Go Green (in Nature) for St. Patrick’s Day

Consider a different kind of St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year and get green in nature.

Did you know you can stay overnight at Douthat State Park at a campsite or cabin rental? (And you can even book your stay online.)

The best part about early spring cabin rentals is that you can stay for just a couple days at a time. Views and amenities vary by cabin. You can find them all from Virginia State Parks.

While you are there make sure to hike the trails around the park. Douthat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the role its design played in the development of parks nationwide. Amid some of Virginia’s most breathtaking mountain scenery, visitors enjoy interpretive programs, four miles of stream fishing, a 50-acre lake stocked with trout, boat rentals, a gift shop and camp store, cabins, and more than 43 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and bridle trails.

Celebrate the luck of the Irish with dinner and drinks at nearby Jack Mason’s Tavern and Brewery in Clifton Forge. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and features a wide variety of “classic tavern fare,” sandwiches, soups, and wraps.

Finish your adventure with Love Canon at the Historic Masonic Theatre. The band will surely help you get your groove on. From the ticket description: “Love Canon doesn’t cover the music of the ’80s as much as kidnap it and take it on a bluegrass-tinged joyride.” Get tickets here.

And if you can’t make it for the March holiday, Douthat State Park is a great place for a weekend or week-long adventure any time of year. The park also includes a sandy swimming beach with snack bar, playgrounds, an amphitheater, picnic areas, and a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Photo credit: A peaceful, starry night with a typical two-bedroom cabin at Douthat State Park. Each dwelling is distinctive. Photo courtesy of Bill Crabtree, Jr., Va. Tourism Corp.