Eastern Shore Of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (Cape Charles)
Lying at the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge serves as one of the country's most valuable stopovers for migratory birds. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, this 1, 127-acre refuge was established in 1984 for migratory birds and endangered species management and for wildlife-dependent recreation including interpretation and education. This area is one of the most important avian migration funnels in North America.
John H Kerr Dam And Reservoir (Boydton)
This 50, 000-acre lake on the Virginia - North Carolina border is one of the largest manmade lakes in the southeast, noted for its record striped bass catches and camping facilities. Camp areas are operated by the Corps, the States of North Carolina and Virginia, and private concessionaires. North Bend Park, one of the Corps' largest campgrounds, is located at Kerr Dam. In 2005 it was named by Reserve America as one of the Nation's TOP 100 Family Campgrounds!
Philpott Lake (BASSETT)
Nestled in the rugged foothills of the Blue Ridge, adjoining Fairy Stone State Park. The clear water and natural shoreline make Philpott Lake a unique place to visit. Over 6, 000 acres of surrounding land, 3, 000 acres of water, and a power plant make up Philpott Project located in portions of Franklin, Henry and Patrick counties. Canoe to camp sites on Deer Island.
AIW Albemarle and Ches and Dismal Swamp Canal (NORFOLK)
The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternate routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) between the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound. The AIWW provides pleasure boaters and commercial shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Virginia and Miami, Florida. The history of these two canals, which contain the only locks along the AIWW, paints a vivid picture of the development of transportation that goes back over two hundred years.
John W Flannagan Dam And Reservoir (Haysi)
Project lands adjoin Jefferson National Forest. Nearby Breaks Interstate Park contains massive geological features.
North Fork Of Pound River Lake (Pound)
A hikers' paradise, lying adjacent to the wooded hills of Jefferson National Forest.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (Roanoke)
Located across the entire western part of Virginia and the eastern part of West Virginia, lies the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The Forests are the largest publicly owned land base for recreation in the eastern United States.
Carlyle House Historic Park (Alexandria)
The historic Carlyle House was completed in 1753 by Scottish merchant John Carlyle for his bride, Sarah Fairfax of Belvoir, member of one of the most prestigious families in colonial Virginia. Their home quickly became a center of social and political life in Alexandria and gained a foothold in history when British General Braddock made the mansion his headquarters in 1755. Braddock summoned five royal governors to meet there to plan the early campaigns of the French and Indian War.
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park* (Clifton)
Hemlock Overlook Center for Outdoor Education is jointly operated by George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. The park serves schools, corporations and other public and private groups with experiential and outdoor education activities at its Center for Outdoor Education.
Occoquan Regional Park (Lorton)
This spacious park is scenically located on the Occoquan River diagonally across from the Town of Occoquan. It offers 400 acres of recreational space and a touch of the past with its historic brick kiln, a reminder of the women suffragists imprisoned here in the early 1900s.Park features include: batting cage, boat ramp, picnic gazebos, hiking trails, and more.
Caledon Natural Area (King George)
A designated National Natural Landmark, Caledon provides visitors the unique opportunity of viewing bald eagles in their natural habitat. Caledon and the surrounding areas are the summer home for one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast. As many as 60 eagles have been spotted on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River in King George County. Preservation of the national bird's habitat is the primary focus of the natural area.
Claytor Lake State Park (Dublin)
Located on the 4, 500 acre, 21-mile long Claytor Lake (from which the park was named) in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia, Claytor Lake State Park offers a wide variety of activities for water and land enthusiasts. Easily accessible from Interstate 81, the park features the only full service marina in the state park system. In addition, there are miles of hiking trails, swimming, camping facilities, cabins and a visitor center.
First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach)
This park serves as a Virginia Beach Tourism satellite location and has new displays, three indoor aquariums, restrooms, showers and offers water sports rentals. It's Virginia's most popular state park attracting more than a million visitors annually.
Grayson Highlands State Park (Mouth of Wilson)
The park is adjacent to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, a part of Jefferson National Forest. Grayson Highlands State Park was originally named Mount Rogers State Park and was established in 1965. While pets are allowed in the park, they are not allowed inside public facilities including the bathhouses, visitor center and office.
Hungry Mother State Park (Marion)
Hungry Mother State Park in southwestern Virginia is noted for its woodlands and lake. Easily accessible from Interstate 81, this park has folklore and history, swimming, camping, cabin rentals, boat rentals, hiking and the park system*s first conference center, Hemlock Haven.Much of the land for Hungry Mother State Park was donated by local landowners to develop a new state park in Smyth County on Hungry Mother Creek. The park is one of the six original CCC parks that opened in June 1936.
