In the between the cities of Raleigh, Cary and Durham is the William B. Umstead State Park and its 5,579 acres of wooded trails and picturesque lakes. You can walk, bike, hike and run through it, and you can even take a paddleboat or a canoe out for a small fee. Some travelers are chagrined at its popularity, saying that it's lost some of its delightful seclusion. But most recent visitors highly recommend it.

"At over 5,000 acres, it can be crowded along popular trails close to parking areas," one TripAdvisor user said. "However, go more than a mile up a trail … and it's very quiet. There are dozens of hiking trails, great birding opportunities, several lakes, boating/canoeing, and fishing."

You can access this free park off of US 70 (Crabtree Creek entrance off of Glenwood Avenue) or Interstate 40 (Reedy Creek entrance is exit 287). The best way to get there is to drive the 12 miles northwest from Raleigh's city center to the Crabtree Creek entrance. From December through February, this entrance of the park is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; in November, it stays open until 7 p.m. In March, April, September and October, the park remains open until 8 p.m. And between May and August, the park is open until 9 p.m. Hours for the Reedy Creek entrance vary slightly. For more information, visit the state park's website.