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Pocahontas State Park: A Wild World Waiting to be Explored
February 2014
By Jennifer Fell
I admit that I’m not one for the outdoors, and I never understood the fascination of subjecting oneself to blistering heat, critters, and leaving the comforts of home—but since my recent move to Virginia, I find myself frequenting one place the most: Pocahontas State Park. Named after the historical figure famously known for her involvement in the English colonial settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, the park is a new world, waiting to be discovered, and will have the laziest coach potato tying her shoe laces and out the door faster than you can say John Smith.
Nestled twenty miles from downtown Richmond, in Chesterfield County, the park has a long list of activities patrons can participate in, including swimming, fishing, canoeing, biking, and camping. The hiking trails have become a favorite of mine. There are numerous trails to choose among depending on how difficult you want your trek to be, but they all provide access to the park’s rich wilderness and wildlife. They are easy to navigate, so you never have to worry about getting lost, and they provide adequate shade on hot days.
Speaking of the weather, if the heat becomes unbearable, the park has multiple options to ward off the sun’s rays. During the summer, the Aquatic Recreation Center is a hotspot for family outings. It’s one of the largest public swimming pools in the metro Richmond area, and offers fun aquatic playground equipment, a kiddie pool, fountain wet deck, leisure pools, an activity pool and two water slides.
So if you have time this summer, do yourself a favor and visit Pocahontas State Park. I’ve only highlighted some of the activities you can enjoy. For more information on Pocahontas State Park, visit www.viginiastateparks.gov.
I admit that I’m not one for the outdoors, and I never understood the fascination of subjecting oneself to blistering heat, critters, and leaving the comforts of home—but since my recent move to Virginia, I find myself frequenting one place the most: Pocahontas State Park. Named after the historical figure famously known for her involvement in the English colonial settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, the park is a new world, waiting to be discovered, and will have the laziest coach potato tying her shoe laces and out the door faster than you can say John Smith.
Nestled twenty miles from downtown Richmond, in Chesterfield County, the park has a long list of activities patrons can participate in, including swimming, fishing, canoeing, biking, and camping. The hiking trails have become a favorite of mine. There are numerous trails to choose among depending on how difficult you want your trek to be, but they all provide access to the park’s rich wilderness and wildlife. They are easy to navigate, so you never have to worry about getting lost, and they provide adequate shade on hot days.
Speaking of the weather, if the heat becomes unbearable, the park has multiple options to ward off the sun’s rays. During the summer, the Aquatic Recreation Center is a hotspot for family outings. It’s one of the largest public swimming pools in the metro Richmond area, and offers fun aquatic playground equipment, a kiddie pool, fountain wet deck, leisure pools, an activity pool and two water slides.
So if you have time this summer, do yourself a favor and visit Pocahontas State Park. I’ve only highlighted some of the activities you can enjoy. For more information on Pocahontas State Park, visit www.viginiastateparks.gov.
