Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark has a range of slides and water playgrounds. (Ocean Breeze Waterpark)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Beat the heat this summer and have some fun by visiting one of Virginia’s many water parks. Whether you’re looking for a simple neighborhood water park experience or a more high-octane time, there’s a water park that’s sure to pique your interest.

Our top picks:

• Visit Great Waves Waterpark within the 26-acre Cameron Run Regional Park in Alexandria for some splashing and sliding. The park’s main attraction is the large wave pool where visitors can ride the waves that resemble the ocean.

• Soak City, part of Kings Dominion in Doswell, is a 20-acre water park that boasts more than 24 water slides, splash pads, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a 45-foot multi-level play structure. A standout attraction is Hurricane Heights, a 65-foot-tall slide with a five-out-of-five thrill level score.

• Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach has everything from rides and water slides to water playgrounds and a wave pool. The Adventure River is a good place to relax after spending time in the wave pool. The steady current takes tubers through Hideaway Cove, where they’ll get soaked by waterfalls and tipping buckets. 

Ready to make a splash? We’ve got more on these and other fun Virginia waterparks at the link below. 

Gov. Abigail Spanberger takes questions from reporters after a bill signing in Fairfax on May 13, 2026. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood)

By Michael O’Connor

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced this week a slew of vetoes, including for Democratic priorities such as establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and setting up a retail cannabis market in Virginia.

Other legislation that Spanberger vetoed included bills that would have blocked out–of-state inmate transfers to Red Onion state prison, where prisoners have complained about poor conditions, made menopause and perimenopause protected categories in the Virginia Human Rights Act, and allow class-action lawsuits in Virginia. 

Spanberger recently said in a statement that she supports the intent of many of the bills she is vetoing, but she had a responsibility to make sure new laws can be implemented without unintended consequences. 

“I look forward to continuing to work with bill patrons, state and local leaders, and advocates on legislation addressing these issues in the future,” Spanberger said. 

Colton Knowles reads a book at the Blue Ridge Regional Library in Martinsville. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

This isn’t so much what I’m reading as much as it is how amazing reading in second grade was this year. Colton learned the basics of reading last school year, but struggled to find the joy in it. As a homeschool mom, that concerned me a little—not so much about doing it “right,” but… what if I was doing it wrong? Besides, reading shouldn’t come with tears unless it’s a sad story. 

Then, I remembered what my elementary school teacher told me when I first started the homeschool journey: “If he’s not interested in learning to read right now, that’s alright. In fact, I wouldn’t start teaching him that until he’s six or maybe even seven. They start kids off too early these days; it stresses them out, takes all the fun out of it. You want him to love reading? Then you wait until he’s ready—and even then, you take breaks to do jumping jacks every 10 minutes to get out some of that energy. Both of you.”

I realized my kid didn’t need rigor. He needed room. Our decision to scrap the program we’d used for kindergarten and first grade terrified me at the beginning of our school year. But I realized that if I disguised the learning, we might stand a chance at making this work. I packed up the learn-to-reads and bought Pokèmon books. I realized that playing video games on mute was a—pun intended—game changer because he’d have to read the words on the screen to advance, strategize, and level up. 

On a recent trip to the Blue Ridge Regional Library in Martinsville, Colton met a little girl at the children’s play area. She was probably about 18 months old. Colton selected a couple of books to read, and she became visibly enthralled—so he read them aloud to her. Earlier this year, he read to a dog at the Pittsylvania County Public Library in Chatham. Two weeks ago, he volunteered to read at church. He’s even picked up an application to volunteer to read to the adoptable animals at the Pittsylvania Pet Center over the summer. 

“It was ultra-hard to start to love reading, but it’s great when you start to read more,” Colton said. “I like how the stories come together, and at the end, something good can happen. I like great endings.”

Me too, kiddo. Me too. 

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