A visitor contributed blog by Vel Allard from Wakefield, Virginia

With sweat rolling down their faces over 200 Royal Canin USA associates broke ground on the new playground and walking track, now known as Royal Canin Park

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.

The Twelfth Annual Douthat State Park Arts and Crafts Fair will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Discovery Center.

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.

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!

The 54th Basic Law Enforcement class graduated from Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem VA on Wednesday May 26, 2010.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Fourteen college students from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York are spending a week at Douthat State Park as an alternative spring break volunteering.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Douthat State Park added to the increase in visitation with 205,654 visitors in 2009, up 10,090 visitors from 2008.

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?

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.

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

Douthat State Park is offering an ornament making contest for students through Monday, December 14, 2009.

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.

State Parks Director Joe Elton talks with staff from Virginia’s National Award Winning State Parks.

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.

Jason Ring to perform at Douthat State Park this Saturday, Sept 5

A day of fun in the sun is had at the annual Back to School Beach Bash at Douthat State Park.

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.

State Parks Director Joe Elton talks with staff from Virginia’s National Award Winning State Parks. In this episode, Joe talks with Charlie Conner, Park Manager at Douthat State Park.

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

George Klein Fishing Report, 04/16/2009