Virginia Beach is a sunny, family-oriented beach resort city in the Hampton Roads area on the Atlantic Coast of Virginia, offering miles of excellent beaches along the concrete boardwalk, big city shopping, lovely restaurants and great golf courses. Home to the longest pleasure beach in the world, Virginia Beach hosts a wide variety of attractions from aquariums and historic sites to museums, concerts and theatre, and activities from fishing, surfing and kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay to hiking and whale watching.
Seaside city of Virginia Beach is located in the Atlantic East coast of the United States, in the Hampton Roads area on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. It is the largest city in the state of Virginia and a sprawling urban area spreading beyond the city limits. Cape Henry near Virginia Beach was the site of the first landing of the British colonists into North America. Before that, the area was settled by Chesepian Indians. Virginia Beach started to grow as a beach resort already in the late 19th century after railroad and electricity were introduced. The city became very popular vacation spot in the 1920s and has since continued to grow further. Today, Virginia Beach gets almost 3 million visitors a year. Together with tourism, real estate business and military bases provide wealth to the city.
Water & outdoor sports. Fishing in Virginia Beach is great with a variety of opportunities. Other popular water sports in Virginia Beach include surfing, scuba diving, sailing and sand soccer. Canoeing and kayaking in Virginia Beach are great along the coast and in local rivers. Biking and running along the boardwalk are also popular sports in Virginia Beach. The popular recreation areas of Back Bay National Refuge, False Cape State Park and North River Landing Natural Area offer nice hiking, camping, wildlife and outdoor sports. Bird- and whale watching in Virginia Beach are also popular along the coast.
Culture & entertainment. Besides being a beach resort, Virginia Beach is also a large city with great deal of cultural attractions, including concerts, theatres, museums and a popular aquarium. You can also find a great variety of historical sites, including the First Landing State Park that is good for biking and hiking, old lighthouses, and one of the oldest colonial homes in Virginia. The Ocean Breeze Water Park offers fun for kids and adults alike, and there are also many excellent golf courses in Virginia Beach and around it.
Seaside city of Virginia Beach is located in the Atlantic East coast of the United States, in the Hampton Roads area on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. It is the largest city in the state of Virginia and a sprawling urban area spreading beyond the city limits. Cape Henry near Virginia Beach was the site of the first landing of the British colonists into North America. Before that, the area was settled by Chesepian Indians. Virginia Beach started to grow as a beach resort already in the late 19th century after railroad and electricity were introduced. The city became very popular vacation spot in the 1920s and has since continued to grow further. Today, Virginia Beach gets almost 3 million visitors a year. Together with tourism, real estate business and military bases provide wealth to the city.
Sights & activities in Virginia Beach: beaches, shopping, golf, fishing & outdoor parks
Virginia Beach has a long history as a beach resort, and the 28 miles of lovely public beaches along its coastline continue to be the number one attraction here. The popular three-mile boardwalk of Virginia Beach follows the shoreline, hosting a variety of restaurants and shops, as well as weekly events and festivals. Shopping in Virginia Beach is excellent in the many souvenir shops and modern shopping centers of the city.Water & outdoor sports. Fishing in Virginia Beach is great with a variety of opportunities. Other popular water sports in Virginia Beach include surfing, scuba diving, sailing and sand soccer. Canoeing and kayaking in Virginia Beach are great along the coast and in local rivers. Biking and running along the boardwalk are also popular sports in Virginia Beach. The popular recreation areas of Back Bay National Refuge, False Cape State Park and North River Landing Natural Area offer nice hiking, camping, wildlife and outdoor sports. Bird- and whale watching in Virginia Beach are also popular along the coast.
Culture & entertainment. Besides being a beach resort, Virginia Beach is also a large city with great deal of cultural attractions, including concerts, theatres, museums and a popular aquarium. You can also find a great variety of historical sites, including the First Landing State Park that is good for biking and hiking, old lighthouses, and one of the oldest colonial homes in Virginia. The Ocean Breeze Water Park offers fun for kids and adults alike, and there are also many excellent golf courses in Virginia Beach and around it.
Photo: Jason Pratt, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
In September, Virginia Beach hosts the Neptune Festival that attracts more than 500,000 participants, and a popular American Music Festival is held in August.
Virginia Beach travel information and practical tips
Virginia Beach has a mild climate that is moderated by the ocean. The winters are cool and sometimes cold, but snow is unusual, while summers here are hot and humid, and the best time to visit Virginia Beach. Some rainfall is received around the year. Virginia Beach is suitable for beach holidays from May to September.How to get there. Traveling to Virginia Beach is done via Norfolk International Airport, receiving direct flights to Virginia from 25 destinations around the US. Newport News / Williamsburg airport is also located nearby. Buses to Virginia Beach can be found in the main cities of the East Coast, and trains to Newport News close to Virginia Beach are available with connecting bus service to Virginia Beach. By car, you can reach Virginia Beach by following the Interstate 64 or the US Route 13 via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Local transportation. There are local buses within the city and also between all cities of the Hampton Roads area. A tourist trolley service also operates in Virginia Beach during the summer months. Car rental in Virginia Beach is a good way to explore the surrounding coastal region.
Services & safety. There are hundreds of hotels in Virginia Beach, located along the oceanfront as well as in the city center. The city’s 3-mile-long boardwalk is home to a wide variety of restaurants in Virginia Beach, offering seafood as well as international choices. Virginia Beach nightlife is lively during the summer with many clubs and bars located around Pacific and Atlantic Avenues. Virginia Beach is a safe place to visit as long as you follow the same security measures you would take in any other big city.
