What’s your idea of the perfect day outdoors? Maybe it’s a few hours of quality time with your loved ones, discovering new places, exploring nature, or having fun-filled adventures. How about having cozy picnics, enjoying outdoor activities, or just relaxing in the shade? Then welcome to Chesapeake, VA, where you can experience all that and so much more!
Battlefield Park
The historical park commemorates the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Great Bridge. Follow the interpretive trail, and the replica of the 1775 causeway, to better understand this important event in Virginia’s history. There is also an outdoor auditorium and a picnic area for a pleasant lunch with family and friends.
Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge
This pristine wildlife sanctuary stretches out over an astounding 112,000 acres of forested wetland that includes the splendid 3,100 acres Drummond Lake. It’s the habitat of more than 200 bird species, 100 different kinds of butterflies, and other indigenous animals such as white-tail deer, beavers, river otters, bobcats, flying squirrels, red foxes, and black bears, to name only a few.
There are multiple trails for hiking or biking. You can fish off the pier to catch crappie, yellow perch, or bullhead catfish. For the more adventurous, who enjoys a challenge, the lake is teeming with bowfin and longnose gar. Rent a kayak or a canoe and paddle to the freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, and the barrier islands. This awe-inspiring park is an experience you and your family will treasure forever.
Chesapeake City Park
This 90-acre park, with its grove of pine trees, is the top entertainment venue in the city. Among the events are the Chesapeake Park Whisper Concert Series, the Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival, and the annual Chesapeake Jubilee.
Except for the arched Robert “Buddy” Bagley Stage, which hosts outdoor concerts, the other favorite among the park’s many attractions is the Fun Forest, an imaginative adventure playground for children, where one of the pursuits is a dinosaur fossil dig. Other activities include a skate- and rollerblade park, horseshoe courts, and an off-leash, fenced-in dog park.
Oak Grove Lake Park
What can be better than spending a few hours in tranquil surroundings? The park, with its spectacular views of the lake and the forest, has an abundance of birds and other wildlife. Take a hike through the hardwood forest, or picnic at the many tables along the trail.
The area is also well suited for fishing and outdoor exercise. There are six outdoor fitness stations and a 1.5-mile trail for walking, jogging, and biking. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash. The picnic shelters have grills and are great for family functions or other outdoor gatherings.
Don’t waste time and stay indoors – get out there and experience the outdoor activities in the beautiful and well-equipped parks that Chesapeake, VA, so proudly offers!
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