Tony Vanoy and I went hiking today at Cascade Falls in Pembroke, VA. Started out really great, we…read morethought it was 1.5 or 2 mile loop hike but OMG it turned out to be 5.57 miles roundtrip!! It cost a $3 per car to park and if you have America the Beautiful Card its free!! It was a beautiful day, but it was so long and so many stairs!! Over 1,000 stairs!!

The provenance of this site is somewhat unclear, but I think it falls under the federal government…read moreand putting up my national parks pass was successful in getting me through a visit without paying any additional parking fee. The main falls are two miles uphill from the parking lot, but the entire journey is a series of eminently worthwhile sights and sounds. Signs warned of challenging currents for anyone taking a dip in the water, which some people did. I would note that when I arrived a rescue operation was underway and emergency services did drive someone by me with what thankfully appeared okay. There are trails on one elevated bank and one closer to the water, as well as some offshoots and extensions. It's a great stretch of forest where you could easily spend more time than the couple of hours I did.

This was quite the interesting find on our trip to Roanoke. We traveled to Roanoke right in the…read moremiddle of Covid, and planned to spend time at our hotel's pool, but, well, covid...and the hotel pool was closed. We searched to see if there were any public pools open in the area (preferably outdoors to help with social distancing), and came across the North Roanoke Swim Club. It fit the bill- it was a pool, it was public, it was outdoors, it was reasonably priced (especially if you went later in the afternoon, which was fine for us). It is a little weird to come upon a public pool smack dab in the middle of a subdivision, but we felt relatively safe, as it wasn't particularly crowded, so we could keep our distance from other patrons since masks don't really make much sense in a pool. There wasn't a lot as far as extras-a water slide (that looked a little wobbly for my taste when others went down it), and a covered picnic area that was being set up for a birthday party while we were there, but, if a pool is what you're looking for...a pool you shall find!

I'm very disappointed as a frequent visitor. I booked my wedding reception here, we had a very…read moreunfortunate event take place while on our honeymoon, that cost us alot out of pocket. I previously had payed a deposit for an after hours pool party. The deposit was $100.00, the party was going to be $300.00. After everything that happend which made it impossible for us to go on with the party, I had to cancel. This cancellation is well within notice. We had paid our deposit two weeks prior, and recieved a receipt. Susan, one of the owners had emailed me back "Im so sorry to hear that. But we would have to keep the deposit. Good luck, Susan". If it would have indicated anywhere on the Website, Application or any Emails that it was non refundable, I wouldnt have been so shocked. There's nothing indicating that the deposit is non refundable anywhere at all. There is one small "underlined link" that says "pool rules" that you can not click, or find anywhere on the website. I would understand if I had canceled a week before, but there is no available information. Be weary when booking a party, there is no clear information, or a contract to sign. I am out $100.00 which may not seem like much to most, but for my husband and I, it's alot of money. I didn't expect compassion from these wealthy owners, but I do expect a clear written agreement, or at the very least clear terms and conditions on the website or application. They got us for $100.00. Pure Greed, and Sheisty buisiness from wealthy owners.

Came back again and stayed in a waterfront cabin this time, and it's well worth the upgrade! The…read moreview was great and the bedroom faced the water with a picturesque double window complete with blinds to limit or highlight the scene! Osprey were nesting, which was amazing!! Trails were beautiful, and since we were just weeks from peak season, it was still quiet and peaceful, but with gorgeous spring weather!

Smith Mountain Lake is my 33rd VA State Park. Its not one of my Favorites because, after my…read morechildren are grown, I really dont play in the water. I may swim in a pool but I dont jet ski, or boat, or fish. I dont like to buy food from the food shacks and it seemed to me, the space allotted for swimming was small anyway. They did have hiking trails. I took a two mile trail hike, took pictures and started on my way to James River SP.

We were in West Virginia for my husband's work and made it a little leaf peeping Excursion. Babcock…read moreis on the top of the list of places I like to go the mill and the lake plus the colors around the area are just gorgeous lots of Reds oranges and yellows. No fee to enter they have restrooms that are easy to access and flushy bathrooms. There is a Almost Heaven swing by the mill. But what the pictures don't show is the sound of the Rushing Water it's just all so beautiful. Recommend bringing snacks in a beverage have a little picnic. Fall is the prettiest time but I'm sure it's beautiful anytime of year I'm sure with some snow would be gorgeous but I'd be a little scared to tackle all the West Virginia curvy roads with some ice and snow. This year we had such a dry drought year that no one thought the fall was going to be worth seeing so we didn't make any Leaf peeping vacations. If he hadn't had this work trip we would have missed out on on this for the year. Considering the dryness the colors were doing pretty good around here we had went to other areas where the leaves were already down around black around Blackwater and Seneca Rock. But the bugs were quite annoying mainly lots of gnats that if you stopped moving they were really annoying. We've been here a few other times in other years and this is the only time that was an issue. At the lake they have porta potties and the moved them to block the lake view Which is unfortunate. Please move them. !!

Did a quick stopover on the way to Hawk's Nest SP, and wow, this place is beautiful! One of the…read moremost frequently visited state parks in WV and it's easy to see why! The grist mill is absolutely iconic, sitting atop a picturesque waterfall. The park has a mountain lake for water activities, plenty of trails, and even cabins for longer stays! There's an Almost Heaven swing right by the mill and visitor's center, and the CCC stonework is stunning. The New River Gorge bridge is about 20-30 minutes away depending on how well you drive on mountain roads, and there's plenty to do in the area for a fun weekend or even longer! I will definitely be back myself!

