False Cape was so named because its offshore configuration is similar to that of Cape Henry, some 20 miles north at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Ships frequently made the fatal mistake and ran aground, wrecking on the sandy shoals. I made campsite reservations the first time for the weekend of December 19, to celebrate my upcoming birthday. But that was the season’s first big snowstorm! I then made them again for New Year's—second big snowstorm! So I decided to wait until the first weekend in March, and the weather was gorgeous, cool wind 15-20mph from the north, but sunshine. We had the entire park to ourselves except for a weekend program of "Wild Women" at the Wash Woods Environmental Center some 5 miles from our campsite. (Be sure to check out the Environmental Center offerings. The center has an extensive curriculum of weekend programs and is located in one of the old upscale hunting clubs.)

For my husband and me, this hike was a trip down memory lane. During the mid-’60s, before this 4,300-acre park was established, we use to hike, or drive a Jeep, down the beach along with numerous dune buggies. We would camp on the beach or, if a storm hit, seek shelter in a dilapidated life-saving (Coast Guard) station or hunting lodge. It was magic. Everyone helped everyone else. One time, we got stuck trying to take the Jeep up Penny’s Hill. A guy not only helped us get our Jeep unstuck, but also gave us a ride in his better-suited buggy. There was camaraderie among beach strangers. We would share food and stories with other campers and the locals, and travel all the way to Duck, N.C. In North Carolina, the beach is now developed—mega mansions—almost all the way to the state line. In Virginia, the land is preserved. It’s False Cape State Park. Our state treasure.