I asked my senior-in-high-school daughter if you could go to any Virginia State Park and do anything that was offered there, what would it be?

Chippokes State Park canoe launch

She thought about all the different Virginia State Parks she has been to growing up, and the things she has yet to try, so this is her personal list of 15 things to try in 2015 at Virginia State Parks: 

1. PONTOONING

Rent a Pontoon Boat at Occoneechee State Park and take the family out for a barbeque and sightseeing tour around John H Kerr reservoir.

2. PADDLE BOATING

Rent a paddle boat at Bear Creek Lake State Park and see the other end of the lake seen from the swimming beach.

3. STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING (SUP)

Rent a Stand Up Paddleboard and cruise around Hungry Mother State Park with my dog.

4. MEGALODONNING

Hunt for Megalodons (giant fossilized shark's teeth) at Westmoreland State Park. Find a whopper!

5. CAVING

Go on one of the guided cave tours at Natural Tunnel State Park. Get dirty in the mud and see the cave and karst of Southwest Virginia.

6. FISHING

Fish off the pier at Kiptopeke State Park, but let someone else bait the squirming worm on my hook!

7. RIVER RAFTING

Travel the river at Staunton River State Park or James River State Park on one of the fun float days.

8. PICKING

Hike a few trails at Grayson Highlands State Park in the late summer and pick the wild blueberries. Take a few photos of the wild ponies while there.

9. CANOEING

Rent a double canoe and have fun in the sun with a friend at Chippokes State Park.

10. HORSE BACK RIDING

On the beach if it were possible, if not then we can enjoy Foster Falls Stables at New River Trail State Park. I will admit I have done this before, but I was much younger.

11. SKIING

After we rent a boat, we have to go water skiing! We could do this at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

12. TUBING

On the same boat we rent to go water skiing, we should probably rent one of those giant tubes, like the banana tubes. I could also rent this boat and tube at Claytor Lake State Park.

13. WAKE BOARDING

After we rent the boat to water ski and tube then we should try wake boarding. At least Dad should try it so we can laugh and have fun when he falls off it. I would like to visit Leesylvania State Park to do this!

14. JET SKIING

I would love to rent a jet ski at Lake Anna State Park. I don't think the park rents them, but they rent them near the park and I could rent one and zip all over the place and zip past the park and wave to everyone on the beach. 

15. BIKE RIDING

Ride the rail trail and over the scenic bridge at High Bridge State Park. Observe wildlife and flora and fauna along the way and stop for a great lunch in Farmville.

Maybe you have done some of these things on her list?

But my daughter has not and now that she is in her latter teen years she thinks the time is ripe to do as many of these 15 things at Virginia State Parks as possible in 2015!