Richmond History

I am not usually involved in the Master Planning process for our parks, but I was on hand for the first public meeting for Hungry Mother State Park's inaugural master plan. I met John Taminger for the first time that night and it was that meeting that started John and his wife Judy on the path of being two of the best friends Hungry Mother and Virginia State Parks as a whole have. 

John talks about how why he got involved and how park neighbors concerned about the entrance road became the Friends of Hungry Mother and some of the projects they have worked on. The discussion also includes history of this park, one of the six original state parks.
My boss, Joe Elton, our Virginia State Parks Director and current President of the National Association of State Park Directors does a great job describing what I love about Hungry Mother - the drive into the park along the lake. I can always feel all my stress lift off me as I make that drive in.

Lucky me, I get to head out to beautiful Hungry Mother State Park Monday for a retirement party for our District Manager, Jim Kelly, who has served our parks for more than 35 years.


On a personal note, I also have John and Judy to thank for a wonderful physician. I had recently moved to Richmond and was looking for a doctor and just coincidentally their son David Taminger had just opened a practice. 

Take a hayride to the Potomac River through a Virginia old growth hardwood forest. You never know what kind of wildlife you will see along the way! The gift shop and visitor center will be open. Coolers and outside food and alcohol are not permitted within the festival grounds. 

The Caledon Art and Wine Festival is November 7, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasting is $7 per person and includes a commemorative John Shaw wine glass. You must be 21 years or older to taste wine and have your ID showing age with you. Parking is $3 per vehicle. If you are not tasting, there is no additional fee to enjoy the festival.

Caledon Natural Area, designated a National Natural Landmark, provides visitors the unique opportunity to view bald eagles in their natural habitat. Caledon and the surrounding areas are the summer home for one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast. As many as 68 eagles have been spotted on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River.

Education and programming is the primary focus of the natural area. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of Caledon by hiking and picnicking in a hardwood forest. Hiking trails in the eagle area are closed April 1st – October 1st to allow young birds undisturbed time to perfect their hunting and fishing skills. Limited tours of the eagle area are offered, however, mid-June through August by reservation only.

Park guests can learn more about the natural history of Caledon, the American Bald Eagle, bats, owls, swans and other interesting wildlife. Located in King George County, near the Dahlgren Military Base, Caledon is beautiful drive from Fredericksburg, Maryland, Richmond and the Northern Neck. Click here for a Google map and directions.
 
Campsites at nearby Westmoreland State Park are still available. Call 800-933-7275 to reserve or book on line.

Fawn Palmer leads the Westmoreland State Park Kayak Trips on the Potomac River.

We wanted to share her notes about the trip on Saturday, August 8th, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wow!

Been leading groups on kayak river trips at Westmoreland State Park for four years now. Today was the Very Best that we have ever experienced.

Between the main beach and Fossil Beach, a distance of about  1.2 miles there were at least two dozen eagles, adults and juveniles. Flying overhead, circling lower and lower to fish, soaring higher and higher on thermals & perching on the trees.

Magnificent morning! Thank you Rachel Carson for sounding the alarm about the dangers of pesticide accumulation in the fatty tissues of top level predators such as eagles and osprey. Today, we gloried in wild Bald Eagles, thriving on the Potomac. 

Also spotted:
 
2 Kingfishers
3 Great Blue Herons
2 Osprey

Editor: As you might guess, Fawn is a great guide!

It's not too late to take one of these magnificent kayak adventures this year. The trip includes basic instruction, safety tips, a guided tour of the shoreline and plenty of kayaking. The park offers two types of trips: the Pirates, Privateers and Patriots trip on Fridays, mid-June through mid-August, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and the Fossils, Eagles, Herons and History trip on Sundays, Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The latter is also offered on Saturdays, May through October, 10 a.m. to noon.

After the trip, be sure to hunt for sharks teeth along the beach. The park is known for spectacular fossil finds. Westmoreland State Park is located on Virginia's northern neck. It is a convenient drive from D.C. and northern Virginia, Richmond and central Virginia, and Tidewater and Hampton Roads. Westmoreland State Park is located between George Washington's Birth Place National Monument and Stratford Hall, boyhood home to Robert E. Lee. There is a lot to see and do around the park.

Pre-register by calling 1-800-933-PARK at least one day prior to the trip. Sometimes we must cancel the trip for inclement weather or small craft advisories.

The trip is a great addition to an overnight stay at the park. Westmoreland State Park offers camping and cabin rentals. Overnight reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275) or by booking on line.

