Larry Baker

Lovers of the outdoors in Chesapeake know that the place to enjoy the natural beauty of the area is the Western Branch Park and Sports Park. This hub of outdoor activity and fun attracts various teams, groups and families out to enjoy its many amenities. This 80-acre site is the home of an impressive variety of sports attractions that include multipurpose softball fields with lights, lighted tennis courts and basketball courts. If you feel like you would rather commune with nature than play a sport, enjoy the spectacle of thousands of wildflowers that adorn a winding nature trail that is perfect for walking and running.

Sure, your date is sweet, but you'll both share in creating something even sweeter when you both visit the Bergey's Dairy Farm on your next romantic date. Your visit isn't about looking at everything from the view of an outsider–you will actually get to do some work on this dairy farm as part of the fun! This farm was originally founded by Titus Bergey in 1931 and still offers fresh milk in bottles, butter and sweet homemade ice cream produced right on this charming farm.

First-editions, vintage periodicals and much more await you at Zeno's Books in Chesapeake. Whether you are an avid reader and collector or just want to browse through the shelves, you're sure to find something that will capture your attention and imagination. All books are reasonably priced, and if there is a title that you can't quite find, the friendly staff at Zeno's will be more than happy to direct you to it or even special order it. At Zeno's, they take pride in bringing you the whole story!

Man's best friend needs some quality time outdoors, too, so if your pooch is begging for a little outdoor fun, make your way to the Chesapeake Dog Park. This dog park is located near the Western Branch Community Center and offers such amenities as covered picnic tables and benches. The facility is an off-leash park that offers plenty of open spaces for your dog to play, and the fenced area features even more benches as well as a water fountain.