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Five Random Things to Do at Virginia State Parks
Posted December 10, 2014
There are 38 Virginia State Parks, and all of them are on my list to visit. Each one is so unique, and has so much to offer that I may need to prioritize them to reach them all! But this state is so big that I cannot get to them in any timely fashion without quitting my job and towing an airstream behind! But that does sound tempting.
Until then I have decided I should share a random offering of the things I would like to see and do at various parks that you may also find interesting.
Six Random Things to Do at Virginia State Parks
1. EAT
Because I love to eat, and the state parks of Virginia go from the southwest corner of the state bordered by Kentucky and Tennessee to the Northeast bordered by Washington DC and Maryland I think there is a lot of variety of food to choose from.
Where would I eat? Well, one of my first choices is the Lakeview Restaurant at Douthat State Park.
I love country cooking. I cannot believe that our state parks have this beautiful waterfront restaurant where you can sit outside or inside being a wall of windows and eat crispy southern fried chicken or fried pickle spears!
Hours: From the first Saturday in April through Memorial Day, the restaurant is open only on weekends; on Friday from 4 p.m to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant hours are the same from Labor Day through Oct. 31 as well.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the restaurant is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
If the Lakeside Restaurant is not open, then I would recommend a visit to nearby: Jack's Pub properly knows as Jack Mason's Tavern. The Brits invented fish and chips, and you will find some great pub food like their beer battered cod, fun entertainment, pool table, pinball, TV's, and is family orientated! It is directly across the street from the train station in Clifton Forge. Last year there were shuttles that traveled from Douthat State Park to Clifton Forge (if they do this again next summer, get in on it!)
2. SKY WATCH
The skies at Staunton River State Park on a clear night are miraculous. When I hear about the Star Parties they host there I am just itching to see the heavens through a powerful telescope.
Join park staff and members of the Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society for a special astronomy session. We will be viewing the Geminid Meteor Shower as it peaks and we will have telescopes set up to view other objects in the night sky as well. Feel free to bring your own telescope! Dress warmly as it will most likely be cold, and bring a flashlight.
Location: 1170 Staunton Trail, Scottsburg, VA 24589 Call: 434-572-4623 or email here.
3. HIKE THE A.T.
Did you know you can actually hike the Appalachian Trail from a couple Virginia State Parks? Why is this so cool, well for those non "thru hikers" we can do a short stint to at least say we did it, or break it down into sections! Sky Meadows State Park is one of the parks that the A.T. crosses; the other is Grayson Highlands State Park.
According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy:
SECTION HIKING
A section-hiker completes the A.T. in multiple trips over a period of years. This method allows hikers to enjoy all the Appalachian Trail has to offer, without making some of the sacrifices required for a thru-hike. (Completing the entire 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip is a mammoth undertaking, learn more about thru-hiking here.)
There are pros and cons to every method for completing the entire Appalachian Trail. The information below breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of a section-hike.
ADVANTAGES OF A SECTION-HIKE
- Choose your own pace and mileage
- See more of the Appalachian countryside and small towns during your travels to and from the A.T.
- Choose your favorite time to enjoy each section, catching spring wildflowers or fall colors, and avoiding crowds, insects, and extreme temperatures
- No need to quit your job to find the time
- Spread out expenses over time; no need to save up a big bundle
4. HERE BIRDIE BIRDIE
Kiptopeke, what the heck are you doing to me! Did you know that one of the eastern flyways for migratory birds crosses right over one our state parks on the Eastern Shore of Virginia? "Step into my parlor said the spider to the fly" Kiptopeke State Park will have you hooked! Most of the time birders are also photogs, they go hand in hand. Whether we take photographs as proof and evidence of what we saw or just because we are nature lovers, we will never tell!
There are migratory bird festivals right there in this area, in conjunction with the park and surrounds. There is a National Wildlife Refuge a couple miles from the park. If you want to be the early bird and catch the worm, you can see all sorts of wildlife and capture a brilliant sunrise. Go to the Atlantic Flyway!
Background: The southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula is an important migratory bird stopover location along the Atlantic coast. This narrowing peninsula created by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, causes a funneling effect on the birds as they fly south. The Eastern Shore of Virginia and Fisherman Island Refuges, fortuitously located at the southern tip, provide critical stopover habitats where the birds can rest and feed before resuming their migration. The funneling effect also means more birds to observe in a much smaller area. Our current bird list of 406 species, found in and around the refuge, is a great resource for planning your bird watching visit.
They invite you to visit the marsh any time of year (when the nesting sites are closed to visitors so as to not disrupt their breeding cycle):
You can’t visit the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR without an appointment at the salt marsh. You are bound to have all your senses graced by the sight, sound, smell and feel of this tidally ruled landscape. Morning, afternoon or evening the scenery is always changing. At low tide you may be entertained by the scurry of Fiddler crabs as they march across the muddy flats, disappearing and reappearing from their homes in the mud. Test your patience and see if it is up to par with the stealth hunting skills of a Great Blue Heron. Count the Periwinkle snails as they move up and down the cordgrass in response to the high and low tides. If you are lucky you may hear the applause-like call of a Clapper Rail.
And then, be aware that you may never have to leave Kiptopeke State Park to see and hear a plethora of migratory birds. I recommend a visit to the fishing pier (retired Ferry Dock) to view concrete ships early and bring your zoom lens!
5. CATCH THE BIG ONE
Big Lake Fishing for Big Fish
There is at least one state park on each of Virginia’s four major impoundments: Claytor Lake, Lake Anna, Buggs Island Lake (home of both Staunton River and Occoneechee parks) and Smith Mountain Lake. All of these lakes are famous for bass fishing, including striped bass, as well as their healthy populations of panfish. The big-lake parks offer camping, rental cabins, ample boat ramps and loads of family activities. They also have bank fishing, to one degree or another, and several have fishing piers and boat rentals.
Smith Mountain Lake has monster striped bass
You can rent a recreational boat from the park (like a pontoon) or you can hire a Striper Fishing Guide Service to help you land the big one! One guide service I have heard great things about is The Shad Taxi. Captain Todd fishes year round for Citation Striped Bass who are ferocious fighters, and has the latest equipment via boat, tackle and electronics.
TO ADD TO YOUR LIST OF OTHER INTERESTING RANDOM THINGS TO DO
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
