Getting Outside and Moving Together:

My Favorite Local Parks, Trails, and Greenways for Healthy Lifestyles Families

By Matt Skinner, MS, Bull City Fit Coordinator

Let’s talk about being outside and moving our bodies.

At Healthy Lifestyles and Bull City Fit, we spend a lot of time talking with families about healthy routines, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, confidence, and long-term well-being. But sometimes, the most helpful ideas are also the simplest:

Go outside. Take a walk. Visit a park. Find a trail. Move together.

Physical activity does not always need to look like organized exercise. It does not have to be competitive. It does not have to be intense. It does not have to happen in a gym.

Sometimes it looks like walking a greenway as a family. Riding bikes. Exploring a trail. Playing on a playground. Tossing a ball in an open field. Looking for turtles near a pond. Climbing, swinging, laughing, resting, and trying again.

That kind of movement counts.

At Bull City Fit, we believe healthy habits are easier to build when they feel supportive, practical, and connected to real life. Bull City Fit is part of a family-centered approach where children, caregivers, siblings, volunteers, and community partners all help create a space where movement, nutrition, confidence, and connection happen together.

For many Healthy Lifestyles patients and families, Durham is home. Other families travel from farther away. Wherever you are coming from, our region has some wonderful outdoor spaces that are free, fun, and reasonably accessible.

Here are a few of my personal favorite greenways, parks, and nature trails. Listed in no particular order.

Rock Quarry Park

Durham, NC

Rock Quarry Park is close to Edison Johnson Recreation Center, and I am very familiar with this space through Bull City Fit.

There is a wooded greenway trail, bike-accessible areas, a large open athletic field, a dog park, and a playground. It is the kind of park where families can choose their own pace. You can walk, ride, run, play, explore, or simply enjoy being outside together.

For Bull City Fit families, this park is also a reminder that movement can happen in familiar community spaces. You do not need a complicated plan. Sometimes, just showing up at the park is a great start.

Family movement idea: Walk the greenway trail together, then let kids choose one playground or field activity before heading home.

Lake Crabtree County Park

Morrisville, NC

Lake Crabtree County Park has so many miles of greenway and trails that are great for walking or biking.

One of my favorite parts is the white observation tower sitting on the lake. If you visit at the right time, you may even catch a sunset while someone plays violin on the pier. That may not happen every time, of course, but when it does, it is pretty special.

The park also has playgrounds, picnic shelters, a boat dock, a fishing pier, and rentable kayaks and sailboats.

Family movement idea: Take a walk or bike ride, then visit the observation tower and look for birds, boats, or wildlife near the water.

Downtown Cary Park

Cary, NC

Downtown Cary Park is such a fun place!

There are playgrounds, walking paths, open spaces, and plenty of room for families to explore. My favorite part is the two wooden cardinals. They make the park feel playful, creative, and memorable.

This is a great example of a place where movement can feel like discovery. Kids may not even realize how much they are walking, climbing, balancing, or exploring because they are busy having fun.

Family movement idea: Create a simple scavenger hunt. Look for the wooden cardinals, flowers, water features, benches, playground equipment, and interesting shapes throughout the park.

Dorothea Dix Park

Raleigh, NC

Dorothea Dix Park is huge, with more than 300 acres to explore. It is hard for me to pick a favorite part.

But if you go, I would suggest visiting the family of giant wooden trolls. One of my favorite experiences is finding the troll hiding near the hammock park under the trees.

Dix Park is a wonderful place to walk, wander, picnic, and let kids explore open outdoor space. The size of the park makes it feel like an adventure.

Family movement idea: Go on a “troll hunt” and let your child help lead the way. Walking feels more fun when there is something exciting to find.

Cates Farm Park

Mebane, NC

Cates Farm Park is a fun place with nature trails and a large playground.

One of the things that makes this park special is its accessible and inclusive playground. It includes a wheelchair swing and offers lots of fun for children of different abilities.

That matters. Outdoor spaces are better when more families can participate, play, and feel included.

Family movement idea: Walk the nature trail, then spend time at the playground. Let each family member choose one activity for everyone to try.

Historic Yates Mill County Park

Raleigh, NC

Yates Mill County Park has walking trails, a giant wooden bridge, and a historic mill that makes the whole place feel special.

It is also directly across from Howling Cow. And yes, there is ice cream at Howling Cow!

That can be part of a healthy lifestyle too. At Healthy Lifestyles and Bull City Fit, we do not need to think about health as all-or-nothing. A family walk, time outside, and a special treat can all fit into a balanced life. The goal is not perfection. The goal is building routines that are realistic, sustainable, and enjoyable.

Family movement idea: Walk the trail or visit the bridge before stopping for a treat. Talk as a family about how movement, food, joy, and balance can all belong together.

Cedarock Park

Alamance County, NC

Cedarock Park is a beautiful outdoor space in Alamance County with rolling terrain, nature trails, wildlife, and views of Rock Creek and its tributaries.

The park offers a variety of outdoor opportunities, including hiking and nature trails, equestrian trails, and disc golf courses. It is a great place for families who want to spend more time outside and maybe try something new.

Family movement idea: Try a short hike or bring a disc and explore one of the disc golf areas. Keep it low-pressure. The goal is not to be great at it. The goal is to move and have fun.

A Healthy Lifestyle Can Start Outside

One of the things I love about parks, greenways, and nature trails is that they make movement feel more natural.

You do not have to call it exercise.

You can call it a walk.

You can call it exploring.

You can call it family time.

You can call it fresh air.

You can call it play.

At Bull City Fit, families practice healthy routines through games, group activities, fitness challenges, cooking education, open play, and supportive conversations. The goal is to help turn medical guidance into real-life experience, in a way that feels encouraging instead of overwhelming.

That same idea can continue outside of Bull City Fit sessions.

So this week, consider choosing one outdoor place to visit as a family. Keep it simple. Bring water. Wear comfortable shoes. Let your child help choose the activity. Take breaks when needed. Celebrate showing up.

Because sometimes, the best place to start is outside.

And sometimes, the most powerful healthy habit is simply moving together.