Kiptopeke

Kiptopeke SP https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/kiptopeke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiptopeke_State_Park Kiptopeke State Park is a state park located in the southern end of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula in Northampton County, near Cape Charles. The park offers recreational access to the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay with its shoreline and beach plus piers as well as an opportunity to explore unique migratory bird habitat along the East Coast flyway. For the fisherman it also has a number of boat launching ramps and lighted fishing piers.

WELCOME TO KIPTOPEKE STATE PARK. To make your visit safe and more pleasant, we ask that you observe the following: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Park in designated areas only. Please note there is a parking fee charged year-round at all Virginia State Parks. Self-pay parking information is available at the contact station. PRESERVE - Help preserve your park. Please don’t cut or mar any plants or trees. Collecting animal or plant life is allowed only for scientific purposes by permit from the Richmond headquarters. Don’t feed any wild animals. ALCOHOL - State law permits alcohol use only in private areas (inside your cabin or camping unit) or in areas designated on permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. PETS - Pets are permitted in enclosed areas or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please clean up after your pet. Pets may not be left unattended at any time. DRONES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT - Drones, other unmanned aerial vehicles, including remote control aircraft, and aircraft in general may not be flown in state parks pursuant to 4VAC5-30-400. LITTER - Please help us keep the park clean by placing litter and recyclables in the proper receptacles and recycle centers or carrying out your trash. FIRE - Help prevent wildfires. Fires must be confined to grills, camp stoves or designated fire rings. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished when left. Firewood is generally available for purchase at the park. Campers and guests may collect only down and dead firewood. We enforce all seasonal and emergency bans on open fires. POLLUTION - Help reduce pollution. Dump stations, laundry sinks and slop sinks, where available, are for the proper disposal of wastewater. Please, no boat, RV or car washing. Portable showers that do not drain to wastewater storage tanks are prohibited by state law. Collected wastewater must be disposed of properly. SWIMMING - Where available, swimming areas are gener- ally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, weather permitting. Swim or wade only in designated swimming areas and at designated times. Children in swimming areas must wear sealed plastic pants over diapers. Disposable swim pants are recommended and available for purchase at the parks. Swimming or wading in unguarded areas may be hazardous because of swift currents, sudden drop-offs or unseen obstructions. FISHING - Where fishing is permitted, valid Virginia fish- ing licenses are required. Specific licenses are required for saltwater and trout-water fishing. Please call the park in advance for specifics. GUESTS - Your guests are our guests. For everyone’s safety and security, please register all visitors with the park office. Visitors will not be admitted to camping and cabin areas unless so identified. Visitors are permitted only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. QUIET HOURS - Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The use of generators is prohibited at all times. CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT POLICY Camping: Check-in 4 p.m. Check-in 4 p.m. Check-out 1 p.m. Check-out 10 a.m. In many cases, campers may be accommodated prior to the official check-in. Please remember that only those 18 or older may register. The registrant is responsible for all occupants of the campsite or cabin. Feel free to arrive early and enjoy park amenities prior to check-in. If you decide to leave the park before the end of your overnight stay, you may be entitled to a refund based on how much of your stay has already been used and any fees due. Once you check in for your cabin or camping stay, that night is considered used. If you are camping, we take what you paid, subtract the fees for the nights used and then subtract one additional night. The balance is due as a refund. This means if you have only a two-night stay, you will not receive a refund if you leave one night early. If you are in a cabin or lodge, the policy is different. First, we always keep at least the first two nights’ fees. Second, we keep $30 per night for a cabin ($60 per night for a lodge) for each night you didn’t stay and subtract that from the fee for any unused nights beyond the two-night minimum. If you started out with a week stay, you received a discount when you made the reservation. If you end up not staying the entire week, your fee will be recalculated at the higher, nightly fee rate. This means that if you have a week stay and leave one night early, no refund will be made. CAMPING - Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds and only after following the proper check-in procedure described in the Reservation and Fees Guide available at the park office. must be placed within the perimeter of the designated campsite without infringing on adjoining campsites or vegetation. Where high impact areas are designated, all camping units, equipment and vehicles must be within the defined borders of the high impact area. Park in designated areas only. PARKING - Only two motor vehicles, as we

