Claytor Lake State Park
(Dublin, VA)Located on the 4,500-acre, 21-mile long Claytor Lake (from which the park was named) in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia, Claytor Lake State Park offers a wide variety of activities for water and land enthusiasts. Easily accessible from Interstate 81, the park offers miles of hiking trails, swimming, camping, cabins and a visitor center. The visitor center is located in the historic Howe House. The lake and the park are named after Graham Claytor (1886-1971), who was vice president of Appalachian Power and supervised construction of the dam.
New this spring are three lakefront family lodges. The six-bedroom lodges are great for getaways with the extended family or a group of friends. The park also features the newly renovated Water's Edge conference facility, which includes a large room overlooking the lake suitable for business functions, reunions or weddings. The park also features 13 rental cabins, campgrounds and a popular swimming beach that typically opens Memorial Day weekend.
First Landing State Park
(Virginia Beach, VA)Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, First Landing State Park is one of the six original Virginia State Parks that celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2006. Located on the Chesapeake Bay, the 2,888-acre park is Virginia's most visited. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails. It also has campsites, some with bay access, that have water and electric hook-ups, and nearby access to restrooms and showers.
The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown. The park will be the site of a historic reenactment of that first landing, Thursday, April 26. Reservations and tickets are required. Contact 1-800-933-PARK for more information about this special event. The park also features an Indian Village constructed of several lodges typical of those John Smith and other explorers would have found in the area 400 years ago.
Occoneechee State Park
(Clarksville, VA)Occoneechee State Park is on Virginia's largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, also known as John H. Kerr Reservoir. The park features 18.1 miles of trails that allow the guest to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and plantation life in the 1800s. The park also offers camping, a visitor center highlighting the Occoneechee Indians, and beginning this spring, rental cabins and family lodges.
Occoneechee host the annual Native American Heritage Festival in mid-May. For further information, contact the park at 434-374-2210.