First Landing State Park
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Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, First Landing State Park is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The park, which is Virginia’s most visited state park, is nestled in Virginia Beach. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres. It also has campsites that have water and electric hook-ups and nearby access to restrooms and showers. The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown.
Cabins and Campsite are available for overnight stays.
Activities:
Swimming
Hiking
Fishing
Boating
Nature and History Programs
3 Reviews for First Landing State Park
27
120 families found this helpful
"Not lots to do"
You can climb the lighthouse (lots of steps!), explore the small beach, and see the amphibious vehicle, but other than that, there's not gobs of things to do. We did see dolphins from the beach, and caught a little hermit crab...the view is gorgeous, and it is quiet, unlike the boardwalk beach in VA BCH.
The children did enjoy themselves, because they got to see some thing they didnt' get to see on VA BCH, but I can see how some children might get easily bored.
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2 families found this helpful
"Camping here is AWESOME!"
We went on a camping trip to First Landing. You camp as close to the beach as allowed. It was beautiful! The beach was a few minutes walk up the dunes and well worth it in the evenings, being able to watch the gorgeous sunsets that unfold every evening. The water was warm! Which was surprising to us! The staff are very nice. There is a camp store that has anything and everything plus more! They sell food, drinks, and touristy t shirts and things like that as well. You can make reservations online.
You don't need to make reservations to just go to the beach. It is just a day pass you purchase once you get there.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
This park, with its 19 miles of hiking trails, is Virginia’s most popular state park, attracting more than one million visitors annually, yet it still offers a quiet respite. Paths lead you by freshwater ponds and through thickets of large cypress trees draped with Spanish moss.
There is a special bicycle trail and bikes are permitted on park roads. (Bikes can be rented at the Chesapeake Bay Center.) A boat ramp offers access to Broad Bay. Kayaks are available for rental on in-season weekends. The first section of the Bald Cypress Trail is 1 mile long, crosses dunes and ponds, and is wheelchair accessible.
Located in the park is the Chesapeake Bay Center, an environmental education center that features wet labs and displays. The center also showcases Bay Lab, developed by the Virginia Marine Science Museum. This marine lab features aquariums, environmental exhibits, classroom space, a wet lab, and touch tank. The visitor center includes a staging area for adventure programs and equipment rental, enabling visitors to participate in such programs as sea kayaking and explore the Chesapeake Bay firsthand.
For families who want something a little closer to land, there are interpretive programs offered throughout the summer, such as Night Over the Chesapeake (telescoping the moon and stars), Kritter Kids (kids learn about resident critters), Cool Campfires (s’mores!), and Ospreys and Eagles. Families interested in camping should call the State Parks Reservation Center at (800) 933-PARK, Monday through Friday, to reserve a cabin or campsite. Some campsites here now have electricity and water. Sites cannot be reserved online.
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