Virginia Parks

Virginia's community, city, state, and national parks are first-rate, and we enjoyed many mornings or afternoons at parks all over the Tidewater region.


COMMUNITY PARKS
An example (but far from being the only example) of the effective way Virginia manages its parks and recreation funds is Bluebird Gap Farm, just another city park in Hampton, VA, featuring a full-fledged farm, dozens of animal species, native flower and vegetable gardens, a Master Gardeners section, play areas, a mini-museum, and even a book nook for kids (and for parents to rest). Since it's a city park, it's free. It has been running since 1969. Anyway, Sarah loves it every time we go (and we don't go just for her either) - whether she's petting the farm animals or chasing the geese. We also had her 2nd birthday party here.

So far, here are the types of animals housed at the park:
- Tortoises
- Turtles
- Rabbits
- Red-tailed hawk
- Great horned owl
- Bobwhites
- Pigeons
- Pheasant
- Ducks
- Geese
- Horses
- Sheep
- Goats
- Cows
- Pigs
- Donkey
- Llamas
- Alpaca
- Chickens
- Wild and domestic turkeys
- White-tailed deer
- Emu (two are nice, one likes to nip people)
- Peacocks

The gardens are beautiful in spring, summer, and fall. To prevent Sarah from picking the flowers, we encourage her to smell them instead. She tells us how they smell sometimes: "Mmm! Smells good!" (whether they actually have a scent or not)

And sometimes Sarah is just really cute.

Sarah and Mommy moment.



CITY PARKS

North Newport News, just up the highway from Bluebird Gap Farm, has a wonderful park (called Newport News Park) full of many miles of trails, 7 or 8 sets of jungle gyms interspersed throughout acres of wooded areas, camp sites, an interpretive center, and more. We discovered this park a week or so before we moved away. So much untapped potential, as we discovered.

And turtles everywhere!

We also saw a large snapping turtle. Sarah wanted to meet him.

Sarah found what was assuredly a very rare species of inch-worm on this jungle gym. She was extremely happy about her temporary pet.

NATIONAL PARKS

And just a mile or so up the road from Newport News Park is Yorktown National Battlefield. It has bike roads throughout the battlefields, marking where the French and American encampments were, as well as other emplacements, historical site markers, an interpretive center, and other sites.

We took Sarah in the bike trailer, which she enjoys until she just wants to get out and run around.

Into random fields with weeds taller than herself.

It was getting pretty late - actually almost dark - before we finally made it back to the car. And it was a little bit cold on this spring day, so we were tired as well as a bit eager to get back and relax.

MORE CITY PARKS

Located in "the Chuckatuck village of Suffolk" is Lonestar Lakes Park, a series of lakes interspersed with recreation and camp sites, play areas, horse and walking trails, and wild animals.

Like this muscovy duck. It was the biggest duck I've ever seen - at least as big as a goose, and not very pretty. It was very friendly, though, and wanted to snuggle with us. Sarah was put onto Daddy's shoulders just in case it was too friendly.

  After hiking some of the trails and playing on the jungle gym with Sarah, we were finally forced to leave the park by the Virginia state militia - swarms of biting flies and mosquitoes.

This is just a taste of the parks and rec we were treated to in Virginia - all funded by taxpayers like you. A big thank you from the Mosiers!