Now is time to unearth state parks' treasures Is it too early to talk New Year's resolutions? Am I getting ahead of myself, like a Wal-Mart that sets up for Christmas before the last Halloween costume is sold?

Well, some resolutions are worth getting a jump on. This one will take time to put together and requires your assistance, fearless reader.

It hit me during a recent trip to Pocahontas State Park that while I've lived in Virginia for many years, I've only been to two state parks: the aforementioned Pocahontas, the largest, and Douthat, one of the oldest, where I ran a trail half marathon in 2006.

I've never seen the rhododendron blooms at Grayson Highlands, never fished for largemouth bass at Claytor Lake and never hiked into the remote and primitive coastal environment of False Cape. That seemed ridiculous and borderline shameful to someone known to tout Virginia's natural wonders to anyone who'll listen.

I returned home that day and read up on our state parks. Did you know that in 2001, the state park system was given the gold medal as the best in the country by Sports Foundation Inc.? The award is handed out in odd-numbered years to the system most outstanding in recreational management and which best provided park, recreation and leisure services to its citizens.

And maybe you didn't know that on June 15, 1936, our fair state became the first to open an entire park system (six parks then) on the same day.

Reading about the individual parks and their bewildering diversity of experiences just crystallized the resolution that already was forming in this outdoor lover's brain: See the state through its parks. Immerse myself in the biology, geology and history -- not to mention wet a line or hop on a mountain bike -- of Virginia's natural treasures.

What are fairy stones and why is there a state park named after them? Which park has the best trout streams? Where can I see bald eagles in their natural habitat? Which park highlights one of the world's oldest rivers (Hint: It's older than the James)? What is a "shot tower," anyway?

These questions and many others suddenly seemed of the utmost importance to me as I mulled this plan. Which is the biggest? The most visited? The least? Which attracts the most out-of-state guests? Which is the most remote? No state park trivia, no matter how trivial, should go unanswered.

Here's how it will work. Starting in January, I'll go to one state park each month. No day trips allowed. To truly get a sense of the place, I'll camp at least one night at each park. Almost all of them offer multiple outdoor activities, from biking and hiking to horseback riding, fishing and more. My goal is to sample at least two activities in each park. I'll talk to park rangers, read up on each park's history and try to get a feel for how each fits into its little corner of Virginia.

Of course, there's one problem here. There currently are 77 parks, natural areas and historic sites maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Of those, 34 are state parks. I'm limiting my sojourns to 12. That's where you come in.

I want to know which parks are the most interesting to you? Should I go hiking at Douthat, and if so, where? If you could fish at just one state park, which would it be? What separates Leesylvania from nearby Mason Neck?

Is there one experience a state park offers that I shouldn't miss? Tell me about it. Make a case for your favorite state park. I'm a blank slate. The only caveat is that I want to sample parks all over the state. I could do all 12 in and west of the Blue Ridge, but I'd probably miss out on a lot.

So there's the resolution and the challenge. There are 22 days between now and Jan. 1. I need your help to get started on an adventure only Virginia can provide.