A convenient drive from Richmond or northern Virginia, Lake Anna State Park is THE summer destination for fun in the sun.


Take the family for a picnic and swim at the park. You will find the beach less crowded on week days, but for summer fun, the more the merrier! Don't feel like packing a lunch? No worries - the park offers a beach side snack bar.

Make your stay last longer by renting a campsite or one of our camping cabins. If you haven't taken the family camping before, a camping cabin provides a nice introduction. It's a one room structure with two sets of bunk beds, table and chair. You use the campground's bathhouse. There is a picnic table and grill outside of the cabin. So, it's camping without the tent. Whether you are a tent camper, enjoy your pop up or have a large RV, the Lake Anna State Park campground offers a great camping experience. Sites are large and well separated. Some have electric and water hookups and some do not (although water spiggots are available to share).

There are more activities available at the park than just the beach area. Be sure and drop by the park's visitor center (adjacent to the beach area). Open Wednesday through Sunday in the summer, the visitor center features displays on history and wildlife as well as exhibits that deal with local gold mining efforts. The park offers a large variety of programs for families and groups and an environmental education pavilion known as the classroom in the woods.

Get out of the sun and take a walk or hike on one of the park's eleven trails offering fifteen miles of moderate to difficult experiences. Twelve miles are multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The park manages some of its open spaces as wildlife habitat so wildlife viewing and birding are popular activities at Lake Anna State Park.

With all that water around, you know there is fishing and boating too. Lake Anna is well known for its largemouth bass, crappie, bream and a variety of other freshwater fish. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. A 1.5-acre fishing pond designed for children and handicapped persons only is located near the visitor center. Also, a public boat launching ramp is available, along with many areas for bank fishing.

For more information on programs and operating hours, call the park at 540-854-5503. For overnight accommodations, call the Virginia State Parks reservation and information line Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or try our on line reservations.

I had the pleasure of attending a joint meeting of the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park  and members of the Central Piedmont Virginia Master Naturalists (CPVMN) on Saturday, July 11, 2009. About 20 people interested in the next training session for CPVMN as well as the newly established Friends Group attended along with me.

Gaston Rouse, Director of Volunteer and Alternative Resources for Virginia State Parks, was the guest speaker. He provided an engaging program about the Virginia State Parks' Youth Conservation Corps. This three-week outdoor program engages Virginia's youth in a structured program of important conservation and park projects on public lands while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment. The program benefits not just today's youth but future generations as well.




Bobby Wilcox is currently President of the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park, established just this past May. Mr. Wilcox spoke to the group about the importance of keeping history alive and the role a Friends Group can play in doing so. To set the stage, he gave a brief historical account of General Lee's passage through the area surrounding Bear Creek Lake State Park as he traveled from Appomattox Courthouse back to Richmond following the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee's horse, Traveler, threw a shoe and they took a detour to a blacksmith in the area now known as Trice's Lake in Cumberland County.


The Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of State Parks have been big supporters of the Master Naturalist program since before its inception. Bear Creek Lake Park Ranger Tom Kneipp is a founder and President of CPVMN Chapter. Tom heads up the natural and cultural interpretation program at the state park. The Master Naturalists can play an important role in helping to interpret the flora and fauna at Bear Creek Lake State Park and neighboring Cumberland State Forest.

It was refreshing to see all three of these important programs coming to fruition. The morning was well spent listening to three dynamic speakers who clearly care about the programs they oversee for the citizens of Virginia.

Day 1 & 2

Nestled in the heart of Chesterfield County, Pocahontas State Park is only 20 miles from the state capital and is the largest state park in the system.  Visitors to the park will find over 7,900 acres filled with 80 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails and two lakes.

Explore the 200-acre Swift Creek Lake by renting a kayak or canoe at the boathouse.  The Aqua Center offers water-based activities for the entire family, including a kiddie pool, fountain wet deck, two leisure pools, and two enclosed tub water slides.

The park is home to a 119 site campground along with camping cabins secluded in the middle of the park.  Nature hikes, canoe trips, stargazing, campfire and children programs are just a few activities offered by the park’s interpreter staff.

Day 3

Many area attractions are available due to the proximity to Richmond, Williamsburg and Petersburg. Lee's Retreat Civil War Trail driving tour follows the course of critical action on roads that were used April 2–9, 1865. Short-range radio messages at more than 25 waysides along the way explain the activity.  One stop on Lee’s Retreat is Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park in Amelia County.  This historical park was the scene of the last major battle of the American Civil War in Virginia.  Visit the newly renovated Hillsman farm house where historians will reflect on the house’s role as a Federal army hospital during and after the battle.  

