Virginia Beach is one of the destinations recommended both to those living in the US and tourists coming from abroad, and that’s for a reason. It’s a great place for a weekend getaway that offers clean sand, chilly water, delicious food, and various activities to try.
Virginia Beach is always praised for its versatility, but is it really as good as it appears at first glance? Let’s explore what this destination hides, from crowded beaches to water temperatures.
How to Get There
There are a couple of routes you can take to Virginia Beach. Almost all of them involve flying, so be ready to get on the plane, depending on where you are coming from. The options are:
- Driving your own or a rental car from home.
- Flying to the Norfolk International Airport and driving 20 minutes to the destination.
- Flying to the Richmond International Airport and driving for 2 hours to the destination.
- Flying to the Newport News Williamsburg International Airport and driving an hour to the destination.
- Flying to Washington DC and driving 4 hours to the destination.
Even if you choose the shortest route to Virginia Beach, it’s recommended to rent a car. Unfortunately, taxis and car-sharing services are pretty sparse at the destination, and going on foot can get exhausting during a hot summer day. And don’t forget to get a good US eSIM card for easy connectivity during the weekend, as public Wi-Fi can be pretty sparse, too.
Activities to Try
Virginia Beach is full of different activities for the whole family. For example, there is a long, wide boardwalk along the coastline that’s just perfect for bike, roller skate, and longboard rides. As you ride down the shore, peek into the ViBe Creative District — a neighborhood full of local artisans and independent businesses.
If you enjoy physical activity, walk or run through the First Landing State Park. It’s gorgeous, but remember that vehicle admission is paid, and it’s more expensive on the weekend — so is camping on the park grounds.
There are a lot of local markets with fresh produce, restaurants with amazing food, and breweries with delicious beer at Virginia Beach. In case your stay goes a little beyond the weekend, however, you might have to look for a place to eat, as some of them close on Monday and Tuesday.
Additionally, you should be careful in busy tourist spots, especially when connecting to the local Wi-Fi. Never handle payments or log into your bank account on a public network — hackers might be waiting for a perfect opportunity to steal your personal information. And if you’re wondering what’s the best identity theft protection method, consider checking out recommended online security and personal privacy tools.
Enjoying the Beach
Surely enough, the beach itself is why most people come to Virginia Beach. While most praise it for the warm sun and delightful waves, others might not be as lucky. It is a pretty crowded place, especially during the summer season. July and August are admittedly the best for swimming, but all the time from Memorial Day through Labor Day will be full of visitors. So, prepare to sunbathe with potentially hundreds of people surrounding you.
You can come in the spring, but note that the water will be pretty cold. While it’s not as busy, only adults might enjoy the chilly waves — it’s not recommended to take kids swimming during that time. And most hotels don’t open the outdoor pools until the Memorial Day weekend. So, hotel pools are not an option for swimming, either.
The tidiness of the beaches depends on the density of the crowd and the season. Some tourists praise the sand and water for being spotlessly clean, while others report trash and filth, such as cigarette butts, scattered all over.
Is Virginia Beach Worth It?
If you are a tourist traveling across the US, Virginia Beach is one of the most popular places to visit. Unfortunately, it can be crowded, and the water might be too cold to swim in. If you don’t mind busy touristy spots and want to explore a beautiful oceanfront, regardless of the water temperatures, Virginia Beach will be worth it.
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