Beautiful shady walking trail in Williamsburg. Saw several neat insects, lots of ducks, tadpoles,…read moresome turtles and a heron. We also spied at deer! I do wish the trail was marked more clearly when you're on the boardwalk bridge but overall a good experience.

This was overall a great hike. It was a nice nature break during our vacation. It had beautiful…read morefall foliage and the paths were clearly marked. Lots of picture opportunities - in fact, I remember the city park's website promoting some photo contest for their trails. We only expected to be among the woods until we found the asphalt trail that borders a vast field. We took that path and took more pictures. We saw hawks circling the field but none took a land dive. I was happy to see it all and then return to the woods for more cold air. It was really enjoyable and I would recommend the trek. We were out there at least 2 hours. Restrooms were port-a-potties.

Today was a great day for the outdoors so we visiting another one of the Virginia State Parks…read more First let me say - I've never had a bad visit at the VASP's Besides the great weather we wanted to visit this newer state park. We enjoy camping in our RV and discovered this park had camping sites. So normally if possible we will check out a park before we drag our big beast RV to a location. I found the camping sites real nice and fairly large. None of the site look difficult to back into. However, they do have several pull through sites. None of the sites seem to have any cover - so you will need to deal with the sun and maybe summertime heat. Just know that. Some sites do have E/W. The dump station appears clean and easy in & out. The bath house was very clean As for the rest of the park. Just wonderful biking/walking path. Not sure but there are a few miles of them and all look flat. As for the trails to the water, they are rocked and again I'm sure a mountain biker can easily handle them. Not 100% sure though if bikes are allowed on them - so check before you do. I even seen an older lady driving her motorized wheelchair on these paths and she didn't seem to have any difficulty. The restroom area and picnic pavilions looked great and were very clean. Of course this facility is newer, so I hope they stay looking as great as they do today. I expect we will be back here with the RV in the Fall or Spring. I say this again due to no real shade in the campground area and no swimming avail.

Meaning "A special meeting place", Machicomoco was a lovely place to take a quick walk and only…read morejust beating the downpour. The Interpretive Area has gorgeous water views, and short gravel trails. A longer loop trail circled the park, saw a few deer in the fields. There were several marsh birds, including white heron!

After grabbing brunch from a nearby café, we brought it to this park and it couldn't have been a…read morebetter choice. There were plenty of shaded benches surrounded by trees and beautiful flowers, and it was so quiet and peaceful. The sound of birds chirping made it feel like a little escape from everything. Parking was super easy too, with lots of spots nearby. It was the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a calm morning.

This lovely green space is located near the more historic part of Williamsburg. No playground here…read morebut there are a couple of sculptures, several benches and lots of old growth trees providing shade. There is a lovely brick walkway that surrounds the central park area and it's a nice spot. Picnic, sit, enjoy some time away from the touristic rush not far away. There is some street parking. [Review 12165 overall, 1949 of 2019.]

Played a game of disc gold here. $3 is a very fair price. Some of the tees are missing but all…read moreholes have at least one left. Good mix of technical and longer shots. Beware of errant shots and ravines. Will come back again!

This park has it all! Playground, rest rooms, mountain bike trails, awesome disc golf course,…read morebluebird houses, dock, kayaks for rent! Go check it out.

A Hidden gem in Newport News Victory Landing Park, located…read morein Newport News, Virginia, is a waterfront spot hidden from view by an office building and a memorial arch. Newport News near this part seems a little run down. It is a very nice place for relaxing or taking in scenic views of the James River. Nestled near the city's downtown area, this small park offers a peaceful retreat for locals and visitors alike. There is not much parking right next to the park but there seems to be street parking up the hill. The surrounding area is not the nicest area but if you can get to it, I think it is worth it. One of the nice features is the wide, unobstructed view of the river, where you can watch boats and ships pass by. The park is often quiet, making it an ideal spot for reflection or reading. Benches and picnic tables are scattered throughout, offering seating options for those who want to enjoy the fresh air. A paved walking path is also great for a leisurely stroll. While the park doesn't have a playground or large recreational facilities, it's well-maintained and offers clean surroundings. A short walk brings you to a beautifully landscaped area with neatly trimmed grass and thoughtfully placed flowers. There is an aircraft carrier to one side and 2 large support ships to the other. Informational plaques in the park provide historical context about Newport News' maritime heritage. The plaque tells the story of how ¼ of all the soldiers returning from World War I came through this park to come home. You can visit the large arch just up the hill if you want to learn more of the history of this spot. Overall, Victory Landing Park is a hidden gem for anyone seeking tranquility or waterfront beauty. While small, it's a charming spot to unwind and appreciate the natural and historical significance of the area.

