Alison Creamer - Keller Williams

Go on an adventure filled with some of Chesapeake's most stunning natural beauty when you visit the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The Great Dismal Swamp is located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern Carolina and has been recognized as a mysterious natural attraction where several people have easily lost their way. Originally established in 1974, this refuge is made up of 112,684 acres of forested wetlands. The 31,000-acre Drummond Lake is found at the center of the swamp.

No matter how old your kids are, there is an adventure awaiting them at Chesapeake's Fun Forest. This award-winning children's playground attraction sits on three acres of City Park and offers a little something for everyone. The older children's area features a dragon, a three-way underground telephone and a shaky bridge. There's a science and learning area that teaches math and science with such fun exhibits as whisper dishes, mirrors and a planet walk. The toddlers will enjoy the chance to steer a plane, a truck or a swing. Plus, there's a stunning aquatic area and even a Fossil Dig that features a dinosaur buried under sand, and if the kids find actual fossils, they are theirs to keep.

A single tree offers a great place to relax and commune with nature. But at the Chesapeake Arboretum, there are so many trees that your senses will be overwhelmed–but in a good way! This 47-acre garden features a staggering number of trees and also does an admirable job of championing the importance of environmental awareness through various exhibits and attractions. The Chesapeake Arboretum originally opened its doors in 1996 and has been welcoming hundreds of visitors on a regular basis ever since.

History and astronomy come together in a dazzling way at the Chesapeake Planetarium. From an historic standpoint, the facility is significant because it is the first planetarium built by a public school system in the state of Virginia. But this attraction also offers visitors a chance to gaze into the night sky and be amazed at the intricate patterns and formations that make up the constellations everyone has heard about. The staff is highly knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have. Also, there are various lectures and special presentations on the schedule. And of course, the opportunity to see the stars up close is always available thanks to the high powered telescopes and other impressive equipment that is available here.