FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ron Kuhlman  Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau  |  757.385.4700| rkuhlman@visitvirginiabeach.com

Danya Bushéy  BCF  |  757.497.4811  |  dbushey@boomyourbrand.com

                               

Free and Budget-Friendly Adventures: A Virginia Beach Vacation is Easy on the Wallet

 

(Virginia Beach, Va., 2012) - During times of recession and economic downturns, vacationers are searching for free and budget-friendly adventures. Regardless of the strength of the markets, Virginia Beach always offers a wealth of activities that are easy on the wallet. From exploring state parks and indigenous wildlife to lounging on sun-drenched beaches, Virginia Beach beckons you to "Live the Life!" For more information and images, visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com or www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom.

 

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum

Discover this treasure along the boardwalk, the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum. Located in the historically registered DeWitt cottage built in 1895, the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum displays art and artifacts documenting migratory wildfowl that pass through Eastern Virginia. Exhibits of wildfowl and shorebird carvings trace the evolution of this unique American art form. Enjoy on-site wood-carving demonstrations, decoys dating from historic times to present day and a collection of exhibits covering the history of Virginia Beach. Admission to the museum is free.

 

Beaches

With 14 miles of open, public beaches - and NO fees - Virginia Beach offers a variety of unique coastal options to fit every mood. The Virginia Beach resort area features live music, street performers, diverse festivals, as well as outdoor cafes and nightlife, all alongside an award-winning paved 3-mile boardwalk. If your idea of a "day at the beach" is more relaxed, visit Chesapeake Beach (known to the locals as "Chick's Beach") for a tranquil spot along the scenic Chesapeake Bay. Swimmers will enjoy the bay's protected shallow waters. For a more secluded environment, the Sandbridge area on Virginia Beach's southern shore is perfect. Just 20 minutes from the main resort area, the pristine shores of Sandbridge are quiet with only breathtaking ocean-view rental homes, condominiums and peacefulness filling the shoreline. Ocean breezes gently sweep across the dunes, the traffic is minimal and seagulls leave long-lasting footprints.

  

Beach Street U.S.A.

The oceanfront comes alive with specially-themed nightly entertainment along the sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 25th Streets during the summer months. Beach Street U.S.A. features puppets, bands, jugglers, magicians and others entertaining crowds right on the sidewalks. Free live concerts and theatrical productions take place seven nights a week along the oceanfront from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

 

Cape Henry Lighthouse and Memorial Park

Peek into the past at the original Cape Henry Lighthouse. Dating to 1791, it is the oldest government-built lighthouse in America. Once you reach the summit, enjoy a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay - the same view once seen by ship watchers more than 200 years ago. Located on the Fort Story military base, the original Cape Henry Lighthouse is open to the public. Across the road, you'll find the new Cape Henry Lighthouse. Built in 1881, it is the tallest iron-encased lighthouse in the country and is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. Adjacent to the lighthouses, visitors also tour the Cape Henry Memorial Park which includes a replica of the First Landing Cross, planted by the first settlers to give thanks for a safe voyage after arriving on our shore in 1607. Admission to the lighthouse is $4 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12 and free for children three and under. Note: Cape Henry Lighthouse is located on JEB Little Creek - Ft. Story. Access to military bases may be restricted for public tours, and a valid picture ID and vehicle search is required.

 

Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment

The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) attracts tens of thousands of individuals from around the world, all coming to investigate the information that Edgar Cayce brought forth in his psychic readings. The A.R.E. can help visitors discover how Cayce's findings are being used today in the fields of health, personal spirituality, intuition, education and research. Experience a number of events that take place at the A.R.E., which are mostly free to the public.  Get limber in a Tai Chi, stretching or yoga class, test your ESP or learn about meditation in one of their free seminars. For more information, visit www.EdgarCayce.org.

 

Festivals and Events

Virginia Beach celebrates diversity as it pulsates with a myriad of festivals, celebrations, and cultural events that pay homage to cultures from all over the world throughout the year.  Dance to the beat of salsa, meringue, mamba and bachata tunes presented by some of the best national and regional acts at the annual Latin Fest. Explore the African origins of today's diversified music genres during the FunkFest and the Blues at the Beach festival. Groove to Caribbean, Latin, and pop music during the steel band competition at the PANorama Caribbean Music Fest. National and local tribute artists who run the gamut from Led Zeppelin to Queen and Journey will crank out hit after hit on multiple stages at the Virginia Beach oceanfront during "Sandstock," a tribute to Rock 'n Roll. Indulge in pizza, prosciutto and fontina, caprese, eggplant parmesan, lasagna, espresso, gelato and all things Italian and Greek during Mediterranean Weekend. Most events at the oceanfront are free and open to the public so grab your dancing shoes (and your appetite) and bring your moves down to the beach.

  

Historic Homes

Historic homes throughout the city offer a peek into the lives of Virginia Beach's earliest residents. The Adam Thoroughgood House (1719) stands on land that was part of an original land grant. Other historic homes still standing in Virginia Beach were constructed later in the colonial period such as the Lynnhaven House (1725), the Ferry Plantation House (1830) and the Francis Land House, also known as Rose Hall (late 1700's). All homes are open to the public for tours and host special interpretative programs throughout the year. Admission to the Adam Thoroughgood, Lynnhaven, and Francis Land Houses are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 60 plus and $3 for students for each house. Combination tickets are also available; $9 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $5 for students. Admission for the Ferry Plantation House is $5 for adults, $2 for senior citizens and students.

