This really is a difficult question since we have 37 Virginia State Parks and they vary from historic battlefields, to meandering rivers, to large lakes and everything in between.  

Virginia State Parks offers camping in the great outdoors with thousands of campsites, hundreds of comfy cabins, 500 miles plus of scenic hiking, biking and riding trails and public access to Virginia's major waterways.

We have beaches, picnic shelters, group lodges, meeting and wedding facilities, festivals, concerts, nature and history programs, and more.

But there is an answer, and it is quite simple really.

There is just one way you can "do this one thing" at every Virginia State Park, in fact I can put it into one easy to digest word:

E X P L O R E

Once you do this, you shall be called a park'r. That is all you have to do, visit us and explore, any park, any time, doing anything the park has on offer. No miles to register, no books to stamp, just you and the great outdoors at a Virginia State Park.

If you bring family, friends and the dog out to explore a Virginia State Park, then that's all the better.

What are those miniature lobsters crawling on the rocks in this creek?

What is that growing on this tree alongside these ferns?

Is there a place we can take our toddlers and family on a hike together?

Come out to explore the answers to those questions. 

• This could be by sitting under a tree enjoying a picnic or tossing a ball.
• It could be by getting a group together for a guided ranger led hike to a beautiful overlook.
• It could be by leaving footprints in the sand as you beachcomb to discover fossils, shells and sharks teeth.  
• It could be by casting a line and reeling in the biggest crappie anyone has ever seen.
• Or it could be by just kicking back together in a warm cabin by a crackling fire.

Or it could be you could do this:

First Day Hikes

First Day hikers explore the shoreline

First Day Hikers explore the Highlands

First Day hikers explore the fun of being together outside

First Day Hikes will be popular ways to go outside again January 1, 2017 at all Virginia State Parks. Start out the new year on the right foot, and this year there is another great incentive to explore.

Take the New Year Challenge:

1. Grand Prize: $500 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
2. First Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)
3. Second Prize: 10,000 Virginia State Parks Loyalty Points

There's also a Photo Contest:

1. Grand Prize: $500 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate. Use of winner's Photo with Photo Credit for our February 2017 social media covers and eNewsletter photo
2. First Prize: $250 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
3. Second Prize: $100 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
4. Third Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)

Learn more about exploring our parks on New Year's Day with all the details for the Challenge and Photo Contest with links are found here.

Get the Deal
If you want to stay overnight and explore a park from dusk through dawn, take advantage of our last minute cabin discount which is available Thursday and Friday of each week for the upcoming weekend. We have over 300 cabins across the state, and you can pick one close to home, or just ask for a random park that has availability and explore a new place. 

Combined with the lower off-season rates (PDF), you will be thoroughly pleased with this deal. You can only get this special offer by calling 800-933-PARK. 

Then, you have done the one thing you must do at every Virginia State Park.

EXPLORE YOUR PARK