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Take The Kids: Virginia Beach
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Once fall arrives, Virginia Beach gets even better
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BY PEGGY SIJSWERDA
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A sandcastle king in Virginia Beach's annual North American Sandsculpting Championship; they sell seashells at the 14th Street Fishing Pier.
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Virginia Beach slows down when summer ends, as if exhaling after all the hustle and bustle. Fall temperatures remain in the 70s and 80s, and the vibe’s a bit lazier, but there’s still plenty to do. There are just fewer people doing it.
Virginia’s largest city (pop. 433,000) has a compact resort area flanked by wide, clean beaches. Here’s a sampling of fun fall activities that will keep your kids grinning—from learning how to hang 10 to watching the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the Blue Angels.
SAND & SANDWICH
Virginia Beach’s main resort area runs from 1st Street to 42nd Street. There’s ample room to spread out between boardwalk and ocean—the beach is 300 feet wide in places. Lifeguards are on duty till mid-September, and the stores still sell and rent bodyboards, skimboards, slingback chairs and colorful umbrellas. Locals like the quieter beaches at the North End, where million-dollar mansions sit amid the dunes next to cozy bungalows built in the mid-1900s. (But note that the North End has no lifeguards or restrooms.) The mellow Chesapeake Bay beaches are great for young kids.
Before you make your way to the sand, buy a picnic lunch at Taste Unlimited (36th St. and Pacific Ave.; 757-422-3399). The Boardwalk Turkey Reuben (smoked turkey, swiss and coleslaw on rye) is highly recommended.
SURF’S UP
Hankering to hang 10? Head south to Sandbridge Beach, another locals’ favorite, where instructors at Surf & Adventure Co. can teach you how to catch a wave (577 Sandbridge Rd.; 757-721-6210; surfandadventure.com). Two-hour group lessons ($45 per person) offer an ideal intro for beginners. “Our instructors focus on providing a fun, relaxed experience,” says manager Chris Stellato. You can also rent surfboards by the day or week.
The same company leads kayak trips on Back Bay, between the mainland and the barrier island of Sandbridge. You might spot a bald eagle high in a loblolly pine (3-hour tour, $45). Or just rent a kayak and strike off on your own.
GO FISH
If your kids like to fish, go out on a roomy Rudee Inlet Fleet “head boat” (so called because clients are charged “by the head”). Everything’s included—rod, reel, bait and license—for an awesome half-day spent fishing for tautog, sea bass, flounder and bluefish (600 Winston-Salem Ave.; 757-422-5700; rudeeinletcharters.com; $60, $50 kids under 12). Have your catch cleaned back at the dock for a small fee.
Kids love the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (717 General Booth Blvd.; 757-385-3474; virginiaaquarium.com; $17, $12 kids under 12). You’ll see more than 300 species of animals, including sharks, rays, harbor seals and river otters. In the new Restless Planet exhibit, kids who stand up inside an acrylic bubble might find themselves inches away from a komodo dragon. Touch tanks let them handle cownose rays, sea urchins and horseshoe crabs. Outside, a nature trail and boardwalks overlook a 10-acre marsh.
BIKE THE PARK
For more up-close nature, visit the 2,888-acre First Landing State Park, where 19 miles of trails wind past moss-draped cypress trees and over ancient sand dunes. The best way to explore the park is to rent some bikes (at Cherie’s Bike Rentals, nine boardwalk locations; 757-437-8888; $6/hour) and ride north to enter the park at 64th Street. Turn left for a hilly two-mile ride to a beach at Linkhorn Bay, or right for the Cape Henry Trail, a wide and level six-mile multiuse trail. Before you get started, grab a gourmet picnic lunch at Harris Teeter (2800 Arctic Ave. at 28th St.).
For a high-tech option, hop on a Segway and ride through the park on a 90-minute tour with Segway of Hampton Roads (2800 Shore Dr.; segwayofhamptonroads.us). Watch for stunning views of salt-water marshes, tidal pools and coastal plains. Training is included; beginners are welcome (757-412-9734; $75; minimum age 14).