WELCOME TO KIPTOPEKE STATE PARK. To make your visit safe and more pleasant, we ask that you observe the following: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Park in designated areas only. Please note there is a parking fee charged year-round at all Virginia State Parks. Self-pay parking information is available at the contact station. PRESERVE – Help preserve your park. Please don’t cut or mar any plants or trees. Collecting animal or plant life is allowed only for scientific purposes by permit from the Richmond headquarters. Don’t feed any wild animals. ALCOHOL - State law permits alcohol use only in private areas (inside your cabin or camping unit) or in areas designated on permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. PETS - Pets are permitted in enclosed areas or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pets are not permitted on the northern swim beach. Please clean up after your pet. Pets must be attended at all times. DRONES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT - Drones, other unmanned aerial vehicles, including remote control aircraft, and aircraft in general may not be flown in state parks pursuant to 4VAC5-30-400. LITTER - Please help us keep the park clean by plac- ing litter and recyclables in the proper receptacles and recycle centers or carrying out your trash. The releasing of balloons is not allowed. Decorative balloons must be deflated and disposed of as trash. FIRE - Help prevent wildfires. Fires must be confined to grills, camp stoves or designated fire rings. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished when left. Firewood is generally available for purchase at the park. Campers and guests may collect only downed and dead firewood. We enforce all seasonal and emergency bans on open fires. POLLUTION - Help reduce pollution. Dump stations, laundry sinks and slop sinks, where available, are for the proper disposal of wastewater. Please, no boat, RV or car washing. SWIMMING - There are two unguarded beaches. Swimmers using these areas do so at their own risk. FISHING - A Virginia saltwater fishing license or a Maryland license with a Virginia Fisherman Identification Program number is required for shore fishing. No fishing license is required to fish from the pier, however those 16 and older without a Virginia saltwater license must register for the free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program. Pier fees apply. GUESTS - Your guests are our guests. For everyone’s safety and security, please register all visitors with the park office or camp store. Visitors will not be admitted to camping and cabin areas unless so identified. Visitors are permitted only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. QUIET HOURS - Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The use of generators is prohibited at all times. CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT POLICY Camping: Check-in 4 p.m. Check-out 1 p.m. Cabins and Yurts: Check-in 4 p.m. Check-out 10 a.m. when unattended. The maximum overnight stay per park is 14 days in any 30-day period. GROUP EVENTS - A special Use Permit is required for all group events that involve amplified sound, catering, equipment rentals and vendor deliveries. PARK ACCESSIBILITY - We strive to make each park as barrier-free as possible. Universally accessible facilities are available throughout Virginia State Parks. EMERGENCY - Emergency phone numbers are posted at In many cases, campers may be accommodated prior to the official check-in. Please remember that only those 18 or older may register. The registrant is responsible for all occupants of the campsite or cabin. Feel free to arrive early and enjoy park amenities prior to check-in. Overnight guests are encouraged to be familiar with the early departure policy since it impacts any refund due. The policy and frequently asked questions are here: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/faq. CAMPING - Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds and only after following the proper checkin procedure described in the Reservation and Fees Guide available at the park office. Campsite occupancy is a maximum of six people or the number of people in a single household. Two camping units are allowed per campsite; only one axled camper is allowed per site. All camping units, equipment and vehicles must be placed within the perimeter of the designated campsite without infringing on adjoining campsites or vegetation. Where high-impact areas are designated, all camping units, equipment and vehicles must be within the area’s defined borders. Park in designated areas only. PARKING - Only two motor vehicles, as well as the camping unit, are permitted on a campsite without incurring additional fees. Cabin guests are allowed two vehicles for a one or two-bedroom cabin, three vehicles for a three-bedroom cabin and six vehicles for a sixbedroom cabin per day without an additional parking fee charge. Those with additional vehicles must pay a parking fee for each day the vehicle is in the park. The number of vehicles allowed to park at the cabin v

