Virginia Beach
 

Anyone familiar w/ VA Beach?
Thinking of going next weekend w/ the family.
Decent hotel?? There's 5 in my gang.

There is one of the Hilton properties right on the beach.

I certainly wouldn't drive from NY to go to VA beach. Hell I live 45 minutes from VA beach and I have only been once in 28 years.

easy there Seaford, if you havent been here in a couple years you dont know what your talking about. VB is a great town, I would'nt live anywhere else in the tidewater area.

we have a couple great festivals at the end of the summer that are worth checking out East Coast surfing championship, Rock n Roll half marathon and the American Music Festival.

That being said, Ocean City Md, is a couple hrs closer and has a lot to do also.

I lived in that area while at college, let's just say the area can get kinda of "colorful" at night.....but I will admit my information is rather old. Not Right, has lived in a few areas and lives in Va Beach currently. If the general area is where you need to be (and have kids with you), I'd look for one of the hotels in Va. Beach city limits that actually face north up the Chesapeake bay.

WAIT A MINUTE!!! There is a Poker Run out of downtown Norfolk that weekend. Unless you really want to be at the beach, find a hotel room at Norfolk Waterside...it's only about 20 minutes from the ocean. Seafordguy, myself and roughly 60 boats will be there friday and sat nights.

I'll be in Hilton Head next weekend, The city does a great job trying to maintain the family atmosphere but do not walk down atlantic ave after 9pm, stay on the boardwalk and your fine,

Big Poker Run next weekend. They are going to lunch at Bluewater in Hampton and then head over to Waterside I think? Anyway,,Virginia Beach is pretty great during the day. Ocean temps are pretty warm right now. Just watch out for the jellies. And I don't mean jello shots. At night,,,whole different story. Be careful on the street. As Not Right stated,,the boardwalk is nice and you can get into any restaurant or bar from the boardwalk. Take in the Marine Science Center, which is world class - I think anyway. Parasailing, dolphin cruises, jet ski rentals, - all the typical tourist stuff is available close by.

Most of my friends in the area go to Nags Head or Ocean City, Md. because for the very reason stated above. I don't want to go to a resort were you can't walk down the street after dark.

Allow me to restate. Agreed - much better place to live than vacation, and yes there are decent festivals throughout the year, but as a getaway for the weekend to hang out down on Atlantic Ave/the Beach area it isn't a great destination. It's brevity coupled with it's general appearance, and the fact that the the majority of hats are worn sideways make it a mediocre family vacation spot.

Very weird to hear everyone talking about the scene at night? I took my family there last year stayed right on beach. Walked to everything day and night and felt very save even with my smaller kids 2, 3 & 5!

Like any resort, it all depedns on what time of night, and who happens to be in town. This area overall i wouldn't trade for none including Ocean City where I've spent lots of time the past few years since we inherited a Memorial day week timeshare at Ocean Pines on the golf course. You're within striking distance of day trips to the outer banks, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Busch Gardens, Water Country and the becah has it's water park called Ocean Breeze. The North Shore area is popular with the locals where I live near Lynnhaven Inlet. All depends on what you're looking to do, and how much activity. Bringing your boat?

were basically talking about a 7-8 block of bars that gets pretty rowdy, that's it. Like I said, stay on the boardwalk and everything is great, The north end os the beach is very nice, million dollar homes, the Cavalier or Wyndham Hotel are very nice and quiet. Sandbridge beach is also a nice quiet family beach, no hotels just rentals.

Macklin lives across from the Cavalier Hotel

Thanks for all the input.
Right after i posted this thread, someone in my office mentioned the 'colorful' scene at night. We are going to Williamsburg for 4 nites, may extend it by 1 just so i dont have to drive back in Sunday beach traffic.
Wife mentioned going to a beach, and i knew VA Bch was close by.
No need to go only to the beach w/ the Hamptons only 45mins away, and Fire Island less, but thought it would be a nice break from Williamsburg. But now i see i can just do the beach as a day trip.
It would be nice to come to Norfolk to see the PR boats, but dont think its gonna happen w/ the wife 11,9,5 yr olds.

Maybe there are cool things to do/see in Norfolk... ??
Instead of a beach break, i thought stopping in DC on the way home would be cooler to do. (went to college in DC).

Really, thanks for all the input.

Yep. There is a really nice nautical museum in downtown Norfolk called Nauticus. It's world class. Also has the battleship Wisconsin berthed next to it, which is open for tours. If your wife and kids are into shopping there is McCarthur Center mall right there too. Very nice mall.

And you can walk over to Waterside marina where we will all be slipped up Sunday morning. :drink:

Thanks! Sounds much more up our alley.

Over on the NN side the Virginia Living Museum and the Mariners Museum are both within about 1/2 mile of each other and are REALLY neat as well.... About 1 mile off the interstate.

Seafordguy, Nice meeting you this summer I hope to get back to your area before the end of the boating season. I really enjoyed the Seaford area it self, nice quiet water community and a great place for a raftup, theirs been roomers of a race in Yorktown I hope it happens one day, looked like a great place for a Race. E