Best Tourist Information Center Cary Near Me

4worldlovers: Located in Chatham County 30 miles west of downtown Raleigh, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area includes seven access areas that provide plenty of camping, boating, and swimming opportunities. Campers have more than 1,000 campsites at five accesses to choose from, whether they use a tent, trailer, or RV, and whether they camp with family, friends, or a group. The beautiful lake is one of the largest summertime homes of the bald eagle, and an observation platform makes for easy spotting of our national bird.


Not every access has all the listed facilities. Please check the General Information page to view a table of the facilities at each access.

A privately owned marina near Crosswinds campground provides slips and storage, and fishing boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.

Entrance fees are charged per vehicle on weekends and holidays in April, May, and September, and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park is free to access for day use during the rest of the year. Fees are also charged for camping, certain event permits, and facility reservations.

Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. They are not permitted on swim beaches or inside buildings. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.

Park staff lead regularly scheduled interpretive programs that allow the public to gain perspective into what makes North Carolina state parks naturally wonderfully. Learning opportunities are available for all ages. Most events are free, though some may require pre-registration.

Make your special occasion naturally wonderful. State parks are great places for birthday parties, reunions, weddings, and more. Learn more about event permits and fees on the Facilities page.

Friends of State Parks is a nonprofit citizen organization supporting, promoting, and advocating for the North Carolina State Parks system as a whole. Though Jordan Lake State Recreation Area does not currently have a local friends group, FSP helps support Jordan Lake, and the group can receive donations dedicated to a specific park.

We are always grateful for helping hands! Please contact park staff at jordan.lake@ncparks.gov for any inquiries regarding volunteer opportunities at the park. You can also check the park's Event Calendar to see if any volunteer work days have been scheduled by park staff.

4worldlovers: Undoubtedly the Raleigh area's most iconic dessert, it's fair to say that Angus Barn's chocolate chess pie has more than a few fans. A recipe developed by Van Eure's mother Alice in the late 1960s—with help from kitchen manager Betty Shugart (a 50-year employee of the restaurant)—an estimated 50,000 chocolate chess pies are now made and sold each year. You can even have the pie shipped to you from anywhere in the country.

The Neuse River Greenway Trail—a 30-mile paved, uninterrupted greenway that stretches from Falls Lake in North Raleigh to the Wake County line in southeast Raleigh—is a year-round haven for outdoor recreation. With views of historic sites as well as winding boardwalk...

A brand new, functional piece of art awaits visitors inside William B. Umstead State Park. A fallen red oak tree—approximately 25 feet long and several feet high—has been transformed by artists Jerry Redi and Randy Boni of Smoky Mountain Art. In mid-Nov., the pair spent...

The great outdoors are still great. That statement rings true in the Raleigh area more than ever right now as the area's parks, greenways, lakes, favorite hammock spots and other outdoor spaces have been a welcome escape from homes, office buildings, cars and crowds...

Via Cary Magazine, "the devil's in the details" at the new Diavolo at New Hope Disc Golf course in Cary, N.C., providing a challenging, competition-level layout that will test players of all skill. Opened in 2020, the course was recently named one of the world's best!

Big news for Raleigh, N.C.: Heights House Hotel, a pre-Civil-War-era mansion in downtown Raleigh that has been completely revitalized as a boutique hotel, is now open! Named for its location within Raleigh's historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, the 10,000-square-foot, Italianate-style mansion features nine ensuite guest rooms that have been lovingly restored, 15-foot ceilings and original hardwood floors throughout the space, a total of 10 cozy fireplaces and grand common spaces crafted with immaculate detail and decorated with modern and vintage touches. The indoor/outdoor space is also available for private events for up to 120 guests.

Located just north of Raleigh, Wake Forest is a beautiful small town boasting history, culture and activities to keep travelers entertained for days on end. Stroll through the historic downtown district, home to a charming community of art galleries, shops and...

A major new work of art made its debut at the North Carolina Museum of Art in 2018. First put on display for the public as part of "You Are Here"—a ticketed exhibit that attracted more than 100,000 visitors from all 50 states to the museum in Raleigh, N.C.—"Light of...

4worldlovers: Durham is a historical haven, a sanctuary for the spectacular, and a rough-cut gem waiting to be unearthed. Durham’s been a destination on the move for more than 150 years. Perhaps it’s time you discovered it too.

Maybe you’ve heard about our celebrated food scene, top-notch universities or buzzing startup culture. There’s just something about this place. It transcends categories. Durham has something intangible, inspiring and absolutely alluring.

4worldlovers:
Experience an innovative institution of higher learning, a global research university committed to accessibility and impact, a place with a legacy as old as the United States – and a boundless future. The UNC Visitors Center looks forward to sharing all that is special about Carolina.

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