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playground. Free admission. Hours: Daily, 8am-sunset. Crowder District Park
4709 Ten Ten Rd., Apex 27539; 919.662.2850 A day at Crowder District Park offers environmental education programs and exhibits and outdoor recreational activities for visitors of all ages. The park includes a 2.7-acre pond for viewing wildlife, educational gardens, picnic shelters, playgrounds, accessible trails, amphitheater, play field and sand volleyball. Free admission. Hours: Daily, 8am- sunset.
Harris Lake County Park 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill 27562; 919.387.4342 Located just south of Raleigh, this Wake County park is quickly becoming a destination park. Excellent fishing in both the lake and farm ponds, hiking, mountain bike trails, along with volleyball, horseshoes and a playground await visitors. Picnic shelters with grills available. Free admission. Hours: Daily, 8am-sunset.
Lake Crabtree County Park 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville 27560; 919.460.3390 On the shores of a 520-acre lake, the park offers hiking, cycling and nature trails; seasonal boat rentals; two playgrounds; play fields; picnic facilities; and environmental education programs. The park also offers fishing by boat and from a fishing pier and platform for the physically challenged. Free admission. Hours: Daily, 8am-sunset.
State Parks in Greater Raleigh V
Falls Lake State Recreational Area 13304 Creedmoor Rd., Wake Forest 27587; 919.676.1027, 877.7. CAMPNC; www. ncparks. gov / Visit / parks / fala / main. php One of the largest recreational facilities in the state, offering a wide variety of activities. Camping, hiking, fishing, boating and swimming are available, as well as picnic areas and playgrounds. $ 3- $ 5 admission. Hours: Daily, 8am-sunset approximately; call or visit website.
William B. Umstead State Park 8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh 27617; 919.571.4170, 877.7. CAMPNC; www. ncparks. gov / Visit / parks / wium / main. php Stroll along nature trails or walk into the heart of the woodlands on 22 miles of hiking trails that wander through a pine and hardwood forest. Also offered are camping, picnicking, canoe rentals, fishing, visitor center nature study and 13 miles of horseback-riding and mountain-biking trails. Free admission; fee for boat and facility rental. Hours: Daily, 8am-sunset approximately; call or visit website.
Gardens
J. C. Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University V
4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh 27606; 919.515.3132; www. ncsu. edu / jcraulstonarboretum / Internationally recognized as one of the premier collections of trees and shrubs with over 5,000 different plants on display, the J. C. Raulston Arboretum is a year-round destination. Stroll along the stunning perennial border and across the rooftop garden. Other hightlights include the Xeric Garden, Japanese Garden, formal white garden, magnolia and conifer collections. Hours: Daily, 8am-8pm( except Nov.-Mar., 8am-5pm).
Joel Lane Museum House Gardens 728 W. Hargett St., Raleigh 27603; 919.833.3431; www. joellane. org Beautiful Neo-Colonial garden featuring espaliered fruit trees, pomegranate trees, a grape arbor and brick walkways. Herb garden features medicinal and culinary herbs. Free admission to garden only. Garden Hours: Daily, sunrise-sunset.
Docent-guided tours, which include the historic home, discuss colonial uses of herbs and some modern-day applications. Cost: $ 5 for adults, $ 4 for seniors, $ 3 for students, free for children under six. Tour Hours: Wed.-Fri., 10am-2pm; Sat., 1-4pm( except Jan.-Feb., 1-4pm on Sat. only).
Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Rd., Plant Delights Nursery, Inc., Raleigh 27603; 919.772.4794; www. plantdelights. com Juniper Level Botanic Garden is a six-acre display garden containing over 17,000 taxa( unique plants). Its focus is to determine and showcase the diversity of ornamental plants that will thrive in USDA Zone 7b( with the exception of an Amorphophallus collection). The garden not only functions as a display area but also doubles as an ex-situ conservation, research and development facility. Free admission. Hours: Eight weekends per year, two weekends each in winter, spring, summer and fall; by appointment at other times; call or visit website.
Museum Park at North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh 27607; 919.839. NCMA; www. ncartmuseum. org The Museum Park consists of 164 acres, and its trail system leads visitors through natural areas and to commissioned works of art. Designed for walking, cycling and jogging, the paved trails connect to the Capital Area Greenway system; unpaved trails invite further exploration. A cell phone tour of sculptures in the park is available. Leashed dogs are welcome on paved trails. Free admission. Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset.
Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden 301 Pogue St., Raleigh 27607; 919.821.4579; www. raleighnc. gov A historic garden featuring 1,200 roses of 60 different varieties blooming from late May until autumn. Seasonal flowers include bulbs, annuals, trees and shrubs. An amphitheatre for concerts and theatrical