27 Mar 2014
NEIGHBORHOODS
Oceanfront Resort Area
The famous three-mile boardwalk is only part of what makes the resort area so irresistible. From Croatan Beach to the south and up to the North End beaches, this is where Virginia Beach reveals its outgoing nature, with a park-like atmosphere that goes on for miles. The beach was extended to the width of a football field, giving plenty of space for beach blankets and sandy games. Featuring a fishing pier and active marina and inlet, outside adventure abounds with biking, boating, kayaking, jet-skiiing, parasailing and stand-up paddle boarding. Locally-owned restaurants abound featuring coastal cuisine to tempt the tastebuds. Nightlife ranges from coastal cosmopolitan to crab and oyster shacks featuring historical memorabilia. Here, visitors are welcome to experience new adventures and create memories to last a lifetime.
Sandbridge
Sandbridge is a quiet, secluded beach, located just south of the Virginia Beach resort area and nestled up against the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Pungo. Sandbridge's five miles of golden sands along the Atlantic Ocean serve as the hub for year-round vacation home rentals, alongside outdoor and water activity outfitters. Park the car, hop on the bike, get to know the neighbors and plan to meet for ice cream and a beachy drink at the local shops and restaurants right down the street.
Chick's Beach
Chick's Beach borders the Chesapeake bay, offering calmer waters and quieter beaches. Camp in First Landing State Park, or stay at one of the many rental homes or a resort. The area is home to one of Virginia Beach's two marinas and inlets, as well as multiple dockside seafood restaurants and the incredible views of sunset over Lynnhaven Inlet. Restaurants and nightlife abound. Many of the restaurants encourage guests to pull up their boats to the restaurants' docks and hang out on the decks overlooking the gorgeous waters of the inlet.
Pungo
The Pungo farming community is where much of Virginia Beach restaurants source their local produce. Visitors can pick their own produce at select farms offering “You Pick” experiences, as well as purchase fresh ingredients from produce stands and markets. The area is most well known for its strawberries, thanks to the annual Strawberry Festival, but visitors will also find kale, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupes, flowers and more.
Town Center
With an eclectic mix of shopping, dining and entertainment options covering 17 city blocks, The Town Center is fast becoming one of Virginia Beach's hottest destinations. Grab a bite at a local eatery or shop at popular brand retailers and upscale boutiques. Enjoy performances by world-renowned artists at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or free live entertainment and festivals at the plazas Wednesday through Sunday evenings, May through October.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Revamped Oceanfront Hotel Scene – Virginia Beach'shotels have undergone a myriad of changes and renovations. The historic and iconic Cavalier Hotel, built in 1927, is currently undergoing a $259 million renovation and will be a fantastic addition to the Virginia Beach resort area. A number of new hotels have also been built along the oceanfront in the past few years, including the high-end Oceanaire Resort Hotel and Ocean Beach Club Resort, and hotels such as the Sheraton and Holiday Inn North End have undergone multi-million dollar renovations. Additional city beautification projects are further enhancing the boardwalk area.
Beyond the Boardwalk – Visitors can opt for a room or private house on the secluded sands of Sandbridge Beach, often called “Virginia's Outer Banks.” If you're looking for something a little more off the beaten path, Virginia Beach has a lot of options beyond the beach, such as the regal, Georgian-style Founders Inn & Spa, which hosts monthly Mouthwatering Mondays, a six-course themed wine pairing meal prepared by a guest chef from a featured region, or the quaint Church Point Manor, a B&B housed in a refurbished 1860's farmhouse.
Accommodation Highlights
DINING
Seafood – Virginia Beach's location on the southern tip of Chesapeake Bay and hundreds of tributaries have given the coastal city a seafood-centric culinary culture. Local menu staples are caught just offshore and include blue crab, oysters, clams, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, marlin, sailfish, flounder, striped bass, monkfish and shrimp, to name a few.
You-Pick-It Farms – The Pungo farming community boasts more than 8,000 acres of farmland and 16 You-Pick farms, where visitors can harvest and haul their own fresh produce, including strawberries, kale, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupes and flowers, just to name a few.
Lynnhaven Oysters – Virginia Beach is famous for being the only place to find Lynnhaven oysters, once coveted around the world and served to presidents and royalty for their size, saltiness and gentle zing. They were once pushed to near extinction, but thanks to habitat revitalization efforts, they're now back on the menu at top restaurants from Virginia Beach to New York City.
Emerging Craft Beer Scene – Virginia Beach has seen a boom of artisan brewers over the past few years. The newest brewery, Young Veterans Brewing Company, was founded by two Iraq veterans and opened in August 2013 with six brews with names drawing inspiration from the armed services. These include the Double IPA “Jet Noise,” Hefeweizen “Pineapple Grenade” and Honey Blonde Ale “New Recruit.” Additionally, San Diego-based brewer Green Flash Brewing Co is building a brewery and tasting room in Virginia Beach.
