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.

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.

Three different accessible lakes with different functions. Wonderful place for family and children…read morebut be advised, it is permanently closed.

Sad Hadad's is now closed, it was a great place to go swimming and be flung off the bean. I hope…read moreRichmond gains new places like this, it was special.

I had an incredible time at this charming park. As it is getting warmer, I am looking for new to me…read morespots to go on walks after work. Three Lakes Park was the perfect evening refresh. We arrived around 5:30pm and spent until about 7pm exploring all the walking paths. There is something here for everyone. There is a huge playground for little ones, there are paths for walkers/runners/dog walkers, and there were even a bunch of people fishing in the lakes. I love how child-friendly this park is. It felt like most of the bridges, benches, and other fun structures were made by girl or boy scouts. There is a huge parking lot so it's easy to drive to this spot. They also have very clean restrooms. We didn't go in to the nature center, but that was pretty too. I liked that this park had a lot to explore. The water was low enough at one section for us to go to a little island in the middle of one lake. While not all the trees have their leaves yet, I image this is even prettier when everything is in bloom. It was a very serene and lovely place to explore.

Three Lakes is a gem of a park not far from Richmond proper. I love walking here when I happen to…read morebe visiting a business or estate sale nearby and it has always been exceedingly pleasant. This place has plenty of parking, lots of playground equipment, and (as the name suggests) three small lakes to walk around. It's worth noting that the main lake (closes to the park entrance) is where fishing is permitted and has the newest/nicest path as well. The middle lake is enjoyable though is a bit rougher. The far lake was damaged in storms in the past so some of it is pretty rough but still enjoyable to explore. I make sure to hit all three lakes every visit, though if you want a nice clean experience, stick to the main lake. The nature center is nice but fair warning: it's pretty small and won't take more than 10-15 minutes to enjoy in its entirety. Still, the staff member there tends to be nice and there are a few small animals in the little displays there. If you want a fun place to walk (especially if you have kids who like playground equipment), this is a great spot to do it. Overall: 5.0 stars ---- Pros: - Beautiful walking spot. - Pleasant staff. - Lots of free parking. - Fun (if small) nature center. - Plenty of playground equipment for kids. Cons: - It would be great if they fully re-built the third lake, though I suppose the rugged nature of it is part of the charm.

Last weekend, I visited the tiny water section close to Boulevard where all the geese hang out for…read morea mini picnic with my partner. While that section is really pretty, it is usually quite dirty. However, on this visit they recently cleaned it and it was spotless! No usual geese poop everywhere. I loved how clear the water was. We saw four different turtles pop their head out of the water which was beyond adorable. Byrd Park has a lot of things to do. There are workout sections, trails for walkers and bikers, picnic spots, an amphitheatre with shows in the summer, and great pond views. It's a charming spot to enjoy the summer weather.

I drive from SC to CT and back twice a year and typically stop at a different dog park in Richmond…read morebut decided to switch it up this year. On the way up, we stopped at the Byrd Park dog park. It was clean, well shaded, had running water available, and even the human portapotties were clean and in the shade (a miracle!). The dogs that were there with us were well behaved and the owners seemed to be paying attention and interacting with them, always a good sign. On the way back, we parked at the little pond and walked around for a little while. It was a little too warm to do multiple laps, but it was a great view and, again, very clean. I think we'll be making Byrd Park a regular part of our journey from now on.

Other than the parking, we love this park. Great little walk. Paved and unpaved but nothing crazy…read more Walking by the water is so nice. We plan on doing the rafting one of these weekends as well.

Pony Pasture is one of those places you have to see to believe. With incredible views of the James…read moreRiver and access to amazing trails. This is a great spot for families, couples or friends looking for water access or a spot for a picnic. I love checking this spot out and sitting on a rock and enjoying the sounds of the water while watching the geese present. There is ample parking in the form of a parking lot, a public bathroom with multiple stalls and most of the trails are well marked with trash containers sprinkled throughout which has definitely caused the litter here to decrease. Definitely check this spot out if you're wanting a nature retreat!

