First Landing State Park (Virginia) November 23 - 26, 2013

The Place

We really enjoyed First Landing State Park. The campsites are nestled into ancient sand dunes among gnarled live oak trees, with sufficient separation so that you have some sense of privacy. There are beach access points with boardwalks across the dune ridges to a wide sloping beach.

The beach is along the Chesapeake Bay so the water is shallow, and without the surf you would find around the corner on Virginia Beach. In the distance you see enormous ocean going cargo and Navy ships entering and leaving the Bay.

On the other side Shore Dr, the First Landing "Trails" section features quite a few well marked trails and a wonderful visitors center.  The Park also rents cute 2 bedroom cabins in a pine forested area. Like the campsites, they are thoughtfully situated for privacy.


The Adventure

It was very cold and windy our first day at the park, so we retreated inland to the hike in the Trails area where we were more protected from the wind.  One of the trails was the the Bald Cypress Trail which goes through a cypress swamp.  We were bundled up against the frigid winds and looking at cypress knees and trees draped with Spanish Moss. It looked like Florida and felt like Maine.  In fact, according to the trail guide, this is the northernmost occurrence of Spanish Moss. 

The Motor Home

We supplemented the heating system in the motor home with electric space heaters.  They worked really well as long as we didn't use any other appliances.  In the late afternoon, we tripped a circuit breaker running two space heaters and the TV.  We found the fuse panel and learned how to reset the switch, and then plugged the second space heater onto another circuit.  We didn't know that this would be a dress rehearsal for when we blew the main circuit breaker with two space heaters, two TVs and the blue-ray player later that night. It became pitch black inside.  It is good to know your limitations...and where the flashlights are kept!