 

JT's Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground for EveryBODY

Picture a playground so meticulously designed that anyone - regardless of age, disability or health condition - can enjoy it. This park also lays claim to one of the best views on the East Coast, with the playground located on the sand of Virginia Beach at 2nd Street next to the boardwalk, offering a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean. JT's Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground for EveryBODY is the first oceanfront playground in the country to be 100% disability-accessible. The playground is free and open to the public.

 

King Neptune Statue

The 34-foot cast bronze King Neptune statue stands at the boardwalk on 31st Street overlooking Neptune Park. Surrounded by the creatures of his realm, mighty trident in hand, Neptune's heroic visage honors the maritime legacy of Virginia Beach. Sculptor Paul DiPasquale, who lives and works in Richmond, Virginia, was commissioned to create the monolithic figure. DiPasquale's work, including the bronze statue of Arthur Ashe on Richmond's famous Monument Avenue, has been exhibited in the United States and Europe. No visit to Virginia Beach is complete without a snapshot of the gentle giant.

 

Military Aviation Museum

The Military Aviation Museum, located at the Virginia Beach Airport in Virginia Beach's Pungo region, is home to one of the largest private collections of flyable World War II and Korean War era fighters, bombers, trainers and seaplanes. Most aircraft have been fully restored to their original pristine condition and regularly make flights around the area. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and $9 for active duty military.  

  

Old Coast Guard Station

Step back in time at the Old Coast Guard Station. Housed in a 1903 former U.S. Life Saving Station, this quaint, oceanfront museum features rescue equipment used by turn-of-the-century surf men to save shipwrecked crews from a watery grave. Learn about shipwrecks that occurred just off the Virginia Beach coast and the history of lifesaving service from World War II to the present day. Peek through TOWERCAM, a roof-mounted video camera that zooms in on passing ships dotting the horizon. The camera affords museum visitors the same view crewmen had from the tower nearly 100 years ago. Admission to the museum is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and military and $2 for children ages 6-18.

 

Parks

With more than 18,600 acres of state parks and a national wildlife refuge, families can embark on many free outdoor excursions. First Landing State Park, the most visited state park in Virginia, offers free monthly educational programs that include hiking, surf fishing and animal tracking. There are nine hiking trails totaling 19 miles through the park. Admission to the park is $4 per vehicle on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Explore Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge or False Cape State Park (Virginia's least visited state park), and discover miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, barrier islands, dunes, freshwater marshes, maritime forests, ponds and ocean beaches. Back Bay and False Cape are home to wild horses, feral pigs, loggerhead turtles, bald eagles and a variety of migratory birds and endangered species. Admission to Back Bay is $5 per day for private vehicles and $2 per day for pedestrians. There is no admission fee from November 1 through March 31. False Cape is only accessed through Back Bay and does not charge an additional admission fee.  

 

The Town Center of Virginia Beach

Boasting 17 city blocks of shopping, dining, luxury accommodations and entertainment, The Town Center of Virginia Beach is one of Virginia Beach's hottest locales. Explore great shops and boutiques, grab a bite at a favorite restaurant and take in some entertainment held regularly throughout the year. From May - October, free entertainment and festivals are held on the weekends in the Fountain Plaza and Sandler Center Plaza for visitors to enjoy. The YNOT Wednesdays summer concert series, held June through August, offers live music, refreshments and a variety of locally-grown produce from area farms. Admission to the concerts is free and open to the public.  

 

Virginia Beach Farmers Market

Experience the rural side of Virginia Beach at the Farmers Market, a country-style, open-air, year-round market that features fresh, locally grown produce, dairy products, organic groceries, a meat market, home and garden gifts, jams, and a restaurant. Agriculture is one of the top three industries in Virginia Beach, with miles of green space in the southern end of the city harvesting a long list of produce including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, kiwis, apples, pears, cantaloupes, tomatoes, corn, beets, onions, broccoli, cabbage, white and sweet potatoes, green beans, eggplant, peppers, a variety of squash and leafy greens and more.
 

The Old Beach Farmers Market, located at Croc's 19th Street Bistro near the oceanfront, is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, and is just a quick bike ride from the boardwalk. It offers a variety of produce alongside fresh herbs, wines and other locally-made products. Both markets are free to enter and special events are held each month.

 

Virginia Beach Amusement Park

Enjoy an afternoon of thrill rides and games, perfect for the whole family. Located in the resort area right on Atlantic Avenue and 15th Street, the Virginia Beach Amusement Park contains classic carnival rides including a Ferris wheel. It is also home to the Skyscraper extreme thrill ride - one of only seven in the world. Admission to the park is free and ride tickets range from 70 cents to $1. Most rides require four to six tickets. 

 

Virginia Legends Walk

At the oceanfront 13th Street Park, the Virginia Legends Walk honors Virginians, by birth or residence, which made significant contributions to the nation and the world. Celebrated Virginians include Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Ashe, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Thomas Jefferson and Captain John Smith. Visitors can stroll for free through the paved path.

 

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

As one of southeastern Virginia's leading art institutions, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art's (MOCA) mission is to teach visitors about contemporary art through regularly scheduled changing exhibits, studio art classes and special events. Rotating exhibitions feature painting, sculpture, photography, glass, video and other visual media from internationally acclaimed artists as well as artists of national and regional renown. Founded in 1952, MOCA has produced Virginia Beach's Boardwalk Art Show for nearly 50 years. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and active duty and retired military (with ID). Children ages 4 - 14 are $3; children under 3 years are free.

 

 

Virginia Beach entices visitors to "Live the Life" year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state in the Coastal Virginia region, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day's drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom. Please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vabeachcvb and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaBeachVA.

 

# # #