New numbers show Virginia state parks are becoming more of a destination spot.
The parks saw a record number of visitors over the Memorial Day weekend with more than 315,000 travelers. That's a 16 percent increase compared to that time last year.
Charlottesville's Parks Division Manager Doug Ehman says the growing numbers has a lot to do with effective advertising.
"State parks have made a very concerted effort once again much to their credit to kind of capture part of the market that used to go to Gatlinburg and down to Myrtle Beach, and they've been very successful in that," Ehman said.
Ehman says Charlottesville parks are always slammed this time of year, especially because pools are a big attraction.
