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Exit your daily routine and enter vacation!
Do you remember leaping, running, swimming, kicking a can and belly busting laughter? Using your imagination as you explored? Here's an idea, spend your next vacation together as a family at a Virginia State Park!
Simple, old fashioned family fun on vacation
S'moring seems to be the highlight of every visit to a Virginia State Park
Even Dad is allowed to become a kid again
Beach-time at Claytor Lake State Park
Overnight in a tent of cabin
There are campgrounds and cabins to rent, in fact Virginia State Parks provide comfortable and economical overnight accommodations, with 260 climate-controlled cabins and more than 1,700 campsites, ranging from primitive sites to developed sites with electric and water hookups. Many cabins are available year round.
The sucker bet
As much as I like standing in hour+ lines to go on a 3 minute amusement park ride, and paying $3 for something cold to drink, like water x 4 of us x 4 times per day = that's $48 by the way, just to stay hydrated, and walking all over all day on a hot blacktop, I have to say I prefer a Virginia State Park vacation.
Water is king!
Did you know that when a group of kids were asked about theme parks and resorts the number one favorite on their list was swimming, that topped the list, not the larger-than-life themed characters wandering around, or the thrilling high speed rides, it was swimming. Kids like to get wet!
Why a Virginia State Park?
As parents of school aged children we spend our days busy busy busy, from school to home to sports, marching band, youth group, friends, running around to get what is needed for said events like sports and marching band. It is always go time in our family, so why not skip the go-time and have some down time?
Spending valuable time together
Spending a family vacation together at a Virginia State Park will allow you to make memories to look back for many years to come, and you’ll also be giving your kids the ultimate treasure of your time and attention, even if you are busy playing corn-hole or cards with the adults, you are still there, and isn't that what matters? When our kids are busy at school, Dad barely gets a chance to see them and spend time with them, this is why Summer vacations are so important to reconnect that relationship. Even if it is just for a three night getaway, it means a lot to all of us.
Boredom gives way to fun
Your teenage daughters will get past the eye-rolling in short order when they are outside having fun at a Virginia State Park, trust me on this one!
A priceless gift
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.