Kiptopeke State Park (Cape Charles)
Kiptopeke Birding Areas - Since 1963, Kiptopeke has been the site of bird population studies. Sponsored by the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, formerly known as KESTRSAL, and licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, volunteers capture, examine, weigh, band and release resident and migratory birds in September and October of each year. In the raptor research area, hawks, kestrels, osprey and other birds of prey are observed and banded from September through November.
Mason Neck State Park (Lorton)
Mason Neck State Park is situated on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. The peninsula is the site of an active heron rookery. The park also attracts several other migrating and non-migrating species of birds, including whistling swans and assorted species of duck. Bald eagles also inhabit the area. The park boasts several hundred acres of hardwood forests consisting of oaks, holly, hickory and other species of trees.
Occoneechee State Park (Clarksville)
Occoneechee State Park is on Virginia*s largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, also known as John H. Kerr Reservoir. The park features 18.1 miles of trails that allow the guest to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and plantation life in the 1800s. The Commonwealth of Virginia began leasing the land for outdoor recreational use from the U.S. Army in 1944. Occoneechee State Park*s land remains leased from the Army Corps of Engineers.
RA Guest Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville)
This park's hours of operation are between 8 a.m. and dusk. NOTE: This park is a Trash Free Fac - refuse must be removed by park visitor. A central refuse collection area is at the Three Bends Overlook.The park is 1, 604 acres with 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shenandoah River. The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park (Huddleston)
Although situated on the second largest body of freshwater in the state, Smith Mountain Lake State Park is not just for water enthusiasts. In addition to a full range of water related activities, including swimming, fishing and boating, the park offers miles of hiking trails, housekeeping cabins, primitive camping, picnicking, a visitor center and interpretive programs.
Staunton River State Park (Scottsburg)
Staunton River State Park is one of the six original state parks that opened in June 1936. It is located on 1, 597 acres along the shoreline of the John H. Kerr Reservoir (also known as Buggs Island Lake), as well as the Dan and Staunton rivers. The largest lake in Virginia is only one of the park*s many attractions, which include a swimming pool, camping, cabins, picnic shelters and nature trails.
Twin Lakes State park (Green Bay)
Twin Lakes State Park, centrally located in Virginia's Piedmont region, provides visitors from all over the Commonwealth with a variety of lakefront activities in a secluded setting. Swimming, camping, fishing, biking, canoeing and hiking are popular activities. Recently renovated facilities are available for group meetings, family reunions and company picnics. Also, the Cedar Crest Conference Center is in this park.
York River State Park (Williamsburg)
Located 11 miles west of Williamsburg, York River State Park offers visitors an opportunity to experience the environment of a coastal estuary. This park is known for its rare and delicate environment, where freshwater and saltwater meet to create a habitat rich in marine and plant life. The main focus of the park is to preserve a portion of York River frontage and its related marshes while providing an area for passive day-use recreation for visitors.
Lake Accotink Park (Springfield)
LAKE ACCOTINK PARK is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road in Springfield. Its 482 acres include a 77-acre lake with boating, fishing, hiking, miniature golf, a carousel, snack bar, tourboat rides, trails, picnic areas and playgrounds. Boats powered by electric motors, sailboats under 15 feet and kayaks are allowed on the lake. Swimming and windsurfing are prohibited. Nominal fees are required for miniature golf, the carousel, rowboat, pedal boat and canoe rentals.
Lake Fairfax Park (Reston)
LAKE FAIRFAX PARK is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. Its 476 acres include a 18-acre lake, The Water Mine, an outdoor swimming pool enveloped by a lazy river; pedal boat rental, fishing, a carousel, campgrounds, trails, playground and picnic areas. Nominal fees are charged for boat rentals, The Water Mine, carousel and camping. Swimming is prohibited in the lake.
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park (Leesburg)
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park is a beautiful, wooded land located high on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River. This land will be preserved in its natural state in perpetuity -- a legacy for future generations. As development rapidly increases around the property, the public recognizes the park as an invaluable nature preserve and site for passive recreation. Activity in the park is limited to the use of three miles of hiking trails and a series of scenic overlooks.
