Walnut Creek Park

walnut-creek-webThis outdoor paradise will appeal to the nature enthusiast in anyone, even you jaded city dwellers with your widely accessible public transportation and your skyscrapers. Located in Albemarle County just outside Charlottesville, Walnut Creek sits on a sprawling 525 acres of bucolic splendor. 45 of these are water acres, where any U.S. Coast Guard-approved boat is welcome. There’s also plenty of fishing to be done, with catfish, sunfish, and largemouth bass in healthy supply. Enjoy some lazy swimming or some adventurous jumps…the cold blue waters are perfect on a hot summer day. The picnic shelters provide ample accommodations for you and all your friends to chow down (although no grills are provided). There are stunning views of the water and the air is fresh and clean. There are also 15 miles of vigorous bike and hiking trails, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in the beauty that land in Albemarle County has to offer. Walnut Creek also boasts one of maybe two disc golf courses in the area, and it’s a legitimate one. It’s got 18 holes, some uphill, some downhill and some wooded. It’s actually a fairly difficult course, with water in play on some of the holes.