I love to bike this park and visit the playground and piers. The playground is currently under…read moreconstruction for an update and makeover. I am looking forward to visiting again soon to see the progress!

We visited and fished crane lake because it is brackish and gives you a wider selection of fish to…read moretarget. The game and fish officer that patrols this area is nice and always seams to be around, and has good advice. We fished here a few weeks ago and caught white perch, spotted trout and croakers. All under limit and all released alive. Would check their website for the weekends that this area is closed due to hunting.

This is a wonderful park that you can take your family too or even have events for large groups…read more Tennis courts, floating dock, boat ramp,hard dock, ultimate frisbee golf. Great running area, wonderful skate section. A lot of field to train on. You can fish, bbq, and take the kids to the park for slides and swings. Very nice place to spend time outside. They even have events at times like yoga at the park.

Beautiful fishing spot and a great place to watch the sunset. There are a few trails.read more

My favorite beach for chilling out with a good book or floating in the usually comfortable water. I…read morealways feel like I'm on vacation at a beautiful lake, and it's so close to Williamsburg!

Went to this area with are dog and it was amazing. It was 10 dollars. The parking is only overflow…read moreand there a few handicap spots up front. Are dog had a blast and overall it was amazing. I could stand for the most part. Water was hot and cold in some places. Would go back again and again bc are dog was welcomed.

The Riverwalk is a beautifully maintained walking trail that, while short, offers a great escape to…read morenature. It's a fantastic addition to Hopewell, featuring a lovely park for kids and an eco-conscious redirected rainwater flower bed that serves as home for bees and blooms with color in the spring/summer. To your left, the path is covered in Kudzu vines, maintained by Hopewell Parks and Rec, creating a gorgeous backdrop for selfies or group photos. On your right, the scenic Appomattox River provides a lovely view of the water. Whether you're looking to get some exercise, have a picnic, practice mindfulness, or enjoy one of the many events, like the spectacular fireworks in July. This spot is a real "walk" in the park!

This was my first time going there on Fourth of July of last year. I really enjoyed it. The people…read morewere nice and I had a great time watching the beautiful firework!

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!

"It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the…read morewoods, he is never happy in his natural state, 'till he returns to them again." --Benjamin Rush It has been almost a year since I first visited Big Woods Wildlife Management Area (BWWMA), and I am happy to say that I finally went into the woods! My previous experience and subsequent review made me nervous to return, but this time I was prepared. In 2010, the Department of Forestry and Department of Game and Inland of Game Fisheries purchased the land from The Nature Conservancy (TNC)--they are a wonderful organization if you get the chance to check them out (www.nature.org). Thankfully, they had purchased the land from International Paper back in 2006. BWWMA opened in 2011 and has 2,208-acres in the coastal plain with various aged pine forest. First thing, make sure you check out their website. If you have a fishing and/or hunting license, you are good to go. However, if you are like me, and just going for a hike, you need to purchase an Access Permit. You are able to order it online ($4 for a day) and print it out. I never saw anyone while I was there, but I carried it on my person just in case. Second, print out the map on the website. I ended up using Line Pine Road, which is where one of the two kiosks is located. It is a gravel road, but easy to navigate--I was in my minivan with no problem. I parked at the Horse Path, and I would say the trail is approximately 2 miles return trip. The trail was very easy to maneuver, but there are lots of other trails to check out--I look forward to seeing more. Here's what BWWMA has to offer: * Hunting (white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, eastern wild turkey)--hound hunting for deer * Trapping * Primitive Camping * Hiking * Birding * Horseback Riding NOT Permitted * No Restrooms or Port-a-potties When I go to parks, I feel renewed and alive; but the moment when I walked into BWWMA, something felt off. Maybe it was all in my head--perhaps it was the shotgun shells scattered around the ground, or the animal bones piled near the gate. I'm used to going places that celebrate nature, not focusing on death. In my mind, BWWMA was all about hunting and killing animals. (*Please do not send me hate mail. I have no problem with hunting--I respect hunters. I just don't want to think about killing while I'm there.) I left that place with a bit of a heavy heart, thinking I wouldn't go back again. Then I found out about the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. This particular bird is a federally endangered species and can only be found in pine savannah forests of the southeastern United States. In fact, the only location it can be found in Virginia is here, and that was a big reason why TNC acquired the land in order to increase the population; they started with 12 birds and now it's up to 70. What a special treat that would be to spot the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker! BWWMA is an important part of conservation. "What makes this land so significant is that it is considered to be one of the best locations in eastern Virginia to restore a functional pine savannah system capable of supporting a wide diversity of plant and animal life, including red-cockaded woodpeckers and bob white quail." Hunting is part of the whole cycle, and it is a rich tradition here in Virginia. I have changed my mind about BWWMA since researching the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and the Department of Forestry and Department of Game and Inland of Game Fisheries and their mission. I will go back, but I will probably stay away during deer season.

