First there was flooding (there are still sites we can't open). When it was clear that the water just wasn't draining off the sites and we took action to block the sites from rental, we realized we had already booked more sites than...

Are you wondering what to do for the 4th of July Weekend?  Well wonder no more! Pocahontas State Park is offering outdoor activities for the entire family.

A new program has been developed to encourage membership on Virginia Outdoors.com and with the Virginia Association for Parks.

First Landing State Park is a truly unique camping destination.  It is a 2,888 acre natural area set within the coastal urban area of Virginia Beach.

As you may know, the State Parks Division is part of a larger agency, the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Join in the fun with families, friends and communities for the sixth annual Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 26, hosted by Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, VA.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll love Holliday Lake State Park.  The park is nestled in the heart of Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest.

Surrounded by two lakes in the heart of Central Virginia, Twin Lakes State Park is an ideal setting for a variety of lakefront activities.

Our cousins arrived in Virginia from cold blustery Ireland (Yes summertime in Ireland!) just in time to enjoy Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

It doesn’t matter what type of camping you do, we have a place for you. Hungry Mother State Park has 4 campgrounds.  Each campground has unique features. 

Worried that oil from the BP disaster will sully Atlantic beaches...

Last month, I challenged readers to make a "Virginia State Parks To-Do List" by visiting our events website at  www.virginiastateparks.gov/ and selecting five things to do at Virginia State Parks.

We are revamping the interpretive information at False Cape State Park.  So far, we've changed the names of trails to reflect the park's cultural and natural history...

Everyone looks forward to the weekend – those two days when you get a break from work and can enjoy some free time.

There's no better way to end a work week than to drive to the Eastern Shore for a camping trip at Kiptopeke State Park.

Snakes seem to get a bad rap for one reason or another.  Personally, I am a great admirer of snakes.  Sure, some could be dangerous when provoked, but that could be said about most wildlife.

There are a lot of fun things to do at Occoneechee State Park throughout the upcoming weekend. Hike through the woods, ride a bike, visit the museum, have a picnic, and enjoy these great programs along with many others.

Great music is on the way as Ronnie Reno and the Reno Tradition headline the 16th annual Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition.

According to Sarah Lankford, Office Manager at Holliday Lake State Park, exciting things are happening at the park!

First let me introduce myself, Moose here, a basset hound born & bred in Cumberland County who moved to the big city of Richmond to reign over the West family.

The end of last week we shipped out 33,000 cards for our park staff to hand out to visitors to let them know about our partnership with WildObs.

Saturday, June 5th is the 22nd Annual Clean the Bay Day sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Did you know that Mason Neck State Park has six canoes, four solo (one-passenger) kayaks and two tandem (two-passenger) kayaks available for rental from April through October?

June is National Get Outdoors Month and after the record setting Memorial Day weekend we had, it is clear folks are ready for a great summer playing outdoors!

Don’t miss this year’s Steam & Gas Engine Farm Festival June 5 & 6 at Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum 868 Plantation Road, Surry VA 23883 (inside Chippokes Plantation State Park).

A few years back I took my girlfriend's son on his first camping trip to Westmoreland State Park.

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, High Bridge Trail State Park will host the 2nd Annual National Trails Day Celebration in celebration of American Hiking Society’s 18th Annual National Trails Day.

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, the unofficial kickoff of summer is here and with it comes camping.

I just took a trip to Staunton River State Park in Scottsburg, Virginia.  While at the park I got a tour of their facilities.

On May 15, 2010 Leesylvania State Park was host to 52 Wounded Warriors from local hospitals that came out fishing as part of the Potomac River Wounded Heroes Spring Bass Challange II.

Located only 20 minutes from downtown Richmond, Pocahontas State Park is the largest park in the system with over 7,900 acres. In the heart of two beautiful campgrounds, Pocahontas offers six “camp cabins.” 

Recent research published in England indicates that getting outdoor exercise can significantly improve your mental health and well-being within FIVE MINUTES of being outdoors!! 

Snakehead fish in Virginia.

Part of our "Fishing 101" series, this video outlines a few of the essential things you'll need for your fishing trip.

