Shared by Chris Peek, as Guest Blogger.

Growing up in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains, I was a fairly typical East Tennessee kid who played outside with friends, rode bikes around the neighborhood, played video games, and watched way too much Nickelodeon. 

Yet, I took my glorious, mountainous surroundings for granted.

Suffice to say that when I first moved to Virginia Beach nearly 15 years ago, I was not a huge outdoorsman, typically opting for indoor comforts and technology instead. 

The view of Molly's Knob from Hungry Mother State Park  © Trail Reflections Photography

As I graduated college, transitioned into adulthood, relocated to Virginia, and started working full-time, I quickly experienced a burning desire to pursue something more out of life. I yearned to explore and to discover, to live adventurously, to become fully alive. Post-college, I had rapidly grown bored with daily routines, bills, chores, and TV.

Sunset at Broadway First Landing State Park © Trail Reflections Photography

Somewhere along the way, I discovered this gem in Virginia Beach called First Landing State Park. How had I missed out on this slice of heaven for so long?! With miles of trails to explore, I would often hike solo or with friends at this magical spot that seemed far removed from the hustle and bustle of Virginia Beach. With trees draped in Spanish moss, rolling sand dunes, and natural beaches along the bay, it's an oasis of peace, secluded from the busyness of modern life.

For this mountain boy, I could not believe hills and elevation change existed in flat Virginia Beach!

The rainbow in the swamp at First Landing State Park  © Trail Reflections Photography

Not long after, I started exploring the trails and beautiful scenery of other nearby state parks - York River, Pocahontas, False Cape, and Chippokes - while photographing many of their majestic landscapes. From swamp lands to maritime forests, to rolling hills and river banks, I was pleasantly surprised by the diverse terrain found in Eastern Virginia.

When our son was born in 2014, my wife and I desired for him to grow into an active kid, without being completely immersed in the modern-day addictions of iPads and cell phones.

As a Dad, my goal from the beginning has been to spend quality time with him, while exploring and experiencing the beauty that creation has to offer. So, we simply started hitting the trails and taking adventures together on the weekends. 

Our son enjoying the fall leaves at Caledon State Park  © Trail Reflections Photography

Over the years, our family has witnessed many glorious sunsets over Broad Bay at First Landing. After driving past Natural Bridge dozens of times, my wife and I were completely wowed by its sheer magnitude and grandeur upon a recent visit.

By hiking to the top of Molly's Knob at Hungry Mother State Park with my Dad, we basked in the awe and wonder of the vast expanse of the Blue Ridge that greets you upon arrival at the summit. 

My son and I have spent many hours swinging & sliding on playgrounds, and we recently stayed at two cabins at Virginia State Parks. With excitement in his voice, he often asks, "When are we going to another cabin?”

I've encountered slithering snakes and majestic Great Blue Herons along the Taskinas Creek Trail at York River.

By visiting Belle Isle State Park, I quickly fell in love with Virginia's Northern Neck and the vast Rappahannock River.

We've slipped and fallen in streams in the Cumberland State Forest at Bear Creek Lake. Oh, and we got lost too!

I have walked across and struggled to hike down to the base of High Bridge with a two-year-old squirming in my arms. Recently, along the trails of Smith Mountain Lake, my now four-year-old started rapid-firing off lots of deep questions. Now if only I had all the answers! 

A walk into the sunset at Belle Isle State Park  © Trail Reflections Photography

Virginia State Parks have given us the incredible gift of exploring the diverse terrains of our beautiful state.

By engaging in ongoing adventures, we have the wonderful opportunity to explore, to create, to reflect, to build relationships, to make memories, and to stretch ourselves. Being that I'm rather overly ambitious and goal driven, I decided...why not hike at each and every one of Virginia’s 37 State Parks? I'm about halfway there at 18 parks and counting.

Hopefully, we will see you out on the trails soon, experiencing and exploring all that Virginia has to offer, all while living life to the fullest. The adventure awaits.

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Chris Peek is an explorer, hiker, writer, and landscape/nature photographer. You can find his photography, prints, and puzzles at www.TrailReflections.com. Also, follow his outdoor adventures and see the trails through his lens on Instagram (@trail.reflections).