All too often, travelers merely scratch the surface when exploring a new destination, visiting the most popular restaurants or staying at a recognizable brand-name hotel. Those with a serious case of wanderlust, however, find themselves craving the authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences that truly echo an area's sense of place. It's Virginia Beach's local rhythms, flavors and culture that make up its soul and inspires locals and visitors alike to “live the life” in unexpected and authentic ways.

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

Fans of farmers' markets can take their love of fresh, locally grown greens one step further by harvesting and hauling them themselves from one of the Pungo farming community's 16 You-Pick Farms. Bring a basket and peruse the fields of strawberries, kale, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupe and other produce for the perfect bushel of veggies. Additionally, any gentleman looking to score points with his special lady can let her pick her own bouquet from one of the area's You-Pick flower fields.

Host a crab boil for two and catch your own dinner in the waters around Virginia Beach, which are crawling with blue crab. Soak a crab pot in any inlet for approximately 48 hours, and you're likely to haul up between five to eight crabs. Locals' tip: use raw chicken as bait.

First Landing State Park is the mecca for outdoor fitness enthusiasts in Virginia Beach, which has been consistently named one of America's fittest cities. The park boasts 19 miles of trails winding through seven ecosystems, including beaches, swamps and Spanish moss-cloaked forests. Hike over the marshes and through the woods then cap your excursion with a waterfront picnic on one of the park's sandy beaches.

TIE UP & EAT

Imagine kayaking, standup paddle-boarding or boating through a national wildlife refuge or snaking inlets to get to a favorite dockside seafood restaurant for a crab boil, whole-hog BBQ and live music. Virginia Beach residents call that a typical Saturday and favor four dockside restaurants in particular: Bubba's Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse, The Shellfish Company, Chick's Oyster Bar and Blue Pete's.

In addition to more than 35 miles of oceanfront and dockside restaurants, Virginia Beach also has eight marinas and hundreds of miles of waterways meandering through the city and wildlife parks that can be explored by boat. There are also protected beaches, such as Chick's Beach, located inside the Chesapeake Bay, and First Landing State Park, located up the Lynnhaven River, where boaters can anchor or beach their boats right on the sand.

EXPLORE HIDDEN GEMS

Sun worshippers looking for secluded sands can head south to Sandbridge Beach, a favorite among locals trying to avoid the seasonal tourists. Reserve one of the vacation rental homes and spend the afternoons exploring the directly adjacent Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Pungo farming community, or take a quick 20-minute drive to the resort area or Town Center for dining and shopping.

Trek through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to find False Cape State Park, a refuge extending from Virginia Beach to the North Carolina border that is only accessible by foot or boat. Pitch a tent at one of the primitive campsites in the heart of nature, untouched by humans. While getting there can be a bit of a hike, outdoor enthusiasts will be rewarded by incredible wildlife sightings.

The Back Deck, a local watering hole serving strong libations and fresh seafood, provides a stunning view of the Lynnhaven Inlet and is located – literally – on the back deck of The Shellfish Company, where owners unload the fresh catch from their private fishing fleet daily.

MADE IN VIRGINIA BEACH

Surf champion Philip Goold and partner Adam Roth, a photographer and graphic designer, are the skilled artisans behind First Landing Woodworks, hand-making heirloom quality products and furniture. Most products are made from their signature black walnut, including their furniture, which is distinguished by the preservation of the tree's natural color and living edge.

The gift shop at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum sells a unique type of Americana folk art and hand- carved wildfowl decoys. Seasoned decoy carvers from around Southeast Virginia demonstrate the age-old art of decoy-carving, some using the tools and methods of the old-style carvers of Back Bay and Currituck Sound. Their work, as well as genuine antiques, can be purchased in the museum gift shop.

Tasha's Own makes their all natural, handcrafted goat milk soaps on a 30-acre farm in Virginia Beach's Pungo farming community. The primary ingredient comes from the herd of Nubian dairy goats, which produce milk high in butterfat, who roam freely with ponies, sheep and cattle grazing on grasses, herbs and nutrient-dense alfalfa. The goats' diet leads to enzyme-rich milk that is combined with all natural mineral oils and honey from their own farm-raised honey bees to create soap that balances skin ph and moisturizes without the use of chemical additives.

Visitors who prefer locally made keepsakes over souvenir key chains can opt for an artisan shop like The Creative Wedge, a local favorite that prides itself on offering only local, artisanal food and crafts, such as unique handmade jewelry, farmstead cheese, charcuterie, local honey, jams, Virginia wine and craft beer.

Virginia Beach native Austin Saunders started Austin Custom Surfboards out of his parents' garage when he was just 16-years-old and now handcrafts surfboards in his 4,000-square-foot factory. Austin and his team sculpt, glass and paint each of their 11 surfboard models by hand before shipping the practical works of art up and down the East Coast and even California. Surfers can order premade boards online or request custom designs direct from Austin Custom Surfboards.