I love that there is plenty of parking here!…read more It is SO BIG! It is nice that there is an area closed off with a gate for little ones to help keep them in one spot. It was definitely overwhelming having 3 kids running ALL around... it was hard to be able to keep eyes on them the entire time so thankful I was there with another mama and we all watched each other's. The kids had a blast darting in ALL directions. We will definitely be packing a cooler and a picnic blanket next time to be able to stay longer. There is a walking trail next to it, there is plenty of benches, umbrellas, shade, and a few tables. It was very well maintained.

Great park, clean facilities, 8 Pickleball courts that are well maintained. Highly recommendedread more

This park is a fan favorite in Suffolk! Located just behind Kroger!…read more The playground at this park recently had a makeover & boast a lovely new playground with the foam ground instead of the wood chip covered ground. Lots of trails & even has a skate park, tennis courts, & a dog park!

This park was renovated. It seems to have more spectrum/ disability friendly swings! Which is a…read moreplus! There are a lot of other options for sensory seekers. You can also reserve the park for special occasions. Sometimes Suffolk Parks and Rec will host events here as well.

I loved my stay in cabin for so much that I rebooked let much as soon as I got home! The cabin was…read morevery private, sits far away from the other cabins with a lovely farm view. The layout of the cabin was spacious and very comfortable! It was rather hot, so walking the dog at midday was out, so he was able to stay crated with no worries if barking and disturbing neighbors. I took a tour of the mansion, and the different farm exhibits as Chippokes is one of the longest continuously farmed locations in the country, dating back nearly to the Jamestown settlement, which is a ferry ride away! Check out the fossil beaches and the visitor center for James River views and the ability to cool off!

This is a beautiful State Park along the James River steeped in history. Be sure to read about it…read morebefore you go and then take advantage of exploring the parts of the park that peak your interest the most. About a decade ago, we stayed in one of the cabins with our children. They loved it as we explored some trails, the beach, the historic buildings, the farm and equipment and rode bikes. Now my husband and I return to use the hiking/walking trails. The trails give you a little bit of everything. You can be in the shade, the blazing sun, on the beach walking in the sand, beside a field of cows or soybeans, or meandering down a rural road. We recently did a 4 mile hike and packed a lunch to enjoy on the beach. My only issue is that some people who come with their dogs have them off leash. We bring our leashed dog and I don't care for other large dogs running up to us with their owners not having control. I highly recommend going and enjoying Chippokes!

Sandy Bottom Nature Park has always been a go-to when it came to walks. Starting back in 2018,…read moreit's never disappointing during each visit. Last month, I joined a friend of mine for a morning stroll. Let's see how the visit turned out. I met my friend outside of the information center on an early Saturday morning. The weather was cold but not to where walking was impossible. The path we took, Wetlands, was pretty good and mostly dry. It's the main one we take everytime I visit. I was surprised there weren't other people out and about since it had sunshine, but it was cold and breezy. Just the way a nice trail should be on a Saturday morning. Overall, a pretty good time to get some exercise in. This park is one which will continue to be one of my favorites. Till next time :)

The trails are mostly wide and shaded. The dog park also, my Enzo loves it,as do I !!read more