Family Vacations

Pocahontas State Park – Chesterfield County – Park Web Site

Being centrally located in our region, Pocahontas State Park is easily accessible to many residents. Its main attraction for children is the large water park and other activities around Swift Creek Lake.  The Aquatic Center has a toddler pool, fountain wet deck, three-foot and five-foot-deep leisure pools, an activity pool and two tubular water slides.  Nearby, kids can also rent a boat and paddle on Swift Creek Lake and try their luck fishing.  The Nature Center has programs and activities for children, and several excellent hikes start near the Center.  If you come in summer, the park's 2,000-seat amphitheater hosts the Pocahontas Premieres series of concerts and family-friendly entertainment.  It should also be noted that Pocahontas State Park does not offer cabins – its lodging options all involve sharing a communal bathroom.  If that does not appeal to you, there are other lodging options near the park.

With 64 miles of trails, Pocahontas can keep a hiker (and mountain biker) busy for a whole week.  Shown are 2 guided hikes that are suitable for larger children, as well as a trail collection with additional hikes.  Note that hunting is allowed at certain times in areas outside of the main activity center, so always check with the park office before striking out on one of the trails in more distant areas.  Hunting is prohibited in and near the areas of of the two guided hikes.  Also, be sure to compare our trail collections to the current park trail map.  Pocahontas is also known for its extensive biking trail system, which was designed specifically for mountain bikers.  Be aware that a few of these trails are reserved for bikers – no hikers allowed.  The trail map will show you the different classes of trails, and our trail collection does not include biker-only trails.

Hikes

Bear Creek Lake - Cumberland County - Park Web Site

Nestled in the heart of the Cumberland State Forest in central Virginia, Bear Creek Lake is less than an hour west of Richmond. It's the perfect getaway for the outdoor enthusiast. Activities center on the 40-acre lake with a boat launch, fishing pier, boat rentals and a swimming beach. Other attractions include a meeting facility, cabins, camping, picnicking, an archery range and playgrounds. Guests also enjoy the park's trails and access to the adjoining 16,000-acre Cumberland State Forest, including the 14-mile Cumberland Multi-use Trail, which is available for hiking, biking and horseback riding.   Children will probably spend a lot of their time on the sandy beach and in the water, but may be persuaded to talk a walk around the lake or a quick paddle in a rented boat.  Don't forget the nature programs, which include a moonlight paddle.

Hikes

Westmoreland - Westmoreland - Park Web Site

On the Potomac River's Northern Neck, this park offers many opportunities for family fun. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and an adjacent bathhouse, meeting area, snack bar, camp store and power-boat ramp. You'll also find a visitor center, campgrounds, camping cabins, cabins, a playground, a fishing pier, boat rentals and 6 miles of trails.  Offshore breakwaters are great for fishing.  You can take a tour of the park using this link.

In addition to the pool, kids may enjoy hunting for ancient shark teeth along the Potomac River.  Park programs also include a National Kids to Parks Day and kid-friendly concerts.  At the nearby Westmoreland Berry Farm, children can pick their own berries and have an ice cream sundae.  The Vorhees Nature Preserve on the same site has a nature trail along the Potomac that is well-known for bald eagle sightings.  Other nearby attractions can be perused at the Northern Neck Tourism Commission.

Hikes

Lake Anna - Spotsylvania County - Park Web Site

Lake Anna State Park has a beach on one of Virginia's most popular lakes, a fishing pond accessible to children and the disabled, a bathhouse-concessions complex and a boat launch. Overnight stays are made possible by camping and cabins. With more than 15 miles of trails, the park offers many hiking, biking and horseback riding options. The Visitor Center exhibits trace the history of the area's gold mining and highlight the park's natural features.
For children. gold panning programs are popular, and the park offers guided tours of the Goodwin Gold Mine. The frequently offered nature workshops teach kids about everything from animal behavior to botany and conservation. Hands-on courses offer an immersive experience for younger kids, while guided nature walks or canoe tours let older kids have an adventure. There is also a self-guided nature walk near the Visitors Center. Boat rentals allow the family to explore the lake, and older kids may enjoy fishing the shoreline.

Hikes

Twin Lakes - Prince Edward County - Park Web Site

Twin Lakes State Park is one of the more secluded and quiet parks in the system. It offers swimming, fishing, hiking, boating and lakeside picnicking. Swimming in Goodwin Lake is popular and inexpensive. It is a great place to take the whole family for the day. Hang out in the sand, enjoy the water toys, do a cannon ball off the platform. Don’t forget to stop in “The Spot” for hand dipped ice cream, concession food and souvenirs. You can also rent a canoe, kayak, or rowboat, with two lakes to explore and many fishing spots. At the lakes, expect to see river cooters, painted turtles, beavers, muskrats, otters, great blue heron, osprey or perhaps a bald eagle. The many nature programs include the opportunity to hold a friendly snake. There are 6 miles of hiking trails, with additional trails available in the adjacent Prince Edward Gallion State Forest.

Hikes