Pocahontas State Park offers over 90 miles of trails, a large lake system, and a well-maintained…read morecampground. Time your hike for lunch at Swift Creek Reservoir. You might spot hawks, eagles, or herons. In spring, the path leaving the reservoir is often covered in tiny frogs. They have no self-preservation so watch your step. The park hosts concerts at its amphitheater, including touring acts like Dark Star Orchestra. Snakes are common, especially near water. They're native, and you're trespassing so leave them be. Or text a picture to the VA Snake Hotline (804) 617-7086 to confirm that you don't need to freak out. As for the paw prints in the mud: I've seen them. They look like mountain lion tracks. Officially extinct in Virginia, but the prints say otherwise. Leave no trash. Pack out everything. This place is awesome/wonderful/beautiful!!! Don't mess it up.

Went to meet friends for surprise bday get together for their Mom. Which was awesome once everyone…read moreshowed up. How ever, the state of VA needs to invest in bigger signs with a bit more clarification of where things are. Basically I had to go back to main entrance and make turn just to figure out where I needed to go, but funny thing is I was the first person to show up at the shelter . The park is beautiful though, and very popular for the water park inside.

I recently visited Forest hill park and was impressed with how beautiful it is. This park has a few…read moredifferent trails to try, but for this visit, I was on the Buttermilk Trail. The Buttermilk Trail is 6 miles long, though I didn't complete the full distance this time. The trail is clean, well-maintained, and popular enough that I consistently passed other hikers and felt safe. The scenery is beautiful, featuring great views of creeks and lakes. There is so much to discover there that I will definitely return to finish this trail and explore some of the others.

This park has amazing trails, gardens, and an amazing playground for kids. It is ADA accessible…read more just know that the playground is next to the Pickleball court.

Echo lake is a nice spot for a picnic, a walk (not really a hike) viewing waterfowl and fishing for…read morepan fish. The lake is 12 acres in size - small for a lake- but you can access all sides of the lake with a trail around the entire thing. The lake was created by a small reservoir and spillway that you can walk over via small wooden walkway. There is a single picnic shelter and playground. There is also fishing pier that reasonably holds 5-6 fishing persons. This lake is a popular fishing spot and I have consistently seen multiple people giving it a go whenever I have been here. Surrounded by housing and wooded areas, it seems like a safe place for a stroll and getting outdoors for a while.

Decent half mile loop walk around the lake with two minor inclines, barely of note. Nice exposure…read moreto birdlife and at least one lizard/skink/newt that my wife saw. There are two easily accessible areas for fishing. although this is purely for-fun fishing not WOW fishing. IYKYK. Nice suburban setting, open til dark. Decent parking. No potties that we could see.

Beautiful park in Glen Allen. Spacious clean park with a lot of room to walk, fly kites, fish and…read morehave an afternoon picnic. One of my favorite parks.

Super clean, well-manicured park that stretches nature out like a blanket of beauty! The glassy…read morelake is gorgeous with the fountain flowing majestically. For lovers of nature walks, and active people, there's plenty to do in this park! There's a horse pit, baseball fields, football fields and tennis courts. Bait your hook and go fishing on the pier! For history buffs, you'll enjoy walking down the lane to the museum on the property. There's a nice playground for the tots, and a community library box near the parking by the playground. There's plenty of spots to picnic, and refreshing views to enjoy. The hiking trails are perfect for admiring creation, and at times you can also enjoy the farm animals! So park your car at this lovely natural space and take a respite from the chaotic world to recharge your batteries!

I really love Maymont Park and will stop here to walk every chance I get. It has parking right…read moreoutside the gate and it's free to just walk right in. I really like how big the park is and that they have an Italian and Japanese specific garden within. This park has so much, from animals to waterfalls, and would be great for photos. It's so easy to find peace here and spend time even just sitting and relaxing. It's the perfect spot for families or to take a date, so you can really have a nice time with anyone. I highly suggest stopping in and getting some zen time.

What a beautiful experience! This park offers a ton of scenery. I enjoyed seeing animals, the…read morepeacefulness and how clean the park is!