Sandy Bottom Nature Park has always been a go-to when it came to walks. Starting back in 2018,…read moreit's never disappointing during each visit. Last month, I joined a friend of mine for a morning stroll. Let's see how the visit turned out. I met my friend outside of the information center on an early Saturday morning. The weather was cold but not to where walking was impossible. The path we took, Wetlands, was pretty good and mostly dry. It's the main one we take everytime I visit. I was surprised there weren't other people out and about since it had sunshine, but it was cold and breezy. Just the way a nice trail should be on a Saturday morning. Overall, a pretty good time to get some exercise in. This park is one which will continue to be one of my favorites. Till next time :)

The trails are mostly wide and shaded. The dog park also, my Enzo loves it,as do I !!read more

We call this FORT FUN, nice big big park for kids of all ages. My toddler (3) loves this park. I…read morefor one love the size of it and location.

Tons of different things for the kids to do. It was busy when we went on a Saturday afternoon, but…read morethere is so much space that it didn't cause any issues!

Living in Newport News, trail walking has been a great hobby for myself. Checking out local nature…read moretrails has been one that I'm trying to upgrade. And it looks like I found a brand new one to add to my locations. Riverview Farm Park is located by Menchville High School. It has a playground area and soccer field for kids to play. They also have group shelters reserved for large picnics. For you trail lovers, they have a 2-mile loop where you can walk, jog or run. Some can even ride bikes. There aren't many trees around so walking during the summertime may not be your cup of tea. But it was really nice to take a morning stroll here with friends, even during cold weather. Everything was paved, which helps when your avoiding water puddles and such. Also, there is a separate trail located by the park visitor center where you have a view of the Warwick River. We didn't get the chance to go that route but will check it out when the weather becomes warmer. Again, this trail gets a thumbs up from yours truly and my friends. Till next time :)

This is a beautiful park with walking trails hills and plenty of room for skating or biking…read more There is even a small Skate park The playground is very big and fenced in they have a butterfly garden with beautiful flowers as well There is a dog park located on the far side of the park Close to the gymnastics studio my kids love this park because they have so much space to hang out and run and play. I love the fitness aspect

Stopped in to pick up the Christmas light tickets for this year and the visitor center part opens…read moreat 9:00. The park itself opens at 8:00 but this was such a cool little office visitor Center and they were so wonderful. So go in and get your tickets. I've honestly only been through the park for the Christmas lights so I do need to go back and check it out for a good hike

A lovely gem of a park that is kind of tucked away and would be easy to miss when in the area, that…read morewould be a shame, so do make a point of checking it out. Good for bikes, hikes, walking, running, dog walking, fishing, birding, etc. Plenty of parking is available and trails are well marked.

We absolutely love this park…read more It is so nice that there is rubber down instead of mulch that gets stuck in the children's shoes. There are several slides so everyone can go down. There is a sunshade over top to help cut down on it being hot from the sun. There is plenty of grass around for children to run in as well if they wanna bring a ball. There are 2 tables with a shade so that you can sit and eat. Plenty of parking and clean restrooms.

It's been a long time since last on the Noland Trail and I really enjoyed my two hour, six mile…read morehike. I started at Lions Bridge where there is limited parking. Much more availability of parking is at the Mariners Museum. The Noland Trail is not on public land, it's private and donated for public use. The trails snakes around the James River with beautiful scenery of woods and water. The trails snakes around is well marked. Every bridge has a marker, there are a lot of them. What impressed me the most was the trail is engineered. There is a massive amount of drainage to keep it dry. The elevations have wood ties to help with climbing. It's the most engineered trail I've ever hiked. You have options with length, but it's approximately 5-6 miles. There are no trash cans, or restrooms. However, the Mariners Museum has both and they welcome hikers. When talking to several friends about the Noland Trail they are unaware of its existence. Don't snooze on this trail and enjoy with the warmer weather.

The Noland Trail is one of my favorite spots to bike! I love soaking in all the views, the scenery…read moreis peaceful, and there's always something new to see. The trail is really well maintained, with a nice variety of hills, twists, and turns that keep the ride interesting without being too intense. There's plenty of parking and multiple entrances, which makes access super easy no matter where you're coming from. And don't be surprised if you spot some wildlife along the way. Whether you're biking, walking, or just looking to unwind outdoors, the Noland Trail is a gem!

