Highly recommend lake Anna state park. 8 was thoroughly impressed by the staff that help direct you…read moreto cabins. The park,cabins, bathrooms, and beach are all kept in superb condition. The staff are working tirelessly throughout the day making sure everyone is safe and the ground kept clean. My only downside was the website is not user friendly at all! They could definitely use and upgrade. Otherwise highly recommend if you're looking for a weekend getaway in a cabin or campground.

This review is specifically about the Lake Anna State Park, not about the lake itself…read more We are regulars at this park, but were disappointed with our visit today. It's still the same beautiful park, with nice hiking trails, a public beach ($), fishing, picnic tables, etc. However, today's visit was FAR short of being a relaxing day in nature. We arrived by boat around 9:15 am on a Saturday morning. *There is a lot of ongoing vegetation restoration so many areas near the water that previously had been available for park goers are currently blocked off. *Even by 9:15 am, all of the picnic tables were taken by what appeared to be large groups. Some of those groups were BLARING music -- that we could still hear from the lakeside hiking trails. The swimming area was also PACKED with people. *Also, while the park is usually kept very clean, there were areas where some trash had accumulated. (For instance, there were 3 extra large, empty plastic bottles in the covered structure by the pond near the boat docks). *Finally, there were many (20?) park goers using the area near the boat docks for non-boating activities, making it potentially dangerous as boats and jet skis were coming in and out. There were people swimming in this area, while at the same time some Jet Skiers were teaching beginners how to ride. There was also a man teaching his two toddlers how to fish while sitting on the edge of the docks. Another group was sitting on the edge throwing sticks to their dog that was in the water. We will, of course, return to this state park, but will more likely visit on a weekday.

Stopping overnight in Culpeper on a trip to Charlottesville, we stumbled upon this park. It was a…read morebeautiful day and lots of families were present, their children enjoying the playground equipment and water fountain cooling stations. Got to see some frisbee golf and take a wonderful hike. Beautiful vistas from the top loop, as well as fragrant jasmine. An amazing park!

Happy to find a the new park that opened last month in Culpeper. Great for a hilly walk weaving…read morethrough trees. Looks like they are going to put disc golf in. Not a fan. Would prefer they leave as is. Oh well. Pavement wide handicapped accessible trails.

This is a substantial preserve that is free to enter. Some facilities without running water are…read moreavailable at the entrance. The topography varies, and the meadow near the parking lot is markedly distinct from the valley in which the actual creek lies. One suspension bridge crosses the creek and it was in quite good condition, but it could also be crossed on foot, or on hoof as this is a horse area. There were several miles of trails and I was worn out enough that I did only a fraction of them, but they were quite pleasant. Various signage suggested this parking lot was a spot for thieves despite the rural location; I suppose it is a highbrow crowd that would be parking here. It also suggests that anytime your shoe leaves a mark the trail is too wet to walk, which if taken literally is kind of ridiculous. Fortunately, if you lock your car and make your own decisions about mud, you can have a good experiences.

This is a great park we happen to find in the area. After spending the previous day at the winery,…read morewe needed to do a small hike. Unfortunately, it was extremely cold and windy and we didn't have bug spray, so we didn't get didn't get too adventurous. For these reasons, we tried the easiest trail--the Meadow Loop Trail. It was an easy loop around a grassy area, took maybe less than 10 minutes. There was a very detailed map at the entrance of the trails. This included all the available trails, the level of difficulty for each trail, basic etiquette, friendly reminders, etc. There was also a reminder that everyone needs to watch out for each other --hikers, bikers and horse riders. We didn't see any horses, but we did try to dodge the "presents" they left behind. We did see some bikers returning from the trail. There was a large parking lot, which most likely fills up when the weather is nicer. Cameras are watching the parking lot, but it's always best to lock cars and hide valuables :). There were bathrooms available, but not the type with running water....if you get what I mean! Would I return? Can't say for sure since it's pretty far.

I am a sucker for outdoors everything, well almost everything (wink). Seriously, this park is a…read morecomplete gem. It's not very large and definitely not your typical park i.e. with tons of seating and a children's play area. This is more of a fishing off the dock and hopping into a boat park. As you enter the you'll notice benches w/ seats - this is such a great area for catching up on your novel. This area will shade you from the scorching sun rays. I enjoyed reading a book and meeting locals. Most people came to fish, run, and for the scenic walk. The benches on the dock/walkway are metal so if you're planning to sit and hang bring something to lay over the metal before you sit - it may burn your bum!

Shhhh.... let's keep this between you and me... I'm still mesmerized by this quiet, natural, hidden…read morepark. I love that the whole park is sprawled over a marshy creek and there a boardwalk meandering through it. And guess what?? The boardwalk has been extended all the way to the next neighborhood. Now there are two entrances winding around this rustic, reedy park. It's a bird watchers delight... not to mention some other little critters. Today I came on a crisp, cold day to get some fresh air, exercise and then settle on a bench and read, while soaking in nature and and reflect on the constraspects of the current pandemic. Perfect place to gain positive perspective! My favorite park!