Programs & Education Discounts Families, schools, scouts, groups and individuals are encouraged to come learn more about their world. Virginia State Parks offer premier educational sites and programming to promote lifelong learning and appreciation of the outdoors. Learn the essentials of archery. Tour a cave or design a hiking stick. Enjoy a ranger-led hike, eagle tour or owl prowl. Challenge yourself to get outdoors and discover more parks by participating in the Trail Quest or Paddle Quest programs or improve outdoor skills with the help of the Let’s Go Adventures series. Up-to-the minute, comprehensive information is available at www. virginiastateparks.gov. Virginia State Parks are affordable every day, but annual passes can save you money on parking, boat launching and swimming. The Customer Loyalty Program lets you earn points that can be redeemed for free or discounted overnight stays. Park Accessibility Virginia State Parks strive to make each park as barrier-free as possible. Contact the Customer Service Center at 800-933-7275 or individual parks for more information before your trip. History & Culture Pets Immerse yourself in Colonial times, the Civil War or the Underground Railroad. Discover the impact of the Civilian Conservation Corps on the development of several parks and the Civil Rights Movement in reshaping the parks system towards racial equality. From museums and historic homes to visitor centers and state-of-the-art exhibits, Virginia State Parks offer a glimpse into the past and celebrate the regions’ history and culture. Step back in time and uncover mysteries of those at rest in a park’s historic cemetery or join a canoe tour and learn the history of an old mining “boomtown” that now lies below the lake’s surface. Witness a floating piece of history as replica wooden batteaux drift down a river like they would have in the 1700s. With events and festivals as diverse as the parks, you’ll find music, arts and crafts, local food and beverage, and more. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet or in an enclosed area at all times. Cabin guests are charged $10 plus tax per night per pet. No pet fee is charged for camping Nature & Environment All parks have trails, many with signs explaining the environment. Wander trails at First Landing through cypress swamps or hike Caledon’s trails along ridges and ravines through rare old-growth forest. Overlooks at Hungry Mother, Grayson Highlands and Natural Tunnel offer a glimpse of powerful geological forces that shaped the land. See how rivers shaped some parks, such as Belle Isle, James River, Natural Bridge, Powhatan and Westmoreland. www.virginiastateparks.gov | 800-933-PARK (7275) www.virginiastateparks.gov | 800-933-PARK (7275) CT • CT • B/E/H • B/E/H/U 540-862-8100 540-291-1326 540-297-6066 T • B/H • • FP • • • • • • FP B/E/H H • • B/H NORTHERN VIRGINIA Culpeper Battlefields Lake Anna Leesylvania Mason Neck Sweet Run Widewater • 540-854-5503 703-730-8205 703-339-2385 540-668-6230 540-288-1400 • E/H • • • • • FP • H/U CT • • • B/H/U • • • • CT • B/E/H/U E/H • UD • FP • B/E/H/U • • B/H CHESAPEAKE BAY Belle Isle Caledon Machicomoco Westmoreland 804-462-5030 540-663-3861 804-642-2419 804-493-8821 • • • CT • • B/H • FP • B/H/U • • B/E/H/U COASTAL Chippokes False Cape­­­­ First Landing York River 757-294-3728 757-426-7128 757-412-2300 757-566-3036 • • B/H • • • • • B/H/U • • • FP 757-331-2267 • • • FP • • H/U/B 804-492-4410 434-315-0457 434-248-6308 434-933-4355 804-796-4255 804-598-7148 804-561-7510 434-392-3435 434-767-2398 T • • • • B/E/H T • • • • B/E/H P B/E/H/U B/E/H/U EASTERN SHORE Kiptopeke Claytor Lake Grayson Highlands Hungry Mother (Hemlock Haven Conference Center) New River Trail Shot Tower 540-643-2500 276-579-7092 276-781-7400 276-781-7425 276-699-6778 276-699-6778 • • • FP • • • T • • • CT • • • • B/H/U B/E/H • B/H/U Many parks offer overnight facilities suitable for reunions, weddings and special events. Some parks even have equestrian campsites. B/E/H/U • SOUTHERN VIRGINIA Fairy Stone Occoneechee Staunton River Battlefield Staunton River 276-930-2424 434-374-2210 434-454-4312 434-572-4623 T • • • 276-865-4413 276-254-5487 276-940-2674 276-940-2696 276-523-1322 276-445-3065 T • • • • • • • B/E/H/U B/E/H • B/H/U • • • • stay. B/E/H HEART OF APPALACHIA Breaks Interstate* Clinch River Natural Tunnel (Cove Ridge Conference Center) Southwest Virginia Museum Wilderness Road TABLE LEGEND­­­: B Biking CT Car-top Boat Launch E Equestrian FP Fishing Pier H Hiking P Pool Swimming T Electric Motors Only U Universally Accessible UD Under Development CT • • • • P B/E/H Shenandoah River Sky Meadows Douthat Smith Mountain Lake Lake Anna Leesylvania Belle Isle Caledon Machicomoco Westmoreland Chippokes False Cape­­­­ First Landing Kiptopeke Bear Creek Lake­ Holli

