COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION SITES

Crowder County Park

DSC_8962-02We always hit Crowder Park whenever we need a relaxing place to play safely and to take a short walk with a lot of natural reward. Just off of Ten-Ten Road in Apex, Crowder offers a great main playground with high, fun slides, some excellent climbing apparatus, and a lot of fun, twirly things to ride.  There is also a wonderful birdwatching deck and a fun walk with bridges around a pond.  We always bring our binoculars with us as we always see awesome wildlife at this park.  In addtion, there are two other playgrounds located at other picnic shelters. It’s a great little park to spend time in, with the perfect mix of wild and fun.  I hope you get to check it out with your family soon!

With Love,

Turtle Dove

Know Before You Go:  Restrooms are located at the office and near the playground at the wooded deck.

There are several awesome picnic shelters to choose from at this park.  Each has its own playground, which makes birthday party rentals extra fun!

The playground slides on the older children’s play equipment are really high, and younger children may require adult help, especially if you have one of those determined- to-climb-everything-big-sister can type kids like mine!

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CITY AND TOWN PARKS

Lake Wheeler Park

DSC_8053-01.jpegA few summers ago, my teenager took crew class at Lake Wheeler Park, so the two younger children and I got to spend a few hours a week exploring all of the wonderful things it has to offer.  Besides the sparkling blue water where you can rent pedalboats, kayaks, canoes, and jon boats, there are several miles of wooded trails and a great playground overlooking the water.  We loved spending time watching the ducks and geese on the lake.  We also saw so many different types of butterflies and moths at this park in particular, perhaps due to their pretty pollinator garden next to the boathouse.  The public docks on the lake are the perfect place to sit and observe waterbirds like heron and kingfishers, and we just love the wooded view across the lake.  It is a great place for families with kids to spend the day, I hope you get to have some fun there soon!

With Love,

Turtle Dove

Know Before You Go:  Lake Wheeler has public restrooms at the boathouse and at the trail head.

There is NO SWIMMING at Lake Wheeler Park.

Fishing is allowed at Lake Wheeler, kids under 12 fish free, there is a fee for other age groups.  Shoreside fishing is not allowed, only from docks and watercraft.

The trails here are shady, there are lots of mosquitoes.