Craggy bald cypress knees rise up from swamps, draped with exotic Spanish moss. Lazy painted turtles boldly sun themselves on fallen logs in the lagoons. Frogs keep up an endless chorus, and woodpeckers are heard doing what woodpeckers do best. Giant sand dunes tower over the Chesapeake Bay and Broad Bay. A thick and tangled forest that emerges from the swamp eventually leads to the Atlantic Ocean.
This is First Landing State Park, located right here in Virginia Beach. Composed of 2,888 acres, the park provides a protected area where many species of plants and animals flourish. The bird population is abundant with osprey, great blue herons, egrets, owls and pelicans.
Wildlife is just a part of it. There are numerous activities and facilities to enjoy, from hiking and biking to picnicking, camping, boating and fishing. The park boasts nine trails that total 19 miles. They lead to the most scenic and significant areas in the park. All of the trails are interconnected in some way, making the possibilities of circuit hikes quite numerous.
If biking is more to your liking, there is one trail that is 5.9 miles long. The Cape Henry Trail extends from one side of the park to the other; remember – it is 5.9 miles back to where you parked! Bicycles are only permitted on the Cape Henry bike trail, which is composed of packed sand and gravel, so bicycles with thicker tires ride more easily. Helmets are recommended. The Cape Henry Trail also features a one-mile-long replica Native American village with full-size longhouses.
If you want to camp, First Landing State Park has 222 campsites. The campsites are situated between sand dunes and oak trees. Most campsites have water and electric hookups and restrooms are located throughout the campground. There are also 20 housekeeping cabins located in the shaded natural area of the park. Reservations can be made at 1-800-933-PARK. The beach is open to the public daily, year-round, with payment of a parking fee. No lifeguards on duty.
If boating and fishing are your interests, you can enter the Narrows area from 64th St. They provide parking, launching ramps and restrooms.
The Chesapeake Bay Center complex features a Visitor Center, two exhibit areas, a camp store, gift shop, a 300-seat outdoor amphitheater, park offices and the Bay Lab, which provides nature-based programs.
Program schedules and special event information can be found online at www.virginiastateparks.gov or at the park on the new electronic touch-screen information kiosks. With the touch of a button, you can watch a video preview of a particular trail, print a map of the whole park or a single trail, watch movies about state parks, or find a local restaurant nearby. The kiosks are located at both visitor centers.
The park is open daily from 8am until dusk. The main entrance is located off Route 60 (Shore Drive) and is only a 10-minute drive from the oceanfront. There is also an entrance on 64th Street off Atlantic Ave., for those bringing boats down to the Narrows. There is a boat launch fee of $4 per day in addition to the parking fee. A parking fee of $4 per vehicle on weekdays and $5 on weekends is charged year-round. Visit www.virginiastateparks.gov or call 757-412-2300. |