Hotel Weyanoke—Farmville Small Towns, Local charm, cozy curios and open arms make these small towns in Virginia worth exploring. Character WRITTEN BY MARY & BILL BURNHAM T KYLE LAFERRIERE 10 he phrase “small town” evokes nostalgia, authenticity and heartfeltwarmth in many of us. What’s not to love? They are authentic, accessible, friendly and stocked with locally-owned businesses. These are communities where you can get off the crowded highway, park the car and walk, ride a bike or even kayak through downtown. Small, family-run businesses offer one-of- a-kind handmade items, from jewelry and art to craft beers and wine. Farmers markets offer locally-grown produce and seafood spring through fall. With almost 200 incorporated towns, dozens more villages and hamlets, plus nearly 30 designated Virginia Main Street Communities, the hard part is deciding which Virginia towns to visit. VIRGINIA .ORG 11 Here are some of our favorites, d ending starting in southwest Virginia, an metown with a shameless plug for our ho on the Eastern Shore. High Bridge Trail State Park—Farmville Harrisonburg Big Stone Gap 12 Farmville HIGH BRIDGE TRAIL STATE PARK (FARMVILLE): ALI ZAMAN / SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MUSEUM (BIG STONE GAP): JASON BARNETTE June Tolliver House and Art Folk Center—Big Stone Gap Southwest Virginia Museum—Big Stone Gap JUNE TOLLIVER HOUSE (BIG STONE GAP): TIM COX Southwest Virginia’s coal-mining history comes to life in the “Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” Virginia’s longest-running outdoor drama, performed Thursday through Saturday nights, late June through August. Before you go, be sure to read the Big Stone Gap novels by Adriana Trigiani, or watch the Hollywood film by the same name starring Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. Upon arrival, you can visit places featured in the film, such as Mutual Pharmacy, the Book Mobile, the Farmers Market, as well as the outdoor drama. Fine, well-preserved period homes house The John Fox Jr. Museum, the Southwest Virginia Museum and the June Tolliver House. Cozy B&Bs, cafes and a variety of antique and curio shops round out this small town gem. Fun Festival: 100th annual Tri State Singing Convention, June This formerly industrial town has been reinvented for recreation, craft beverage and shopping lovers. The Appomattox River that once carried tobacco barges is now a designated Scenic River carrying paddlers in search of whitewater or the calmer four-mile Farmville Blueway. The railroad that once carried coal now carries hikers, bikers and equestrians on the 30-mile-long High Bridge Trail State Park. Repurposed tobacco packing houses and lumber warehouses are reincarnated to house Appomattox River Company, Green Front Furniture and the Third Street Brewing Company, serving up local beer, live music, games for the kids and a pet-friendly beer garden. Together with the Virginia Tasting Cellar and the soon-to-open second location of James River Brewing, Farmville is fast becoming a destination for craft beverage lovers. Fun Festival: Heart of Virginia Festival, May Set amidst the vast playground of the idyllic Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg has been called “one of the best mountain bike towns in America” by National Geographic. Forward-thinking entrepreneurs and artisans have blended the past with the present to create a lively melting pot that is distinctive to this college town. Named Virginia’s first Culinary District in 2014, Harrisonburg’s cultural diversity serves up fare from around the world, while taking advantage of locallysourced farm-to-table ingredients. Food. Bar.Food features “global comfort food,” while a mother-daughter team creates soulsoothing pastries at Heritage Bakery & Café. The arts scene is equally diverse, epitomized by the Agora Downtown Market, a community of small businesses under one roof in an historic building. Named for James Madison, fourth president and the “Father of the Constitution,” are the stunning Hotel Madison and James Madison University (JMU), where nearly 20,000 students lend a youthful vitality to this historic town. Fun Festival: Harrisonburg International Festival, September VIRGINIA .ORG 13 Within Virginia’s larger cities, find pockets of uniqueness that make you feel like you’re in a small town! ROANOKE’S HISTORIC GRANDIN VILLAGE This walkable urban village is eclectic and family-friendly at the same time. Spend Saturday morning at the Community Market, dine on an outdoor patio, shop independentlyowned boutiques and take in a first-run or classic film at the 1930s Grandin Theatre. RICHMOND’S SCOTT’S ADDITION One of the hottest, newly revitalized neighborhoods in the state capital. Warehouses converted to breweries, cideries and distilleries, bold street murals, a cinema and a retro bowling alley make this a happening night scene. Immerse yourself in Virginia’s Lake Country at Virginia’s only lakeside town. Buggs Island Lake, also known as Kerr Reservoir, draws anglers to dozens of fishing tournaments yearl