There’s something awesome about retreating to a cabin. Most often they offer more room than a hotel, more comfort than a tent and more solitude than a bed and breakfast. Truly, cabins are what you make them.

Virginia State Park cabins include basic kitchen equipment (no dishwashers), a set of linens for each bed and one set of towels per person. If you’re used to camping and a cabin is an upgrade for you, you’ll find this to be pleasant news!

The furniture is rustic, mission style, and the bedrooms even include clock radios. If your kids likes to ham it up like mine do, the missing television and phone aren’t a problem. Truth be told, they’re actually a welcome omission in this age of technology and busyness.

Having 35 state parks to choose from, you have a wide range of cabin selections, too … 260 of them, in fact. From two-bedroom cabins to six-bedroom lodges, anywhere from one to 16 people can be accommodated. Additionally, waterfront and water view cabins are available at some parks while others are tucked into wooded seclusion.

Unique state park cabin experiences include Breaks Interstate Park in Southwest Virginia where five hand-hewn waterfront luxury cabins are available. These include laundry amenities and hot tubs.

Mountain views are plentiful for the ten cabins and one lodge at Natural Tunnel State Park, called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” They’re all perched high on a mountain ridge with great access to trails.

Buggs Island Lake is Virginia’s largest lake and the centerpiece of both Occoneechee and Staunton River State Parks – just pick which side of the lake you prefer!

What You Need to Know

• Virginia State Park cabins are rented on a weekly basis Memorial Day through Labor Day (prime season)*.
• Cabins are non-smoking.
• While Virginia State Parks are pet friendly, not all cabins are pet friendly. Inquire with the park you’re interested in to learn more.
• Bring:
  • dish detergent, dish towels, paper towels, coffee and filters, salt and pepper and non-stick cooking spray
  • toiletries, extra bath/beach towels
  • flashlights, board games, books, a deck of cards, etc.
• Don’t Bring:
  • firewood
• You’ll Like:
  • an emergency phone at the contact station
  • climate-controlled cabins
  • picnic tables, fire rings and grills
  • decks or porches with rocking chairs
• Prime Season Rates:
  • Virginia resident rates are about 12% cheaper than non-residents.
    • Efficiency from $474/week
    • 1 Bedroom from $557/week
    • 2 Bedrooms from $643/week
    • 3 Bedroom from $729/week
    • 6 Bedroom from $2,104/week
    • *Prime season starts the Friday night prior to Memorial Day and ends the Sunday night prior to Labor Day, with the exception of eight parks that include October 1-31 (fall foliage season) “prime” as well.

See all of the Virginia State Park cabin offerings at Virginia.org/StateParkCabins, then make your plans to getaway for family fun.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
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Love to be one of the first to experience something new? Fortunately, there are quite a few new things you can look forward to in Virginia this summer. Which ones will make your must-do list?

Geocaching

Kings Dominion has completely revitalized and expanded their kids Planet Snoopy area. Your family will now find nearly 14 acres of fun that includes 18 rides. It’s the world’s biggest PEANUTS themed children’s area and you can be among the first to give it a whirl. KD is located in Doswell and opens this Saturday, March 29. Get Tickets

The geocaching craze is spreading to families like wildfire and Virginia State Parks have a brand new Tree-mendous Adventure for 2013  - one you won’t want to miss. This year’s quest is all about Virginia’s native trees. Visit five parks and then register on Virginia Outdoors to receive a special prize. Hit all 34 caches and there might be another special surprise. Don’t have a handheld GPS? No worries. All Virginia State Parks have them available for rent.

LOVE our LOVEworks? There are more than 15 coming soon, and they stretch across the entire state. We’ll have the full list for you as soon as we’re able to share, but for now, catch a glimpse of the LOVEwork Richmond International Raceway is building. One thing is for sure – those who have made a game out of “finding the LOVE” have their work cut out for them!

ATV enthusiasts, rejoice! Finally, the Spearhead Trail in Southwest Virginia is opening this summer! Phase one – The Mountain View Trail System – opens in June. Permits will be available for sale in May. The Mountain View Trail highlights the best of southwest’s outdoors – amazing views from the mountains and lush, forest-lined creeks. Additionally, watch for 20 miles of the Leeman Field System to open sometime this year.