Upton Hill Regional Park (Arlington)
Upton Hill Regional Park offers visitors a wooded oasis in the heart of the most densely populated area of Northern Virginia. A large outdoor swimming pool complex is a sparkling attraction in this wooded urban park which straddles the boundary line between Arlington and Fairfax counties.The deluxe miniature golf course boasts one of the longest mini-golf holes in the world.
Algonkian Regional Park (Sterling)
Located on the scenic Potomac shore near the Loudoun-Fairfax County line, Algonkian Regional Park is the perfect place for an afternoon of fun in the sun, a family vacation or even your wedding. The park includes Downpour! (a large swimming and aquatics play complex), a par-72 golf course, miniature golf, trails, a boat launch, picnic shelters, vacation cottages, and a versatile meeting center.
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (Fredericksburg)
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania?this is the bloodiest landscape in North America. No place more vividly reflects the Civil War?s tragic cost, in all its forms. A city bombarded, bloodied, and looted. Farms large and small ruined. Refugees by the thousands forced to the countryside. More than 85, 000 men wounded; 15, 000 killed?most now in graves unknown.
Great Falls Park (McLean)
Great Falls Park, a site that is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an 800 acre park located along the Potomac River 14 miles upriver from Washington D.C. The park is known for two things, its scenic beauty at the head of Potomac River fall line and the historic Patowmack Canal.
Green Springs (Elkton)
Located on 14, 000 acres, Green Springs National Historic Landmark District is located on the western piedmont of central Virginia. It is a natural basin caused by erosion of a volcanic intrusion resulting in particularly fertile soil, which has sustained grassland farming for over 270 years.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac (McLean)
The Memorial is located in Lady Bird Johnson Park, a Potomac River island in Washington, D.C. The grove consists of two parts. The first area, commemorative in nature, is a granite monolith surrounded by a serpentine pattern of walks and trails. The second area is a grass meadow and provides a tranquil refuge for reflection and rejuvination of the spirit. The trails are shaded by a grove of hundreds of white pine and dogwood trees, and framed by azaleas and rhododendron.
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (Richmond)
The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site commemorates the life of a progressive and talented African American woman. Despite many adversities, she achieved success in the world of business and finance as the first woman in the United States to charter and serve as president of a bank. The site includes her residence of thirty years and a visitor center detailing her life and the Jackson Ward community in which she lived and worked.
Petersburg National Battlefield (Petersburg)
Petersburg, Virginia, became the setting for the longest siege in American history when General Ulysses S. Grant failed to capture Richmond in the spring of 1864. Grant settled in to subdue the Confederacy by surrounding Petersburg and cutting off General Robert E. Lee's supply lines into Petersburg and Richmond. On April 2, 1865, nine-and-one-half months after the siege began, Lee evacuated Petersburg.
Theodore Roosevelt Island Park (McLean)
Theodore Roosevelt was a man with vision. He considered the future before making decisions and his legacies still influence us. Perhaps his greatest legacy was in conservation. This wooded island is a fitting memorial to the outdoorsman, naturalist, and visionary who was our 26th President. After Roosevelt's death on January 6, 1919, citizens wanted to establish a memorial in his honor. The 91 acre wooded island in the Potomac seemed the perfect place.
Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (Woodbridge)
Featherstone NWR is located about 22 miles south of Washington D.C. at the confluence of Neabsco Creek and the Potomac River. The refuge is managed by staff of the Potomac River NWR Complex. Composed of wetlands and woodlands, the refuge is a narrow strip along the shore of the Potomac River and mouth of Neabsco Creek with a railroad right of way bordering the western edge. The refuge provides habitat for Neotropical migrants, waterfowl, ospreys, and historically bald eagles.
Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge (Cape Charles)
The Virginia Barrier Island chain, including Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of only 17 sites in the United States classified as a AWetland of International Importance. The refuge is the southern most barrier island, separated from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Refuge by approximately one-half mile. Sand continues to expand the island's size, which is currently estimated at 1, 850 acres. Fisherman Island was transferred to the Department of the Interior by 1973.
Wood Thrush Trail (Lorton)
One mile loop trail on the 800 acres of the Meadowood SRMA on Mason Neck in Fairfax County, Virginia and plans to manage it to provide open space for recreation, environmental education, and wild horse and burro interpretation. The 800-acre Mason Neck peninsula, approximately 18 miles south of Washington, D.C., is also the site of Gunston Hall - historic home of George Mason IV, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights.