You've come a Long way baby! WOW! I used to come here as a kid and it was nothing like it is now!…read moreTalk about a glow up! The beaches were pristine and even had a buggy driving on the beach picking up bits of debris, but mostly you didnt see any trash on the beach or in the park. The pavilions were clean too! There's a huge playground for the kiddies with plenty of shade! There were lifeguard stations at regular intervals, as well as emt & police patrols making this a safe haven for beach goers! We checked out the lighthouse in the center of the park, the historical marker. There were regular benches and lounge benches at various spots so you could chill if you forgot your beach chairs. Speaking of which, there was a stand/kiosk that rented beachy items - umbrellas, tents water activities, etc. and also sold sunscreen, sunglasses, and other sundries and necessities. Also, we found a sweet swing set near the boardwalk where you can just melt away into the horizon. The beach wasn't crowded and the water was calm and beautiful. Such a relaxing vibe. We will definitely come back to this beach, way more chill than VA beach and cleaner than colonial beach. Plenty of parking too, come during the week if you can! Saturdays get pretty packed. It's only about 1 1/2 hours from Richmond. We saw a couple girls with a big dog on the beach, I think it was a boxer or a Rottweiler- a lifeguard nicely told them that dogs weren't allowed. They were compliant. I appreciated the way that was handled. The park was lovely with picnic tables, lots of trash receptacles to keep the area clean. Great family spot!

Stopped at the beach while I'm the area for a conference. Absolutely unprepared. Rented a tent and…read morechairs, bought a couple waters and had a nice relaxing time for what it's worth. Parking was free and close to the beach. Bring your bug spray. Dogs are allowed, there is a playground and bathrooms are nearby.

Enjoyed a meet up with a few friends. It was my first time at Waller Mill which has been on my…read morelist. The park is now free to enter as of February. The dog park is just as you enter. Parking is just beyond and plentiful. The park offers trails, fishing and boating as well as the separate dog park. Restrooms are located at the trail head by the water. They were extremely dated and no soap in the men's room. There is a water refilling station which is a bonus. I came to hike and there are options on length. There is a 2.9 mile trail, Lookout Tower. You can add two + which is did for a total hike of 5.75. The trail was overall easy with some elevation changes. The challenges were the tree roots. Some of path is nice along the water. Other parts are paved along the road.

A bunch of years back Walmart super store had Employees picnic type of food bunch at the park. I…read moremissed when management of Williamsburg super store did this for the employee's. The wooden area is very beautiful and the day was sunny to partly cloudy with a light wind blowing.

I recently visited Bluebird Gap Farm in Hampton and it was a great experience. It is free to enter…read moreand offers a fun, educational environment for all ages. They have a wide variety of animals, including goats, cows, horses, alpacas, peacocks, and ducks. The grounds are well-maintained and the facilities are clean. For groups, there is a covered pavilion with BBQ grills and picnic tables, as well as a playground for children. There is also a vending machine area located by the welcome center. It was not crowded and served as a great way to decompress in nature. I highly recommend visiting this hidden gem.

This petting farm is Free to visit! Has good parking space. They have a great variety of animals,…read moreincluding sheep, goats, llamas, donkeys, horses, pigs, chickens, birds, and even a beautiful white peacock. There's also a nice play area for kids, plenty of picnic tables, clean bathrooms, and a lovely garden. It's a wonderful place to spend the day with family, enjoy a picnic, and get up close with the animals. Overall, a beautiful and well maintained place. Highly recommend!

From outside the fence the size of the gardens is deceiving. It's quite large. Honestly, I didn't…read moreexpect much but once you enter it's rather enchanting. You feel like you're tucked in a hidden oasis with the canopy of trees with the various plants and flowers surrounding you throughout the garden. There are signs to identify all the beautiful flowers and plants. Various areas for sitting are peppered throughout the garden- a pavilion with two picnic tables, a seat for two under the pergola a gazebo with additional seating and a bench or two to rest. I can only imagine its full beauty in the spring or summer. They even had a bird feeder which was busy with a bunch of beautiful feathered friends stopping to eat. It was quite a serene & peaceful visit. It's also free.

This place surprised me because it was more than what we saw as we drove past on the way to park…read more So I'm glad we got to wander the garden, which it meandered in a small park. It had all sorts of beautiful trees and plants, flowers, and bird houses and bee houses! It truly is a wonderful array of botany and trees planned out by a wonderful group of people who invest their time and love in this! There are shade-loving plants and sun-loving plants everywhere! The feeders attract a variety of birds to the garden while the flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies! It's a very relaxing way to unwind and explore nature!