For those who have the need to feel the heat of stock cars rushing past them and the surface beneath their feet rumble, Virginia is the perfect destination. You’re going to LOVE the dirt tracks, road course, NASCAR Home Tracks and two of NASCAR’s toughest Sprint Cup Series venues this spring.

Introduce your little one to the love of NASCAR.

With a racing history that actually pre-dates NASCAR, Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, hosts two races each year. The spring race – STP Gas Booster 500 – is the highlight of a weekend full of events that kick off April 6 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 race.

Martinsville Speedway’s claim to fame is that it’s the shortest of all the tracks NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series runs. Dubbed “the paperclip,” Martinsville’s straightaways are only 800′ long and the turns are a shallow 12 degrees. Fans who turn out for races here are treated to plenty of beating and banging, which tends to result in terse words and fisticuffs.

Richmond International Raceway is located in Richmond, Virginia. Since its first NASCAR race in 1953 the track has operated under three names, five configurations and two surfaces. RIR is the only track to host all of its major events “under the lights,” and it’s the only track that all three Petty drivers – Lee, Richard (The King) and Kyle – have won.

Racing at RIR reconvenes April 26 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in the ToyotaCare 250. Kids 12 and under are free for this race and the Kroger 250 at Martinsville, making it easy to introduce your child to motorsports. The following night at RIR the big boys of NASCAR take to the 3/4-mile “D” shaped track for the Toyota Owners 400. A night race under the lights is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Both Martinsville and RIR host NASCAR’s top echelon of drivers twice each year giving Virginia four races total. Within no other state can Sprint Cup fans choose from four races at two tracks just 180 miles apart. If you include Bristol Motor Speedway, as we  often do thanks to the VA/TN border splitting the downtown, that’s six races with Bristol just 170 miles from Martinsville. Yep, Virginia is a haven for NASCAR fans.

For a down-home race feel, check Virginia’s dirt tracks and NASCAR Home Tracks:

• Fork Mountain Raceway, Bassett
• Franklin County Speedway, Callaway
• Langley Speedway, Hampton – NASCAR Home Track
• Lonesome Pine Raceway, Coeburn
• Motormile Speedway, Fairlawn - NASCAR Home Track
• Natural Bridge Speedway, Natural Bridge
• Old Dominion Motor Speedway, Manassas
• Rolling Thunder Raceway, Ararat
• Shenandoah Speedway, Shenandoah
• South Boston Speedway, South Boston - NASCAR Home Track of Jeff Burton, Elliott Sadler
• Virginia Motor Speedway, Jamaica
• Winchester Speedway, Winchester
• Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat

Learn more about NASCAR in Virginia and Virginia motorsports.

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LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
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Virginia’s theme parks are preparing to open for the spring and summer season – one as soon as this Sunday. If your family LOVEs to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, as well as get the first coaster-induced adrenaline rush of 2013, here are a few fun things you should know.

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia opens this Sunday, March 17 at 10 a.m. If you’re an annual pass holder, you get in a day early! Pass members will be treated to a preview day this Saturday, complete with a Black Forest picnic. Reserve your spot.

The newest ride at Busch Gardens is Verbolten. It opened mid-season 2012, so if you visited the park early last year, you missed out on this gem. It’s an indoor/outdoor multi-launch coaster that departs from a German tourist center. With various scenarios, you never know which path your autobahn will take.

Don’t miss the inaugural Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. It’s happening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 31 through June 23. As you make your way through the park you’ll encounter foods and beverages authentic to each country of Busch Gardens with a few extras thrown in, like sangria from Spain. The Festival experience is in addition to your park admission. Each of-age guest will be able to pre-load a card to swipe at each station, taking cash-fumbling out of the equation.

Savings: 

• Sesame Street Forest of Fun Preschool Pass – Register online and redeem at the park by May 31, 2013 for your preschooler (ages 3-5) to enjoy unlimited admission to both Busch Gardens and Water Country USA through September 2, 2013. Valid for Virginia residents only.
• Fun Card – The single day admission for Busch Gardens is $70 and the Fun Card is $70. If there’s the slightest chance you’ll go again before September 2, 2013, get the Fun Card and enjoy unlimited admission.
• 2-Park Summer Flex Card – So you love Water Country USA just as much as you love Busch Gardens. Luckily, there’s a card for that. Buy this card and enjoy seven days of consecutive use between the two parks. It’s $80 online – a $39 discount.
• Meal Deal Package – One price ($22) gives you two meals – a lunch and a dinner. That’s a 40% savings available online only.
  • Kid’s Dining Certificate – One kid’s meal and a fountain drink for $5.99. It’s not discounted, but it goes to show that you can feed the kids without breaking the bank.

Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, opens Friday, March 29 at 10:30 a.m., rolling out a brand new, re-imagined Planet Snoopy. Eight new rides bring the total to 18 and doubles the space at nearly 14 acres. That makes it the world’s largest PEANUTS themed children’s area. Check out the webcam to monitor the process.

If the all-new kid fun isn’t enough to pull you to KD, maybe the largest entertainment line-up in years will do the trick. Seven brand new offerings take the total to 10, giving you plenty of options to sit and take a break. Expect to see a BMX-style show that will include semifinalists from Season 7 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and a new “On Broadway” musical revue that brings you the classic shows from New York City.

Savings:

• Everyone Pays Kids Price Offer – Buy your single-day ticket online and pay the kid’s rate of $39.99. That’s a $22 savings for adults and only available online for a visit by June 16, 2013. Note that you have to pick your date of visit to complete the purchase.
• Silver Season Pass – Visit KD as much as you want until September 2, 2013 for only $72. The regular adult single-day admission is $61.99 at the gate, so for just $10 more you can come back again and again. This pass is valid for ages 3 and over. A perk to being a Silver Season Pass holder is the 10% discount on in-park dollars, called Beagle Bucks.

What are you waiting for? Get your tickets and plan your Virginia Theme Park vacation before the deals – and time – are gone.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
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Families LOVE Spring Break in Virginia, and the choices for fun are many – have fun at one of the theme parks, hit the beach if you can’t wait ’til June to put your feet in the sand or explore a city or two. Travel packages and deals make it easier to get away to Virginia for a day or longer.

If each member of the family has a different favorite activity, that’s okay at The Homestead. This famed Hot Springs, Virginia resort invites you to come play for as little as $279 per night. Each member of the family can choose an activity (archery, Jefferson Pools, trail riding, etc.) and enjoy discounts on KidsClub and additional activities. Book Now

Introduce your children to trains or give them the chance to expand their existing interest with a special stay at The Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia. Their Train Lover’s offer includes deluxe accommodations for one night with a full breakfast  and tickets to the O. Winston Link Museum and Virginia Museum of Transportation. Book Now

Spread Spring Break to include the grandparents with this overnight experience in Fredericksburg. You choose your hotel with two rooms included. The parents will enjoy tickets for dinner and a show at Riverside Dinner Theater while the grandparents and kids have a $100 shopping spree at Spotsylvania Towne Center (gift card good for dining, bowling and movies, too). Bring the family back together the following day for a private three-hour Colonial History Tour by Horse and Carriage. Priced from $659. Book Now

Anxious for the theme parks to open? You’re in luck! Busch Gardens opens for two weeks during Spring Break (March 23-April 7) and Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg has an outstanding family package to get you there. Your family of four can stay two nights, enjoy Summer Fun Tickets to Busch Gardens, daily breakfast, access to the Resort pools and sports club, and complimentary transportation to and from the park. Rates start at $375 per night. Book Now

With all of the Virginia Beach resort area as your playground, sometimes you just need an excellent nightly rate without the frills of a package. Check out the $89 weekday and $199 weekend rates from Fairfield Inn & Suites. All rooms are oceanfront, a complimentary continental breakfast is included with your stay and the indoor pool is perfect for this time of year. Rates valid through May 23, 2013. Book Now

If you’ve already secured a room and are just looking for something fun along the way, we found a few deals for you.

• Adults Pay the Kid Price at Kings Dominion – You pick your date and pay only the kid rate ($39.99). Valid March 29-June 16, 2013.
• Take to the streets of Richmond with River City Segs. They’re offering Buy One, Get One segway tours through March 25, 2013 with a valid student ID.
• Paddle your way through the coastal waters of Virginia with Bay Country Kayaking. Save $5 per person on any kayak eco-tour. Valid for groups of four or more.

For more Spring Break inspiration, visit Virginia.org/SpringBreak.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Request a free Travel Guide or sign up for our e-newsletter.