Been to the Back Bay Refuge on and off for 10+ years. We travel to Sandbridge each summer and love…read morethis stop. It's quiet and peaceful. Nice boardwalks to walk and push a stroller on. We usually see fish, snakes and turtles. Sometimes there are a lot of bugs so bring bug repellant. Great stop!

This refuge is huge and very well maintained. It's surrounded by beautiful scenery, with the…read morebackwaters on one side and the ocean on the other, so there are some really amazing views throughout. There are plenty of great trails to explore, and we even spotted some wildlife along the way. They have good amount of parking it's $5 for entry in summer months. The restrooms are clean and well kept, and there are benches along the trails where you can sit and enjoy the views. Overall, it's a wonderful place to spend some time outdoors, walk the trails, and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings. Definitely worth visiting if you love nature and scenic views.

Nice park, beautiful old growth trees that have several nice trails winding through the trees. But…read morethe trails are poorly marked If marked at all. There are maps that are randomly scattered around the park they're awesome but they don't show you where you in the park so pretty worthless If you trying to figure out out where you are on a specific trai.

I got lost in here! Loved it My first time taking a trail…read morethrough a woodsy area. I'm a marsh girl myself, but this was cool. The tree roots created what looked like stairs in some areas. There were several bridges. Man made bike hills. Marked trees for direction. Lunch tables. Not much to say. The point is to walk or bike and that's just what everyone was there to do. Even the huge spiders and bunnies.

I am impressed by this nearby city park. I had no idea this was even here until we moved into…read moreShadowlawn a few months ago and it's a pleasant surprise. It's much larger than I expected and I love the dog park, large green area with the small three children's play areas, paved bike/running trails and the entire area. It's very big and there are several walking/hiking trails inside the main portion of the park spanning several miles and meandering through a wooded area that follows the marsh. It's well-kept and has multiple entrances from the Shadowlawn neighborhoods. -The entrance from VA Ave has a very small parking lot and then street parking. -The entrance from Indian Rd. has a much larger parking lot with plenty of space and opens to the large, green field with 3 separate play areas for toddlers with climbing sculptures in the shape of frogs and caterpillars. Really cute and has a pavilion and circular paved trail around it. -The entrance from Marshview Dr. has a small lot and this is where the dog park area is as well. Two tennis courts here across the street which are part of a small playground/tennis complex called Salt Marsh Park. Last weekend I finally went for a hike inside and covered about 1/3rd of the likable/walkable space. It's gorgeous! It's also neat bc they have it set up for trail bike riding and it's very well marked and laid-out. I came upon some beautiful areas for sitting and enjoying the view. If you haven't ventured here yet you should give it a try - actually pretty impressive in size and option for a neighborhood co-located park.

100 acres of beautiful trees, paths, dog park and 2 different playground areas. What a fun park…read more Loads of mature beautiful trees and they have areas that are grassy for kids to run and play. Lots of dogs at this park. I LOVE dogs.2 Different playgrounds. The playground area was my favorite. There were no kids so we explored the playground. Huge size. It was awesome. So their playgrounds are spread out. They have one at the area where you park your vehicle. You walk or ride your bike a ways turn right into another area . Nice size grass area to run and play and then 3 sections of little whimsical play areas. Frog area, Caterpillar area, and turtle area. Really nice paved walk ways with these beautiful little bridges. Dog park, People and Pet friendly. Wheel chair and stroller friendly. Great for bikes. They even have a station for bike repair and to pump up your tires. EXCELLENT for us we love riding our bikes. This is such a lovely area we were just riding our bikes around and found it. We love it. It has a lot to offer and it is very well kept

I've walked passed Cape Story Park for years when walking the Cape Henry Trail…read more Today was really cool with the unseasonable warm weather and timing of kids out of school. It was busy! So what's at Cape Story Park to enjoy? A full basketball court and a play area with swings. Also space to play a pickup football game that I witnessed today. What makes the park a four star is location off the trail. It's absolutely ideal for nearby residents. It's not a park I would recommend unless walking the trail as there is no parking. 3.5, rounding up.

