Lovin' Life in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach will offer a variety of things to keep you interested year round. Whether you like just to sun worshiping on the beach, exploring the Science Museum, go whale watching, hit the links, sharpen your historical knowledge, or just shop till you drop and then enjoy an incredible dinner with a view. No matter what your taste, you will find it here.

Even in the wintertime, you can still enjoy a stroll down the boardwalk. At 3 miles long Virginia Beach is the longest pleasure beach in the world according to the Guinness folks. That’s a lot of sand! In the winter months the crowds have died down and your pooch can enjoy roaming around the beach leash-free. You still have to control your dog though. Just take off your shoes, swish your toes in the sand, and just enjoy being a kid again.

If your travel plans bring you here from mid-November until the first of the year, then make sure you check out the Holiday Lights At the Beach. More than 450,000 lights in 250 displays will wow everyone in your party. You drive along the boardwalk in your car and enjoy the show in comfort and with some heat!

In nearby Fort Story make sure to check out the Cape Henry Lighthouses. The original was built in 1792. When cracks appeared in its structure the Lighthouse Board feared in would crack. In 1881 the New Cape Henry Lighthouse was built to replace the old one. Today both are still standing and are perfectly fine. You can tour the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. Adventure seekers are greeted to a wonderful view if you climb the 200 steps to the top. You cannot tour the New Cape Henry Light since it remains an active aid to navigation. But you are free to walk around the outside and take pictures.

When you are driving from Virginia Beach to Ft. Story make sure to check out the First Landing State Park. This is the landing of the first permanent settlers in 1607. Today the park offers hiking trails and boat landings.

While your strolling around Virginia Beach, make sure to check out the King Neptune statue. Dedicated in 1974 to Richard Kline and Fredrick Napolitano. These 2 businessmen helped organize the King Neptune Festival held every September.

Quick Tips:

My first suggestion for any trip is to go to the CVB website at www.vbfun.com. You can check out on-line all that Virginia Beach has to offer or they will be glad to send you out a visitor’s guide. This comprehensive guide will tell you all the wonderful thing this amazing beach town has to offer.

If you are coming here during high season or during a major festival make sure to make hotel reservation well in advanced. The folks at the CVB can help you with that and they offer a variety of vacation packages for any budget.

Virginia Beach has some wonderful neighbors. Close by you will find Norfolk, Hampton. Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Williamsburg. The CVB also has information on any of these lovely ladies.

Neighboring Norfolk is only about 13 miles away and is an up and comer in the cruising industry. Cruise lines such as Carnival, Holland America, and Radisson all have departures from here. So this would be the perfect pre or post stay. You can go to www.cruisenorfolk.org for more information.

In 2007, Virginia Beach will help in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. For more information on this year long celebration go to www.jamestown2007.org.

Don’t think of the beach as a spring or summer destination. We were here at Christmas and it was wonderful. The mild climate here is perfect for strolling on the beach at the end of December like we did.

Best Way To Get Around:

Virginia Beach is only about 20 minutes from Norfolk International. Here you can rent a car or hire a cab. Many of the hotels provide shuttle service.

Once you’re here you can walk most places. The city is great for walking as long as you are staying within the beach area. If you wish to go outside of the immediate area you will need a car.

For fun and to save the hassle of parking, check out the beach trolley. This adorable trolley runs all over the downtown area.

Got a boat? Great! The Intercoastal Waterway begins here. So just get in your lovely lady and set sail for this lovely destination.

Beware because parking can be a hassle. There are number of paid parking lots throughout the area. Be sure to park here and that way you don’t have to worry about being towed.

In 1774 both the Maryland and Virginia colonies wanted to make the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay with a lighthouse. Cape Henry was selected as the site and workers soon began to pile up stones for use in the construction of the light. Unfortunately along came the Revolutionary War and all public works were stopped. Work did not start again until 1791.

Congress appropriated $24,077 to build the lighthouse. Alexander Hamilton (then Secretary of the State) contacted John McComb to build the light. He had hoped to use the original stone, but over time they had sank in the sand and were unusable. He secured other sandstone and had the projected completed within a year. The 90-foot tower stood for almost a century surviving wars and a number of weather problems. During the Civil War, Confederate troops put out its light. The Union troops, however, had the light returning by 1862.

Around 1870 keepers started to notice cracks in the buildings walls. The Lighthouse Board feared the safety of the building and had the New Cape Henry light built near the old light. Apparently though the boards concerns were unfounded. The 1792 tower stands right along side of the “new” 1881 tower.

The Old Cape Henry is amongst one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the states. The octagonal shape features a domed copper roof, which resembles a birdcage. The look and the color of the light are also unique. Most houses are a combination or white, black, and or red and are cylindrical-shaped. This one is a more natural color and is similar in appearance to Bald Head, or Old Baldy, light in my home state in NC.

