Do you want to learn how to fish or experience a refresher course to build your skills? Virginia State Parks provide a wide variety of fishing spots and programs that help you learn the best ways to enjoy your water adventures this summer.

Whether you prefer fishing in lakes, rivers, creeks, oceans or the bay, there are plenty of places to cast your line at a Virginia State Park. To enjoy more time on the water be sure to book your stay in a cabin, campground, yurt or lodge.

In addition to its own opportunities for connecting with nature, Roanoke provides you with easy access to five Virginia State Parks: Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, Smith Mountain Lake and Natural Bridge.

Claytor Lake State Park introduces a self-guided tour of the park's past, through nostalgic images and tour points to guide you along the way.

Summertime brings the afternoon thunderstorms, so when the beach is closed what else can you do at a Virginia State Park? We have a few suggestions.

If you are looking for a place to cool off this summer, then you are in luck, we have a couple more suggestions, and then a couple more after that. This is part 2 of this series.