In-The-Know- Pit Stops

Pocahontas State Park is in the heart of Metro Richmond and is surrounded by cities and counties full of history and attractions.  Visit the second oldest English settlement and home of Pocahontas, Henricus Historical Park.  The historical old town of Petersburg is just a few miles from the park and is home to many restaurants, art galleries and historical points of interest.  The night life and history of the City of Richmond is only a 20 mile trip from the park.  While in Downtown Richmond, visit Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip where you will find this part of the city alive with restaurants, shopping centers, a variety of retail offerings and community markets.  

MORE INFORMATION

For more information and reservations, please call our Reservation Center at 800-933-7275. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online reservations are available by clicking here.

It's just about time for the kids to get out of school for the summer and Lake Anna State Park is cranking up their summer programming for the whole family. Come out to the park for a day of swimming and fun. Bring a picnic or stop in at our snack bar. Be sure to sign up for one of the great programs offered.

Jun 06, 2009    Panning For Gold   1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Try your hand at panning for gold as park interpreter gives a panning demonstration. Register the day of program at the visitor center. FREE    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   

Jun 06, 2009    Goodwin Goldmine Tour   2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.   Tour the ruins of the Goodwin Goldmine as you learn the history of gold in Spotsylvania County. Please register the day of tour. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.

Jun 06, 2009    Campfire   7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.   Make memories around the fire with stories, skits, songs, family fun and of course s'mores (bring your own roasting stick, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers). No registration needed, meet ranger at the campfire circle. FREE    Location - Campfire Circle (btw the campground & visitor center off the paved trail).   

Jun 06, 2009    Roots, Rebels & Distant Guns: The Civil War in Southern Spotsylvania-Campfire Program   7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.   Chief Historian / Chief of Interpretation of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, John Hennessy will be the guest speaker for these programs. These programs are a partnership result of the planning for the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 07, 2009    Stampmill Sam's Gold Adventure   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.   Relive the days of the past as a gold prospector while experiencing first hand the tools of the trade. Participants will hike to Pigeon Creek below the goldmine ruins, get their feet and hands wet and dirty panning for gold. Please register the day of the tour. FEE: $5 per person.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 07, 2009    Nature Adventures   3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Learn the sports of orienteering, GPS and geocaching as you and your family go on a nature adventure. Please register the day of the program at the park visitor center. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   

Jun 07, 2009    Starlight Canoe Tour   5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.   Experience nature's beauty at sunset as you paddle a cove and hike a grassland meadow. Basic canoe safety and instruction will be provided. Please register the day of the tour at the park office. Fee: $6per person.    Location - Meet at the Park Office.

Jun 11, 2009    Storytime in the Woods   11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Reading is fun for all ages, especially when it involves nature. Each week the program will feature a nature themed book and will involve children and their parents in hands on learning through skits, songs, etc. Register the day of program. Community groups (daycare centers, YMCA, scouts, etc) are encouraged to register in advance by calling the park. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 11, 2009    Stampmill Sam's Gold Adventure   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.   Relive the days of the past as a gold prospector while experiencing first hand the tools of the trade. Participants will hike to Pigeon Creek below the goldmine ruins, get their feet and hands wet and dirty panning for gold. Please register the day of the tour. FEE: $5 per person.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 12, 2009    Basic Paddle Tour   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Take a relaxing paddle and capture a glance of the lake's wildlife. Basic canoe instruction and safety will be provided. Regiser at the park office on the day of the tour. Fee: $5 per person.    Location - Meet at the Park Office.   

Jun 12, 2009    Panning For Gold   1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Try your hand at panning for gold as park interpreter gives a panning demonstration. Register the day of program at the visitor center. FREE    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   

Jun 12, 2009    Goodwin Goldmine Tour   2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.   Tour the ruins of the Goodwin Goldmine as you learn the history of gold in Spotsylvania County. Please register the day of tour. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 12, 2009    Ranger Explorers   3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.   Share an appreciation of our world and its environment with others through exploration with park interpreter. Register the day of the program at the visitor center. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center.   

Jun 13, 2009    Basic Paddle Tour   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Take a relaxing paddle and capture a glance of the lake's wildlife. Basic canoe instruction and safety will be provided. Regiser at the park office on the day of the tour. Fee: $5 per person.    Location - Meet at the Park Office.   