Since 1930 the Association for Virginia Antiquities has owned it. Today you may climb the 200 steps to the top for a bird’s eye of the ocean. Hours are: 10am-5pm (Mar.-Oct.) and 10am –4pm (Nov. –Mar). There is a gift shop on the premises. The lighthouse is closed on major holidays. You can go to www.apva.com for more information. For information on other lighthouses or to buy lighthouse related items please go to www.lighthousedepot.com.

The lighthouses are in Ft. Story about 10 minutes from Virginia Beach. Still an active military post, guests are allowed inside. You will be stopped at the front gates. All guests over 18 must present ID and your car is inspected. You will be issued a pass and there is a parking lot between both houses. You cannot tour the New Care Henry light, but you are allowed to walk around outside and take photographs.

The original Cape Henry light was build in 1792 the mark the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. There the 90-foot light survived war and natural disasters. In the 1870’s the light keepers started to notice cracks in the structure of the building. Fearing the building was no longer safe, the Lighthouse Board approved for a new light to be built.

At the cost of $125,000 the new Cape Henry light was put in to place in 1881. In order to have a more secure building this light was constructed of brick. Over the brick structure, prefabricated cast iron plates were bolted together to form the tall tapered style lighthouse. It was built almost identical to the Hunting Island light near Beaufort SC (I do have an entry on the light in one of my earlier journals) and the Cape Canaveral light near Orlando. The light has a black and white color marking.

The 160 foot tower was given a first order Fresnel lenses and was lit on December 15, 1881. The original lenses are still in the tower and is still in use. Though today the light is automated to flash its beacon every 20 seconds. In 1929 it became the second American lighthouse to receive a radiobeam. New Jersey’s Sea Girt had the original in 1912. That beam is still used and the antenna is located approximately 80 yards from the tower.

The new light still remains a navigation tool and is operated by the Coast Guard. You may walk around the outside and take as many photographs as you like. There are also a number of out buildings original to the light that are still standing and are being used today. To the left of the light you will see a boardwalk giving you access to the beach. You can feel free to stroll around the beach and you get a great view of the light from here.

The concern over the safety of the original Cape Henry light was never founded. Both lights still remain and enjoy thousand of visitors each year. While you cannot tour the new Cape Henry light, you are able to climb the 200 steps to the Old Cape Henry for a magnificent view. The lights are part of Fort Story, which remains an active military post. You are allowed to visit though. All passengers over 18 require ID and then your car is search. There is parking between both lights and you may roam around at your leisure.

For more information on either light or to find out more about lighthouses in general please go to www.lighthousedepot.com. Lighthouse Depot has a wealth of information on lighthouses. In addition they have a monthly magazine called the Lighthouse Digest, and they have online ordering for a large variety of lighthouse-themed items. You can also find out about what you can do to help save lighthouses.

You will find Fist Landing State Park on the drive from Virginia Beach to Fort Story. It can easily be missed, as the entrance is located in between a housing development.

On April 26,1607 European settlers first landed here before heading out to Jamestown. In 1933 the commonwealth of Virginia purchased more than 2000 acres of land and established the First Landing State Park.

Today 2,270 acres offer visitors a chance to explore and enjoy more than 28 miles of trails. The park is listed on the National Register of Natural Landmarks. Here you will find something for the outdoor enthusiast including hiking trails, a beach, bird watching, and kayaking.

Lace up your hiking boots and explore the 28 miles of trails here that take you through marshes and woods. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the numerous birds that can be found here. You can rent bikes from the main office and peddle along the 6-mile Cape Henry Trail. For the water lovers in your group, sign up for one of the kayak tours offered by the park. You may swim in Chesapeake Bay, but there are no lifeguards available. Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times.

There is a visitor’s center, which provides information on the park, trail maps, as well as restrooms and vending machines. The center is open from 9-6 during the summer and 9-5 the rest of the year. They are closed on major holidays. Here you can also sign up for hiking tours, eco tours, and kayaking tours. During the summer months they offer a variety of classes for children and families. There is a monument to mark the landing in nearby Fort Story. Fort Story is an active military base, but they do allow visitors. All persons over 18 must have ID and agree to have your car searched.

They do offer picnic benches and several shelters for groups. You need to contact the visitor’s center to reserve one of the covered shelters. The park also offers 20 2-bedroom cabins for rent. Or if you have your own, they do offer both tent and RV spaces. Rental prices vary and sometime require minimum stay. You can contact the center for more information or to make reservations on line.

