A long, wide, well-groomed beach and a laid-back atmosphere makes for a fun, relaxing break at Virginia's celebrated family beach resort.
In a nutshell
All day long people walk, cycle, run and rollerblade on the oceanfront boardwalk - join them on a rented bicycle. Climb to the top of Cape Henry Lighthouse for a view of the beach and the bay. On the sea between Jun-Aug, take a cruise to find bottlenose dolphins. There are also whale-watching trips in Jan and Feb.
The Virginia Aquarium has 700,000 gallons of watery environments, live animal habitats, 300 hands-on exhibits and an IMAX 3D screen. At Ocean Breeze Fun Park the kids can enjoy rides such as Wild Water Rapids. Away from the beach, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has 3 miles of walking trails and canoe-launching spots. There are lots of golf courses, too.
Atlantic and Pacific Avenues are the focus of the resort's nightlife, including the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, a comedy club and the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, which hosts world-class acts. You'll find 3 malls for shopping bargains to take home, including Lynnhaven, one of the east coast's largest.
Eats & drinks
Between them, the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay offer a bounty of seafood. Shrimp, lobster and all kinds of fish are available. Other food on offer includes French, Caribbean, Mexican, Greek, Indian and, of course, American.
Getting there
Virginia Beach is 208 miles south of Washington DC.