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

Mary Douglas  BCF  |  757.497.4811  |  mdouglas@boomyourbrand.com

VIRGINIA BEACH SPRING STORY IDEAS

(Virginia Beach, Va., March 29, 2012) - Spring is in the air, and the warm sun and sandy beaches entice visitors to step outside and "Live the Life" in Virginia Beach. With award winning beaches, majestic wildlife, exciting springtime events and a number of budget-friendly ways to maximize your vacation without breaking the bank, spring breathes new life into the famed resort city. The following story ideas are centered on Virginia Beach's spring events and travel options. For media information and images, visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom. For travel information, visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com. To request a Virginia Beach press visit or for more information, please contact Mary Douglas at mdouglas@boomyourbrand.com.

Virginia Beach Ranked 4th Best Beach in United States: With 35 miles of bay and ocean beaches, visitors can choose from a bustling resort area, relaxing shores along the Chesapeake Bay or a pristine, secluded getaway in the southern area of Sandbridge. So it's no wonder that Virginia Beach ranked 4th in TripAdvisor's 2012 Travelers' Choice awards. More than 5 million visitors each year enjoy all that Virginia Beach has to offer, from digging their toes in the sand and exploring over 18,000 acres of state parks and a national wildlife refuge to sinking their teeth into delectable coastal cuisine and embarking on exciting seaside adventures at a variety of festivals and events. Virginia Beach also was recently named one of the top 10 healthiest cities for women, according to Women's Health magazine. Visitors can burn some serious calories by hiking, biking, surfing, paddleboarding and even experiencing yoga on the beach for the ultimate workout. Each year, the resort cities hosts a multitude of sporting events, including marathons and half marathons, to entice residents and visitors alike to "Live the Healthy Life."

Spot Frolicking Dolphins During a Boat Trip or a Kayaking Adventure: Virginia Beach is situated where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, creating the perfect playground and feeding spot for marine life. Each spring, as the weather warms, the Mid-Atlantic's largest population of bottlenose dolphins start migrating off the coast. Enjoy a relaxing dolphin-watching cruise, sponsored by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, where an educator teaches passengers all about the fascinating creatures. For those who crave a more daring adventure, several outfitters feature dolphin-watching kayak trips through the ocean swells. Observe our beloved finned friends as they feed, tail slap and jump among the waves, all while paddling alongside them.  

Spring Festivals Feature Art, Strawberries, Music and Military Aircraft: The oceanfront comes alive during the warmer months with festivals and events perfect for all ages. From music and art to patriotic events and homegrown adventure, every visitor is sure to find an enjoyable springtime experience in Virginia Beach. From May 26th to August 19th, explore the renowned works of the enigmatic artist Andy Warhol at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). "Andy Warhol: Portraits," will showcase more than 200 original works from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pa. Show your patriotism at a variety of military appreciation events including the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival, June 1 - 3, and OpSail 2012 Virginia™, June 1 - 12, featuring military displays and demonstrations, historical reenactments and nonstop musical entertainment. Warbirds Over the Beach will fly for the fourth consecutive year from the Military Aviation Museum in the southern part of the city, May 18 - 20.  Witness WWII-era aircraft, re-enactors, food and entertainment. Or, groove to the sounds of the islands at the annual PANorama Caribbean Music Fest, presented by the Virginia Arts Festival, May 11 - 12. 

Explore Free (and almost free) Things to Do in Virginia Beach: During tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save a few dollars, especially on vacation. Virginia Beach offers a variety of ways to enjoy unforgettable experiences without putting a strain on the household budget. Stretch out on a beach towel on 14 miles of public beaches with no fees. Explore the iconic 3-mile boardwalk - the perfect thoroughfare for strolling, running, biking or even just people watching. Virginia Beach also offers a variety of museums and historic homes, with little or no admission fees, that showcase the history of the area's earliest people and places. During the summer, Atlantic Avenue bursts to life with exciting events, entertainment acts, free live concerts and theatrical productions during Beach Street USA. Nature lovers can enjoy exploring two state parks and a national wildlife refuge, and discover miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, barrier islands, dunes, freshwater marshes, maritime forests, ponds and ocean beaches.

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/pages/Virginia-Beach-Live-The-Life.

# # #