Walnut Creek Park

Ten miles south of Charlottesville, Walnut Creek Park covers 525 acres of Albemarle County woods and water. A 45-acre lake anchors the park, with swimming beaches, a disc golf course, two reservable picnic shelters, and 15 miles of trail open to hikers and mountain bikers alike. It opens at 7 a.m. and closes at dark. *Cville Weekly* named it "Best of the Best" — which matters less than the fact that it's simply there, doing the work.