Personal Blog Highlighting Adventures in the Greater Raleigh Parks, Playgrounds & Greenways
Throughout my early childhood, my family spent several summers renting a weekly beach house in Cape Hatteras. We always went in mid-September because the pricing was just right for a large house that could fit grandparents, aunts, uncles and my family of five. Once we got busy with after school sports in middle school, our … Read more
Even though Pullen Park’s Holiday Express has been sold out since July, there’s still plenty of other Holiday happenings in local parks. If you can’t make it to an event, explore a park soaking up Raleigh’s inevitable sunny winter days (remember Christmas Eve two years ago when it was almost 80 degrees). Grab coffee (and … Read more
Several of my summer memories growing up involved sitting around campfires and chasing down fireflies in the backyard. Here are some great upcoming programs going on in the Greater Triangle area and beyond that involve either a campfire or firefly fun! Bring your family, neighbors and friends and explore the outdoors at night! Firefly Watch at Prairie Ridge … Read more
With school out for a few weeks over the holidays are you looking for some activities to keep the kids entertained? Or do you need last minute gift ideas? Check the Leisure Ledger and gift a loved one an experience! From crafts, games, movies and nature hikes, the local parks have fun activities for all ages! … Read more
In September we took advantage of a cool, clear Sunday morning to explore Blue Jay Point County Park again with friends. Instead of the hiking and playground time we did during our first visit to this park, we visited the natural play area (followed by playground time). More of these natural play areas are popping up in … Read more
On New Year’s Day 2015 we visited the Rolling View section of Falls Lake State Park to participate in the NC State Parks First Day Hike. The First Day Hikes are organized hikes designed to encourage folks and little ones to get exercise and explore nature in the great outdoors. We decided on the Rolling View … Read more
This fall we wanted to further explore Falls Lake so we set off with intentions to start closer to the dam and finish Day Hike A of the Mountains-to-Sea trail. Falls Lake Dam is on the eastern side of the lake (see map) and has helped control flooding from the Neuse River ever since its completion in … Read more
Every New Year’s Day, NC hosts First Day Hikes all over their state parks to promote a healthy start to the year. Even though the organized First Day Hikes didn’t exactly work with our kiddo schedules we drove up for a short hike of our own near Falls Lake. Falls Lake is a state recreation … 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
Cooler temps and lower humidity means that Fall is on it’s way and it couldn’t be a better time to participate in Take a Child Outside Week (TACO), held September 24-30, 2015. Take a Child Outside Week is an national initiative through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences with partner organizations throughout the country. The program emphasizes … Read more