New Discoveries Part II

So last week I told you about a "new to me" park I discovered locally in Colonial Heights.  And I mentioned that Roslyn Park is part of a larger concept...that concept is one that The FOLAR are slowly but surely putting in place.  I accidentally stumbled across the website for the group and discovered I have an entire trail system right in my back yard to explore.  Literally, as soon as I had a free hour to myself I went off to check things out.

In Dinwiddie

Appomattox Riverside Park in Dinwiddie County

Appomattox Riverside Park

In Petersburg



Between Campbell's Bridge in Petersburg and Appomattox Riverside Park in Dinwiddie

Between Campbell's Bridge in Petersburg and Appomattox Park in Dinwiddie

In Hopewell/Prince George



Appomattox River Regional Park in Prince George



Appomattox River Regional Park in Prince George County

City Park Location in Hopewell

The individual parks are all along the Lower Appomattox River and cover ground from Dinwiddie County to Hopewell City.  The FOLAR website indicated the that it would eventually be a 22.8 mile long trail.  That made me one very happy girl!!!!  With what is already in place the Busy Bryant's have logged some serious hiking/site seeing time already. Can't wait to discover more.

New Discoveries

Almost nothing gets me as excited as finding a new place to discover.  When that new place is right under my nose and happens to be totally awesome I can barely contain myself.  About a month ago I was driving through the town of Colonial Heights when I realized a sign, that I've probably seen a dozen times, said there was a park close by.  I had a few free minutes on my hands and decided to check it out.  Sure enough I had just stumbled onto Roslyn Landing Park. 

Right along the Appomattox River, it has a walking/biking trail, a boat dock and a picnic pavilion.  The park is part of a bigger plan to create a greenway that follows the river through the city.  The entire span is not finished but currently there is about 1.5 miles worth of paved walkway along the river starting in Roslyn Park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not even going to pretend that I didn't act like a kid in a candy store when I realized what we had found.  I know to a lot of people a trail is nothing exciting...but then again they aren't the kind of people to plan an entire trip around hiking a trail.  There is more to this story (an even larger concept for the trail) but that will have to wait.  Happy hiking.

 

Swift Creek Mill Playhouse



Swift Creek Mill Playhouse.

Just a short drive across town is a small dinner theatre, Swift Creek Mill Playhouse.  Built in 1663, this mill changed hands several times before becoming the historical landmark it is today.  Located right next to the Swift Creek, in Colonial Heights, the theatre has a beautiful backdrop for a location.  It seems that they have about half a dozen shows a season with times varying to include some matinees on weekends.  Tickets for dinner and a play were about $50 a piece.  You can buy tickets to only see the play.  The dinner is buffet style and starts at 6:00 for an evening play.  You have dinner on the first floor and then move upstairs for the play.  I didn't see an elevator for anyone that might have trouble with the stairs but they have a number to call to make arrangements for assistance. 




Theatre to the left....dinner to the right.



This particular night my Mom had asked to do something with our men.  And when I say our men I mean my dad, my brother-in-law and Mark.  So my sister and I made some arrangements and told the men what day and what time to be ready but we didn't tell them where we were going or what we were doing.  I think Mark was a little nervous :)  And if I tell you what he guessed then you would think he had lost his MIND.  But come Saturday night we all arrived at the Playhouse around the same time.  Mark was happy to find out he was not going to have to do something crazy (like I would make him do that) and since he had never been to the Playhouse he considered it an adventure. 





Swift Creek



Dinner at the Playhouse is....o.k.  It's not great food but it's also not the worst food I've eaten either.  We saw the play The 39 Steps.  It's an adaptation of an Alfred Hitchcock movie by the same name.  I have no idea if the movie was a comedy but the play sure is.  We really enjoyed ourselves and now Mark has a new fondness for live theatre! 



The Playhouse gift shop.





Our little crew waiting for me to take pictures.





Wouldn't this be pretty at Christmas.



The mill no longer functions but they refurbished
some of the equipment to add to the atmosphere.



The 39 Steps






The stage before the performance.




It was a really fun night.  My dad did make it clear however that the next "secret date night" would be planned by him and he did mention Hooters...ha ha ha.  I certainly think Mark's first trip here will not be his last.