Virginia’s 35 state parks offer variety

Does the idea of vacationing at a 1,500-acre rustic resort with its own lake beach and manicured trails through the woods have some appeal?

The Virginia state park system offers those kinds of amenities at prices many people can afford, said Chuck Wyatt of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Virginia has 35 parks with thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, more than 500 miles of trails and easy access to waterways. And the state parks, voted America's best and widely considered Virginia's best value for vacationers, provide plenty for people to do.

The parks feature beaches, picnic shelters, family lodges, meeting facilities, festivals, concerts, nature programs and cultural happenings. The parks' two-bedroom cabins -- the most common -- rent for $613 a week, while those with water views go for $674 to $706.

"We hope we'll be well-attended because people who are trading down will see us as a low-cost alternative," Wyatt said. -- Peter Bacqué