Raleigh's Great Outdoors

If the great outdoors is your passion, you'll feel right at home in Raleigh. A network of 46 miles of trails is ideal for picnicking, fishing, walking, jogging, and bird watching. Raleigh's serene paths provide the opportunity to walk in a natural setting to parks and other destinations around Raleigh. Fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming are popular at Lake Wheeler, an 800-acre lake park, and Lake Johnson and Shelley Lake also is a popular place for recreational activities. Health-conscious Raleigh residents can't enough of strolling in the wooded landscapes and on the scenic greenways in the area. Pullen Park on the campus of NC State University offers a circa-1912 Carousel as well as boat rides and train rides, making this the perfect place to hang out with the kids. Bicyclists have lots of opportunities for fun in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. The 700-mile Mountains to the Sea bike route runs through Raleigh and includes quiet country scenes as well as more urban environments. This is truly a beautiful and popular path, easily accessible to most Raleigh residents. Nearby Jordan Lake holds 14,000 acres of water for fishing, boating, kayaking, and water skiing, as well as fun on the shore. This wonderful bird-watching spot is one of the largest summer homes for the bald eagle. Falls Lake State Recreation Area is just north of Raleigh and has 12,000 acres of water and 26,000 acres of woodlands. Camping, swimming, boating, and fishing await you here, just a short drive from Raleigh.