Part of our "Fishing 101" series, this video demonstrates how to tie a Palomar knot.

Black bears are becoming an increasingly common sight in Virginia—bears now live in almost every county!

On May 5th DGIF Nongame and Watchable Wildlife along with Agency Outreach staff were at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for the banding and transmitter fitting of nestling bald eagles by researchers at the Center for Conservation Biology.

Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton talks with Bob Duncan, Virginia Director of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Thanks to weeks of fairly dry weather, we are going to be able to open another chunk of campsites at First Landing State Park. You may recall that most of the campground has been under water since the winter.

Wilderness Road State Park will host a special birding program on Saturday, June 5 at 1 pm, entitled Backyard Birds.

Bedford Parks & Recreation Departments will host their annual Youth Fishing Clinic on Saturday, June 5th at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston. Event is free and open to children ages six through fourteen.

Victorian-style afternoon tea is appealing both to palate and spirit.

Discover Shenandoah at Parkfest!

Best known around the world for his abilities to make guitars, Wayne Henderson is also a talented musician.

The 2010 Gathering in the Gap music festival, which will be held at the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap on May 29, offers an opportunity for area musicians to test their skills in a variety of musical competitions.

Maybe you've been reading about Women's Weekends at Virginia State Parks, but can't seem to find the time to get away from your family obligations to enjoy the outdoors.

This weekend Bear Creek Lake State Park will celebrate its 70th Anniversary with activities for the entire family.

Join us for a celebration of Armed Forces Day with a late afternoon performance by the 380th United States Army Reserve Band on Saturday, May 15th at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Amphitheater.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 7:30pm-10:30pm False Cape will offer a new program called, "Stargazing and Owl Hoot." 

The Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum’s Fourth Annual “Gathering in the Gap” takes place Saturday, May 29, on the grounds of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

Join park staff for the first annual "Adult Saltwater Fishing Fanatic Tournament"  at York River State Park in Williamsburg.

Kick off the summer at the York River State Park Outdoor Expo.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 a crew of ten active duty sailors will attempt to row and sail a 26-foot long Monomy Pulling Boat across the Chesapeake Bay from First Landing State Park to Kiptopeke State Park and back.

At the Women's Wellness Weekend we held recently at Fairy Stone State Park we were fortunate to have Carl Boast share his knowledge of nature photography.

One of the benefits of being the Information Manager for State Parks is to be aware of the many events that take place at all of our parks.

Want to do something fun and unique for your mom for Mother's Day? Bring her to Holliday Lake State Park on Saturday, May 8, for our 11:00 am Wildflower Hike.

For the first time, the “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival, which takes place at the Southwest Virginia Museum on May 29, 2010, will include a new Songwriting Contest.

Saturday, May 8th, from 8-11 PM there is another opportunity to experience one of Sky Meadows State Park most popular and entertaining programs- Astronomy for Everyone.

The weather at Belle Isle State Park on Friday, April 23 was perfect for about 180 kids to celebrate Earth Day. This event was held in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Governors School.

Last night I read an article from CNN's SciTech Blog (Children and Nature Network tweeted it) about the new Boy Scout Video Game Badge.

As the weather warms up, there are lots of things to do here at Mason Neck State Park.

This has been a bad spring at First Landing. As many of you know, the park had most of its campsites under water this winter.

On May 15, Bear Creek Lake State Park will celebrate its 70th Anniversary along with the grand opening of the newly renovated trail system.

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.

Virginia State Parks has joined in a partnership with several agencies including, Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Tourism and numerous County Tourism Agencies to promote fishing in Southwest Virginia.

Take a scenic tram ride through Back Bay national Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park to teh site of the historic Wash Woods community in what is now False Cape State Park.

Saturday, May 8 from 10am-2pm False Cape State Park is offering a "Shell & Tell" seashell program.  False Cape boasts an incredible treasure trove of huge whelk, oyster, and moon snail shells.

For Earth Day, America's State Parks offer the following birthday card.

Local schools were invited to participate in Douthat State Park’s Twelfth Annual Earth Day Celebration which was held on Friday, April 16, 2010.

