Step outside and feel the warm rays of the Virginia Beach sun on your cheeks. There is no better feeling after the winter season. Relax on sun-soaked beaches, challenge your skills on hiking trails, and kayak through the gentle waves alongside bottlenose dolphins. The following story ideas are centered on Virginia Beach�s spring and summer events and travel options. For media information and images, visit www.vbpressroom.com or www.vbfun.com. To request a Virginia Beach press visit or for more information, please contact Kari Journigan at kjournigan@boomyourbrand.com.

Check out Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: Featuring four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago, the new $25 million Restless Planet at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center features 12,000 square feet of spectacular new habitats, exhibits and aquariums. Home to 6,000 new animals and 367 new species � including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, hedgehogs, and so much more � Restless Planet more than doubles the Aquarium�s animal collection. Explore immersive live-animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia�s current landscape. A Malaysian Peat Swamp, a Coastal Sahara Desert, the Red Sea, and Indonesia�s Flores Island habitats recreate the look, feel and smell of Virginia�s tumultuous ecological history. Visit www.virginiaaquarium.com for more information.

Nature Awaits You in Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach is a wonderland for sports enthusiasts and those desiring more physical adventure. With more than 18,000 acres of state parks and a wildlife refuge and 121 navigable miles of waterways, there is something for everyone. A virtually undiscovered ecological treasure, Virginia Beach is home to one of the last great salt marsh habitats on the East Coast. Explore by kayak the inland waterways and 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches and experience nature at its most pristine and undisturbed. Bike through the trails of First Landing State Park, the most visited park in Virginia, where you will get up close and personal with birds and other wildlife along the way. Or, just stroll along the 3-mile long boardwalk, taking in the sights of the Atlantic and other people along the way. Many Virginia Beach outfitters offer tours throughout the year, or rent your equipment and explore the outdoors and quiet sounds of untouched nature by yourself.

Enjoy Coastal Cuisine with a Magnificent View: In Virginia Beach, Coastal Cuisine is our forte � a rich signature culinary style with fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean mixed with organic produce straight from local farms. What better way to enjoy the warmer weather than by enjoying a delicious meal on a dock overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and a beautiful Virginia Beach sunset? Enjoy regional specialties and local favorites such as crab cakes, grilled mahi-mah, yellowfin tuna, she-crab soup and striped bass (better known as �rockfish�). After dinner, head to the Town Center, Virginia Beach�s new downtown area which spans 17 city blocks and offers dining, shopping and entertainment venues. Enjoy a night of laughter at the Funny Bone Comedy Club or experience a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.

Virginia Beach Boasts Many Festivals and Events: The oceanfront comes alive during the warmer months with festivals and events perfect for people of all ages. From music and art, to wine and sports, every visitor is sure to find an enjoyable experience in Virginia Beach. Dance the weekend away as the resort city becomes the Beach Music �Capital� of the East Coast during Beach Music Weekend, May 13-16. Relax and unwind while sampling wines from around the world at Neptune�s Spring International Wine Tasting, May 15. Sports enthusiasts will love the North American Sand Soccer Championships, June 11-13, or, browse more than 40,000 pieces of art during the 54th Annual Boardwalk Art Show & Festival, June 17-20. From August 13-15, the Southeastern Virginia Mustang Club will host the 2010 Mustang Club of America National Car Show at the Town Center. Visitors will be able to see 300-500 of the nation�s top Ford Mustangs � from the first one produced in 1965 to the present 2010 model. During the summer months, Beach Street U.S.A. lines the Virginia Beach oceanfront with free, themed, nightly entertainment along Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 25th Streets. These events are free and open to the public and offer puppets, bands, jugglers, and magicians entertaining crowds right on the sidewalks.

Virginia Beach entices visitors to �Live the Life� year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, 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.vbfun.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.vbpressroom.com. Please follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/vabeachcvb and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Beach-Live-The-Life.

Media Contact: Kari Journigan kjournigan@boomyourbrand.com 757-497-4811