place to visit and take your dog! Good mile or so walking around the loop. Wish I could live here and run every day.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    contrary to some reviews, swimming is not allowed. Great park, great place to watch beautiful sunsets.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Beautiful park! With a bike, walk/run trail all around lake! Even dirt trails split off for you to explore! Very nice green space for all!!

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    Ask the Community - Smith Creek Park Preserve

    Review Highlights - Smith Creek Park Preserve

    “We go for many reasons, taking the dogs to play in the water or walk around the lake, paddling, swimming and fishing!”

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    Abbey Nature Preserve - Parking lot

    Abbey Nature Preserve

    4.0(4 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    This is a square space of Carolinian forest which is not far from the beach, but offers a different…read morevibe and plenty of tree cover. Some bridges cross over small waterways and give the opportunity to gaze over some pretty still water. Relative to the more coastal areas, the obvious advantage here is shade, and the disadvantage would be the potential for a lot of bugs in the warmer weather. There are several trails which circuit navigate the place, and it joins a historic site. It does have its own parking lot and there is no charge to get in.

    Visited the new entrance today on Wednesday morning around 9 AM. Not many people were there, so…read morethere was still quite a few parking spots. there was one porta potty. It was a nice short hike. There was a sign at the parking lot of where the trail started, but not totally clear. You just head along the wooden rope fence on a grass dirt area until you'll get to a gate (about .1 miles), where you'll have an option of going either left or right. I decided to make a right and eventually came to another intersection where I I made a left and it was a loop trail, around .75 total miles starting from the gate. There are trail marker wooden sticks, but no trail names. No map either on site. There are garbage cans throughout the trail, dog poop bags at the start, and a couple of benches on the loop trail. It was an overcast day, so hard to tell if it was shady. If I had to guess, it would be semi shady because of all the trees. It was fairly flat, but lots of tree roots. Still manageable with my jogging stroller.

    Photos
    Abbey Nature Preserve - Dog by the pond

    Dog by the pond

    Abbey Nature Preserve
    Abbey Nature Preserve

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    Belville Riverwalk Park

    Belville Riverwalk Park

    4.8(5 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    This is an incredible place to go for local events, and to step away into nature. The river walk…read moreitself is beautiful and quiet, and the park offers a wonderful playground and event space. If you live anywhere in this area and haven't been here, you should go immediately.

    What a beautiful spot in Leland! With plenty of paved parking, it's a perfect place to be on a nice…read moreday. We lucked out too! I was looking for a place for my daughter to get the energy out and, with good reviews, headed toward Riverwalk Park. It just so happened to be their Christmas market and fair - with face painting, vendors, special treats and games. My little one could have cared less about the aforementioned happenings. She cares about playgrounds and this park had one of the best we've seen. It was crawling with kids, so even better for entertainment! She played for hours. There was plenty of space, nooks and crannies for kids to run and do their own thing. The equipment all looked in good repair and the park was very clean. Everything is surrounded by mature trees so the playground was shaded during our visit. As lunch approached, we walked over to the water for some calm & relaxation. There are a couple of boat ramps, though I believe I was there at low-tide as one looked inaccessible. There were also a couple of swings to sit and look out over the water. I noted a walking trail as we were leaving and would certainly return to see the rest of the park. I was very impressed with my first visit here.

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    Belville Riverwalk Park
    Belville Riverwalk Park
    Belville Riverwalk Park

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    Airlie Gardens - Pink flowers

    Airlie Gardens

    4.5(140 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Such a beautiful place to visit! Cannot wait to go back! The Live Oaks are absolutely breathtaking…read moreand a very naturally romantic place to visit!

    Airlie Gardens is one of those places that reminds you why folks used to put on a good pair of…read morewalking shoes and spend an afternoon outdoors instead of staring at a screen. The grounds are beautiful, peaceful, and rich with history. Even though only some of the flowers are blooming right now, there is still plenty to enjoy--towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss, winding paths, ponds, sculptures, and the feeling that you've stepped back into old Wilmington. The famous Airlie Oak and the historic chapel make it feel more like wandering through a living postcard than just another garden. Airlie dates back to the late 1800s and was created by Sarah and Pembroke Jones before becoming a public garden preserved for future generations. The gardens are well kept, easy to stroll through, and especially lovely this time of year with the Azalea Festival season beginning. It is the kind of place where you slow down, take a deep breath, and remember that nature did landscaping long before homeowners associations started issuing warning letters. The one drawback--and for us older folks it is a real one--is that there simply are not enough restrooms spread throughout the grounds. With so much walking involved, having a few more bathrooms around the gardens would make a tremendous difference and would make the experience more comfortable for seniors and families. Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. A beautiful, historic Wilmington treasure that is absolutely worth visiting, especially in the spring--just be sure to make a restroom stop before setting out on the trails.

    Photos
    Airlie Gardens - Out facing oleander

    Out facing oleander

    Airlie Gardens - Nice view from the pier

    Nice view from the pier

    Airlie Gardens

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    Smith Creek Park Preserve - parks - Updated September 2026

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