Kiptopeke State Park’s campground roadway is starting to take shape as crews started removing the tar and chip roadway yesterday.

Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton attended the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors on April 16, 2010.

The Friends of Holliday Lake State Park will hold its second of two organizational meetings in starting a Friends group on April 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Lake 4-H Center.

Once again the Eagle Festival is coming to Mason Neck. This event, the largest Earth Day related environmental event in Northern Virginia includes exhibits from nearly 30 non-profit, environmental, historic ...

Discover ways to find directions using nature as a guide, learn how to use a compass, and how to use a GPS as a wayfinding tool.

Take a scenic tram ride through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park to the site of the historic Wash Woods community in what is now False Cape State Park.

The Virginia State Parks Reservation Center and on line system will begin accepting reservations for the new cabins and family lodge at Natural Tunnel State Park on Monday, April 19.

Although I myself am new to geocaching, I would like to get the word out about a new and fun geocaching game that all Virginia State Parks will be launching on March 29, 2010 that will run until December 15, 2010.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, VA honors the coming of Spring and Virginia Garden Week with a day-long event, “A Celebration of Spring,” Saturday, April 24, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Have you ever thought of running a triathlon with your kids but the opportunity was not there?  Well that opportunity is now available.

My trip to Occoneechee State Park was well worth the two hour drive to Clarksville, Virginia.

Visitors to Douthat State Park lined Wilson’s Creek and Douthat’s lake in anticipation for 9 o’clock to drop their fishing lines in the water for Douthat’s first day of fee fishing on Saturday, April 3, 2010.

Think about it, you deserve a little more “me” time.

Last year 2009 my husband and I took our two kids ages 3 and 5 on their first camping trip to Staunton River State Park.

Spring comes early on the coast and with many plants have begun to grow and bloom at False Cape State Park.

Looking for a change in venue now that spring has finally come to the Eastern Shore of Virginia?

Jo and Johnny Finch, stalwart friends and volunteers for Virginia State Parks, are also Friends of Lake Anna State Park (Jo is President the Friends Group and Johnny is President of the Virginia Association for Parks).

Catch a glimpse of spring along the coastal forest during the "Back Bay Kayak Paddle" hosted by False Cape State Park on Sunday, April 4 from 3pm-6pm.

As I kid I was never a very successful kite flyer but boy did I have some fun trying!

Join wild foods enthusiast and park interpreter, Vicky Shufer, for a journey through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to False Cape State Park's interior on Saturday, April 3 from 1pm-5pm.

While doing research for a new trail at Chippokes Plantation State Park, Erik Molleen, District Resource Specialist, came upon evidence of an active eagle's nest in the park. 

After writing this morning's post about rain showers bringing spring wild flowers to Mason Neck State Park, I couldn't resist going to look for early flowers myself.

According to Wikipedia, "Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud) is a large shrub  or small tree native to eastern North America from Southern Ontario, Canada south to northern Florida."

Of course, since I'm a native Virginian, I already knew that the Dogwood is the state flower and tree of Virginia.

What is 57 miles long and parallels an American Heritage River for 39 miles? New River Trail State Park.

Another installment in Caledon Natural Area's Volunteer Bob as he works to keep the shoreline clean

In honor of the start of Spring, here are a few pictures to wet your appetite for a visit to a Virginia State Park.

Spring weather is finally here at Mason Neck State Park, and with warmer days we see not only more park visitors but more park wildlife.  We also see many visitors exploring nature for the first time.

Last week I started a weekly series on recommending other great websites for readers of this blog similar to the Twitter tradition called #FollowFriday. Today's recommendation is The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Kiptopeke State Park, Natural Heritage and Chesapeake Bay Foundation teamed together today planting trees and shrubs creating wildlife habitat while conserving natural resources.

Every college student dreams of sandy beaches and warm sunshine for spring break, but there are some that put service to their communities above this thought.

One of our most popular destination parks is Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

A few weeks ago, False Cape Park Manager Kyle Barbour snapped this beautiful picture of an elusive coyote that has been living in the park.

Natural Tunnel State Park along with the Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Association and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park will be hosting a 2-day workshop "Skills Along the Wilderness Road."

