When you want to get the family off of the sofa and out into the great outdoors but don't have the time to take an out of town trip, bring everyone out to Mound Park. This lushly inviting attraction is located in the heart of Portsmouth, but you'll feel like you've escaped to an enticing outdoor retreat miles away from it all. The park sprawls out over 8.8 acres and features a walking path, picnic tables, and wide open spaces that are perfect for a game of catch or just lounging in the sun.
Fans of history will not want to miss the opportunity to visit the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum in Portsmouth. This is much more than a history lesson–this impressive facility houses an incredible collection of military artifacts, pictures, weapons and many historic ships including the CSS VIRGINIA (EX-MERRIMAC) as well as the world's first aircraft carrier, the LANGLEY.
The Lake Smith Reservoir in nearby Norfolk offers outdoor lovers an excellent chance to make a big splash! Lake Smith is an impressively large body of water that takes up nearly 193 acres, but offers safe aquatic fun as it is only five feet deep all the way around. In addition to fishing and sunbathing, anglers can enjoy catching some highly desirable largemouth bass.
The Virginia Creeper Train is a 35-mile multi-purpose rail trail in southwestern Virginia. The trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia, near the North Carolina state line - through National Forest and crossing numerous restored trestles and crossing the Appalachian Trail.