Go Hiking....it's Cheaper than Therapy!

Hiking is one of America's favorite outdoor pastimes, and why wouldn't it be? With all of the beautiful things in nature, hiking is great for exercising both mind and body. Studies have shown that spending time in the Great Outdoors can improve blood pressure, improve mental health, and decrease the risk of cancer. So don't sit around this month, come on down to Williamsburg KOA, where we have miles of gorgeous wooded hiking trails, and the York River State Park right in our backyard!

The York River State Park has a unique ecosystem where salt and freshwater meet. The Taskinas Creek has some nice freshwater fishing for sunfish and largemouth bass. The park also has salt water fishing off of their 360 foot pier along with a nice boat dock. Croaker, spot, and catfish can be caught in the York River. The park has over 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails for you to explore. Whether you want an easy relaxed walk or a challenging hike, the York River State Park has what you are looking for.

Take some binoculars along and keep a look out for the national bird, the bald eagle. There are also many local and migratory birds that can be spotted along your hike by river or in the woods. Maybe you'll see an elusive Pileated woodpecker or a beautiful wood duck on your walk. Some common mammals you may see, could be the perky gray squirrel or an adorable cottontail rabbit. The outdoors can offer many opportunities for bird watching, healthy exercising, or just some peace and quiet, all available at the Williamsburg KOA!

Where the Locals Go

Everyone knows of Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and the rest of the Historic Triangle, but every place has its secret spots; its little-knowns and much-beloveds. These are some of those places as told by a few members of our staff.

A Meal at Food for Thought
Food for Thought is a restaurant on Richmond Road. I heard of it first when I began working at the KOA in 2011, but I would not eat there until two years later. As fate would have it, that first meal was my first date with my now wife. It has become a tradition of ours to eat at Food for Thought every year on the same day, and plenty of times in between. It is easily our favorite restaurant in Williamsburg. The food is great. They serve great steak, crab cakes, breaded flounder, pot roast, along with daily specials. The staff is impeccable and the atmosphere is always a treat. Posters of famous thinkers and inventors adorn the walls along with quotes from philosophers, authors, and leaders throughout history. Each table has bits of trivia and conversation starters to keep each meal interesting. We'll sometimes spend hours just sitting and talking while enjoying our meals. We always take friends and family when they come into town.

--Robb, Assistant Manager

Picnic at Colonial Williamsburg
Relax and soak in the beautiful surroundings at Colonial Williamsburg. It's nice to go there on a beautiful day just to enjoy the surroundings. My favorite thing to do is get lunch from the Cheese Shop, located in Merchants Square, and have a picnic on the Courthouse Green or Palace Green. There's nothing better than sitting out on the grass and just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and spending time with loved ones.

--Kendall, Office Assistant

A Trip to New Town
I love going to New Town to walk around in the afternoon. There is such a variety of restaurants and shops that you have tons of options on what to do. They will often on the weekends have different types of entertainment which is really fun to check out. They also have small parks where you can relax while being surrounded by nature. You can grab some dinner at Opus 9, then head over to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt, catch a movie at the New Town Theater, or read a book and relax at the Barnes and Noble. There really is something for everyone there.

--Jonathan, Front Desk

Kayaking at York River State Park
York River State Park is by far my favorite place to kayak. It's a winding river, which is different then most of the other places around here, where you kayak in a lake.  I like to go at low tide and watch the river rise. Its such a quiet atmosphere and very scenic. There is a lot of wildlife to check out as well, I've seen otters, eagles and osprey along the river. The park also has some of the best hiking trails in the area.

--Peter, Assistant Manager

Hidden Treasures: The Joys of Geocaching

If you've been looking for a new outdoor activity to share with your family, look no further. Within patches of forest and national parks, there are hidden secrets just waiting for you to find them. Thanks to the invention of 21st century GPS technology, geocaching has become the next hottest craze as a modern treasure hunt for all ages.

