Posted March 23, 2012 | Updated January 10, 2018

I could not get enough as I listened to the rushing of the river down below and the sound of trains in the distance from this special cabin at James River State Park.

This park is worth investigating, and if you want to learn more about staying overnight in a cabin here, then number 14 just might fit the bill.

Escape to the sunrise side of the Blue Ridge in a James River State Park cabin

Bird watching from the deck (a great vantage point of the meadows below)

There is a ton of space outside the cabin to ride bikes, kick the ball and run around. For our cabin, there was a picnic table on the deck and also across the road with firepit for roasting hotdogs and s'mores. You can walk to the ponds, the river, and the trails from the cabins (no need to drive).

This means you can rent one of these and ride 6 or 8 or just 2 miles down the James and they will shuttle you back. If you bring your own kayak you can pay a fee and be shuttled back as well. It is a real boon for those who love to paddle Virginia's rivers. They also rent bicycles, click here for more details.

The park has 15 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and bridle use. Tye River Overlook, Green Hill Pond Trail and the fishing pier are wheelchair-accessible. Click here to learn more about the trails.

• Hint #1: Learn about Hurricane Camille when you do the Tye River Overlook Hike (and why this place made the history books). You can take a park program wagon ride up to the overlook.
• Hint #2: Be the early bird and get the worm. By that I mean sleeping in is fine and dandy, but waking up after a light rain and seeing the clouds lift as the sun rises is magnificent. Take it all in from the covered porch with a cup a joe in hand.
• Hint #3: Leave your blinds open from the master bedroom and you will see the trains at night as they come round the other side of the river illuminating the hillside, it's spectacular.