Lake Anna offers visitors the perfect lakeside vacation.
But if you want to stray from our shoreline, you may be asking the question, “what is there to do at Lake Anna?” History, fun, excitement—Lake Anna and nearby areas have something for every traveler.
Nature Parks
The crown jewel of Lake Anna’s local activities would have to be the Lake Anna State Park. The park spans 3,127 acres with 10 miles of lake frontage. The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as “Gold Hill” and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829, then peaked in the 1880s. Lake Anna State Park contains rental cabins, camping, more than 15 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnicking spots, a guarded swimming beach, food concession stand, a bathhouse and a fishing pond for children. The park is open daily, year-round from dawn to dusk.
Activity Hubs
A popular place for both locals and tourists alike is Lake Anna Plaza. The Plaza has a handful of restaurants offering scrumptious cuisine and beautiful views. Visit Lake Anna Taphouse, featuring 34 taps of craft beer and a lake front location with wet slips for easy boat access. Asian Café serves the finest Japanese cuisine, including fresh sushi, sashimi and hibachi. The area also boasts the Lake Anna Yacht Club with boat slips available for lease or purchase, free Wi-Fi at the docks and Club House, and much more.
The Lake is Great Store is the perfect place to get a special memento and Dickinson’s Store has always been a local draw. The owner, W.A. Dickinson and his son, Ashley, have remodeled the inside to give the old country store a few modern amenities. They added a deli counter, which serves Champs Chicken items, deli subs and sides. The store is also home to the stone Beer Cave, housing a wide variety of unique craft beers to keep your favorite beverages at optimal temperatures.
Make sure to also explore The Boardwalk on Lake Anna, home to local favorite, Tim’s at Lake Anna, a restaurant and crab house in one, with a laidback, resort feel. Indoor and outdoor waterfront seating are available for patrons looking to enjoy a waterside dining experience.
Historic Sites
Lake Anna is steeped in American history. The most notable historical events include the Battle of Chancellorsville in Spotsylvania, which resulted in more casualties than any other engagement ever fought on Virginia soil, including the wounding of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
Be sure to visit the site of the May 1886 Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Offered are 45-minute walking tours featuring the “Bloody Angle” where the battle lasted two weeks and included bitter hand-to-hand combat between soldiers. This was a continuation of the nearby Battle of the Wilderness. These are just two of the battlefield areas that are easily accessible in our area. With many notable figures who were born and lived in the area, there is an extensive list of even more historic sites that you’d be able to fill your entire vacation with if you wanted.
Family Fun
Located in Doswell, just 30 minutes from the lake, Kings Dominion has been a longtime favorite amusement park for locals and visitors alike. In summer 2025, Kings Dominion is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and there is so much to experience here, from epic thrill rides to events. New in 2025, get ready for the Rapterra! Delirium and Twisted Timbers are fan favorites not to miss. Bringing younger children? Planet Snoopy is suitable for the little ones and contains mini rides and games. If you visit in the summertime and need to beat the heat, the park’s Soak City is where to go. This section features water slides, rushing rivers and a 650,000-gallon wave pool, among other water rides. But thrill rides and adventures aren’t the only things to experience at Kings Dominion, as the park also hosts a variety of popular events throughout the year.
Have a need for speed? Dominion Raceway and Entertainment is an exciting, multipurpose motorsports and entertainment facility. With 160 acres and four distinct tracks in one location, the attraction is a one-of-a-kind destination unique to the East Coast. Included in this venue is a two-mile, paved road course; a four-tenths of a mile, paved oval track; a one-eighth mile-long concrete drag strip; a karting track; a 36,600-square-foot entertainment center; a 10-acre retail center; and a 33-acre commercial center. Plan a trip here to experience fantastic NASCAR-sanctioned racing and tons of amazing motorsports events. In addition, Dominion Raceway hosts live concerts at the Groove Music Hall, drive-in movies, car shows and other fun events. It is also home to a restaurant, nightclub and a party deck.