This is a hidden gem. It is small. About 2 miles of Loop trails. Gravel and dirt paths. Trails have…read moreviews of trees, wildflowers, birds, very small marsh, and a bridge. Super Easy hike, great for people of all ages, dogs, and runners. The extras I love about this park is they have structures built out of natural materials. I will include pictures. They also have colorful art in random areas on the paths. I included a couple of pictures of that too. The paths are VERY well marked. It is impossible to get lost. They have a HUMONGOUS American ELm and near there is a small secret path area that is more like the hiking that I prefer. It is always nice to explore. They also have a kayak area with a kayak ramp. They have a little playground. Next to the playground is a covered area that they hold lectures. There is a picnic table area. They have 2 porta potties. There is a couple of buildings on site but they were not open so I'm just mentioning them. Parking was fantastic. There were quite a few vehicles when were showed up but we saw a few people but it did not seem that busy. So this is a win for us. We walked it a couple of times just to make sure we saw it all and like I said super easy hike. If your in the area check it out

A perfect day for a family adventure!!! Rock collecting, dandelions a picking and meeting new…read morefriends at the park! There's plenty of things to do! Different hiking routes and a kayak landing area! They have plenty of benches around the trail to take a little breather. Parking area available. Pet friendly, just make sure you pick up after your fur baby. They do have poop baggies available at the entrance.

Plaza Methodist Park is a busy, small neighborhood park. It has a playground and small field. The…read morepark is mostly clean overall but tends to have a small to moderate amount of litter that seems to be worse during the school year. 2.5* rounding up. -- The Playground -- The playground area with wood chip mulch is best for elementary school aged children. The equipment is in generally good condition; with close supervision it's good for younger children (note that there are large gaps in the openings along the playground system), and those who are a bit older congregate or toss a football, etc in the field. There are baby/toddler swings, one intermediate swing, and regular swings. There's also a teeter-totter. The playground is in full sun. -- Benches & Pavilions -- There is one pavilion with one picnic table beneath it. There is one trash can not far from it. There are a couple benches along the perimeter of the playground. -- Walking Areas -- There are no paths or walking areas within the park, although you could wander around the small field or walk along the sidewalk that runs along 3 sides of the park. -- Sporting Equipment -- There are no other equipment options other than the playground. -- Amenities -- There are no toilet amenities, so not ideal for a long visit. -- Parking -- There is a parking lot owned by Light of Hope United Methodist Church. I've parked there for short visits without issue, but there is a sign saying towing enforced. -- Things to Note -- During peak times, it's usually very busy with kids. It's right across from an apartment complex and across from Lynnhaven Elementary and the Church offers childcare, so it's convenient for a lot of families. Other than the parking lot, the perimeter of the park is all neighborhood streets just off of S Plaza Trail. There is no fence or physical boundary between the park and roads, but there is a sidewalk. It's not too close to water, so mosquitoes aren't much of an issue. -- Takeaways -- This is an average centrally located neighborhood park. The main attraction is its playground. If you are in the area and there's no longer a pandemic going on, it's worth a visit particularly not during the school year, but during the school year there seems to be a lot of people passing through and littering. You may want to make a project out of cleaning up the park (bring gloves and a trash bag). I wouldn't suggest traveling out of your way for it though, and right now with the need for social distancing, I prefer to try to frequent less busy parks.

Finally got to check this place out. We run and bike past all the time. Really cool little wildlife…read moresanctuary right in the middle of Norfolk. Took the kids and walked around the trails. We got about 3/4 of a mile out of the looping wandering paths but you could wander more. We saw birds and squirrels and lots of plants. I want to come back in the spring when the flowers are blooming. There's a porta pottie if you need to go. Follow GPS and go bast the fence for parking. Totally free!

