At Pullen Park you can ride a historic carousel and miniature train, rent pedal boats, let the kids run free on the playgrounds, have a picnic, or grill out in one of the picnic areas.
William B. Umstead State Park
If you love nature trails through the forest, biking, trail running, picnicking, camping, canoeing, and horseback riding, put Umstead State Park on your list.
Dix Park is a lovely space with wide-open fields, rolling meadows, and tree-lined streets and offers many vantage points with impressive skyline views of the city.
Here you can see the Mordecai Historic House, the oldest residence in Raleigh still on its original foundation, and the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President.
Lake Johnson Park
There’s a fantastic paved three-mile loop around the eastern side of the lake, plus two miles of unpaved trail around the western side.