Fall Bucketlist

I don't need to make a bucketlist I have children.  The children are always submitting their requests to me.  Each season and even regardless of the season.  Sometimes they try to use the season as an excuse to request something or go somewhere.  

I like to take it easy when the season changes.  I don't need to run out the gate to a pool on the first day of summer.  Nor do I need to build a snowman when winter hits.  There will be plenty of time to do it so there's no point of stressing with a list.

  What I would like to do this fall in no specific order.

1.  Go to ColonialWilliamsburg. I have been several times but never during Halloween time but they have some amazing wreaths to look at.

2.  A corn maze would be fun for everyone

3.  Last year I went apple picking and that was a fun experience for my little ones.  I would love to check out the trees again and of course the donuts and cider are just a bonus.

4.  Carve a pumpkin.  This year we picked up a dremel so let's see what happens with that.

5.  Visit some more state parks and check out those leaves!

There I have made a list.  One I may or may not follow but it's there for bragging rights.  Fall is all about leaves, apples and pumpkins.  I promise I will partake in viewing or consumption of all the appropriate fall season necessities.

Does drinking pumpkin lattes count?  If so strike that off a bucketlist because I have nailed it.

Wordless Wednesday

This week in one of my previous post you saw that I walked 7 miles.  The kids and I took a trip to 3 of our local state parks.  From previous post you saw I completed a visit 5 parks challenge and now I'm slowly trying to visit them all. Or at least that is the goal.  We headed to 3 parks that were located in northern Virginia.  It was a little over 2 hours from us so we left about 7.  It was a long day for us as we didn't get home until after 10 (see my healthy meal for day 8)

Please enjoy some of the nature we saw.

 These were various stones we sifted through to look for sharks teeth!

 This silly spooky tree was on one of the trails.  I could only imagine what it would look like with a candle lit in it.

 This was one of two big frogs we saw.  Funny thing is somehow my daughter saw it and funny how he didn't move and one of us would have come awfully close to stepping on it.

 A beautiful spiderweb as the sun hit it.  We saw a lot of dandy long legs which are the only spider I'm comfortable with!

 One park had all these twisted trees.  More twisted trees here then I ever saw. They were neat to see.

Mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms! We saw all different colors, sizes and shapes.  They are neat to see and my daughter has taken up pointing them out whenever she sees them.

It was a great day for us.  I think the more we walk the more they appreciate what is around us.  We talk about safety and try not to freak out to much when the snakes appear. (one this time went across the path behind us when we looked)

The walking on various trails in the woods takes some getting used to but we bring water and a backpack with miscellaneous things so I hope I'm prepared.  I am enjoying seeing more of my state and am grateful for having earned the annual pass.  Definitely putting miles on my shoes and having a mostly good time with my kids. 3 more parks down!   Only a few more to go!

State Park Challenge Park #4

  Amongst the hustle and bustle of Virginia Beach down the road from the busy popular beach is a nice quiet state park.

  First Landing State Park just like all the parks I have visited thus far provide a lot of trails and water views or more wooded areas.  This park has beach on one side of the road and a more wooded area on the other side.  So you may choose to stroll along the shoreline or on one of the wooded trails.

  On the beach you get the privilege of taking your shoes off and having a more leisure stroll. Atleast that's how I feel when I hit the sand.  Like everything just slows down.   Whether you like to people watch, swim, look at shells or watch the crabs this beach provides it all.

  The wooded area offers a variety of trails and of course you are able to pick your distance and complexity.  There is a variety of things to look at in the wooded area. Different birds, trees and let's just leave it at that!


  We did arrive at this park after our 3rd park so it was later in the day.  Not quite dusk by the time we got across the street to the wooded area.  I can not say enough that we sprayed bugs spray before our journey but that doesn't stop the bugs from buzzing in your ears and flying around your head even if they can't or have no interest in biting you.  I enjoyed the the trail we picked I like to look at the variety in trees.  I may post a Wordless Wednesday of trees.

  As with every park we get the privilege of seeing a critter that we may not have seen up close or even at all.  My children have never seen crabs before and I will not post her reaction to crabs (and they were plentiful on this beach) ((let's just say she held onto my husband's leg like a fireman's pole)).  It's funny now but it was pretty serious then.  However we could appreciate this little fella.

You can catch up on my adventures at other parks to complete the Virginia State Parks trail-quest.

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state-park-challenge-park-3.