Fun playground, nice bathroom facilities, soccer fields, plenty of parking. Great looking mountain…read morebike trails (im not a mountain biker but they look awesome and well kept). The walking trail is great for the whole family. About a mile and my 7 and 5 year old handled it easily, and a jogging stroller rolls on the trail fine for my 2 year old. The terrain is varied and interesting, compared to many other non mountain "hiking" trails. Lots of goodness at Leakes Mill

Recently visited Leakes Mill Park because I just had to get outside and get active! Mid-afternoon…read moreon a cold weekday and there were only 3 other cars in the lot, which made me feel like I had the place to myself. There are fields, a playground, and mountain biking/hiking trails - the mountain bike trail is something like 8 miles? It's a lot of switchbacks which if you're hiking them - can get a little redundant BUT I suggest you stay on them until you familiarize yourself with where you're at. There is also a graveled walking path that I believe is a 1.8 mile loop if you choose not to do the actual trails. There's a pretty creek that runs through one park of the park where the ruins sit. There's plenty of picnic tables, benches and workout equipment throughout the trails too which is really nice. I can't wait to take my pups back here.

Love this Park. Lots of tree cover to help hot sun. Good paths for people of all skill levels. I…read moremust say, sitting and listening to the movement of the river was delightful.

Fabulous trail! Quite busy even on Thanksgiving but we found parking quickly! The wonderful part is…read morethat it rained heavily the evening and morning for our hike. The trail is made of asphalt so easy assess for handicap and no muddy paws

My husband & I stumbled upon this park when looking for things to do in Fredericksburg. We will be…read morerelocating in the coming months & wanted to get to know the area! The park is pretty big. There are a ton of trails, picnic tables, playgrounds for the kiddos, & a stream that runs all the way through the park. It's a great spot to take family photos and to enjoy one with nature! We love taking our dogs & letting them play in the stream. We have only gone to the park during the fall/winter time, so I can only assume how busy it is in the summer. The trails are dog friendly & we always stumble upon a new trail when visiting (who wants to do the same trail over & over again? Not me!). If you bring the doggies, make sure to also pack a towel & some water. There is no dedicated water station for them. I can't recall if there are poop stations along the trails, so bring those too! I also recommend calling the park ahead of time to see if they are open. There are times after a heavy rainfall that the stream is too high to cross with a vehicle. In this case, you'll have to park on the outside of the park. Another big thing is you have to drive pass an apartment complex (kinda weird I know) in order to enter the park. Don't be alarmed though! You will definitely see the park entrance if you keep going. I give this park a 5 star because it never disappoints. There is always something to do & my fur babies love it. I will definitely be back & can't wait to check it out in the summer! If you are in the Fredericksburg area, go to Alum Spring Park & enjoy the beautiful nature views!

Great park and playground for kids. Beautiful streams and walking trails. Definite must visit in…read moreFredericksburg.

Cute little park tucked away in Louisa. It is nice that is away from the Main Roads. There are…read morehouses along it though so it could get noisy when people are doing yard work. It looks like a good spot to bring the kids. If you are passing through town it is a nice place to get out a stretch your legs.

While looking for the Pyramid, keep going to almost the very end of Lee Drive and you'll see the…read morePyramid past the railroad tracks in the distance to your left. And since you're visiting the Pyramid, take your time going down Lee Drive. Many Confederate fighting positions are still visible, including an artillery site and trench works. I found this to be more interesting than the Pyramid itself. While you can see the Pyramid from the road you can't get close to it, since it's on the other side of an active Amtrak line. About the battle: While the Union's river crossing on Day 1 and heroic attack on the Sunken Road at Marye's Heights on Day 3 get plenty of attention, Day 2 is often overlooked. In fact Meade's attack against the southern Confederate flank on Day 2 almost broke through their lines, but failed mostly because of poor communication between Union commanders. The "pyramid" stands near the point of the Union's greatest penetration. The "Slaughter Pen" (which has its own Yelp entry) is on the opposite side of the wood line. Unfortunately the Confederate and Union positions are separated by the railroad, so you can't walk the entire length of the battlefield. Funny thing about the Pyramid - it was actually built by southerners. The idea for a monument was pitched by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society to Virginia railroad execs who sought to memorialize the battle in a location visible to train travelers. The pyramid shape is based on the monument to the Unknown Confederate dead in Richmond.

A very cool hidden gem in Fredericksburg - there is a path that you can walk down but I don't think…read moreyou're supposed to. There is a train track in between the path and the pyramid. You can pull off of the road and take pictures with a zoomed lens. It was a bit challenging to find - my Apple Maps took me to the wrong place (completely different battlefield!) but android seemed to have it down just fine. Just make sure you're going to the location near Lee Dr!

Always a great place to get out into nature. One of my favorite places to hike with great views of…read morethe river or the woods.

This past weekend, I went to one of my favorite local parks in Vegas, and it prompted me to think…read moreof my favorite urban parks across the United States. Belle Isle was the first place that came to mind! I lived in RVA (Manchester) for a year from 2007-2008, and Belle Isle became a second home for me during that time. As an avid adventurer, I highly recommend Belle Isle for the following reasons (based on my pre-pandemic/circa 2008 experiences): 1.) Egalitarianism: It's a great place to mix and mingle with people from all walks of life. 2.) It's a great choose your own adventure type of place where you could spend an entire day doing a mix of the following activities: kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, reading, sunbathing, whiling away time on the rocks, cloud gazing, having a picnic, doing landscape photography/photoshoots, etc. 3.) The James River! It's the only Class III-IV white water rapids in the U.S. running through the heart of a city center. 4.) Wildlife (especially the aquatic birds)! 5.) Proximity to the rich culture, food, and history in Downtown Richmond that you can explore before or after your Belle Isle adventure.