Jellystone Natural Bridge, VA, Natural Bridge Station

There are bears at Jellystone Park in the Shenandoah Valley—two of them, to be precise. They hang around the flag pole each morning, loom during story time just before bed, pose for photos with children, and, almost always, dress in dapper neckties.

Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, Jellystone’s resident ursine population, welcome families to campgrounds that lie under a canopy of trees nestled on the banks of the James River in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rustically inclined campers can set up tents deep in the woods, and pull-through campsites offer electric, water, and sewer hookups. For camping with access to modern amenities, there are spacious cabins built to withstand the mightiest huffing and puffing from the mascots' cartoon enemies.

Pools, mini golf, and hiking trails fuel hours of family fun, which includes a chocolate-covered slip 'n' slide during the Chocoholic weekend and a treasure hunt during Pirates and Mermaids weekend.