Come and walk in the park. Take a look out on the water and you might see a bald eagle.

There's nothing like the chaos and traffic of the Washington D.C. and northern Virginia area to leave residents screaming for a good dose of nature ...

Goodbye Old Man Winter, boy you were tough this year.

My thoughts are turning more and more towards spring and summer. Maybe it's a touch of  spring fever. Growing up in San Diego, I never really experienced the fever until recent years spent in Virginia.

Virginia's State Parks have always been fantastic family vacation spots. The parents can relax and unwind from their normally busy vacations while the kids enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, hiking or a variety of programs offered at the park.

I started working for Virginia State Parks in 1986 and in a long career have had the chance to get up close with wildlife and working on enhancing it.

I just read a story that in the toughest of times, Americans are volunteering at a record rate.

The old American Express slogan "Don't Leave Home Without it" came to mind today when my husband called with the news.

I just went to check out the "Eagle Cam" that is set up at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens on an active nest.  This is really cool and several school groups were checking it out for education.

Making your visit to Mason Neck State Park the most enjoyable it can be is as easy as having the right equipment. 

Eleven volunteers from the American Hiking Society are working at Douthat State Park this week and have started their first day of trail work.

March brings many things like longer days and more sunshine.  It also means it is spring break time.  One group of college students is spending their spring break at Hungry Mother State Park volunteering.

Your wedding will be a day to cherish forever. A celebration of love in the presence of your family and friends. Hungry Mother State Park is a perfect setting for a romantic, memory filled event.

Normally I like to use a background image on my computer that matches the season.  Here at Mason Neck State Park, I work indoors most of the time but still try to keep my desktop image in tune with the natural world.

I've done a lot of tent camping in my days and still do, but every now and then I want the camping experience without the tent camping part.

Technology has been great in many ways, for instance I'm using it this very moment to communicate to an entire audience of people I don't really know.

Located near the highest point in Virginia, Grayson Highlands State Park has a lot going for it. There are beautiful mountain views and in the summer cooler temperatures. The spring flowers bloom later and the fall colors turn earlier.

I use my vast knowledge of Virginia State Parks that I acquired since I started in 1986, to take Troop 340 out for fun and to learn about the great outdoors.

I've been camping at a lot of Virginia State Parks, some by myself, some with a dozen or so Boy Scouts and leaders.

I recently visited Occonneechee State Park in Clarksville, VA and was "wowed" at the changes that have taken place since I last visited.

Join us at Pocahontas State Park during National Wildlife Week, March 15th –21st, for outdoor nature programs that will introduce you and your family to the wildlife found in the park.

Almost all Virginia State Parks have some sort of body of water associated with them.

Spring has to be close now and as soon as we start having a few days in the 60's and 70's there will be a rush to get out to our great Virginia State Parks.

A trip to the beach or manual labor doing work around a Virginia State Park?  That is the choice 19 college students are making for their spring break this year.

Enjoy the outdoors and want to do something new? Now you can enjoy looking for treasures hidden within Kiptopeke State Park as part of the Star Spangled Banner Geotrail.

Two different volunteer groups will be spending a week of their time at Douthat State Park working on a variety of volunteer projects.

A trip to the beach or manual labor doing work around a Virginia State Park?  That is the choice 11 college students are making for their spring break this year.

Girls weekends are one of my favorite adventures because you never know where you’ll end up or who’ll you’ll meet, which is the fun of the weekend anyway.

At a time when we could sure use the revenue and our visitors sure could use an escape from cabin fever, the winter weather has conspired to put a damper on early spring camping.

Virginia State Parks is home to a park whose black history dates back to the depression era and the civil rights movement of the 50s.

My most recent state park visit was to Smith Mountain Lake State Park at the beginning of December.  My husband and I got married on December 5, 2009 and spent our honeymoon at Smith Mountain Lake.

As Winter sets in I can’t help but reflect how quickly Fall passed. As with each season there are always regrets and always delights to be tucked away.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary spring fever is a listless, lazy, or restless feeling commonly associated with the beginning of spring.

