With 36 Virginia State Parks to choose from, and nearly all of them offer picnic areas with grills to enjoy a family cook out, beachside snack bars and even restaurants...so food was destined to be the next in this series highlighting 10 really good reasons to fall in love with Virginia State Parks.

Are you tough enough to tackle an Avalanche?

One of the things I endeavored to do as a parent is try to create our own family cooking/meal traditions when we camp.

As a child growing up going camping with my family in the great outdoors, we were given extra freedoms, and one of those was the freedom to eat more junk food. Somehow all caution was thrown to the wind in that department, from waking up to the smell of bacon sizzling on the Coleman camp stove to ending the night in sugary delight roasting marshmallows over an open fire and nibbling on burnt Jiffy Pop, we sure had it made. Somehow Mom turned a blind-eye to the little extra bit of store-bought pre-packaged food we got into, as well as the igloo full of ice cold Coca Cola, or Orange Crush if we were lucky.

There are many reasons to fall in love with Virginia State Parks, but for this series I am showcasing 10 reasons that immediately come to mind, and I hope you will agree with this fourth one.

PART 4: THE FOOD

CAMP DONUTS

This was something we did growing up that I did with our own daughters, and even though my husband thought they were overrated, as he was not in making them and enjoying the time spent together that was half of the fun.

Do your kids get to cook with hot oil at home? Well this is one reason these camp donuts are special, the other is what you make, you eat, all of them.

Camp Donuts are fun at a campsite using a picnic table as the prep area or in a cabin

Basics to make Camp Donuts:

• 2 or more Refrigerated Biscuit Tins - (any size)
• 1 C Oil for frying
• 1 C Confectioners' Sugar (for the glaze)
• 1 TBSP Vanilla (for the glaze)
• 1 tsp Milk (for the glaze)
• Sprinkles (bring whatever you have on hand)

Follow the steps in the photo above and remember they are best eaten hot. You can get fancy or not, nuts, chocolate, whatever suits your family fun.

DUTCH OVEN COOKING

One reasons Dutch Oven Cooking is so popular with our campers is that you can cook in bulk, so if you have a few families camping together, you can cook the majority of the food over an open fire and gather round and enjoy it together, versus each family doing their own meals.

Feed a group with Dutch Oven Cooking plus it's fun and we're all about fun

Did you know that we have classes on Dutch Oven Cooking? We do, if you want to go to our events database where you may find the next Dutch Oven class or call your park and ask about it. Maybe if you request it they will come to a park near you.

Here is one group who are the best at Dutch Oven Cooking and offer classes at our parks and gatherings to honor this "well-seasoned" tradition, Old Dominion Iron Chefs are a chapter of an internationally affiliated Dutch Oven Group and are based in central Virginia. The best part about learning Dutch Oven Cooking is eating Dutch Oven Cooking.

HOT DOGS AND BURGERS

It just goes without saying, whatever you cook outside tastes better. Why? Well you will have to answer that for me. I know it does, you know it does, we all can agree whatever we cook in the fresh air outside seems more flavorful, even if it is burnt. Smokey yummy goodness, that's what it is!

GYO "Grill your own" at Virginia State Parks

There is always wood for sale at the park office or kiosk if you forgot to bring charcoal. These pedestal grills are available at most picnic and playground areas at each park. If you camp you may have one of these and a campfire ring to utilize (which works better for roasting hot dogs on a stick for the kids as they sit around the fire - waiting to roast marshmallows for s'mores afterward). Which brings me to my next food item, I better include it right next...

S'MORES

Nothing beats s'mores and the great outdoors at Virginia State Parks. I can't really emphasize the importance of s'mores in a child's life. Is it the semi-melted chocolate or the flaming marshmallow or playing with fire in the dark away from the cabin or camper? I think it may possible be all of the above.

It looks like she is running with fire, but she has her foot planted on the fire pit and is blowing out the flaming marshmallow, it's just blurry due to low light

You can't get more Americana than s'mores, they were invented by Girl Scouts for goodness sake (maybe). If you don't believe that, then maybe you will believe this: Did you know that for Virginia State Parks 70th Anniversary we created the world's largest s'more? It measured 1,936 square feet (if you caught the symbolism in the size mention it in the comments below or on our Facebook page). More trivia:

Virginia State Parks celebrates our 80th Anniversary in 2016

It is a great year to try to conquer the Avalanche

THE AVALANCHE

Can you handle the famous Avalanche at Twin Lakes State Park

I think it is pretty cool when a state park has their very own food tradition, and when you visit Twin Lakes State Park you can't miss this one...

Jodi Williams shared what makes an Avalanche:

16 scoops of hand dipped ice cream
1 C. of dry toppings (Oreo, Reeses, etc)
1 C. liquid toppings (hot fudge, caramel, fruit)
1/2 can of whipped cream
1 dz candied maraschino cherries
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR AN AVALANCHE!

And now for the best part, if you can conquer this 6.5 pounds of delicious divine delectable frozen delight you will have not only have bragging rights and your picture on the Wall of Fame at Twin Lakes State Park, you also get a cool t-shirt, oh and The Avalanche is free.

If this seems like way too much, then order this ginormous sundae for the whole gang, then everyone can enjoy it together.

But be warned, not only is The Avalanche a big bowl of awesommey goodness, it is only available at The Spot which is the park's snack bar, that's only open during summer season. So this is fore-warning to get in shape to tackle this treat.

LOCAL INGREDIENTS

Many campers tell us they have favorite places to shop near their favorite Virginia State Park. From a local U-Pick strawberries and farmer's markets, to fresh seafood right off the boat like near First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. Once I discover a local produce or fresh shellfish and fish market I can't wait to go back and find them the next year, but we have to pay attention to the seasons, or miss the boat.

One of the perks of stepping right into an oil painting-like scene at Grayson Highlands State Park below is you can pick one bucket per person of wild blueberries per day. If you have a small group, that will make some nice pies.

But you need to know when to be there to pick them. This couple were picking them in late August, but due to the higher altitude I think the best time is earlier in the summer. If you are closing in on that time frame and don't want to miss it call the park office for a blueberry report.

Pick wild blueberries at Grayson Highlands State Park in the summertime

What traditions do your family enjoy when you go camping? Are you planning on creating any new ones? Whether you stay in an RV or pitch a tent, it is all fun at a Virginia State Park.

• "Part 1: The People" can be found here.
• "Part 2: The Accommodations" can be found here.
• "Part 3: The Water" can be found here.

FIND YOUR PARK