I know how hard it is to get young kids out of the house to go somewhere - even quick outings require you to pack enough snacks, diapers, and toys to make you think you’ll be gone for a week. And who wants to wrestle kids in and out of carseats just to find out that your destination isn’t kid-friendly? That’s why I’ve decided to visit Triangle area sites to see if they’re worth your trip. I won’t use a rating system but I’ll try to describe what you’ll see well enough for you to decide if your kids would find it interesting. I’ll also give you the heads up on bathrooms, stroller accessibility and any other SNAFUs I encounter.

1/24/2014

Neuse River Trail milepost 11.25 (Buffaloe Rd. Aquatic Center) - 9.5


     

            Another section of the NRT completed!

        This section wasn't exceptionally scenic but it wasn't behind a residential neighborhood either so there was a semblance of being surrounded by nature. That is until you cross under the Buffaloe Rd. and I-540 overpasses.

Looking North towards I-540

        Our trek originated at the Buffaloe Rd. Aquatic Center. (Enter at Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, follow the signs to the Aquatic Center and the trailhead is at the left rear of the parking lot.) The trail from the parking lot is not actually the NRT but a quarter mile paved access to the NRT with adequate signage. There are two steep slopes on this trail right out of the gate which rendered my four year-old on his trike and two year-old on his ride-on out of control. Once you reach the compass rose of the NRT junction go North.

          If you want to begin directly on the NRT there is a very small parking lot and Trail access off of Buffaloe Rd. - just make a left off of Buffaloe immediately after the Neuse River bridge and then make another left behind the water pumping station.

        We brought a small picnic and ate at the 9.5 mile marker. It was MLK Jr. Day and the weather was nice so this section was well traveled. Despite the rotating complaints from the two older children they communicated their enjoyment when we were done. And even though we had to coax, cajole and carry them on the return trip they still had enough energy to play on the Athletic Park's playground. Except my two year-old whose exhaustion is manifested in clumsiness causing him to tumble down the steps of the slide.

My kids named this Dog Poop Bridge for the huge pile of excrement someone left in the center of the bridge.






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