Barber Park
A great place for family outings and reunions; it features an indoor volleyball and tennis complex, playgrounds, baseball stadium and an amphitheater; if you are planning a family outing here, make reservations well in advance; daily 8a-sunset; Dans Road off Florida Street near I-85; admission fee for some activities; daily 8a-sunset; 336-373-5886

Bicentennial Gardens and David Caldwell Property
Flowering and deciduous flora and fauna placed in a well landscaped and manicured setting make this garden a local favorite; Hobbs Road; 336-373-2199

The Bog Garden
A half-mile wooden walkway over a swampy area of luscious beauty awaits you; the garden has more than 8,000 labeled trees, ferns, bamboo and wildflowers; free admission; also Hobbs Road; 336-373-2199

Country Park
Stocked fishing lakes and pedal boats and a small tram are the main attractions here; daily 8a-sunset; Lawndale Drive, adjacent to Natural Science Center; 336-545-5343

Greensboro Arboretum
Within a 17 acre portion of the park one finds 9 different plant collections in an area of stunning year-round natural beauty; Wendover Ave and West Market Street; 336-373-2199

Historic Bethabara Park
Winston-Salem's first Moravian settlement, Bethabara the House of passage, was to be a temporary settlement until the town of Salem was established; today, Bethabara Park is a trip back to the Carolina backcountry of nearly 250 years ago; a National Historic Landmark, a wooded 175-acre wildlife preserve with 126 kinds of area birds, nature trails, a the mill site, boardwalk over the beaver pond and you can spot otters, mink, foxes, deer and woodchucks; FREE admission daily. Reynolda Road and Yadkinville Road; 336-924-8191; http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/beth

Bryan Park Complex
Two 18-hole golf courses are the main event here, though it includes other facilities for family outings as well; daily 8a-sunset; 6275 Bryan Park Road, Browns Summit; 336-375-2222; http://www.ci.greensboro.nc.us/leisure

Tanglewood Park
1,300 acres of beautiful countryside, streams, woodlands and grassy pastures once claimed for Queen Elizabeth by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584; features facilities and on-site catering for golfing, weddings and reunions, picnic areas, playgrounds, canoes and paddleboats, hiking, walking and running trails, gardens and arboretum; those with competitive pursuits in mind should note the hard and clay tennis courts, plus two of Golf Digest's top-rated courses; 336-778-6300; http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/Tanglewood