How beautiful! You really can't find hidden gems like this anymore. Just nature, no cell signal, no…read moreemails, just for real peace and quiet. I stayed in Cabin 12, a two bedroom cabin on a little hill. It was far enough away from the other cabins to feel private, but within sight enough to feel safe. There were trails to hike or bike all over, strolled a few, but the frigid weather kept it 3 miles or less, so glad there were plenty of loop options. As we (the dog came along as usual) were there in winter, a lot was shut down for the season, but there was a restaurant, camp store, marina, and swim beach that I bet are pretty busy come summer! The lake is beautiful against the rolling mountains. Town is close by for groceries, and the Falling Spring Falls are a must see! Hit up Covington and Clifton Forge for supplies and other random things to do if you are interested in a low-key vacay!

We had seen signs for this state park while occasionally traveling along I-64 in western Virginia…read more While pressed a bit for time, we decided to check it out with an eye towards deciding whether it would be worth a future camping trip. Yes, it would be! The state park (4,545 acres) is nestled in the Allegheny Mountains. It had been a traditional family park since 1936, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the role its design played in development of parks nationwide. The park features mountain scenery, stream fishing, a 50-acre stocked lake, sandy swimming beach, cabins and campsites (including some lake-side), and 43 miles of hiking. There's also a well-stocked camp store and small grill. We were pleasantly surprised by the prices. One tip: when you reach the state park, there is a parking area on the right along the stream, with signage. The MAIN entrance, near the lake, is an additional four miles up the road.

We've been lucky enough to visit a lot of national parks while touring the country and each one has…read moreits own personality. New River Gorge hits a little bit differently because we're such big fans of Fallout so seeing the bridge in person was especially cool. Driving over the bridge to get to the park almost made me feel like I was stepping into the game. That big beautiful arch stretching across the gorge was an incredible sight to behold but I was quickly overwhelmed by the incredible natural beauty all around me and soon forgot all about the game. I just wanted to explore this gorgeous place. The overlooks are easy to access and genuinely breathtaking. The gorge is dramatic and beautiful. The bridge is the star of course and the way it frames the landscape is stunning. It just felt so peaceful in scenic the whole time we were in this park. Of all the parks we visited, this one stands out because it blends natural beauty with something personal, so it wasn't just scenic, It was kind of an iconic moment. I'm so glad that I got a chance to come here and see it for myself.

I have heard so many people tell me that there is nothing to do in West Virginia. Let me tell you,…read moreyou have to visit the state at least once and if you have to do one thing, it's visit New River Gorge National Park. NRG is the newest national park on the list so when we went it was busy but not as crowded as the others. When we went t the park was free to enter. They have a nice welcome center where you can get souvenirs and maps. The park is breathtaking. There really is not a bad spot to see. The main highlight is the New River Gorge Bridge. It's a popular spot and that does get crowded. We had to wait 30 minutes to get a good view. When we went the roads can be confusing. Since it is a new park, they are working on signs to put on the roads. We got lost getting to certain trails due to lack of signage. Also keep in mind there are a lot of cliffs on the hiking trails that do not have safety rails or bars. It can be dangerous so be mindful. (Don't do what I did and try to get a photo by the edge).

Natural Bridge is an awesome stop! The gift shop is huge and has food and exhibits, there is a…read morehistoric hotel nearby, and the walk to the bridge is an easy hike, though you do have some stairs to contend with. Walking along the creek past the bridge is a saltpeter cave, worth the stop to cool down, a lost river, and some waterfalls. If you make it at Christmas, the bridge is lit up with spotlights and luminaries, and horse drawn carriage rides walk down the bridge trail. There are also caverns and other trails nearby, so grab a map and spend the day!!

Beautiful well maintained walk to the limestone bridge for $9 pp includes the cave and…read morewaterfall...but it started raining. There is a gift shop with loos and some souvenirs/shirts/snacks/drinks and protection from the rain. We hope to go back next time we're travelling through to see inside better weather.

Fairystone, VA State Park is my 32nd VA State Park. This is…read moreone of my favorites! I booked a really nice Yurt for two nights. Has outside electrical and outside water pump. Restroom is a short walk away. The whole backside was open land. The whole left side was wooded. There was a picnic table, fire ring and another water source there as well as a small 4 seat wooden table on my wrap around porch! It was perfect. The trails were quite strenuous at times. Its rocky and steep! I took a 9 mile trail, linking trails together to tackle the Little Mountain Falls Trail. Beautiful views. Sunday morning I was on top of the mountain by 10am! Wooo. My pictures won't show the beauty that it was...but I was in love. Sitting on the porch with my binoculars.. I spotted a big, red headed wood pecker just having a blast out there pecking around. So many birds out there. It was very relaxing. - I brought my iron skillet and cooked up some salmon, zucchini and the $0.97 small cup of mac and cheese from Walmart! Fabulous dinner the first night. - I didn't, however go the "beach" or kayak. The roped off beach section, isn't the same w/o kids but I should have gone kayaking. So much to do. This VA State Park is one of my top 4, so far.

No obvious etymology for this fancifully named park appeared during my visit. It isn't among the…read moretop VA state parks in terms of natural splendor, but it has several trails, a lake, abundant camping facilities, and plenty to offer for one who is in the area. Like most VA state parks, they do a cash self-pay entrance, so you would either want to have an annual pass or some small bills. Cell reception was quite limited for me in this remote area, which may be what you want out of coming to a park.