Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park — Attraction in New Bern

I was assaulted today!!

Normally, I would say this is a very safe, quiet and peaceful place to take a contemplative stroll in the woods. The trails are heavily shaded, so during the brutal heat of the summer, it's usually a few merciful degrees cooler than it is in the city. However, my experience today left me scarred, perhaps for life. I will never look at these tiny little demons the same way, ever again. Sure, they look innocent, but let us not forget that they have dinosaur DNA in their blood. They are calculated, ice-cold killers in pretty, fluffy disguises. Yes, dear reader, I am talking about birds. It happened while I was standing on the boardwalk which leads up to a gorgeous view of Upper Broad Creek. I'm sure if I had had more common sense at my disposal, I would have realized that just standing around tends to make one into a very easy target. Before I knew it, two tiny yellow birds popped out of their very well hidden lair, somewhere in the vast expanse of marsh grass. Their strategy: take the giant 6-ft. H. sapiens off his feet. Their sights were set right on my shins, the most vulnerable part of me, since I made the tactical mistake of wearing shorts instead of my usual combat pants and boots. I could hear their wingbeats, I could almost smell the last insect that they had cruelly devoured, as they whizzed right past my shins, missing me only by millimeters. I was able to get my camera out of my pocket and sneak a photo of it as it perched on a branch, leering at me, mocking me, almost ogling me as if I were his main course. I am lucky to have survived the attack, and to be able to warn others about these ruthless little servants of Lucifer himself. "Prothonotary Warbler"? Hah! More like "Winged Demon-bird"! You may think that weighing in at an average of 16 grams, they wouldn't be much of a threat. That is exactly what they want you to think. Their little "chirp" noises sound nice to our ears, but if you had studied alongside biologists and ornithologists like I have, you would know that these are death threats. There simply is no other reason for those long, dagger like beaks, or the razor sharp talons they have on their feet. It is true, dear reader. These birds are here to conquer the world. Please warn your loved ones of the threat to our civilization. The...

This park is hands down, absolutely one of my favorite parks of all time!! It has a very rewarding walking path that ends up in a water view that is absolutely breathtaking. The trailhead is usually clean, There are multiple benches along the path. If you come here after a rainfall you can find some pretty awesome mushrooms. There is a good variety of foliage in which to see wildlife.

One downside is that if the bathrooms have not been opened in a few days and you go during peak summer when you open the door, you will be faced with a swarm of mosquitoes, at least as large as your body. If you were not skilled in defending yourself against mosquitoes, They will pick you or your loved ones up, and carry you off into the distance. I miss...

It is a nice park of Craven county to visit with family and friends. It has many well maintained nature walking trails ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 miles. It is comprised of 133 acres of preserved pristine coastal land. It is geared towards the natural environment. It offers hiking, nature observation, bird watching and access to Broad Creek by way of a boardwalk, approximately one mile north from Lee's Landing. It contains picnic shelter, tables, and a gazebo to organize small picnic parties. It has got...