Bull Run Marina Regional Park (Clifton)
Located on the waters of the Occoquan Reservoir, Bull Run Marina is a practice facility for high school rowing teams. Annual boat launching permits are available to the general public. Hiker and equestrians may access the 17.5-mile Bull Run-Occoquan Trail.
James River National Wildlife Refuge (Prince George)
James River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of three refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Refuge encompasses 4, 200 acres of forested habitat along the James River, bordered by Powells Creek to the north, and the historic Flowerdew Hundred Plantation to the south. The Refuge was created in 1991 to protect nesting and roosting habitat for the threatened bald eagle.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia Beach)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in Virginia and was established in 1938 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. The refuge contains more than 8, 500 acres, situated around Back Bay, in the southeastern corner of the City of Virginia Beach. Because of its unique geographic location along the Atlantic Coast that provides overlapping ranges for both northern and southern species, biodiversity is high.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Chincoteague)
Chincoteague NWR, located primarily on the Virginia side of Assateague Island, consists of more than 14, 000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Chincoteague Refuge, originally established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds (with an emphasis on conserving greater snow geese), today provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds, as well as other species of wildlife and plants.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Suffolk)
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. It was established in 1974 to protect the unique ecosystem of the Great Dismal Swamp. It includes over 111, 000-acres of forested wetlands, with Lake Drummond, a 3, 100-acre lake, at its heart. The Great Dismal Swamp has long been considered a place of natural beauty, mystery, and legend.
Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge (Lorton)
Mason Neck NWR was established in 1969 for the protection of nesting, feeding, and roosting habitat for the Bald eagles. It was the first federal refuge established specifically for the (then endangered) Bald eagle. The refuge is part of the Potomac River NWR Complex. The refuge, situated along the Potomac River on the Mason Neck peninsula, consists of 2277 acres of oak-hickory forest, freshwater marshes, and has 4.4 miles of shoreline.
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (Warsaw)
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is an un-staffed satellite of the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Refuge is a 1329-acre island in the James River, located approximately 25 miles south of Richmond, Virginia. Established to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds, Presquile is an important component in the network of refuges on and around the Chesapeake Bay, our Nation's largest estuary.
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Warsaw)
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the newest of three refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Established in 1996, the goal of the Refuge is to protect 20, 000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands along the River and its major tributaries. As of April 2003, the Refuge had protected 5, 306 acres.
Bear Creek Lake State Park (Cumberland)
Nestled in the heart of Cumberland State Forest in central Virginia*s Cumberland County, Bear Creek Lake State Park offers the amenities of the larger parks without the crowds. Activities revolve around the 40-acre lake with a boat launch, swimming beach, lakeside picnicking, camping and hiking trails.The park is surrounded by the 16, 000-acre Cumberland State Forest, which provides opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities.
Belle Isle State Park (Lancaster)
Located in the rural Northern Neck of Virginia, Belle Isle is the first state park to be purchased with funds from the $95 million 1992 Parks and Recreational Facilities Bond Referendum. The 733-acre site is a window to the beautiful lower Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. Waterfront in the area has been developed extensively by private landowners with little public recreational access. This fact made the lower Rappahannock a priority for purchasing land for a new state park.
Chippokes Plantation State Park (Surry)
Chippokes Plantation State Park is one of the oldest working farms in the United States. Chippokes is a living historical exhibit located in a rural agricultural area along the James River in Surry County. In addition, the park has a wide variety of traditional park offerings, including a swimming complex, visitor center, picnic facilities, and hiking and biking trails. The plantation has kept its original boundaries since the 1600s and has a variety of cultivated gardens and native woodland.
Douthat State Park (Millboro)
Editors of the 1999 Outside Family Vacation Guide, a summer planner, have named Virginia*s very own Douthat State Park one of the nation's 10 best. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and straddles Bath and Alleghany counties. Douthat was one of the original six Virginia State Parks to open on June 15, 1936. Douthat is nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia*s most outstanding scenery.
Fairy Stone State Park (Stuart)
Fairy Stone State Park is home of the mysterious "fairy stones." It is one of the six original Virginia state parks to open on June 15, 1936. The treasured stone so prevalent in the region, beautiful scenery, rich history and ample recreational opportunities make Fairy Stone one of the favorites of park visitors. Junius B.
False Cape State Park (Virginia Beach)
No vehicular access. Located in southern Virginia Beach, False Cape State Park is a mile-wide barrier spit between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Access is through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating. The park features primitive camping and an extensive environmental education program in one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the East Coast.In the 1800s, False Cape gained a reputation as a ship*s graveyard.
