Personal Blog Highlighting Adventures in the Greater Raleigh Parks, Playgrounds & Greenways
If you can’t tell by the themes of some of my latest blog posts, biking has been our family’s new passion. Having a bike hitch, bike trailer and at least one child biking on her own really opens up the family bike outings to beyond the driveway or cul-de-sac. Even though Bill is usually the one to … Read more
A few weeks ago, I woke up before sunrise and headed downtown with just a coffee and my camera in hand. I have a lot of photos of parks and greenways throughout the city, but not many personal photos of downtown Raleigh. It was a muggy Sunday morning, so downtown Raleigh had a faint Bourbon Street-like … Read more
A playground at the landfill…say what?! Yes, the North Wake landfill closed in 2008 and local residents worked with the county to repurpose the closed landfill into a park which now features paved trails, mountain biking trails, a large playground area, pavilion, and access to Abbotts Creek Trail (part of Neuse River Greenway). North Wake Landfill … Read more
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” John Muir My mom was always a big believer in the healing powers of being outdoors. She didn’t do much hiking or camping, but she was really into gardening and birding. She used to joke about telling my teachers … Read more
And, just like that, I’m watching my youngest, Claire, have her final preschool days at The School of Grace. While I know we’ll have a full summer together, her preschool graduation means her kindergarten milestone is just around the corner in August, and it’ll be a big changing of the guard moment for me. I’ve … Read more
Before Christmas we headed to the newly opened Abbotts Creek Park, which is adjacent to Abbotts Creek Community Center and Abbotts Creek Elementary School. Abbotts Creek Park is located in northeast Raleigh at 9950 Durant Rd, just down the road from North Wake Landfill. The playground area is fenced-in and has brightly colored play features similar to the playgrounds … Read more
It might be snowmaggedon part 2 in Raleigh right now, but months ago it was a beautifully warm day for a run in North Raleigh along Abbotts Creek Trail. Abbotts Creek Trail is 2.9 miles and connects Simms Branch Trail with the Neuse River Trail. We parked on-street near the intersection of Falls River Ave … Read more
Here’s a map of the Greater Raleigh parks we’ve explored so far: View the Raleigh Parks Google Map in full screen. Abbotts Creek Park (9950 Durant Rd, Raleigh, NC) Abbotts Creek Trail (intersection of Falls River Ave & Ashmead Ln) Anderson Point Park (20 Anderson Point Dr, Raleigh, NC) Annie Wilkerson Nature Preserve Park Baileywick Park … Read more
Months ago we planned one last Winnie mountain trip before the end of summer. We purposefully planned it to coincide with the solar eclipse so we could get close to being in the path of totality (words I never thought I’d hear myself saying). Not knowing the solar eclipse would become so popular we’re glad … Read more
The first day of Fall began this week with a few days of colder temperatures, which led me to reminisce about my first full summer home with both girls. Despite having a tough adjustment period from 3-day-a-week preschool to zero-day-a-week preschool, things smoothed out and we had an awesome summer! I find myself longing for … Read more