Summer is upon us and there is nothing better than spending it in the great outdoors. My family loves to be out and about! We love exploring all of the different parks and recreation centers that are in the area!

We are lucky enough to live in the incredible Hampton Roads area. If you travel just 2 hours west, you will encounter some incredible mountains! However, if you travel less than an hour East, you will be along the ocean. There are so many National Parks, Community Parks, and Recreational Centers within this “little” bubble, you will never be bored. Here are some of my top picks to checkout!

Fort Monroe

Fort Monroe is one of the first places we visited when we moved to Hampton Roads. Literally, a week after we moved in, my husband deployed, but lucky for us, Fort Monroe has the best views of submarines as they are leaving port, so we were able to see him off. There are some great walking paths, tons of historic sites, great beaches, an RV Park, and an awesome fishing pier. There really is something for everybody. Be sure to check out Fort Monroe’s website for details and to plan visit.

First Landing State Park

Where the marshes meet the beach, First Landing State Park is our go-to hiking spot. What is even cooler is the history of it!!! This is where English colonists first landed in 1607! Our family loves it here because a lot of the trails are shaded and it is very easy on little feet with all the boardwalk trails. If you get bored of the swamps, just put on your flip-flops and head across the street to the beach. They also have options for camping which are super convenient for those who don’t want to leave.

Williams Farm Recreation Center

This Williams Farm Rec Center is one of the best in Hampton Roads. A few years ago, my son’s friend had a birthday party here and I was hooked. The center features unique amenities including an indoor pool with an aqua track, playground, and rock climbing wall, outdoor splash pad, indoor track, and even a multimedia design studio for teens. You can also walk over to Williams Farm Park right outside for a 25,000-square-foot skate park and AARP FitLot™ outdoor fitness park. Now there is a membership fee for the Williams Farm Rec Center, but the Williams Farm Park is always FREE.

So make sure you get out this summer and check out everything your local Parks and Recreation Centers have to offer! For a full list of all the Parks and Rec Centers in Hampton Roads, check out the sites below:

Explore More with My Military Lifestyle and Life in Hampton Roads!