Spotsylvania couple active in projects, new technology for state parks here and elsewhere

This past weekend I went to Douthat State Park and stayed in one of the original CCC log cabins built in the 1930's. 

For those of you that grew up camping, do you remember how good food tasted cooked outside over a campfire?  Wasn’t it the best?

Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? If you are interested in backyard habitat, this is a great month to assess your own property to determine how well you are feeding our feathered friends.

The Great White Egret is the symbol of the National Audobon Society and represents the regal beauty of all bird species.

Traditionally spring break - the week before and after Easter - are busy times in Virginia State Parks.

False Cape State Park offers some of the most unique landscape and wildlife viewing opportunities in Virginia.

Kiptopeke State Park closed its campground early this past fall much to the chagrin of our fall patrons. Work is progressing with most of the drain pipe installation complete and road grading work starting soon.

Virginia State Parks kicked off the promotional show season with the Washington Camping and RV Show (Jan. 15-17) at the Dulles Expo Center.

Volunteers are incredible people!   Especially Virginia State Park Volunteers!  They never cease to amaze me.

Macro photography--artistic close-ups of insects, plants, flowers--has become quite popular in the photography world with new digital stabilization technology and macro lenses for digital cameras.

False Cape State Park is hosting Wild Women Weekend on March 5-7, 2010 at their Environmental Education Center.

False Cape State Park is considered Virginia's Outer Banks.  It's barrier spit island stretches south from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Sandbridge, Virginia to the North Carolina border.

False Cape State Park is offering an Winter Woods Walk on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 1pm-4pm.

Sure, it's cold outside here in Virginia.  It's cold at Holliday Lake State Park, but things are happening here!

This is the second of a four-part series about what we do in parks during the off-season, Part II

Okay so this will probably give away how ancient I am, but when I was a girl Alan Sherman did a song called A Letter From Camp: "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. Here I am at Camp Granada."

A survey done by the NASPD (National Association of State Park Directors) have shown some great results.

Unfortunately, with all the traveling, shopping, cooking, and general hustle and bustle of the season, families are often too busy to really connect with each other during the holiday season.

Take a Winter Tram Ride to Wash Woods at False Cape State Park.

On Friday, December 11, the Fish Virginia First steering committee met at beautiful Douthat Lake View Restaurant at Douthat State Park.

Snow came a little early this year to central Virginia.

There are three poisonous snakes that can be found in Virginia, and I am starting off this series with my favorite one.

Our family LOVES a relaxing week at Claytor Lake.

As part of a new initiative, Virginia State Parks is using GPS technology to redesign our trail maps to more accurately reflect current conditions.

Everyone knows what rocks and whoppers are, don’t they? Did you answer a rock is a stone and a whopper is a juicy hamburger? Normally you would be correct, but we’re not talking about the same things now.

How to make a Snow Day Special by having fun outdoors.

Douthat State Park will begin lowering Douthat Lake beginning Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 and will begin refilling the lake on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Several members of the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes (BRFAL) Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program recently installed new interpretive signs along the Oak Hickory Trail at Fairy Stone State Park.

If you were in Leesylvania State Park on the morning of Saturday, November 21, you might have seen a sight that is increasingly rare these days: children having fun while being active outside.

Winter is a great time to come hiking or bird watching at Mason Neck State Park.

A special “volunteer hug” goes out to a group of volunteers from Longwood University’s Greek Society.

With a few basic preparations, you and your family can enjoy winter hiking at Holliday Lake State Park or any state park in Virginia.

Regardless of falling temperatures or even falling snow, Mason Neck State Park is a great place to visit in December.

Fairy Stone State Park is truly at a mountain lake. For those flat landers this means trees, wildlife, rocky outcroppings,fresh air and NO SHARKS!

The Park Manager at Staunton River State Park tells of how different the park and cabin guests are in the winter verses the rest of the year.

An additional six miles of trail are now open at High Bridge Trail State Park, a perfect place for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders  to enjoy the beauty of Central Virginia.

Leesylvania Elementary school children were invited to get outside and experience Northern Virginia nature on Nov. 21, 2009 at the Turkey Trot.

