The best beaches in the world
Virginia Beach is both the largest city in Virginia and the state's top beach vacation destination. Complementing the Virginia Beach beaches are other great attractions, such as the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and other regional destinations like Norfolk can make for enticing side trips.
Mid-May through mid-September is the peak beach season in Virginia Beach. Travelers from around the world come to bask in the warm Virginia sun during this period and to relax with their feet in the sand. Most visitors stick to the three-mile long oceanfront Boardwalk, which is where the majority of the city's hotels and restaurants are located. The beach running along this boardwalk is not only long, but wide as well, affording ample space for everyone to stretch out. On a daily basis, the sand on Virginia Beach's main beach is manicured, and should you be strolling along the Boardwalk, you can stop at small parks along the way or take a seat on a wooden bench. A bike and skating path follows along the Boardwalk, allowing even more activity options.
You can escape the more crowded beaches in Virginia Beach if you please. All you have to do is venture south to Little Island City Park or even further south to False Cape State Park. There are also some relatively secluded beaches in the North End and Sandbridge residental areas that can be great places to relax and swim.
When looking to add to your beach options during a Virginia Beach vacation, it is possible to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel over to Virginia's Eastern Shore and indulge in its enticing strips of sand. The most notable beaches in this peninsula area are the beach at Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles Beach, and the beach on Assateague Island. Back on the mainland, destinations such as Norfolk and Hampton also offer some beaches that deserve consideration.
Sandbridge Beach is just fifteen minutes away from the Virginia Beach resort area—and a world away. This 4.5-mile beach area is located in the south part of Virginia Beach, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Back Bay to the west. The geography is very similar to the North Carolina Outer Banks [...]
North End Beach is one of the stretches of sand and sun in Virginia Beach. This resort town is located along the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Primed for four seasons of fun, Virginia Beach really kicks into high gear once schools are out, the days are long and sunny, and [...]
First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach has a unique name and a unique history. In 1607, a group of people arrived from England landing on these very shores four centuries ago. This same place where they landed in the New World is now home to one of the most popular Virginia beaches and the [...]
Chesapeake Beach meanders for two miles along the Virginia Beach shoreline from the Lynnhaven Inlet to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A popular shoreline getaway for generations, this beach is still called Chick’s Beach by many of the locals. Today, the beach continues as an excellent place to spend some time in the sun and [...]
Virginia Beach, tucked in the southeastern corner of Virginia and four hours south of Washington, D.C., is one of the most visited and most loved seaside towns on the East Coast. When the weather heats up, people flock from all around to spend some time in the sun and enjoy the views of some of [...]