VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — When you think of parks in Virginia Beach, bigger ones like First Landing State Park and Mount Trashmore might come to mind.
But there are hidden gems in some neighborhoods in the Resort City, like the Lake Lawson Natural Area, that offer a great, less crowded alternative.
The beautiful 42-acre preserve is in the Bayside Community, close to Northampton Boulevard along Shell Road.
The mile and a half loop trail is a generally flat and easy walk, and our Patrick Rockey shows us around.
Parts are paved and the rest is gravel, and all of it is well maintained.
However, the path isn't marked very well, but with Lake Lawson on one side and Lake Smith on the other, it's pretty easy to find your way.
At the center of the park is a beautiful wooden bridge, that offers great views of the lakes and the cypress trees that surround them.
With 12,000 feet of shoreline, it's probably no surprise that this is also a popular fishing spot.
There's also a playground for kids and dogs on leashes are welcome to adventure as well!
Watch the video in the player above to check a bit of the park out!
