Came here a few weeks ago to play disc golf at the park. What a lovely course! A nice blend of…read morewooded and open field - I was surprised at how hot I was on the course. There are several different tees to choose from, of course, but using the UdIsc app helps. Like many disc golf course courses, this is also bike path trail so you do have to watch out for that. Although this was not an issue for us whatsoever and never has been. Some people were also walking their dogs and doing other things here as well. This is a huge park. I think there were people swimming in another area. All free. Easy access. Good parking. Will definitely return next time I'm in Johnson City.

We were here for a softball tournament and overall thought the park was quite nice. Since we had…read morethe 8 o'clock a.m. game, we arrived at the crack of dawn as the sun rose. Parking at that time was not a problem as we were the 1st ones there. There are 4 diamonds in the quad and the entry gate was staffed by a tournament person. The narrow pathway was used by both those with tournament passes, those having to pay at the gate, and those exiting the quad. Needless to say, it was not a good traffic flow and also not good in the times of a pandemic. I also noted that the pricing was very high. The quad itself is very nice. There are bleachers on both sides of all 4 fields as well as plenty of room for spectators who bring their own chairs. There is a building in the middle which serves as the press room with views to all 4 quads and the ability to manage the scoreboards. The scoreboards were all functional for a change but the scorekeeper was very late in tracking scores for each play. The dugouts were also very nice and the fields well kept. While we were there they had grounds crew working each field between games. A nice touch! Since we got there so early, I had plenty of time to walk while the team warmed up. As it turns out, I walked around most of the park. It was a bit hilly walking up by the monument and administrative building then a steep incline down the back side to the playground area and water. It also looked like there was a space for performances and other organized activities. I finished my walk with a lap around the fields and saw there was also a 5th field in addition to a possible soccer and lacrosse field or football fields to the side. Very nice facilities indeed! Because I came and went between games I was concerned upon return about finding a parking space. The games were well spaced out and people were coming and going, I had no problem finding an open spot. It was not as good as the front row by the gate we got at the crack of dawn, but it was fine all the same. Tomorrow we will play at a different field but I hope to return to this park later in the week. The fact that it had running water in the restrooms and indoor plumbing inside the quad as well as other facilities throughout the park, made it quite convenient and pleasant to be at.

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.

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!

Worth It 10 Times Over $30.42…read more Grandfather Mountain was the highlight of my trip to the North Carolina mountains and worth every penny. The experience starts the moment you arrive. The staff is organized, friendly, and efficient. They provide a map and a self-guided audio tour that plugs right into your car, making it easy to learn about the mountain as you drive from stop to stop. My advice: arrive before 11 a.m. and check Blue Ridge Parkway closures before you leave. There are still detours and road closures that can add significant time to your drive, and you don't want to miss your entry time. I headed straight to the top for the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The weather was classic mountain weather--cool temperatures in the 50s and 60s with fog drifting across the peaks. Even with the clouds rolling through, the views were absolutely stunning. If stairs are a concern, there's an elevator that takes visitors up to the bridge level. Afterward, I worked my way down the mountain, stopping at Split Rock before exploring the Wildlife Habitats. This area exceeded my expectations. I saw black bears, elk, a cougar, bald eagles, river otters, and plenty of butterflies. The botanical gardens were beautiful and everything was clearly marked and easy to navigate. The entire property is exceptionally well maintained. Clean restrooms at both the summit and wildlife center were an added bonus. I arrived around 10:30 a.m. and left shortly after noon, which gave me plenty of time to see everything at a comfortable pace. You could easily spend longer if you enjoy hiking or lingering at the exhibits. As someone escaping the summer heat in Charlotte, the cool mountain air alone was worth the drive. If you're visiting western North Carolina, put Grandfather Mountain on your bucket list. The scenery, wildlife, organization, and educational experience make it one of the best attractions in the region. There's a big world out there to explore. This is one place that's absolutely worth the trip.

Nice park and mountain, but $37 PER PERSON? With NO…read moresignage/pricing posted anywhere ... yikes I could understand for something like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but just a state park ...tough pill to swallow especially when it's not posted anywhere. I was planning to hike with some friends and we were going to start at one of the other lots but the roads were closed leaving us no choice but to enter the park. I really just wish the pricing/fees were posted somewhere-anywhere- because they weren't online or on the park signs out front. Had to pull up to the gate/window and even then the park ranger seemed to want to withhold that information as long as possible. The actual park is beautiful and well maintained- and you do get an audio guide plus map upon entry. But the lack of transparency here is a hard no for me. @azfitfoodfun

This is such a quaint, adorable space. We stopped here to…read morelet our dog out and to view the "Spirit of Generosity". It was a bit late in the day so the restrooms were closed but the building was decorated with art from the community and was interesting to view. They had also installed a sleigh in the middle of the park for Christmas which was nice for photos. There were lots of people there walking their dogs and there is a parking lot as well as street parking. It is right next to an old train station and plenty of shops and restaurants. We stayed here for 20 or 30 minutes and honestly it was one of our favorite stops in the city.

On my way to lunch in the interesting hamlet of downtown Kingsport, I was scoping out some parking…read morenear the restaurant. I was trying to get close but i didn't want to get too close to the restaurant, have no parking available, then have to retrace my tracks. I always find parking habits interesting: some folks want to get as close as possible and will wait five minutes for a spot if they seem someone walking to the parking area (this seems especially true at any Walmart anywhere in the country). I just like to park at the first available spot and start walking. Routinely, I am entering the establishment before Lazy Larry is done parking. I was a solid 2 blocks from the restaurant but the parking spaces were getting filled. I drove right upon this park and liked it so much, I parked right in front of it. It was a hot day outside, so there were a couple of families enjoying the splash pad. I recently saw a splash pad at another park in Knoxville; must be a TN thing. The jets were shooting out large volumes of water and the kids were having a great time. There are benches for seating and the grass is pristinely kept. I initially thought it might be artificial but it's the real deal. I sat on a bench and checked some emails after lunch, but the sun is the enemy of red-heads, so i trudged back to my truck. Nice little park.

I came seeking an azalea garden which was on the map. I did not read up sufficiently to realize…read morethat at this altitude, spring flowers are not blooming in April and seem to peak only in June. No, this is a legitimate mountainous area, and some snow was still on the ground. Having said that, nature delivers, regardless of the season. Hiking through a bit of the Appalachian Trail to the sounds of the freshest of water from this melting snow cascading down the slopes was not the worst experience. Most of the area had substantial tree cover, and as such was quite muddy given the melting, but a road that is only open during summer apparently offered an easer path to trek. Heading in the other direction led to a treeless peak with views of the surrounding countryside. Much of the paths swerved back and forth across state lines. It wasn't a terribly far drive from Asheville, or some of the other urban centers of the region, but there was not a lot of civilization in sight.

Nice course while we were on vacation. Beautiful green surroundings. Course was well kept up.read more

Do you like waterfalls? I do! Sills falls is a lovely hike for all skill levels. It is a 3.3 mile…read morehike that has a lovely waterfall.

Beautiful scenery. Short relaxing hike to the beautiful falls of Clark's Creek. A must see.read more