Know Before You Go: About Virginia Beach
Life's a beach in Virginia Beach, where family vacations are all about fun in the sun, sand and water
Wildlife and history adventures wait in the wings. From the buzzing boardwalk scene to the old stone cross commemorating the arrival of English settlers in America, Virginia Beach boasts something for everyone and every age. Instead of just traveling to your destination, go to your people and make memories with backdrops of sunsets and sandy dunes in this beautiful city.
Beachy Vibes
Virginia Beach's summer heat and humidity make for perfect beach weather, while its cool winters seldom see more than 8 inches of snow. Things heat up between June and September with high temperatures usually in the 80s and lows in the high 60s or low 70s. February is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from 35 to 50. The city's 45 inches of annual rainfall are spread out fairly evenly throughout the year—you’re not likely to encounter torrential rain. Virginia Beach lies south of the Arctic storm track and north of the most common hurricane path.
It’s a Boardwalk Life
If three beaches aren't enough to entertain your family, walk or bike the 3-mile, shop-packed boardwalk. Explore First Landing State Park's cypress-shaded lagoons and visit the stone cross memorial near the site where the Jamestown settlers came ashore. Climb the 18th-century Cape Henry Lighthouse for a mind-boggling view of Chesapeake Bay. If unspoiled nature is your thing, head just south of Virginia Beach to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge—a safe haven for loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers and other rare wildlife. Do you have junior pirates in tow? Turn them loose 2 miles south in the Caribbean-themed Ocean Breeze Waterpark where Buccaneer Bay, Hook's Lagoon and the Little Amazon River await the 48-inches-and-under set.
Heart and Soul of Virginia Beach
You may know the Virginia Beach area for its tourist appeal, but the heart and soul of the city is its active duty military population, providing services for 10 military installations. Virginia Beach is also considered one of the best-run cities in America because of its business-friendly environment. It attracts thousands of jobs from private defense contractors, IT, communications and electronics-engineering firms. Other large employers include hospitals, health care, medical research and bioscience companies.
Easy, Breezy Transportation
Traveling by car? Take Interstate 264 to the sandy shores. If you arrive by air, Norfolk International Airport offers shuttle service to Virginia Beach. Southwest, United, Delta and American Airlines serve the airport with nonstop flights from as far west as Dallas. Amtrak's Northeast Regional service stops in Newport News, where you can hop on a bus to Virginia Beach. When you arrive in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads Transit's VB Wave shuttles make getting around town a breeze with three routes covering all the hot spots.
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