It's not often that you stumble on a sanctuary. Over three years ago that's exactly what occurred…read morewhen I had a a meeting at nearby Norfolk Southern. Since this time I have volunteered for clean up days and posted pictures. However, I could not bring myself to write a review that would bring attention and traffic to the garden oasis. However the sanctuary needs your support with an aging volunteer staff and a long list of maintenance items. The 3 acre plot was gifted to Cape Henry Audubon Society in 70's by Norfolk & Southern RR. The Weyanoke Caretaker is 76 yr old Woody and he can still swing a mean ax, or saw a log without machinery. Woody is just one of the many volunteers that maintain the grounds, provide tours and provide programming. So what to expect if you visit without a tour. There are park benches, a creek, a marsh overlook, trails and a meadow to enjoy. Many of the plantings are labeled. With a tour you will learn about the Cape Henry Audubon Society's Mission at Weyanoke. Birds and plants will be highlighted and a discussion on the environment and how to protect our precious resources. School groups can schedule tours. A nature walk occurs the third Saturday of the month at 9 AM and last approximately an hour. Donna has led several tours I've been on and is a knowledgeable guide. The location is in West Ghent Norfolk. The gardens are adjacent to the neighborhood. The address when plugged in could act a bit funky but it's correct as it leads you through residential properties. Parking is a half block away at Jeff Robertson Park. Nicky's Gate is secret passage way for locals and volunteers. The gate is kept unlocked if you are lucky enough to locate. If you do find it keep the gate closed at all times. Bike trails run across the side of the property and connect to adjacent trails by nearby Jeff Robertson park. The trails are part of the Elizabeth River Trail Network that run for miles in Norfolk. Biking is not permitted in the park. There are no trash cans inside the sanctuary for debris. Just outside the fenced in area there is a barrel for use of trash. Please take out any trash you find and be a good stewart of the sanctuary. Pets are prohibited in the gardens. Hours are 9-6 during the weekend. Winter months they close at 5. Staff is on the property but, no official tours per se. Consider opportunities to volunteer your time and expertise for Spring clean up and planting. Information is on their website. Or contact Mike Schoen 757-364-9406. There are projects going on year around. Ball is now in your court to enjoy a small piece of heaven in suburbia.

I had an amazing camping trip here. Amenities:…read moreThey have restrooms, showers, laundry on site, playgrounds, etc. Campground: The campgrounds were spread out very nicely. You are a little close to your neighbors, but it still feels spacious. We stayed in a tent spot that came with a picnic table, an area for a fire pit, and plenty of trees to set up a hammock. Behind our spot, there was a nice wooded area with a trail. Pet friendly: We brought our dog with us and she enjoyed her time there. Kid friendly: This was paradise to the kids. They had a beautiful playground near the campgrounds. All of the trails were awesome and easy for them to navigate. They enjoyed fishing also. I will definitely return. This is a perfect place to come and unplug. Tips: **Bring your own toilet paper. The bathrooms there ran out a few times since it was a busy weekend.**

If you're looking for a campground to just relax and chill for a couple of days with friends and…read morefamily, this is a good place. I'm still giving this camphround 5 stars, cause I'm a nature lover, and it's all green! The bathrooms are all clean. They have the cleanest shower rooms! I can't believe it. Well, I'm from California, and I've seen worse. However, there's just not enough activities you can do with kids. There's a few playgrounds, a putt putt golf course where you and your kids can use. Paddleboating was great, but you can't go beyond the bridge, which is fine. There were bicyles, kayaks and canoe that you can rent. For me, this is a good place on my list! And Park Rangers go on patrol once in a while, so it's safe. Just one thing, campers that brings their Fido, please be responsible enough to pick up their dodos, I had to pick up someone's dodo, (with double gloves, yes I have it my toiletries), cause it's right in front of our camp. I really don't want from my camp to accidentaly step on it. Great place!