Holliday Lake State Park (Appomattox)
Deep in the heart of Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, Holliday Lake State Park is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill is a popular activity in the 150-acre lake within the park. The nearby state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries delayed-harvest trout stream allows anglers to fish for brown and rainbow trout. The park also features excellent trails open to hikers, bikers and equestrians.
James River State Park (Gladstone)
Park is open for day use and overnight camping. Honor parking at posted daily rate. Hiking trails, picnic shelters, comfort stations and boat launch.James River State Park is one of the state's newest parks. The park offers access to nearly 20 miles of hiking/biking/horseback riding trails. There are restrooms in major day use areas. No water is available in the campgrounds.The primitive aspect of the camping must be considered.
Lake Anna State Park (Spotsylvania)
The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829 with mining reaching its peak in the 1880s. The last gold to be found was in a zinc mine during the 1940s. In 1971 Lake Anna was created to serve as a water coolant for Virginia Power*s nuclear plant. In 1972 work began on the acquisition and development of a water-oriented state park. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983.
Leesylvania State Park (Woodbridge)
Leesylvania opened in 1992. In 1978, noted philanthropist Daniel Ludwig donated the land to the state for a park. A national historical society, the Society of Lees of Virginia, was instrumental in securing the donation. Locally the area is known as Freestone Point, referring to the sandstone early settlers took from the property for building. Henry Lee III (Light Horse Harry) was born here at what was then Leesylvania Plantation in Colonial America.
Natural Tunnel State Park (Duffield)
The Commonwealth of Virginia acquired the tunnel and 100 surrounding acres in 1967 from the Natural Tunnel Chasm and Caverns Corp. to establish Natural Tunnel State Park. Approximately 750 additional acres were later acquired and the park opened in 1971.Natural Tunnel, called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by William Jennings Bryan, has been attracting sightseers to the mountains of southwestern Virginia for more than 100 years.
New River Trail State Park (Foster Falls)
New River Trail State Park parallels 39 miles of the New River, the second oldest river in the world and one of the few flowing north.
Pocahontas State Park (Chesterfield)
Just 20 miles from downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Pocahontas State Park has been one of the more popular parks in the state park system. Swift Creek forms the nucleus of the park, which is centered in a wildlife management area.
Sky Meadows State Park (Delaplane)
The land for this park was donated in 1975 by Paul Mellon of Upperville to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It consisted of 1, 132 acres. The name Sky Meadows came from former owner Sir Robert Hadow, who named the property "Skye Farm" after an island in Scotland. In 1988 Mellon donated another 486 acres. This area has been developed into an equestrian staging and bridle trail area.Just an hour*s drive from Washington, D.C.
Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park (Big Stone Gap)
The museum is housed in a mansion built in the 1880s by Rufus Ayers, a Virginia attorney general. The museum was acquired by the commonwealth in 1946 from the Slemp Foundation, established by C. Bascom Slemp, private secretary to President Calvin Coolidge and a member of the U. S. Congress. The museum was officially dedicated by the state in 1948. It features a collection comprised of more than 20, 000 pieces, about one third of which is on display at any given time.
Staunton River Battlefield State Park (Randolph)
At this historic site, a ragtag group of Confederate old men and young boys beat the odds and held off an assault by 5, 000 Union cavalry soldiers on a bridge of strategic importance to General Lee*s army, then under siege in Petersburg.
Westmoreland State Park (Montross)
Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, from which it takes its name. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River, and its 1, 299 acres neighbor the former homes of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The park*s Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a spectacular view of the Potomac River. In addition to the scenic beauty at Westmoreland, the park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming.
Wilderness Road State Park (Ewing)
Purchased in 1993, Wilderness Road State Park is one of four new state parks being developed. The park is approximately 200 acres that sit astride the "Wilderness Road, " which was carved by Daniel Boone in 1775 to open America*s first western frontier. Wilderness Road is a day-use park. Presently the park has picnic areas, gravel parking lots and portable comfort facilities. Within the park is the beautiful 1870s Karlan Mansion.
Burke Lake Park (Fairfax Station)
BURKE LAKE PARK is located at 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. Its 888 acres feature a 218-acre lake with fishing, boating, rowboat rental, tourboat rides, camping, a miniature train, a carousel, outdoor volleyball courts, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, an ice cream parlor and snack bar, picnic areas with grills, and playgrounds. The new fishing pier is accessible to persons with disabilities. Privately owned boats with electric motors are permitted on the lake.
