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#OptOutside This Thanksgiving at a Virginia State Park
This is the sixth year Virginia State Parks is promoting a visit to one of our parks during Thanksgiving weekend. Last year we joined with REI suggesting we all #OptOutside on Black Friday and we are doing that once again.
And in case you missed it, anytime you buy something from REI your receipt is valid for a free visit to a Virginia State Park (click here for details).
Second Place Winner in 2015, "Early Morning Glory" by Joann Bushay
Thanksgiving and the holidays can be a time of great joy and family gatherings or a time when some people feel isolated and alone. Fortunately a visit to one of our Virginia State Parks works for either situation. Whether you load the family in the car after too much turkey, hike your favorite trail with your best fur friend instead of battling the crowds on Black Friday, or surround yourself with nature to de-stress and renew, our 37 state parks are open and waiting for you. If this isn't your family or personal tradition already, why not start one this year?
For some added incentive, we are offering our Virginia State Parks #OptOutside photo contest. All you have to do is visit one of our state parks between Thanksgiving, November 24 and Sunday, November 27, 2016.
Take some pictures of great scenery, flora and fauna, or folks enjoying all that our parks have to offer.
Upload up to 3 pictures to our contest site or Facebook desktop tab.
The photo used for this year's contest was a 2nd place winner last year,
"Hiking at Sky Meadows" by Tracy Baetz
You won't be disappointed by the prizes either:
* Use of winner's Photo with Photo Credit for our Jan. 2017 social media covers
* Use of the winner's photo in the eNewsletter
* Winning photo hung in the Community Room of the Richmond REI.
*REI Double Walled Pint Cup
First Prize: $200 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
*REI Double Walled Pint Cup
*REI Vacuum Water Bottle
Second Prize: 2,500 Virginia State Parks Loyalty Program Points
*REI Double Walled Pint Cup
Third Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport
(Good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)
*REI Nalgene Wide Mouthed Water Bottle
And if you have watched our photo contests in the past you know we usually add multiple prizes at many of the levels.
We use these photos for marketing so our marketing staff pick winners based on that thinking. So keep that in mind when selecting photographs to enter. To make the contest more fun this year we will be opening it up for voting and comments on the entries. The voting will not determine the winners, but it could influence the selections.
For the complete rules, including deadlines to enter, be sure to read the terms and conditions.
Last year's Grand Prize Winner, "Best Deal on Black Friday" by Shannon Schojan
Click here to view a map of all 37 Virginia State Parks to find your favorite park to #OptOutside.
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
"Between Nov. 1 and March 31, access to the park is restricted to hiking or biking along the beach, by boat or by the park's beach transporter, the Terra-Gator. To make reservations for the beach transporter, call 800-933-7275."
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/false-cape#general_information