Virginia Outdoor Activities/Sports

There are many outdoor activities and sports to be involved in while in Virginia. From air sports and biking to hunting, equestrian, motorsports and tennis, you are sure to find something active and fun to be involved in. However, two of the most popular Virginia outdoor activities are camping and amusement parks. With the lovely woodlands, mountain streams, starry skies, and incredible oceans, camping in Virginia can be an experience unlike any other. Plus, you can choose whether you’d like it to really rough it in the mountains or enjoy the luxury of a resort with a “camping” feel. Also, the list of theme parks, water parks, and zoos in Virginia continues to grow, offering fun to old and young alike.

Those who decide that they’d like to camp in Virginia have a choice from a variety of campgrounds, state parks, national parks, national forests, and more. Twenty-two of the Virginia State Parks, voted to be “America’s Best,” have campgrounds that are open from March 1 to the middle of December. They also feature hiking trails, places to fish, and even some rentable sports equipment (which could include everything from bikes to horses). There are also many developed campsites across the state that have picnic tables, grills, and even electricity in some. For those individuals desiring more primitive camping experiences, trails such as False Cape and the New River Trail are great for backpacking to your campsite, while the Shenandoah River and Belle Isle are loved by those wanting to canoe to their site.

Other places that you could camp include –

• The Shenandoah National Park
• The Appalachian Trail
• Skyline Drive
• The Blue Ride Parkway
• James River
• Peaks of Otter in Bedford
• Roanoke Mountain
• Wilderness Road
• Blue Ridge Highlands
• Cumberland Gap National Historic Park
• Prince William Forest
• Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground
• George Washington National Forest
• Jefferson National Forest
• Kampgrounds of America
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park (3 locations in VA)
• Cherrystone Family Camping Resort
• Bethpage Camp Resort
• Montebello Camping and Fishing Resort

Perhaps camping isn’t quite your cup of tee, but you’d still like to spend time out in the sun enjoying nature and a little excitement; Virginia amusement parks may be just what you’re looking for. The two world-famous theme parks housed in Virginia are Busch Gardens (Williamsburg) and Paramount’s King’s Dominion (Doswell). Plus –

• Galewinds Amusement Park (Wytheville)
• Leesburg Animal Park (Leesburg)
• Luray Reptile Center/Dinosaur Park (Luray)
• Maymont (Richmond)
• Mill Mountain Zoo (Roanoke)
• Motor World (Virginia Beach)
• Natural Bridge Zoo (Natural Bridge)
• Peninsula SPCA & Petting Zoo (Newport News)
• Splashdown Waterpark (Manassas)
• Ocean Breeze Waterpark (Virginia Beach)
• Virginia Living Museum (Newport News)
• Virginia Safari Park (Natural Bridge)