Claytor Lake State Park and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are hosting a Youth Deer Hunting Workshop on Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19.

Fall is a gorgeous time to visit Mason Neck State Park.

The Friends of Hungry Mother will again be sponsoring Hungry Mother State Park’s Fall Fear Bike Race on Oct 24, 2009.

Take time to read highlights from Tom's visits and to five state Parks on the far west side of the state. This is the last in the series of five articles.

Each year State Park employees, some family members, volunteers and friends of parks get together on the Eastern Shore at Kiptopeke State Park for a very important event, The State Parks Benevolence Fund Fishing Tournament and Raffle.

Only when I peaked behind my garden wagon did I find the most beautiful bird I’d seen in years, a Northern Parula (Parula Americana).

Tom takes time to share highlights of his visits to Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Wilderness Road State Park, Natural Tunnel State Park, Grayson Highlands State Park and Hungry Mother State Park.

False Cape State Park invites the entire family for a fun-filled weekend of hiking and exploring Virginia’s Outer Banks while discovering tricks and tips on how to survive in the wilderness.

Staunton River State Park is excited to announce that it will be keeping four cabins open year round starting this winter. 

Regardless of whether you are a lark or owl, False Cape State Park has a kayak program right up your alley during the month of October.

Johhny Finch, President, Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) announces rennovation of VAFP website, its new companion virginiaoutdoors.net and dates and location for the 2010 Spring Conference.

Explore what the Virginia State Parks have to offer.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy.

Virginia Beach is a great destination year round and First Landing State Park makes an excellent base for visiting that resort city and the surrounding cities.

Autumn is a great time to explore nature in Mason Neck State Park.

Apple Day, a Celebration of Appalachian Heritage at Douthat State Park is just around the corner on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Innovative program that’s getting kids to check their sap buckets before checking their emails.

MSNBC Profiles the Wildlife Center of Virginia. This video from MSNBC features the National Wildlife Federation's Doug Inkley:

Virgil S. Possum explores the Virginia State Parks and tells tales of his adventures.

Virginia State Parks soon to launch a great new program “Trail Quest – Explore Virginia State Parks One Step at a Time”.

Summer is the best time of year for star gazing, programs available at Belle Isle State Park.

Pocahontas Premieres featuring Page Wilson with Recklass Abandon, Marna & Macy and Li'l Ronnie and the Grand Dukes

Often overlooked in its importance to birds, the Piedmont provides valuable nesting, migration, and wintering habitats that are scarce in other parts of the state.

Take a Fall Bird Walk to Celebrate the Fifth Birthday of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail

Kayaking the Potomac River from Westmoreland State Park

Virginia State Parks Camping Tips

Activities At Bear Creek Lake State Park

Junior Ranger programs will continue this week at Occoneechee State Park. Students who attend all eight sessions will earn a Junior Ranger badge.

Butterfly found in Virginia State Parks

Virginia is a state literally overflowing with things to do in the outdoors, yet not everyone takes advantage of the opportunities to get outdoors.

Fairy Stones State Park is so named for interesting geological formations

Studies show that children are becoming more disconnected to the outdoors.  Learn about the causes and effects, and what some are doing to reverse the trend.

Several state parks offer moonlight canoe tours throughout the summer, offering a fun evening of nature and the stars.

Virginia has more national parks and monuments than almost every other state in the U.S., and there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Mathews County, Rebecca Grow

George Klein Fishing Report, 04/16/2009

A plantation has been sacked; burnt to the ground with nothing left but ruins. Legend has it that the souls of the innocent still roam these woods every fall in search of revenge!

After this unspeakable accident years ago, they say the trainsman still roams the tracks at night waving a red lantern. What is his ghost trying to overcome?

The story of how the term Saved by the Bell originated.

The story of Rebecca's Revenge, a woman put to death in 1705 for practicing witchcraft, who is still haunting the area today.

The story of Richard's Haunted House, built in 1856 just prior to the Civil War and taken down in 1975 when all old, insignificant structures in the park were knocked down and destroyed by fire as the Parks facilities were being built.

Summer may be half over, but there are still lots of programs at Belle Isle State Park.