Onslow County Parks: Onslow Pines Park

One of the better all-around parks in Jacksonville, Onslow Pines gives you a solid mix of sports facilities and open space that actually gets used — basketball courts, a soccer field, and plenty of grass for whatever you want to throw down. The walking path is a nice touch if you’re not there to chase kids around the whole time. Picnic tables and a BBQ area make it easy to turn an afternoon into a full day out, and the restrooms are clean enough that you won’t dread using them. Kids from toddlers up through the older crowd all seem to find something here, which is rare. It’s the kind of county park that shows someone actually cares about keeping it up.