CenturyLink Prices starts at $45/mo in Willow Spring, NC

You'd expect a town called Willow Spring to offer a host of water-based activities, riverfront properties, and gorgeous scenery—and if you've just moved to this lovely township, your guess is right on the money.

Black Creek—part of Neuse River, the longest in North Carolina—runs directly through Willow Spring. The creek spreads humidity and, as a result, summertime misery when temperatures stretch into the hundreds (luckily, you can stay entertained indoors with TV plans and high-speed internet from CenturyLink). But eerily beautiful wetlands and calm waterscapes during sunrise and sunset make the humidity well worth it, especially during the more temperate spring and fall.

When the weather's nice enough for you and the family to venture outside, picnic at Bass Lake Park—enjoy your food on the wooden pier overlooking the lake, then hike through the surrounding untouched wilderness. Want to cool down without leaving the city? Head to the splash pad in nearby Fuquay-Varina for a delightfully sunny, water-filled afternoon.

Once you've found your footing in Willow Spring, invest in your marine transportation of choice—kayak; canoe; or small, motorized boat—and locate the nearest launch spot. It's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a life of leisure on the river.