Jun 13, 2009    Panning For Gold   1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Try your hand at panning for gold as park interpreter gives a panning demonstration. Register the day of program at the visitor center. FREE    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   

Jun 13, 2009    Junior Ranger Programs   2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.   The JR Ranger Program introduces school age children to nature & fosters an appreciation for the environment through a variety of programs. Each session is 4 hours. June 13: Wet & Wild: Fish-fishing fun. June 27: Camping Out! basics of camping. July 11: History Alive -Explore the park's history. July 18: Make A Nature Mess- create art using nature. August 8: The World of Insects -identify insects & explore insect's habitats. August 22: Earth's Treasures: Rocks -explore the park's geological resources. Parents are FREE. Cost is $5 per child per session. Register in advance, by submitting payment in person or mail to the Park. A limited # of spaces available the program day, register at the VC. Dress for outdoors with clothes & water shoes that can get wet & muddy.    Location - Meet at the park's Visitor Center (VC).   

Jun 13, 2009    Campfire   7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.   Make memories around the fire with stories, skits, songs, family fun and of course s'mores (bring your own roasting stick, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers). No registration needed, meet ranger at the campfire circle. FREE    Location - Campfire Circle (btw the campground & visitor center off the paved trail).   

un 14, 2009    Historical Hikes   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Enjoy the park scenery while hiking on one of the park's historical trails. These hikes will be easy to moderate. Please register the day of the tour at the park office. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park office.   

Jun 14, 2009    Panning For Gold   1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Try your hand at panning for gold as park interpreter gives a panning demonstration. Register the day of program at the visitor center. FREE    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   

Jun 14, 2009    Nature Adventures   3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Learn the sports of orienteering, GPS and geocaching as you and your family go on a nature adventure. Please register the day of the program at the park visitor center. FEE: $3 per person, $8 per family.    Location - Meet at the park's visitor center.   
 
There is a daily per car parking fee ($4 week days and $5 for weekends). Programs listed as "free" have no additional charge. There is a per person fee for swimming. For more information, call the park (540) 854-6245. Frequent visitors can save money with a Virginia State Parks parking passport and discount swim coupons.

Lake Anna State Park is located in Spotsylvania County and is an easy drive from Fredericksburg, Richmond and northern Virginia. Click here for directions.

Often when I meet people and mention I work for State Parks I hear stories about their many family visits to one park or another. As my boss, Joe Elton (State Parks Director) likes to say, "We're in the Memory Business." 

Due to a not particularly pleasant experience one guest had at Douthat State Park I had extended conversations with this customer. She told me many stories. My favorite was the story she told about the bat coming down the chimney. Probably not the best experience at the time, but it was a family memory that goes in the scrapbook of the brain. One of those things you tell yourself they will be funny later - and they are.

David and I have great memories from Chippokes Plantation State Park. We generally visit around our anniversary and his birthday in September or in February for Valentine's Day. We don't live that far away - in Yorktown - so it's a great short trip there and home so we maximize the time at the park.

We both love the ferry ride (hope you caught that blog post), and the historic and natural aspects of the park. We also have great memories of my father there since many years ago Virginia State Parks hosted a conference for folks that use the ReserveAmerica reservation software and we took the group to Chippokes. My father, with the help of a couple of friends and my husband cooked some wonderful barbecue in the park's conference shelter.

There are lots of things to do around Surry. We never miss a visit to the Surry House Restaurant, a family-oriented establishment, and we have to have the obligatory cup of their famous peanut soup. I love their hush puppies too! This visit we were thrilled to find two new restaurants. We visited one, La Hacienda. Okay, I was skeptical since I have had my share or bad small town Mexican food. But La Hacienda was fantastic. We sat over dinner and my husband said. Guess, we have to take a ferry ride when we need to eat Mexican now. It is a very big deal that La Hacienda supplanted his favorite local Mexican restaurant as number one! We happened to visit on a Monday night - 99 cent 'Ritas. And it wasn't just the 'Ritas that made us like this place.

The park offers some wonderful historical and nature programs. Be sure and visit the Farm and Forestry Museum operated by the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Foundation as well as the Jones-Stewart Mansion (volunteer docents bring the Mansion to life). Check out our events listing for seasonal educational programming.

For local site seeing, there is Smith's Fort, Bacon's Castle, a tour of the Surry Nuclear Information Center (I visited in 8th grade), and downtown Smithfield, are some of the key spots to hit. You are a ferry ride away from all the history of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, not to mention Busch Gardens and Water Country. Fourteen miles out of town you hit Wakefield and you shouldn't miss a stop at the famous Wakefield Diner, famous for its peanuts. Civil War buffs will find that Chippokes is also a good place to stay to visit Petersburg and Richmond battlefields as well as the Museum of the Confederacy.