Frying Pan Park (Herndon)
FRYING PAN PARK is located at 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon. Frying Pan Park is home to Kidwell Farm, a working model farm typical of farms found in Fairfax County in the early 20th-century. Also at Frying Pan is an indoor activity center, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, and an equestrian trail. Although Frying Pan Park does not rent horses or provide lessons, the arenas are available for local equestrians and riding instructors to use.
Green Spring Gardens Park (Alexandria)
GREEN SPRING GARDENS PARK is located at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria. The park has many different demonstration gardens, as well as a greenhouse and newly expanded horticulture center to provide visitors with ideas for home landscaping. Green Spring Gardens Park also has a restored 18th-century Manor House with gazebo and a wooded stream valley with ponds. Green Spring Gardens Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
Nottoway Park (Vienna)
NOTTOWAY PARK is located at 9601 Courthouse Road in Vienna. At Nottoway Park, you can play tennis, basketball or volleyball, garden, picnic, work out on the fitness trail, or enjoy the quiet solitude of our wooded nature path. The tennis courts may be reserved for a small fee, by calling 703-938-7532. A picnic shelter and picnic area may also be reserved. See the Picnic Area section of this website for details.
Poplar Grove National Cemetery (Petersburg)
In July 1862, Congress passed legislation giving the President of the United States the authority to purchase land for the establishment of cemeteries "for the soldiers who shall die in the service of their country." This legislation effectively began the National Cemetery system. With more than 6, 000 graves, Poplar Grove National Cemetery reflects the tragedy that befell the United States during the Civil War. Each simple headstone is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.
Prince William Forest Park (Triangle)
Established in 1936, Prince William Forest Park, Located in Prince William County, Virginia, is the largest protected natural area in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region at over 14, 000 acres. Today, The park serves as a window into the past, of what much of the east coast once looked like centuries ago. The park is an example of the increasingly uncommon Piedmont forest and its ecosystems and protects the Quantico Creek watershed.
Richmond National Battlefield Park (Richmond)
Between 1861 and 1865, Union armies repeatedly set out to capture Richmond, capital of the Confederacy, and end the Civil War. Three of those campaigns came within a few miles of the city. The park commemorates eleven different sites associated with those campaigns, including the battlefields at Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, and Cold Harbor. Established in 1936, the park protects 763 acres of historic ground.
Shenandoah National Park (Luray)
Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Shenandoah River flows through the valley to the west, with Massanutten Mountain, 40 miles long, standing between the river's north and south forks. The rolling Piedmont country lies to the east of the park.
Yorktown Battlefield (Yorktown)
Yorktown Battlefield is the site of the final, major battle of the American Revolutionary War and symbolic end of Colonial English America. On this battlefield, between September 28 and October 19, 1781, General George Washington and his allied American and French army of 17, 600 troops surrounded and besieged General Charles Lord Cornwallis? 8, 300 British, German and American loyalist forces, which were fortified within the port of Yorktown.
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (Newport News)
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated the nation's first national marine sanctuary on January 30, 1975. The site was the wreck of the USS Monitor, a Civil War vessel that lies off the coast of North Carolina. The Monitor was the prototype for a class of U.S. Civil War ironclad, turreted warships that significantly altered both naval technology and marine architecture in the nineteenth century.
Chesapeake Bay (VA) National Estuarine Research Reserve (Gloucester Point)
The Chesapeake Bay (VA) National Estuarine Research Reserve features four components that are all within the York River basin--Goodwin Islands, Catlett Islands, Taskinas Creek and Sweet Hall Marsh. Like most of the reserves in the national system, Chesapeake Bay-VA is diverse. The source of its diversity is its range of salinity gradient.Salinity is an important determinate of what species can live in an area.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (Vienna)
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts announces its 2004 summer concert series March 23rd. Tickets go on sale April 3rd! Visit our In Depth site for details... Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts began as a gift to the American people from Catherine Filene Shouse. Encroaching roads and suburbs inspired Mrs. Shouse to preserve this former farm as a park. In 1966 Congress accepted Mrs.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park (Middletown)
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park will work in partnership to commemorate a nationally significant Civil War landscape and antebellum plantation by sharing the story of Shenandoah Valley history from early settlement through the Civil War and beyond. Throughout the area there are historic, natural, cultural, military, and scenic resources. It represents the first time a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation has been included within a park.
Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve (Mathews)
This preserve contains sandy beach, low dune, and salt marsh habitats. Wind and water move sand creating an ever changing habitat on the narrow beach. Rare marsh and colonial nesting birds as well as the globally rare northeastern beach tiger beetle and a globally rare beach plant are protected on the property.
Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve (Heathsville)
At the mouth of Bush Mill Stream freshwater meets the saltwater of the Great Wicomico River. Fresh to brackish tidal marshes and mud flats are hidden between the steep-sided forested shores of this upper Coastal Plain stream. The quiet waters are home and resting area for an abundance of waterfowl and wading birds, including colonial nesting birds and raptors. One of Virginia's largest heron rookeries is a short distance upstream from Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve.
Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve (Kilmarnock)
Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve contains several excellent examples of tidal and non-tidal wetlands, as well as exemplary undeveloped beaches, dunes, and upland forests. The preserve supports the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle and other rare invertebrates. Hughlett Point is an important wintering area for migrating waterfowl and songbirds, and provides habitat for bald eagles, osprey and northern harriers.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Appomattox)
Walk the old country lanes where Robert E. Lee, Commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses Grant, General-in-Chief of all United States forces, on April 9, 1865. Imagine the events that signaled the end of the Southern States' attempt to create a separate nation. The National Park encompasses approximately 1800 acres of rolling hills in rural central Virginia.
Booker T Washington National Monument (Hardy)
On April 5, 1856, a child who later called himself Booker T. Washington, was born in slavery on this 207-acre tobacco farm. The realities of life as a slave in piedmont Virginia, the quest by African Americans for education and equality, and the post-war struggle over political participation all shaped the options and choices of Booker T. Washington.
Cape Henry Memorial (Yorktown)
After four and a half months crossing storm swept seas 144 weary Englishmen made land-fall in April 1607. They anchored their ships in the protected waters of the bay and landed a small party upon the shore. They built a wooden cross and planted it in the sand naming the place Cape Henry. This is the first landing site of those adventurous Englishmen who, some three weeks later, established the first permanent English Colony in North America at Jamestown.
Colonial National Historical Park (Yorktown)
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP) administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America. Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, is administered jointly with the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and Yorktown Battlefield, the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781. These two sites represent the beginning and end of English colonial America.
George Washington Memorial Parkway (McLean)
The George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) preserves the natural scenery along the Potomac River. It connects the historic sites from Mount Vernon, where Washington lived, past the nation's capital, which he founded, and to the Great Falls of the Potomac where the President demonstrated his skill as an engineer. Developed as a memorial to George Washington, the Parkway may be used on any day to travel to exciting historical, natural, and recreational areas.
Jamestown National Historic Site (Yorktown)
Jamestown National Historical is a part of Historic Jamestowne, site of the First Permanent English Colony in North America. The National Historic Site consists of 22.5 acres on the western end of Jamestown Island, which includes the original site of the 1607 fort and statehouse site of the late 17th century. In 1893 the owners of the Island, Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Barney, donated this plot of land to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA).
Manassas National Battlefield Park (Manassas)
Manassas National Battlefield park was established in 1940 to preserve the scene of two major Civil War battles. Located a few miles north of the prized railroad junction of Manassas, Virginia, the peaceful Virginia countryside bore witness to clashes between the armies of the North and South in 1861 and 1862. Today the battlefield park provides the opportunity for visitors to explore the historic terrain where men fought and died for their beliefs a century ago.
Gathright Dam-Lake Moomaw (Covington)
Situated within the George Washington National Forest, recreation facilities are managed by the US Forest Service. Visit their web site for more information (http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/gwj/jamesriver/default.htm). Hunting opportunities are provided National Forest lands that are managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge (Chincoteague)
The Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge was created on July 10, 1975 when 373 acres of land were transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The refuge, comprised mainly of salt marsh and woodlands, is located east of Wattsville in Accomack County, Virginia and contains habitat for a variety of trust species, including upland- and wetland-dependent migratory birds. Additionally, the U.S.
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia Beach)
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is situated on the southwestern corner of the Chesapeake Bay in the City of Poquoson and is strategically located almost midpoint on the Atlantic Flyway. It consists of 3, 450 acres of saltmarsh, shrub-scrub and wooded habitats that provide a haven for waterfowl, marsh-birds, and shorebirds. Refuge wetlands include an estimated 1, 000 acres of low-lying, tidal salt marsh that flood twice daily.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Woodbridge)
Occoquan Bay NWR was established in 1998 and is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. This 644 acre refuge was previously a military research site and is part of the Potomac River NWR Complex. The refuge has a unique mix of wetlands, forest, and native grasslands that provides a diversity of habitats for wide variety of species.
