Virginia Beach, Virginia may be best known for its beaches, which draw tourists from all over the country each summer, but First Landing State Park, also located in Virginia Beach, provides 2,888 acres for outdoor activities of many kinds.
First Landing State Park, located at 2500 Shore Drive, was formerly named Seashore State Park. In 1997, the name was changed to commemorate the 1607 landing of the Virginia Company at nearby Cape Henry. These settlers went on to Jamestown.
The park, which was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps, has 19 miles of trails for hiking, jogging and biking. These trails meander through all of the various terrain of the park including swamps, salt marshes, bay shoreline and freshwater wetlands.
For those who prefer water activities, such as swimming, boating and fishing, there is also over a mile of shoreline. Swimming is permitted, but there are no lifeguards on duty. There is a boat launch and fishing and crabbing are permitted. A valid Virginia salt water fishing license is required.
There are plenty of accommodations for those who wish to stay in the park overnight. There are 200 campsites for both tents and RVs in the park as well as several cabins. Pets are welcome at both the campsites and the cabins for a small additional fee.
One visitor from Pennsylvania said that she had a view of the bay from her campsite. She also enjoyed the fact that each campsite had a water hookup and electricity available. She was, however, disappointed that she was not able to reserve a certain campsite and wished that the whole process of checking in could have been more streamlined.
Another visitor enjoyed the convenience of having a store in the park as well as the ability to rent bikes. She said her only complaint was how close the campsites were to each other.
Another fact that many overnight park visitors enjoy is that while the park offers many outdoor activities and allows one to get close to nature, all of the amenities of Virginia Beach are a just a few miles away.
One of the big events held at the park each year is Paddlefest, which features various paddle water sports. The event is held in September of each year. Another yearly event in which the park takes part is Clean the Bay Day where volunteers come together at several locations to clean trash and debris from beaches throughout the area.
First Landing State Park is Virginia's most visited park and there are several programs, both guided and self-guided available. These include crabbing, junior rangers and beach walks. The Environmental Education Center includes a wet lab and also provides educational information about the English settlers of 1607.
A small per-vehicle admission fee is required.
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