A solid park that gives you water views. It also has a nice wide sidewalk that is clearly marked…read more Where you get to the water you can see some of the big military boats. The sidewalk is tree lined with old oak trees that are pretty and unique looking. This is a nice place to go for a walk.

We went here the other day as the kids were on spring break.. it looks bigger from the pics online…read morebut it's still a pretty solid park .. the zip line was a huge hit for the kids, even my 14yr loved it .. there are plenty benches and shade for the adults . Took is 49 minutes to get there and it was worth the drive

Ok, this park is PERFECT. No, seriously. It has reached park perfection. There is the biggest (and…read moremost fun looking) playground that I've ever seen. There looks to be some sort of 'ship' for their imagination as well as several slides and merry go rounds and everything to keep the little ones busy. Going around this park, is a walking trail. It's not too long, its not too short. It's just right. You can leisurely stroll around the entire park, taking a break to watch the kiddies or...and this is the best part, watch the pooches. Among it's perfection, this park has three, VERY large dog parks. Two for the biggies (they need the room) and one GINORMOUS park for the Lil Napoleons (ever meet a small dog that didn't have a Napoleon complex?) This dog park is so big that after throwing the ball for 30 minutes, my very energetic poodle came up to me panting heavily & I swear I could hear "Uncle" as he dropped the ball & walked away. The grounds inside the dog parks are kept beautifully. There is a volunteer who faithfully cleans out the water bowls, picks up anything that parents left behind, supplies balls to all of the parks & for a bonus will even snuggle any pet needing a confidence boost. I am very hesitant in writing this review because if word spreads too far & fast, then everyone will want to come here & there will be a line. There are very friendly owners that come to this park, all different breeds. One day it will be all poodles, doodles, chichipoos, doxies...you just never know who you will meet!

This is a little hidden spot in a local neighborhood. It does not look like much at first there is…read morevery little parking since it is mainly intended for the neighborhood residents however it is one of the coolest parks I've seen It had a trail that circles a small lake and has a playground at one end including a tucked away basketball hoop and small court The trail has several possible paths all leading the same way some are next to the water and narrow others are steps and at an incline it is a great workout and the views are beautiful I saw signs of fishing so I can assume fish may be active in the lake I did see several species of birds while here today. The actual playground is clean and a decent size it has swings and a jungle gym complete with slides I walked the circle a few times and really enjoyed the atmosphere Beechlake Park is truly a hidden gem

It is a neat park, but because the water has no circulation the alge is too thick to fish.read more

One day when I was looking around on the National Park Service website, I spotted the Captain John…read moreSmith Chesapeake National Historical Trail (JST). There is nothing I love more than trails, but when you combine history with nature, I get damn giddy! 400 years ago, Captain John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay, and covered over 3,000 miles of trails--most of it being water. In 2006, Congress designated Smith's voyages as the first national water trail. Because of that, there is not one main trail for JST. There are several "trails" throughout Hampton Roads (HR). Each site has a sign and logo (see pictures) representing its inclusion with JST. Here is a list of the places you can visit in HR to check out JST: * Fort Boykin--Smithfield * Windsor Castle Park--Smithfield (Technically, Smithfield is not included in HR, but close enough to Suffolk, and many HR residents visit often.) * Mariners' Museum--Newport News * Virginia Living Museum--Newport News * Fort Monroe National Monument--Hampton * Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve--Portsmouth * First Landing State Park--Virginia Beach * Lynnhaven River NOW--Virginia Beach * Great Bridge Lock Park--Chesapeake TIPS: * Download the Chesapeake Explorer App (http://chesapeakeexplorerapp.com/) * Check out A Boater's Guide to the JST (http://goo.gl/dLi34r) * Here is the historical map from John Smith voyages: http://goo.gl/rGvgDA And here is the current map for JST: http://smithtrail.net/visit-the-trail/index * There is a Junior Ranger badge specifically for JST--ages 6 - 12. Go to this website and follow the directions: http://smithtrail.net/about-us/for-kids * Calling educators/parents! They offer lesson plans on the website: http://smithtrail.net/about-us/for-educators * Many of the water trails are accessible to kayaks and canoes! * Take a driving tour. (http://goo.gl/C4b7jk)