Meadowood Special Recreation Area (Lorton)
Meadowood SRMA is 800 acres of the on Mason Neck in Fairfax County, Virginia and plans to manage it to provide open space for recreation, environmental education, and wild horse and burro interpretation. The 800-acre Mason Neck peninsula, approximately 18 miles south of Washington, D.C., is also the site of Gunston Hall - historic home of George Mason IV, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights. Public uses on Mason Neck include the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) managed by the U.S.
Bull Run Regional Park (Centreville)
Bull Run Regional Park's spacious fields accommodate groups by the hundreds for picnics, camping or special events. The park's scenic woodland and trails offer miles of hiking and solitude. In springtime, acres of bluebells and other wildflowers bloom beside a picturesque, meandering stream. A large outdoor pool is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Miniature and disc golf are open April through October.
Cameron Run Regional Park (Alexandria)
Cameron Run Regional Park offers a variety of recreation facilities in an urban area, including Great Waves water park. Catch a wave in the wave pool, twist and turn down four-story water slides, take a plunge down speed slides, play with friends in the shallow waters of the play pool. Little ones will enjoy the tad pool. The park also features a deluxe miniature golf course with pond, a nine-station batting cage, picnic shelters, and a special event pavilion.
Fountainhead Regional Park (Fairfax Station)
Fountainhead Regional Park is located at the widest point of the Occoquan Reservoir and provides a quiet spot to enjoy the beauty of nature by water or land. Fishing is available from a floating dock or rental canoes and jon boats. A bait and tackle shop is located in the marina building. The park is the site of the trailhead for the 17.5-mile Bull Run-Occoquan Trail, enjoyed by hikers and equestrians, as well as a separate mountain bike trail.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna)
This complex of beautiful botanical and display gardens features three lakes set among weeping cherry trees, daylilies and irises. Other collections include lilacs, hostas, herbs and native plants. An indoor tropical garden is found in the spectacular Atrium, a popular setting for weddings, receptions and meetings.
Pohick Bay Regional Park (Lorton)
This scenic shoreline park offers the largest campground in the area. Visitors may rent paddle boats, jon boats, sailboats, canoes or kayaks. Other park features include: large swimming pool; 18-hole, par 72 golf course; miniature and disk golf courses; four miles of equestrian trails; nature trails; and picnic shelters.
Potomac Overlook Regional Park (Arlington)
On the Potomac Palisades in north Arlington, Potomac Overlook offers 100 acres of peaceful woodland. Potomac Overlook's Nature Center serves as the regional center for the Park Authority's year-round programs of outdoor adventure and environmental education. Youth and nature-oriented groups and schools may make arrangements for special programs.
Sandy Run Regional Park (Fairfax Station)
Sandy Run Regional Park offers a facility for team training and competition for Olympic, college, high school and club canoe, kayak and crew athletes. Features include spectator seating for 500, a 2, 000-meter race course, and three boathouses. Open to the public for regattas only. First-time visitors, please read.
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park (Leesburg)
The 286-acre working farm in beautiful Loudoun County provides interpretive programs to introduce school and youth groups to Northern Virginia's farming heritage.In pre-arranged group tours, children help feed and care for animals as well as try their hands at gardening. To schedule a group program, call 703-779-9372.The cornfield at Temple Hall Farm is transformed into a giant maze each fall. Maze information line: 703-777-6732.
Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (Ashburn)
The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is a linear park 100 feet wide and 45 miles long built on the old roadbed of the former W&OD Railroad. It provides citizens and visitors a wide, multi-use trail reaching through the urban heartland of Northern Virginia from the Potomac River to the Blue Ridge MountainsThe park begins at Shirlington Road in Arlington and runs westward into Loudoun County.
Ball's Bluff Regional Park (Leesburg)
The 223-acre park surrounds one of the smallest national cemeteries, where 54 Union soldiers are buried. The Potomac shoreline park also includes an 1861 Civil War battlefield and hiking trails.
Brambleton Regional Park (Ashburn)
This 18-hole, par-72 golf course offers a variety of challenging holes with scenic woods and water holes, large bunkers and plush putting greens. A banquet and wedding shelter with all-weather, roll-down sides and electricity is available for rental (capacity 160 inside or 200 with patio).