Shared by GinGin Leon, Travel Writer, as Guest Blogger.

Hi! GinGin here again. I want to know why my parents are making me get up early? 

I like to sleep in and get up when I feel like it. Guess today was not to be my day. Now I understand, it means another trip. It best be a Virginia State Bark is all I can bark out to them.

When I saw my bed and everything I travel with go into the truck, then my tail started going at "warp speed". This means something good is going to happen.

Meet GinGin a regular visitor to Virginia State Barks

After a long ride in the truck, and multiple stops along the way for me to do my thing (my parents, too), we finally arrived at some place in the mountains. I didn't know where we were, but it sure looked like I could have some fun and get some good paw time in. There was a long brown sign saying Natural Tunnel State Park. Yeah! It is a state bark they took me to. Now I'm a happy boy.

Welcome to Natural Tunnel State Park

Those people were there, dressed alike just like at other Virginia State Barks I've visited before. They all must shop at the same store. They all looked so official so I knew I needed to be on my best Chihuahua behavior while there. Last thing I would want is to get in trouble.

My parents took me to a really nice cabin.

Why they didn't have to get firewood, is beyond me. The fireplace, in this cabin, had gas. Dad turned it on and there was a fire. How did that happen? So long as it wasn't me with gas I guess it was o.k. My bed came out of the truck as well as my food and water bowl. Then came out the yucky medicine that they make me take. I don't like medicine, but they make me take it anyway. I might try to spit it out but I always get caught and still have to take it. Can't win.

The views from the cabins are amazing

The fire from the fireplace felt good.

Being snuggled in my nice soft bed made for some sweet dreams. Have you ever noticed, when us pups are sleeping, that sometimes we have some fun dreams? Sometimes I dream I'm chasing a squirrel or one of our neighborhood cats who gets in my back yard. My legs are just a-going while I'm sleeping. I never can catch them and my blankets need to be fixed after I get up. One day I'll get one, but after 17 years, my legs don't run as fast as they used to. Thank heavens for dreams.

We had lots of great places to explore while we were at the Bark. First, I thought, just a few trails and back to the cabin for another, well deserved, nap. There were so many places to see while I was there. First we went to someplace that looked like we were back in the early years of Virginia history. There was a huge field with some old wooden buildings. That field reminded me of "Little House on the Prairie" and I was thinking I could be like the Ingles girls running down one of those hills. I could run down the hill twice as fast since I have four legs instead of two. My parents wouldn't let me. They made me stay on a leash. A dog can dream though. It was really pretty.

There was a sign saying Wilderness Road Historic Area. I was afraid wilderness meant there was going to be "lions and tigers and bears. Oh, my!" I didn't see any though. The blockhouse building was an odd shape, but did make for some good sniffing. There weren't many trees, so I had to save up my sniffing for some good trees, later.

Pet are welcome at Virginia State Barks

In another area of the Bark, was a big swimming pool.

Too bad it was cool outside. I could impress them with my aquatic doggy paddling skills if I were allowed in. Again, I can dream though. At any rate, I didn't have my life jacket with me, so I couldn't any way. It was one of the biggest pools I've ever seen. They wouldn't even let me get close enough to sniff it out.

But, there was one place with enough trees for every dog I know or met to have lots to sniff out. That was on a long, winding trail leading down to the Natural Tunnel. I sure didn't mind the part going down. The coming up was another story, at least for my parents. Glad my Dad had the papoose with him, otherwise I'd still be at the bottom waiting for someone to carry me back up. What do they expect for 8 pounds and 4 short legs?

Mom and Dad took lots of breaks going down, sitting on benches that were at different parts of the trail. I did my share of resting, too, then would give them a reminder bark that we didn't have all day to get down to the bottom. I walked under something that was up in the air. It didn't look like a tree to me or if it was, was the strangest thing I ever saw. My parents were talking about a chair lift from the parking lot, up high, and the bottom. It went in a long loop. I bet it would be fun to ride on. But, no, my parents are walking and carrying me to the bottom.

The hike is worth the view of the tunnel

When we finally got to the bottom of the trail, there was something amazing to see.

It was a mountain with a big hole in it that kept on going. I could never dig a hole that big, even if there were other dogs helping me. There was something strange on the ground with wood and tracks. We were looking at a railroad track. How could a train get way down here? That made no sense to me. There was no sign or sound of a train and after looking both ways a bunch of times, we crossed the tracks and looked around some more.

There was a nice creek running alongside and into the big hole in the mountain. It looked cold and again, my parents wouldn't let me get in it. Always a leash, as usual. Mom took a lot of pictures and finally, we left. I loved the walk back up to the side of the big hill to the parking lot. I got to ride in the papoose. My parents took longer breaks on the way up on the benches. I was happy just to ride along and not worry about things. On the way up, we heard the whistle of a train and it coming through that big hole in the mountain. I still don't understand how it got way down there.

When we got back to the top, we saw a neat looking train engine.

It was green and behind a rope. We looked at it. Something else I didn't get to sniff. Not fair, because I bet it smelled really good.

The park has plenty of railroad history

Back to the cabin, more water to drink and oh yes, my bed. Of course, I had my own "personal time" outside, with Dad and bag in hand before going inside. My bed felt good and I was a happy little guy. Fireplace on, please.

Ahhh, this is the dog's life.

A cozy nap after a day of adventure

After a couple of days being there, my parents started loading the truck again. There went my bed, yet again, back to the truck. Mom and Dad were sad. I don't understand. They were happy when they put my bed in the truck when we left home.

Oh, now I get it. I'm sad too. It means it's time to leave the Bark and go back home again. Why? This isn't fair. We were having a good time. Mom said something about going to work and Dad was fussing about more yard work to do. So long as I'm not directly impacted, then it's all good with me. 

Plan a visit Natural Tunnel State Park with your family, learn more here.