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🌳 Kids' Outdoor Adventures: Parks, Trails & Fishing Spots

25 items

Wade Mercer | Fishing & Outdoor Gear

For parents with young kids, I put together my favorite easy outdoor spots in North Carolina and nearby South Carolina, from shady trails and lakes to beaches and first fishing spots. I like places that are gentle and simple to enjoy on a short famil...

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I like Umstead for a slow family walk under the trees, with Big Lake nearby for watching the water and a simple first try at bank fishing with a young child.

William B. Umstead State Park: Home

I would pick Pullen Park for a gentle first outing, with its playground, train and carousel giving a little one plenty to enjoy between short, easy walks.

Pullen Park

I like Lake Johnson for a flat, easy walk beside the lake, where a little one can watch the water and we can try a simple first cast from the bank together.

Lake Johnson Park

I would pick Bond Park for an easy lakeside stroll and a relaxed first fishing try from the bank, with shady trails and a playground to keep a little one happy.

Fred G. Bond Metro Park

I like Jordan Lake for wide, open water and easy shoreline walks, a calm place to picnic, watch birds and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

I like Falls Lake for quiet shoreline trails and wide water views, an easy place to walk, spot wildlife and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area: Home | NC State Parks

I would pick the Eno River for a gentle riverside walk in the shade, where a little one can look for wildlife and we can enjoy a slow, easy hike together.

Eno River State Park

I like Lake Norman for a big, open lake with easy trails nearby, a calm spot to watch boats, picnic and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Lake Norman State Park

I would pick Hanging Rock for gentle lakeside walks and short, easy trails, with a lake and waterfall views that give a little one plenty to look at.

Hanging Rock State Park: Home

I like Pilot Mountain for short, easy trails with big views, a fun place to look out over the hills and take a slow family walk together.

Pilot Mountain State Park

I would pick Crowders Mountain for a short, easy trail with big views, a good place for a slow family walk and looking out over the hills with a young child.

Crowders Mountain State Park: Home

I like Morrow Mountain for lakeside trails and wide views over the water, an easy, calm place to walk, picnic and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Morrow Mountain State Park

I would pick Carolina Beach State Park for easy trails through the woods and a quiet shoreline, a gentle place to walk, look for wildlife and try a first cast with a young child.

Carolina Beach State Park: Home

I like Hammocks Beach for a calm beach reached by ferry, a gentle place to play on the sand, look for shells and splash at the water's edge with a young child.

Hammocks Beach State Park: Home

I would pick Jockey's Ridge for big, soft sand dunes to climb and run on, a wide-open place to fly a kite and enjoy the breeze with a young child.

Jockey's Ridge State Park: Home

I like Goose Creek for a flat boardwalk trail through the woods to the water, an easy, shady walk where a little one can watch the river and look for wildlife.

Goose Creek State Park: Home

I would pick Lake Waccamaw for a wide, calm lake with easy trails nearby, a quiet place to walk, watch the water and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Lake Waccamaw State Park

I like Yates Mill for a peaceful pond and a historic mill, with easy trails where a little one can watch ducks and enjoy a slow walk in the trees.

Historic Yates Mill County Park

I would pick Harris Lake for easy lakeside trails and a playground nearby, a calm place to walk, picnic and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Harris Lake County Park

I like Freedom Park for a lakeside loop path, a playground and wide open grass, an easy place for a little one to walk, play and watch the ducks.

Freedom Park

I would pick McDowell Nature Preserve for easy wooded trails beside the lake, a quiet place to walk, look for wildlife and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

McDowell Nature Preserve

I like Paris Mountain for a small lake with easy trails around it, a calm, shady place to walk, picnic and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Paris Mountain State Park

I would pick Table Rock for a lakeside walk with mountain views, a gentle place to picnic, watch the water and enjoy a slow stroll with a young child.

Table Rock State Park

I like Myrtle Beach State Park for an easy beach day, a wide sandy place to play, splash and look for shells with a young child.

Myrtle Beach State Park

I would pick Sesquicentennial State Park for a calm lake with easy trails around it, a gentle place to walk, picnic and try a first cast from the bank with a young child.

Sesquicentennial State Park