Pocohontas State Park

I will be the first to admit that for years and years I never really took advantage of the many parks right here in my own back yard.  I went to Maymont Park enough and maybe Petersburg National Battlefield but never visited the State Parks, didn't go to my local children's parks unless there was a formal function and I can probably count on one hand the number of times I planned a trip just to look at leaves.  Actually that would have been never until last year.  But then something changed....no idea what but now I have a goal to visit every State Park and I can just about map out my local parks without looking. 

Close to a year ago I started looking at ways I could give back to the State Parks system.  Almost all of the State Parks have volunteer or "friend" groups and some offer host programs.  I live closest to Pocohontas State Park and wanted to put in some time there doing what I could.  I signed up online to volunteer and they contacted me with some needs they had.  I decided I would help with their recycling program and so now about every two weeks I make a trip to the park to help with recycling.  Once I'm there I just might go on a walk or sit for a bit under a big tree...maybe drop the kids off by the swimming pool with Mark :)





Pocohontas State Park



Swimming Pools

   


Part of the swimming facility

They have a huge swimming area for campers and visitors.  It's only open in the summer of course but when it is open it's usually packed!  There is a snack bar and area to eat right here within the pool area but there are also pavilions and picnic tables located around the outside of the pool area as well. 



The pavilions can be rented for special events.



Plenty of Picnic Tables

There are hiking, biking and horse trails all over the park.  You can fish, boat, kayak, play volleyball, lay on a blanket in the sun.  A few trails that I enjoy in particular are just over the foot bridge here....



Foot bridge to the other side.





In the summer you can rent a kayak.



Small Boat Ramp.

The family has also been to the park when I'm not here to work.  We have hiked, come here to swim, I have biked a small part of it (thought I would die doing it!) and we have come for school athletic events.  They have camping (both tent and RV), a dining hall for rental, a CCC museum, a Nature Center, and an amphitheater. 



Nature Center and Meeting Center.



CCC Museum



Going down!



There are so many more things to see at this park as well as all the other Virginia State Parks.  And while I was there Sunday I couldn't help but feel like a kid...when the wind would blow and all the leaves came falling down on me :)  I wanted to make a leaf pile and jump in.  I resisted! 




My favorite picture of the day. 









Abingdon Winery

Well you didn't think I was going to visit an area with a winery and NOT stop in did you?!?!?  While on our trip to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail, which you can read about here, we stopped in and visited Abingdon Winery.




Abingdon Winery

I think because the area seems so rural and hometown I was expecting something smaller...but this winery was anything but small.  They offered a complementary tasting of 6 wines from there menu of over 20 wines!  The owner and her brother were in the tasting room doing the pouring and according to the brother the owners actually do the blending.  They were able to help us narrow down what we would like and then started pouring!




The wines on the wall are award winning wines.



Large tasting room with a lot of natural light.



They have a piano in the corner and a small fire burning in the fire place....can someone say cozy!  They do sale wine by the glass and when I asked to have three glasses our host pointed out that it would be cheaper to just buy a bottle and have it uncorked right there.  And so we did. 




Plenty of seating around the embers.



They look like they are up to no good.



Yep that box next to him is OURS!

The winery has a large patio outside and a picnic area right next to a rolling stream.  I could so see myself out there on a warm summer day.



Patio area.



Picnicking by the water.

According to some of the other people there doing a tasting the winery is only about a half mile off of the Creeper Trail.  So if you are doing the portion of the trail from Abingdon to Damascus you can easily stop in here for a bit and have a tasting and rest up from a long journey :)



An old barn at the winery



The winery



Another shot of the winery



Hurry you still have time this year to make it!

We really enjoyed our little visit here.  And since it was after we had biked all day it seemed like the perfect reward for all of our hard work! 

We left here and went in search of some of the rest of our party that opted out of wine tasting in search of fishing.  We found them further down the road (same road as winery) at a fishing boat ramp and more of the bike trail.  The spot was just as picturesque as the rest of the trail. 





This is along the trail.  So a nice spot to stop and eat.




Across from the trail is a large stream for fishing.



