CrystalThornton.com: Chippokes Plantation State Park

A beautiful sunny spring day! It got to be 80 degrees, and we took a ride to check out Hogg Island State Wildlife Refuge. The trip to Hogg Island was about an hour from our house. Once we got to the Refuge we soon found out that Dominion power had a plant right in front of the refuge and apparently you can get back there. Chippokes Plantation State Park was right down the street and Brian had never been to the park before. Chippokes is absolutely beautiful and not to mention one of the oldest working farms in the United States. The State Park currently has bike trails, hiking trails, horse trails, a picnic area, beach on the James River, camping, and colonial style cabins. The plantation has several historical exhibits and also The Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. We wanted to see everything today, but there was so much to see! We decided we would come camping sometime this month to see everything.... I can't wait! Spring has just started and all of the trees and flowers were blooming!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Osprey nesting at Chippokes Plantation State Park "]

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We started with a walk on the beach. Its not your typical ocean sand, but the beach does have sand and lots of shells! We picked up a few scallop shells, WOW! they were huge! The beach has trees and plenty of shade to sit and relax on those hot days....

After walking on the beach we headed towards the plantation house to walk though the garden. Oh how wonderful it was to see all of the wildflowers blooming!

Also in the Plantation's Garden there were tons of butterflies! BUT because I'm sill learning my camera, I missed out on alot of opportunities... not being prepared - o well! Some of the butterflies we saw today include a Pearl Crescent on the beach, tons of Cabbage Whites, Clouded Sulphurs, Blues and lots of different Swallowtails.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail"]