From members of the crew team practicing to the student looking for a break from his studying, a day at the park is welcomed. The parks and lakes around Raleigh offer a variety of activities including mountain biking, swimming, boating, fishing, sailing and canoeing. They have classes, group sport activities and plenty of grass knolls to sprawl out on.

“[The parks] all have their own different attractions; each one is different.” Charlie Peeks, the public information officer for N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, said.

Lake Johnson

Lake Johnson, located just minutes from campus, offers a lot of aquatic activities like fishing and swimming and plenty of land to accommodate sports games. It’s a good place to cool off while soaking up some sun. Lake Johnson also hosts programs like karaoke, yoga lessons and concerts. Anyone can come to the lake and rent out a boat for the day, whether it be for relaxation or fishing. The lake is full of largemouth bass, catfish, bream, crappie and carp, plenty of game for the student fishermen. After taking a day to play in the lake, the lake’s Boardwalk Cafe offers summertime snacks like hotdogs and popcorn to curb anyone’s hunger.

Lake Wheeler

Lake Wheeler, Raleigh’s secondary auxiliary water supply, offers fishing, water-skiing, swimming, sailing, and canoeing. The lake also has spaces for grilling out and enjoying a picnic by the lake. While Lake Johnson park has more land surrounding its lake, Lake Wheeler is a much larger lake and offers more for those who are looking to spend an afternoon on a boat. Laith Khalil, sophomore in business management and member of N.C. State’s crew team, said Lake Wheeler is popular place for boating and a “pretty awesome awesome place.”

William B. Umstead State Park

William B. Umstead, like the other lakes, has a boat rental service for both canoes or row boats. The park offers space for horseback riding and camping, for those who want to make it an overnight excursion. Umstead provides the trails for mountain biking. The park is not limited to just outdoor activities, it has classes that teach resource management, restoration and preservation. The park has a series of exhibits on gaining a better understanding of “natural and cultural history of the land” that makes up Umstead park. Even with Umstead’s educational exhibits, it still offers hiking and fishing like the other parks.

Lake Crabtree

Lake Crabtree has many attractions including hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, trails, areas for volleyball and playing horseshoes and nature study. The lake offers classes for those who want to learn to begin sailing, plus rentals for sailboats. The lake prohibits swimming, so those interested purely in floating and tossing in the water wouldn’t find this it suitable. It also prohibits camping. Although the lake doesn’t offer swimming or camping, it is a premium spot for sailing.