FESTIVAL FUN
The fall festival season begins with the American Music Festival on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3–5), in conjunction with the Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon. At the Oceana Air Show (Sept. 17–19; oceanaairshow.com; admission free), held at the nearby Naval Air Station Oceana, you’ll see fireworks and fighter jets, heart-stopping aerobatics, formation flying by the Blue Angels, and parachute jumps by the British Red Devils. Meanwhile, Kids’ Fest entertains with games and face painting ($5).
The Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend (Sept. 24–26; neptunefestival.com) offers music, arts and crafts, a parade, a regatta, a surfing contest and a sandsculpting competition.
There’s tons more to do in Virginia Beach, like visiting the lighthouses at Cape Henry or riding the go-karts at Motor World. But leave time to just watch the pelicans soar and dolphins swim by. You and the kids will reconnect with nature—and each other.
EAT
CROC'S 19TH STREET BISTRO
Organic cuisine with Middle Eastern flair.
Adventurous kids will want to try alligator
bites; parents will love the seafood risotto
and great wine list. 620 19th St.;
757-428-5444; dinner for two, $78*
DOUGH BOY'S CALIFORNIA PIZZA
Pizza and wings plus Greek salad, pasta,
subs and gyros. Get a free Frisbee when
you order any kid’s item. Two locations
on Atlantic Ave.: 17th St. and 24th St.;
757-422-6111; dinner for two, $48
ICEHOUSE
In an old icehouse, with exposed beams
and rustic brick. Dine on comfort food
like St. Louis–style ribs, fried oysters
and marinated steak. 604 Norfolk Ave.;
757-422-1968; dinner for two, $54
LOG CABIN
The spot for pancakes, waffles and
French toast. Try the seafood omelet.
1614 Atlantic Ave.; 757-428-6438;
breakfast for two, $30
WATERMAN'S BEACHWOOD GRILL
Ocean views, nautical decor and an emphasis
on sustainable seafood. Order catch-of-the-day
fish tacos. 415 Atlantic Ave.; 757-428-3644;
dinner for two, $70
*Prices are for a meal for two without drinks, tax or tip.
STAY
RCI-affiliated resorts in Virginia Beach include:
OCEAN KEY RESORT
Recently renovated and close to the beach,
boardwalk and restaurants. 424 Atlantic Ave.
Member Reviews:
“Clean and comfortable.”
“Great public transportation; a trolley
comes by every 15 minutes.”
BARCLAY TOWERS
Right on the beach, with views of the
Atlantic. 809 Atlantic Ave.
Member Reviews:
“There’s nothing better than balconies
overlooking the ocean!”
“Mahi Mah’s, one block south, is great
for happy hour or dinner.”
THE FOUR SAILS
Relax at the sidewalk café after playing
in the surf. 3301 Atlantic Ave.
Member Reviews:
“We saw many ships and dolphins.”
“They provide free bikes for one hour.”
OCEAN SANDS
When you tire of the beach and pool,
take the free van to the zoo, the mall,
Norfolk or Williamsburg. 2207 Atlantic Ave.
Member Review:
“A simple, beachy, family-friendly destination.”
For more information, including more
member reviews, visit RCI.com or call
Weeks: 800-338-7777
Points: 877-968-7476
Club Members, please call your specific
Club or RCI telephone number.
NON-RCI-AFFILIATED RESORTS:
HILTON VIRGINIA BEACH
OCEANFRONT
3001 Atlantic Ave.; 757-213-3000;
hilton.com; doubles from $219 per night
CAVALIER HOTEL
4201 Atlantic Ave.; 757-425-8555;
cavalierhotel.com; doubles from $119
per night
HOLIDAY INN SUNSPREE
RESORT
3900 Atlantic Ave.; 757-428-1711;
vboceanfrontnorth.com; doubles from
$109 per night
BARCLAY COTTAGE B&B
400 16th St.; 757-422-1956;
barclaycottage.com; doubles
from $115 per night
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.
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Published: Fall 2010 Issue
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Photos: Virginia Beach CVB(2)
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