Geocaching is a fun, free activity that has gained massive popularity across the United States. All you need to start is a smartphone with a GPS. With a simple download of the free official Geocaching app (on Google Play and the App Store), you just have to register with no cost through the app or on the Geocaching website. Then you can seek out one of the nearly 100 geocaches we have in the Williamsburg area and we even have a few near our campground that you can find on foot!

Once you get the GPS coordinates for each geocache (the ones on our campground can be found at the front desk), your group can start your searching adventure. First, use your phone or GPS to find the general location of the cache and follow the trail to its hiding spot. They can be hidden in anything from stumps to bushes to tree branches, so search carefully. After you find it, open the case up and write your name in the log to let everyone know that you have been there. Some geocaches even have little trinkets and treasures inside them, but if you take something, make sure to replace it with something of your own so that people after you can find something special too. This activity is perfect to keep kids engaged and parents entertained! Hunt for geocaches together and share that satisfying feeling when you see a hidden geocache for the first time.

Let your next stay at the Williamsburg KOA introduce you to a new hobby that is sure to become a family favorite, no matter where you are in the US. Get outside and let the treasure hunt begin!

KOA Easy Camping Guide

With autumn weather now upon us, it's a great time to go camping. We've put together some tips and advice for tenting camping to help you in preparing for your first trip. Packing for a camping trip for the first time can be intimidating, but with a few of our helpful tips, you can become a camping pro in no time.

While tents used to be pretty basic, the amount of different kinds that you could buy today can be daunting for a new camper. There are three main types of tents: 3 season, 3-4 season, and 4 season tents. Three season tents have good ventilation and protection for spring, summer and fall weather. The 3-4 season tents are a little more sturdy with fewer ventilation panels. These tents are built a little tougher so they can withstand higher elevations and lower temperatures. The 4 season tents are built to hold up in snow and high wind. These tents are great for winter camping in high elevations. Along with the different types of tents to buy, there are also important aspects of the tent to consider: tent height, floor length, tent doors, tent poles, rainfly, and tent material.

The next things to consider are your sleeping bag, pad, and pillow. Picking a sleeping bag can be complicated, especially if you want to get something that will last a while. Sleeping bags are categorized by their temperature rating, or the minimum temperature they will keep a regular sleeping person warm.Their are three main temperature ratings: summer, 3 seasons, and winter. The summer sleeping bags have a temperature range of +35 degrees and above. The 3 seasons sleeping bag is equipped to handle temperatures from +10 degrees to +35 degrees. This sleeping bag allows for a larger range of weather to camp in. The winter sleeping bags can handle temperatures below +10 degrees. A sleeping pad will make sleeping on the ground a little more comfortable and you don't want to forget a pillow!

No matter the weather, you always want to be prepared in the clothes department. Bring extra sets of clothes, especially socks. It is not fun going to sleep in wet clothes, and wet socks are the worst. Even on the hottest days, pants and long sleeves can protect you from the sun and annoying bugs. And don't forget a hat!

There are a couple different ways to build a fire, but the main ingredients you'll need are tinder, kindling, and firewood. Tinder is important for getting the flame started and consists of small twigs, dried leaves, or a fire starter. Kindling helps keep the flame going while the firewood gets warmed up. Our favorite way of building a fire is using the teepee technique. You always want to build a fire in a ring, fireplace, or grill so that you decrease the risk of a forest fire. Place tinder in the center of your fire ring and surround it with kindling in the shape of a teepee. Make sure to pack matches or something to light the fire. Once you've lit your fire and the flames are strong you can start adding larger pieces of firewood. When you're done, make sure the fire is completely out before leaving, and don't ever leave a fire unattended.

Camping is a great time to get creative in the cooking department. The KOA website offers many recipes to cook over the fire, so you won't be left just cooking hotdogs the entire time. Maybe try baked potato in a can or even try a bar-b-que bean bake. The possibilities are endless. And don't forget plates and utensils!

(All information gathered from REI.)