This month, my daughter, Charlie, and I visited our thirty sixth Virginia State Park. It was the final park of our Trail Quest. We started shortly after her NICU discharge and completed it thirty five months later. These are some of the things I’ve learned from the journey:

1. Be open to adventure. I did not know that Trail Quest existed when we visited our first state park, Sky Meadows. A ranger happened to mention it to me while I was feeding Charlie a bottle. That was the moment I decided Charlie and I were going to visit all of the parks.

2. Virginia is much bigger than I previously thought. I grew up in Roanoke and have lived in different areas throughout the state. However, during my Trail Quest, I discovered there were parts of Virginia I never knew existed. Additionally, I was awestruck by the geographical diversity in the state. I find it amazing that I could travel from the shore and nestle within mountains in a matter of hours.

3. Virginia State Parks are affordable. After our first park, we purchased an annual pass. It provided us unlimited park visits, discounts at park gift shops, and camping discounts for a year. In addition to the annual pass savings, we discovered cabin rental is generally cheaper (and more comfortable) than a hotel room whenever we traveled.

4. Have fun no matter what happens. Sometimes, it rained. When that happened, we put on our rain gear, splashed in puddles, and caught rain drops in our mouths. During naptime, I listened to the rain as I read on the porch of our cabin or in our tent. In the evenings, we played board games or card games. Before another park visit, it snowed almost a foot. But, the roads were clear and we made it to our cabin. We started a fire, played in the snow, built snowmen, explored the visitors center, and hiked. We were the only people in the park and loved it! We ended up adding on an extra day to our stay.

5. The park staff is what makes Virginia State Parks amazing. Whether you meet the person at the contact station, the people who maintain the facilities, or the staff in the visitor center, the park staff is top notch. They are friendly, willing to help, and put up with a lot from us visitors. I will always remember how patient the staff member, John, was at York River during the toddler hike. Similarly, I will not forget how Madison at Claytor Lake didn’t mind hearing Charlie call her name a million times. This list could get pretty extensive with Lauri at Lake Anna, Rachel at Hungry Mother, Donna and Jess at Shenandoah River, and many more whose names I did not get. These are the people who make each park visit memorable.

6. Start where you are. My second park was Mason Neck and I wasn’t very brave. While at the visitor’s center, the ranger suggested I try the Dogue Trail. The short hike was easy with my jogging stroller. I was awestruck by how gorgeous the trail was at that time of year. It was the beginning. As I became more confident (and got in better shape), I was able to take on and try more challenging adventures. Everyone begins somewhere. Start with what you are comfortable with and go from there.

7. A park is a very different place each season. Many parks offer water activities during the summer. However, these same parks are also wonderful to visit during the winter. First, the off season is when the park is quieter and there is a better chance of spotting wildlife. Second, the leaves change and fall which opens and changes views drastically. Third, the stars come out earlier so younger kids have a chance to view them at length. Finally, hot chocolate around a campfire is especially nice on a cool night.

8. A park changes as a child grows. At first, Charlie was only able to ride along in a stroller, play on the ground, or splash in water. But, as she grew, she was able to climb playgrounds, interact with visitor center exhibits, and participate (somewhat) in programs. It made the same parks feel like a different place each time we returned.

9. Wow! The programs are fantastic! There are so many activities to choose from. We’ve made crafts, explored wildlife, fished, hiked, made s’mores, met Santa Claus, borrowed a telescope, checked out park packs, pet a pig, ran a race, and learned about history. Find out what’s happening here.

10. Want to try something but don’t have equipment? Rent it! Many parks offer boat rentals and a few offer bike rentals. Some parks lend GPS units or binoculars, and one park lends telescopes. We’ve rented bikes at Belle Isle, a paddle boat at Pocahontas, and borrowed a telescope at Staunton River. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use it. The staff was great at teaching us and providing basic instructions.

11. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Things didn’t always work out as I would have liked. For example, we’ve gotten lost on the way to a park, Charlie was sometimes crankier than usual, it rained, or a trail was muddier than hoped for. When this happened, we enjoyed the things we could and learned from what held us back. From these missteps, I learned to have a map on hand for when GPS fails, how to lull Charlie to sleep in her stroller when needed, what's actually needed to prepare for rain, and to bring a change of shoes and clothes, if necessary. Our mistakes were not the end of the world, we still had fun, and what we learned from our mishaps made for better adventures later on.

12. There are many ways to volunteer with Virginia State Parks. Volunteer work is not a one size fits all endeavor. No matter what age, what skills, or the amount of time you have to contribute, there is a volunteer opportunity to match it. Programs offered are Friends groups, Youth Conservation Corps, Camp Hosts, Alternative Spring Break, National Heritage Internships, AmeriCorps, Youth Ambassadors, and Virginia Association For Parks. Learn more about these opportunities here.

13. Getting outside is a panacea. Life is stressful. Getting outside is my go to stress reliever. There is little that some time spent outdoors can’t fix. Additionally, my outdoor adventures have made me braver, more confident, resilient, flexible, and improved my physical health.