Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

One of my favorite, favorite—did I mention favorite?—things to do is head to a Virginia State Park. It’s fun. It’s relaxing. It’s adventurous. And if you know about this hack we recently found through our local library, it’s free.

If you’re looking for adventure, Virginia’s got it in spades—and with 44 state parks total, there’s one awfully close to your own backyard. Enjoy your summer and remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Sky Meadows State Park spans 1,860 acres. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Out of 44 state parks in Virginia, these are our top 3

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: For generations, Virginia State Parks have welcomed folks looking to immerse themselves in nature, serving as ideal destinations for both daytrippers and serious outdoor adventurers.

Our top picks:

Spanning 1,860 acres on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows State Park offers rolling hills, woodlands, and plenty of scenic views. The park is a historic farm that offers visitors a glimpse into the farming practices used in the Crooked Run Valley from colonial through modern times.
Located on the John H. Kerr Reservoir, Occoneechee State Park, which is named after the Native Americans who lived in the area, is the perfect park to visit for a classic summer lake adventure. It offers access to 48,000 acres of fishing, boating, and aquatic recreation.
Take in views of alpine-like peaks of Virginia’s two highest mountains, Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, from a 5,000-foot elevation at Grayson Highlands State Park. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the park is to hike the trails that lead to various waterfalls, overlooks, and a wild pony herd.

Ready to explore? We’ve got more on these and other top state parks at the link below.

Plan your visit →

In this May 25, 2017, file photo, an employee works on a factory floor at a Stihl Inc. production plant in Virginia Beach, Va. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

VA workers get new protections on wage theft, workplace rights

By Michael O’Connor

To many, Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of this year’s public-sector collective bargaining legislation marked a setback for workers in Virginia. But the Democratic governor also enacted bills that went into effect this month aimed at bolstering workers’ rights.

In a statement to Dogwood, Spanberger said she was proud to work with the General Assembly to raise the minimum wage, crack down on wage theft, and require pay transparency.

How the new laws could impact you →

Amie Knowles proudly poses with her working thermostat. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

You can call me Mrs. Fix It

By Amie Knowles

Last Thursday morning, I texted my husband to let him know that I’d changed my name to Bob.

Bob the Builder. Can we fix it? Yes, we can.

Why the sudden change? Well, when we arrived home late Wednesday night after spending a fun day at Occoneechee State Park, we realized two things: 1) we’d gotten home at the perfect time to endure a horrible hours-long line of thunderstorms and 2) our air conditioner had apparently stopped working sometime during the 90+ degree day while we were away.

There was nothing we could do that night. The following morning, I set to work with my nonexistent HVAC skills, determined to diagnose the problem. I won’t pretend I knew exactly what I was doing, but I did have a pretty brilliant thought after about an hour. Amie, have you checked the thermostat?

See, my husband and I changed it about two years ago. We upgraded our mercury dial to a digital model. It has lights and buttons—pretty sweet for a 1910 home. What it also has, that the former one didn’t, is batteries. And those batteries were dead. I popped the compartment open, grabbed two AAAs, and the whole system purred awake.

So, yeah. Call me Rosie the Riveter. Bob the Builder. Mrs. Fix It. With my two minutes of HVAC knowledge, I’m the girl for the job … well, as long as it’s just swapping batteries.

Fix common HVAC issues →

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd and Michael O’Connor. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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