Virginia Beach State Parks

 Virginia Beach is the place to be if you enjoy the thrills offered by nature. It has sandy beaches, wildlife, and different trails to explore. This coastal city is the great escape if you want just to be one with nature and quench your thirst for adventure. False Cape State Park and First Landing State Park both offer a glimpse of the natural coastal environment of Virginia Beach. Whether you like to go camping or you merely want to explore the biking and hiking trails, these two state parks will not disappoint.

False Cape State Park
False Cape State Park is a crowd favorite for many good reasons. It boasts of six-mile virgin beaches and a 15-mile trail. From its woodlands, dunes, farm fields, down to its salt marshes, its beauty is hard to beat. The park also houses a variety of species that are endemic to the area. There are 300 species of migratory birds that find a fortress in this remote park.

False Cape State Park that sits in the southern part of Virginia Beach is a good spot for camping. You can feel the primitive way of camping on the site because there is no public vehicle access. If you want to go to False Cape, you need to bike your way to it, or ride a boat, or go hiking. The park also has tram services and beach transport that you can use to reach the park. There are a total of 12 campsites which are exclusive for tent-pitching. They offer free water in three different locations.

If camping doesn't excite you, maybe hiking and biking will. False Cape has 15 of these trails with different levels of difficulty for every type of adventure-seeker out there. The Sand Ridge Trail is the most challenging and the longest path in the park.

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First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park is a registered Natural Landmark that boasts of its 1.25 miles of beach and 19 miles of hiking trails. This 2,888-acre park offers freshwater ponds, marsh habitat, forest, and cypress swamp. There is no wonder it is the most visited state park in Virginia because aside from the beautiful view, it is also home to the maritime forest community, which is one of the most endangered habitat types in the world.

The name "First Landing" is to honor the historic landing the ships from England. One of the three ships was the Godspeed where the first English settlers in America came from. There were 100 English people in these ships, and Captain Christopher Newport led them.

If you want to access the nine interpretative trails stretching through the park, you can use the south entrance off of Shore Drive. Cape Henry Trails is the park's longest trail and the only one that can be accessed through biking and hiking. The Bald Cypress Trail will give you a lot of Instagram-worthy views, so don't forget to bring your cameras for a great photo-op.
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The camp offers 200 campsites where campers can find refuge. There are smaller sites for those who prefer tent-camping, but there are also sites with water and electricity for those who prefer comfortable camping.

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