A visitor contributed blog by Vel Allard from Wakefield, Virginia

I was at York River State Park strolling along the river and snapped this photo of a Grass Spider, also known as a Funnel Weaver.

This past June, 7 students and 2 staff left the Cove Ridge Center at Natural Tunnel State Park, heading off on the annual Virginia Is For Students Tour 2010.

Part of my work here at Chippokes Plantation State Park is mapping out where different species of trees are located, with a special focus on finding the invasive ones.

The Art League of Marion invites you to attend a weekend of arts, crafts, entertainment and food.

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...

Independence Day, an American holiday through and through!  A perfect excuse to gather the family and have a cookout, vacation on the beach, or visit one of the many historic areas in Virginia as we celebrate the birth of our great country!

Take a walk on the wild side this 4th of July and enjoy America's beautiful outdoors!!

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.

Surprises come in all different packages, this particular day the surprise came wrapped in bright blue eyes and a sweet smile!

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

On Saturday, June 5, come down to the river for food, fun, and culture. This daylong event at will take place at Staunton River Battlefield State Park from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

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

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.

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.” 

It's the unofficial start of summer and one of the big three summer holidays so sometimes the reason for Memorial Day gets a little lost in our pursuit of summer happiness.

Grab a leash and bring your four-legged friend to York River State Park for the annual Dog Days of Summer event. 

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.

Saturday May 15th was a beautiful spring day and just perfect for Bear Creek Lake State Park's 70th Anniversary Celebration.

Discover Shenandoah at Parkfest!

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 my wife and I headed down to Occoneechee to attend the Native American Heritage Festival (Pow Wow).

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.

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.

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

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.

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

This year’s "Raid" at Martin's Station promises to be the best yet and will be held May 7-9, 2010 at Wilderness Road State Park.

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.

When visiting the Hillsman Farm House Museum you’ll have the opportunity to see the results of the recent transformation from abandoned house to a museum.

In Part I of Turning a Farm House into a Museum we learned to accurately recreate the physical surroundings numerous primary sources exist to help us understand how the house was furnished following...

After extensive research and consulting with experts, the mystery of what the Hillsman farm house resembled in 1865 is close to being solved.

False Cape State Park sits on property that was once the Wash Woods community of Virginia.

History runs deep in the heart of Southwest Virginia, through the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky.

Plans are being finalized for a milestone event at Wilderness Road State Park.  This year mark's the 10th anniversary of the Raid at Martin's Station, the park's annual signature event that has...

Wilderness Road State Park is about as far as you can go in Virginia without leaving the State.

When you enter the new visitor center at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park you’ll have the opportunity to see a magnificent painting by Virginian, Sidney E. King.

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'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.

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

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.

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.

Our Friends Groups are all about supporting our state parks. The Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park demonstrated their support for the park by donating funds they have raised in support of two important projects.

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?

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

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

In this episode of The Civil War Day By Day we discuss the battle of Malvern Hill.

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.

No place in America suffered civil war in more ways than did Virginia.

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.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

Karl Harris, who renovated "Karlan" bought the property sometime in the '50s.

Besides a love for the great outdoors, it turned out I found a second love, the weather.

I also received a love of nature through a great upbringing by my parents and grandparents.

Nice title to chapter 2, could be a good television show someday.

The second great event in my life to help mold my career was when my Dad built us a cottage in the woods on Pymatuning Lake near Linesville, Pennsylvania the year I was born, as a place to escape the big city lights and noise of Cleveland.

Readers you are in for a treat as Tom Cervenak, Visitor Services and Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks, weaves the story of how he came to work for parks and what his career has been like.

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

Hundreds of visitors traveled to Wilderness Road State Park on December 4th and 5th to witness Christmas Past and Present, a unique look at our most popular holiday.

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.

On Saturday, November 7, 2009, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will host “A Ceremony on Hallowed Ground” to commemorate Veterans Day.

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.

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.

The Civil War In Virginia, hosted by Christopher Gowin and Bobby Wilcox. In this episode: The Emergence Of Robert E Lee.

©2009 VirginiaOutdoors.com

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

Discover an event 400 years in the making.

Come explore the rich history of Wilderness Road State Park

Discover the history of the Chippokes Plantation.

The history of how Leesylvania State Park came to be.

A look back at how jobs were created through the building of America's State Park System.

Although the smallest Virginia State Park, the Southwest Virginia Museum State Park is packed with facinating historical treasures worth taking the time to explore.

The Civil War In Virginia, hosted by Christopher Gowin and Bobby Wilcox. In this episode: The Battle of Bull Run.

©2009 VirginiaOutdoors.com

The Civil War In Virginia, hosted by Christopher Gowin and Bobby Wilcox. In this episode: Lincoln's decision to preserve the Union.

©2009 VirginiaOutdoors.net

The latest exhibit upgrade at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park mixes new technology with historic artifacts to give visitors an in-depth look at the story of coal mining in Southwest Virginia.

Captivating visitor's attention by utilizing state of the art storytellers and the latest in new media technology, the stories of Confederate and Union soldiers will bring history to life inside a dimensional set.

The Legend of the name of Hungry Mother State Park and the history of her creation.

Virginia State Parks Camping Tips

Activities At Bear Creek Lake State Park

A brand new visitor center will open at the historic Sailors Creek Battlefield State Park this summer.

A new buoy system on the Chesapeake provides paddlers with real-time conditions as well as historic information.

Fairy Stones State Park is so named for interesting geological formations

The annual Raid at Martin's Station provides one of the most realistic historic reenactments in the country May 8-10.

Legend has it that a Union payroll of gold was buried near Fairfax and never recovered.  Could it still be there after all these years?

Kiptopeke will feature the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival in September, and birdwatchers the world over will be on hand.

The shallop is a handy boat that John Smith and those after him brought with them to Virginia.

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 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.