We found her on the trail and took her home with us :)

It really was a great way to wind down our day.  We topped it off with pizza at a local pizza place and headed back to the house to zonk out!  I started looking at places to stay as soon as we got home from this trip so that we can maybe stay a week when we come back.  Yep that's us....always looking for the next adventure.   




The Blueridge Parkway

The Blueridge Mountains

This past weekend The Busy Bryants loaded up with the Holts and headed west again.  The 2nd annual Great October Adventure was on.  Last year we visited here.  This year we wanted to continue the rest of the way south down through the mountains and onto The Blueridge Parkway.  We had picked this particular weekend with the hopes that the autumn leaves would be at their peak.  And mother nature did not fail to put on a spectacular show! 




Awesome view of the changing leaves.

The Blueridge Parkway, similar to Shenandoah National Park, is 75 years old.  This parkway travels through part of the Jefferson National Forest and runs through three states (Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee).  Unlike the Shenandoah it does not have a fee to get on or travel down it.  There are a number of ways to get on it and off of it.  There are hiking trails, picnic areas, ranger stations with gift shops and at least two campgrounds.  There is also a lodge at the Peaks of Otter portion of the park.  The parkway is over 400 miles long but we had plans to only travel as far as Meadows of Dan.




A scenic overlook.



We drove up on Friday night so that we could get a early start in the park on Saturday morning.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Stauton and were happy with the accommodations.  I made the reservations just a couple weeks ago and I was glad that I had made the reservations.  All the rooms in the area were booked.





Our first night's stay.



We entered the park at the most Northern entrance in Waynesburo close to I-64.  We stopped near the beginning of the park at the first visitor center to get a map and ask a few questions.  They also have an exhibit set up here to tour.  A cabin that was originally in the area of the park when it was being developed.  It made me very thankful for all the things I have at home...like HEAT and a good roof! 



First visitor center.



Original cabin, complete with cracks in the floor and no A/C or heat.



Front porch of cabin.

Very close to this visitor center is one of the first hiking trails.  This trail is to the Humpback Rocks.  The kids, Mark and myself hiked up to these rocks.....it was not easy but well worth the effort. 

Humpback rocks 2 miles ahead

The view  from the base of the mountain.

Me taking Emma up the mountain

Park of the trail

More climbing, yea that is the trail...and it's a good part.

The view along the way

This hike took us up about two miles according to the online map of the park.  I looked at the time when we went up but forgot to look once we got up there.  And I forgot because once we got to the top I was just so in awe of the view.  It was something out of a National Geographic Magazine.  Breathtaking! 

I really can't describe how beautiful this was.  I wanted a family photo up there but we didn't dare take the baby up on the rocks because the footing was not good and really there is NO SAFETY NET once you get out there.  After the climb down and you drive around the mountain you can see the rocks from below.  It was crazy to see how high we had climbed.  Online they said that these rocks were used by the pioneers as landmarks to guide them.  This hike and view alone made the trip worth it for me. 



After all the hiking it was time to eat!  A ranger directed us to a secluded picnic area near the Humpback hiking trail.  There were plenty of tables, a couple bathrooms and grills that could be used for grilling. 



Picnic Area.



Rustic bathrooms....no hot water :(



Time to play in the leaves.

We continued down the parkway after lunch and stopped at some of the overlooks and some of the exhibits. 



My strong man. 





Otter Creek



Otter Dam



James River.





Suspension bridge.





Another view of the James River.

I had no idea the James River went through the park but the area around the river was really pretty.  A visitor center, picnic areas, an exhibit on the James River Canal and a suspension bridge that carried you over the river.  There were more hiking trails in this area too. 



Looking back at the picnic area.


It was close to this area that we got off the parkway and found our second stay for the night.  We had plenty more to go but knew it could not all be done in one day....and for now we plenty of visions to fill our dreams. 

I'll finish this journey with a second part.  Day 2 deserves it's own post. 

A couple more random pictures from day 1....




Otter Creek






Gramdpa and Tommy






Bear country...don't make them mad!






Daddy bringing Emma down the trail.