Just a few words to remind you that Virginia State Parksis holding water and lots of it!
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, you will find a drop or two of the wet stuff to help cool you off. I would like to share a few that are within an hour or so drive from where I am located. The lakes listed below all have swim beaches with lifeguards, so what are you waiting for?
Bring the whole family out to cool off at Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Douthat State Park Family Swim Beach
There areVirginia State Park!
Lakes big and small make for great getaways in the Virginia mountains: Smith Mountain Lake, with 500 miles of shoreline.
The above info is about more ways to cool off in Appalachia Water Getaways" from 2009 but it sure sounds current as the mercury rises!
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Claytor Lake State Park, 6620 Ben H. Bolen Drive, Dublin, VA 24084; phone, (540) 643-2500; email,claytorlake.Learn more about park offerings by calling1-800-933-PARKor emailresvs.
Located on the 4,500-acre, 21-mile long Claytor Lake in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia, Claytor Lake State Park offers a wide variety of activities for water and land enthusiasts.
Click herefor a Google map. Latitude, 37.057372. Longitude, -80.627394.
Drive Time:Northern Virginia, 5 hours; Richmond, 4 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 5 hours; Roanoke, 1 hour
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Douthat State Park, 14239 Douthat State Park Road, Millboro, VA 24460; Phone: (540) 862-8100; emaildouthat. Learn more about park offerings by calling1-800-933-PARKor e-mailingresvs.
TheOutside Family Vacation Guidenamed Virginia’s Douthat State Park one of the nation's 10 best. The park, which straddles Bath and Alleghany counties, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Douthat is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened June 15, 1936. It's nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia’s most outstanding scenery. In addition, a 50-acre lake offers swimming, boating and seasonal trout fishing.
Click herefor a Google map. Latitude, 37.896054. Longitude, -79.809300.
Drive Time:Northern Virginia, four hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, five hours; Richmond, three hours; Roanoke, one hour
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Fairy Stone State Park, 967 Fairystone Lake Drive, Stuart, VA 24171-9588; Phone: (276) 930-2424; Email:fairystone. Learn more about park offerings by calling1-800-933-PARKor emailresvs.
Fairy Stone State Park, the largest of Virginia's six original state parks, is home to its namesake "fairy stones." These rare mineral crosses and the park's scenic beauty, rich history and ample recreational opportunities make it a local and regional favorite. The 4,639 acres that make up the park were donated by Junius B. Fishburn, former owner of theRoanoke Times, in 1933.
Click herefor a Google map. Latitude, 36.784393. Longitude, -80.093717.
Drive Time:Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., six hours (from Washington, DC); Richmond, four hours; Tidewater/ Norfolk/Virginia Beach, five hours; Roanoke, one hour
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Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park RoadHuddleston, VA 24104-9547; phone, (540) 297-6066; email,smlake.Learn more about park offerings by calling1-800-933-PARKor emailresvs.
Although situated on the second largest body of freshwater in the state, Smith Mountain Lake State Park is not just for water enthusiasts. In addition to a full range of water related activities, including swimming, fishing and boating, the park offers miles of hiking trails, housekeeping cabins, camping, picnicking, a visitor center and interpretive programs.
Click herefor a Google map. Latitude, 37.079625. Longitude, -79.610993.
Drive time:The park is on the north shore of Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County, approximately 40 miles from both Lynchburg and Roanoke and 140 miles from Richmond.
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There are plenty more to choose from, click here for a map of all 35 Virginia State Parks to see what parks are nearest you!