The document discusses several inexpensive and free outdoor activities within an hour's drive of the author's home that they plan to do before the new school year starts next week. It describes visiting Boxerwood Nature Center for hiking trails and a mud kitchen, going to Sherando Lake for swimming and sand castles, and exploring the playgrounds and trails at Purcell Park, Wildwood Park, and Wilson Park. The document also mentions a trip to the historic Meems Bottom Covered Bridge and stopping by the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory. It asks readers to share their own favorite free local outings.

1. Emily Cox caritaswriter@gmail.com 540-471-2646
Last of the SummerFun
It’shere. The school yearbeginsnextweek. I am alternatelysadandthrilledatthisfact,knowingthat
the beginningof anewschool yearbringswithita more predictable schedule,butalso (predictably)
more stress. But the realizationthatthe summerisnearlyoverhasalso broughtintofocusthose things
that we’ve beenintendingtodoall summerandjusthaven’tmade time for. Andso we’re tryingto
squeeze justabitmore funout of the summerbefore we boardthe school busnextWednesday.
Most of the thingsonour listare eitherfree orincrediblycheap. Bythispointinthe summer,we’ve
shelledoutenoughmoneyfor vacationsand summercamps(andthere were somanygood onesthis
year!) We still have some school suppliestobuyandmoneydoesn’tgrow ontreesaroundhere. So
here’swhatwe’ve come upwith – a bunchof inexpensive funwithinanhour’sdrive of home.
To the south:
Boxerwood Nature CenterandWoodlandGarden. Thisthirty-acre gemislocatedinLexington,andis
the legacyof RichardMunger. Inadditiontoa varietyof habitatsfrommeadowstomarshes,there isa
PlayTrail - an outdoorspace designedspecificallywithchildreninmind. Youwon’tfindanypre-
fabricatedplayequipmenthere,justaplayspace createdfrom natural materialsthatfuelsimaginative
and creative play. Atthe heartof the space is the Mud Kitchenwitha spigotanda plethoraof pots,
pans,and utensilsformixingupmuddyfun. There are alsokid-sizedtrails,tunnels, andatree house
that encourage climbingandadventure. Bestof all,it’sfree (donationssuggested,butnotrequired)
whichmakesthisthe perfectspotfora picnicanda dayof play. Be sure to wearyour oldestplayclothes
– you’ll definitelybe wearingsome mudhome!
To the east:
SherandoLake. Thishas become a summerritual overthe lastfouryearsthat the kidsalwayslook
forwardto. We gathera fewfriends,abigbucketof sand and watertoys,a picniclunchand our swim
gear andhead forthe lake. For just$8 per vehicle we canenjoyafull dayof splashing,swimming,and
sand castle building,orskipthe beachandhit the trailsfor a greathike. One of these dayswe might
eventrycampingat one of the beautiful campsites.
To the north:
Purcell Park. There are so many local parksthat we love tovisit,andwe’ve made the roundstoGypsy
Hill andMontgomeryHall thissummer. But whenwe have some free time,we love tovisitparksin
othercitiestoo,andthisis one the kidsalwaysrequest. Itcan be tricky tofindthe right streetoff the
busyRt. 11 stripon the south endof Harrisonburg.Butit’sworth the tripto enjoythe huge wooden
“castle”playgroundfull of all sortsof challengesforour little climbersandexplorers. Our kidslove the
secretstaircases,bridgesandtunnels,andthe playgroundfeaturestwosizesof playequipmentforkids
of all sizes.
WildwoodPark. Lessthan20 minutesfromPurcell ParkislesserknownWildwoodPark,tenbeautiful
acres perchedonthe edge of Bridgewateralongthe NorthRiver. Anideal spotfora picnic, italsoboasts

2. Emily Cox caritaswriter@gmail.com 540-471-2646
a small playground,kindof aminiature of Purcell Park. Butitsbiggestappeal toour kidsisthe
suspensionbridgethatconnectsthe mainparkto a peninsulaonthe riverjustabove the dam. There
seemtoalwaysbe geese andducksabout,alongwithfrogs inthe weedsalongthe shore,andthere’sa
lovely grassyareabeneaththe shade of some tall oldtrees. There isalsoa shortpath throughthe
woodsmarkedwithsignsaboutnative plantsandwildlife topique the interestof youngadventurers.
MeemsBottomBridge. The farthestflungonour SummerFunlist,thismakesa delightful outingona
hot day. A trip upthe interstate orRoute 11 to Mt. Jackson yieldsamemorable visittothishistoric
coveredbridge –an impressive 204-footsinglespanwonderstretchingacrossthe NorthForkof the
ShenandoahRiver. Walkcarefullyacrossthe bridge andback (itis still inactive use forvehicle traffic!)
and thenfollowthe pathdowntothe riverbeneathfora cool splashinthe water. Andif all that
splashingmakesyouhungryfora snack,stop bythe Route 11 PotatoChipFactory fora free tourand
yummysamples! Local potatoes,local business,sodelicious!
Close tohome:
SearsHill Bridge/WilsonPark. This isa great eveningwalkwith opportunities forgamesof chase and
catchingfireflies. We’re sothrilledthatthisStauntonlandmarkhasbeenrestored,andwe love climbing
the steepstepsfora beautiful viewof ourhometown. If youneedtodrive there,youcanfindparkingat
the StauntonStation,alongMiddlebrookAvenueorSouthAugustaStreet,orat the Wharf ParkingLot.
Handicappedaccessisavailable fromthe backside of the park viaWinthropStreetandSearsHill Road.
Can we getit all done before school starts? Doubtit. But there’salwaysnextsummer! Whatare your
favorite free outings? Dropme a line andletme know.
MeemsBottom Bridge:
http://www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/HistoricMeemsBottomCoveredBridge/
WisslerRoad Mount Jackson,VA 22842
Route 11 Potato Chips:
11 EdwardsWay, Mount Jackson,VA 22842
http://www.rt11.com
Sherando Lake
RecreationArea
96 SherandoLake Road
Lyndhurst,VA 22952 (540) 291-2188
http://www.sherandolake.com

3. Emily Cox caritaswriter@gmail.com 540-471-2646
Purcell Park
41 Monument Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/purcell-park
Wildwood Park
606 W. Bank St.
http://town.bridgewater.va.us
Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden
963 RossRd Lexington,VA 24450
(540) 463-2697
http://www.boxerwood.org
WilsonPark
1 MiddlebrookAve.
Staunton,VA 24401
Park islocated across the bridge onthe hill behindthe trainstation
http://www.staunton.va.us/directory/departments-h-z/recreation-parks/parks/wilson-park