ACTIVITIES
Kayak with Dolphins – From mid-May through October, bottlenose dolphins feast in the rich waters of the estuarial Chesapeake Bay. Book guided kayak excursions to where the bay's waters meet the Atlantic Ocean, the dolphins' favorite spot for a frolic between feeding grounds.
18,600+ Acres of Parks and Wildlife Refuges – Virginia Beach offers a great getaway for outdoor enthusiasts, who can enjoy kayaking, paddle-boarding, hiking or biking in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, at First Landing State Park, home to seven different ecosystems and the location of the Jamestown colonists' first New World landing in 1607, and False Cape State Park, only accessible by foot or boat and home to wild horses.
Whale Watching – Virginia Beach is prime whale-watching real estate due to mild winter temperatures and location on the southern rim of Chesapeake Bay's rich waters, making it a popular stop for humpback and fin whales who migrate just off the shores from December-March.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center -Explore the ocean depths at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia's largest aquarium and one of the most visited in the nation. The Virginia Aquarium chronicles the state's various aquatic and marine environments throughout time and features more than 800,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats, as well as an IMAX® 3D Theater, outdoor nature trail and aviary. View 367 species, including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, the endangered Tomistoma freshwater crocodile, spotted eagle rays and more.
Festivals and Events – Year-round, the entire city comes alive with various concerts, parades, festivals and more. Town Center and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts hosts monthly concerts and festivals in Virginia Beach's downtown area. In the resort area, there is also 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. www.visitvirginiabeach.com
Fishing and Boating – Known as the “Striped Bass Capital of the World,” Virginia Beach and its neighboring waters are home to a multitude of freshwater, brackish and saltwater fishing opportunities. With the food-rich Chesapeake Bay adjoining the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, croaker, spot, flounder, striped bass, tautog, sea bass, trout, bluefish, skipjack, cobia, mahi-mahi, Spanish and king mackerel, puppy and red drum, yellowfin and bluefin tuna, marlin, amberjack and wahoo are abundant at various times of the year. Tow your boat and choose from several different ramp locations or opt for a full- or half-day private charter. Group party boats are also available. If you choose to stay near shore, cast a line from one of the four fishing piers. Each January, Virginia Beach holds the annual Waterman's Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shoot-out, which has become the largest rockfish tournament in the country.
Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium – Slated to open in Summer 2014, the Adventure Park will be the largest of its kind in Virginia and feature multiple zip lines and aerial ropes challenge courses, perfect for thrill seekers ages five and up.
Water Sports – Thanks to Virginia Beach's seaside locale and great weather, it has become a destination for water sports, from the relaxing to the high-adrenaline sort. It's a top East Coast surf spot, hosting the annual East Coast Surfing Championships, and also offers sport fishing, parasailing, jet skiing and hydro-boarding, to name a few.
Edgar Cayce Association for Research & Enlightenment – Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) founded the non-profit Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in 1931 to explore spirituality, holistic health, intuition, dream interpretation, psychic development, reincarnation and ancient mysteries.
Browse Eclectic Local Shops – Virginia Beach features a wide array of unique locally owned artisan shops, such as the Leaping Lizard & Cafe, an eclectic compound withchickens roaming freely around the garden and popular café, store and barn selling fresh, local produce. The Creative Wedge is another local favorite, selling artisanal food and crafts like unique handmade gifts, artisan cheese, charcuterie, local wine and craft beer.
QUICK FACTS
- Drive time from Washington, D.C.: 3 hours and 23 minutes
- Before settling up the river, Jamestown colonists landed in the New World on Virginia Beach's shores in 1607, where First Landing State Park is now located
- Known for Lynnhaven oysters and being the East Coast's first warm water beach
- Notable former residents: Mark Ruffalo, Pharrell Williams and Gabby Douglas (2012 Olympic gymnast)
- Natural Wonder: Chesapeake Bay, the world's largest estuary
- Virginia Beach boasts 56 km of shoreline
- The oceanfront boardwalk was originally constructed in 1888 and was made entirely of wood
STATISTICS
- Virginia Beach is the 37th largest city in the United States and the largest in Virginia, with approximately 447,000 residents
- The city has the sixth lowest crime rate in the country and the ninth lowest unemployment rate, at 5.6 percent
- Virginia Beach is 499 kilometers in area, including 194 km of navigable waterways and 56 km of beaches
- Mild year-round climate, with an average temperature for winter at a high of 11˚Celsius and a low of 1.11˚C and a water temperature of 9.4˚F
- Virginia Beach has more than 12,000 hotel rooms, more than 1,800 campsites and several hundred vacation rental homes
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