State Park Challenge Park #3

The Eastern Shore part of Virginia has a state park!  The part of Virginia you get to be transported to by way of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel (CBBT).  Don't let the toll stop you from traveling over to this great quiet piece of Virginia.  The ride over there was just as beautiful as the state park.

The Kippoteke State Park is just a few short miles from the CBBT.  Great water views, fishing boats and the road or lack there of occasionally along with the high rise bridge can be seen on this long route.  Don't forget to stop at the pier on the bridge either before you head to the Easter Shore or on your way back to see what the fishermen have caught, a snack or drink.

This is our third visit to a state park and with each visit I get excited.  I don't know what to expect but assume it will not be a let down.  This park has a few trails, boat rentals, a beach for swimming, a fishing pier and camping facilities including a yurt!

We parked near a playground which I hated as with 2 little ones in tow; this distraction is the worst kind.  We need to focus in order for the kids to make a majority of the walk we can not play on it.  Our first stop at this park took us to.....

We walked around but didn't spy any butterflies but it was a fun idea.  Walking around and looking at the different varieties of flowers was a great start to our journey.

You are able to get away from the beating sun on one of their many paths through the woods.

Pick your trail! How many miles will it be? What do you want to see?  I love that each trail is different at each park.  We have found a critter

 of one kind or another on all trails or in the park in general.

The water view is beginning to be something I look forward to at each park.  What will the view be like? What will I see? What kind of shells will there be if any?

Behold our first view of the water. Concrete ships acting as a barrier.  These ships are from as far back as WWII used as supply/store ships among other missions.  Along the waterfront their are other opportunities besides gazing across the water.

There is an additional charge to fish off the pier.  I enjoyed the ripples of the sand due to the water pattern.

The shells were plentiful on one side of the pier and on the swimming side the were not as many.  They were very pretty and had this iridescent shimmer in different hues.

This was a great park, a lot of different components that cannot be seen anywhere but at Kippoteke State Park.

VA State Park challenge park #3 completed.

Take a look at all the state parks and see which one you would like to visit to start your own challenge.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/find-a-park.shtml

State Park Challenge Park #2

I was able to visit another park this weekend!

Pocahontas State Park located in the central part of the state in Chesterfield VA.  I had read the summary and was excited about the trails.  The summary stated 80 miles of trails!!!! These trails are a mix of hiking, biking and horseback riding.  The park is also constructing more mountain bike trails and loops for hand cyclists along with beginner cyclists. Need a tune up during your cycling?

They are broken down into levels for easy, moderate and hard.  The trails also offer a variety of miles.  When you get out on them you are able to mix them up and extend you walk.

I  will be honest with you the trail we set out for we didn't successfully find but we walked the whole thing and we managed a good 5 mile walk. Up, down, around all different grades, in 90° weather and carrying a 2 yo and 4 yo at different times makes for a great experience.  This counted as my workout for the day!!

Keep your eyes open for nature- otherwise why are you here?

Everyone in my party enjoyed themselves and would love to come back here.  There is also camping, boating and a pool available.  A large amphitheater for programs as well.

There is a small charge for admission into the park as well as renting the boats or using the pool.

Park #2 for our state park challenge completed! 3 more to go! We can do this! Follow our journey and take a peek at them through us!

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/mobile/pocahontas.shtml

State park challenge

 We are a family on the go and the summer is finally here.  After a long winter we are keeping it moving (maybe making up for lost time).  We have a few memberships to local areas which we take full advantage of and definitely get our money's worth.  However we haven't visited our local state parks in awhile.  We used to have a pass but are now on a mission to explore them and earn an annual pass this year!

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/get-outdoors.shtml

Visit 5 local parks by the end of the month and you will receive an annual parks passport plus parking.  We have started this challenge late but are going to catch up quickly!   I am looking forward to this challenge for many reasons.  I have actually only visited 2 of our 36 state parks!! Each park visit is going to give us a new places to explore, sights to see, trails to walk, fish to catch and maybe a sunset.

York River State Park located in Hampton Roads was our first 2015 park visit. This was a beautiful park. Wilderness and beach all in one!

I enjoy Virginia. We plan on visiting again to check out some events.  However on this visit we spent it celebrating free fishing weekend.  Children can fish under 15 without a license in either fresh or saltwater.  Everyone fished and worms were essential.

We were able to explore the  beach, observe nature and catch a sunset.

We left at dusk which lead for a quiet ride home but I do believe their was excitement amongst the exhaustion.  

1 state park down 4 to go!  I am already looking at all our other choices.  I can't wait to explore stay tune!