The park is truly a unique gem amongst the ever-growing beach side community. This park allows visitors to just reconnect with nature and enjoy this park as the settlers first did almost 400 years ago. I just hope Virginia will continue to allow this park to remain natural and unspoiled. As I said the entrance is accessible by driving through a housing development and from Chesapeake Bay you can look out and see the encroaching condos, townhouses, and elaborate waterside houses. Here's to hoping this place of beauty can continue to delight visitors as it first did in 1607. For more information go to www.vbfun.com.

If your lucky enough to be in the area during the holidays, make sure to head out to Virginia Beach for the annual Lights on the Beach.

From mid-November until New Years locals and visitors alike take part in one of the most popular events around. Just load up the family and head out once the sun sets. Once darkness arrives, the beach is light by more than 450,000 lights of twinkling red, green, gold, white, and ever other color under the rainbow. You will see flipping whales and dolphins, Santa fishing, giant gingerbread houses, frolicking mermaids, just to name a few of the estimated 250 displays that fill the boardwalk and transform it from summer playground to winter holiday flight of the imagination.

Just line up at the starting point, where you receive a complimentary Christmas CD to add to the joyful mood. Guests in cars, vans, and motorcycles get to drive along the 25 blocks of the boardwalk as they are dazzled by each unique and festive display. It is the only time of the year you can drive on the boardwalk. The pace is slow going allowing you optimal photo taking opportunities. The show starts about 6pm everynight. If you don’t care to pile up in a car and see the displays, then make sure to get to the beach about 4:30. When we got here the sun was setting and the lights were already on display. You can walk up and down the beach and enjoy the displays at your own unhurried pace. Now you can still walk on the beach while the cars are going through, but they are pretty much going to block the best views of the lights.

This exceptional holiday outing is all part of the 100 miles of lights in the Hampton Roads area. This includes VA Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg. Each city has their own glittering display of lights to charm visitors. From the lights on the beach, to the impressive lights on the waterfront in Norfolk, to the modestly yet equally as luminous displays in historical Williamsburg you will be most assuredly delighted.

There is a fee per vehicle to ride along the boardwalk. This year it was $10 per vehicle. You can just follow the signs to the start of the displays. I noticed many of the hotels along the beach offered packages that included the lights display.

The annual lights display has become a favorite of the locals. But just come here once and I bet it will be a favorite of yours too. For more information go to www.vafun.com.

No matter what time of year you come, you will find Virginia Beach offering up something for each visitor. With more than 20 miles of shoreline and a boardwalk that is 3 miles long, you will find something to keep you entertained from sun up to sunset and well into the wee hours. No matter what your into, you will find it here in Virginia Beach.

In the summer, this place comes alive with visitors who flock to this family-friendly destination. You can just pull up your beach chair and towel and just roast in the summer sun for hours. Make sure to turn over or take an occasional break by jumping in…the water is just fine here. Lifeguards are on duty and there are public restrooms along the boardwalk.

After you have finished blistering take the time to ramble along the boardwalk. You can bike or roller blade here too. Enjoy the carefully sculpted landscaping, beaches, and sculptures spotted throughout the boardwalk. At 31st and Atlantic, you will find the fascinating King Neptune statue. This 26 foot tall, 12-ton statue of the King of the Seas, was dedicated in 1974 to Richard Kline and Fredrick Napolitano. These 2 businessmen helped organize the King Neptune Festival held every September.

Along the boardwalk and at the fishing pier you will find a mixture of shops for the utmost shop-a-holic. From post cards and the request family left behind souvenirs to beach inspired outwear, you will be sure to leave your wallet a little lighter than when you started. After a day of shopping, you can fuel your appetite at numerous restaurants in the area. From uncomplicated to fanciful, foodies can knosh on homemade sandwiches to upscale specialties. Of course since you at the ocean, there is no scarcity of seafood to please your pallet. Once your ready for a night of partying you will find dozens of bars and nightclubs along the main strand. Then once you’re ready to call it a night you can lay your head in everything for top rated beachfront properties to those quite and enchanting places quietly tucked into every nook around.

When Virginia Beach throws a party everyone is invited. Throughout the year you will find numerous events. Amongst the biggest are the Waterfront Arts festival held in late April, Beach Music Weekend in Mid May, the Boardwalk Arts show is mid June, the largest music event on the east coast is the American Music Festival held over Labor Day, and rounding out the summer merriment is the Neptune Festival in late September.

If you’re looking for a fun time with fewer crowds, head here during the winter months. With the mild climate and astounding winter sunsets, this may very well become your annual holiday getaway. From mid-November until New Years enjoy the twinkling lights found in the holiday at the beach lights festival. Visitors can load up and drive along the boardwalk and take in the pageantry of the more than 250 light displays by local businesses and organizations. You will find the beach less frenzied and prices that make your wallet happy too.

For more information head over to www.vbfun.com. They have a variety of lodging and vacation packages to suit both you and your wallet.