Archive for the ‘History and Museums’ Category
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 by Mike Halperin
 Recent catches of growing numbers of white and blue marlin, sailfish, red drum, golden tilefish, and black sea bass indicate these fisheries are all heating up along with the weather. Each bill fish and many of the red drum qualified for Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament release citation awards.
Inshore: While still early for the peak croaker, spot, and flounder runs, fishing for these inshore favorites has been good. To add to this list, anglers are also catching a few small sheepshead, sea bass, triggerfish and speckled trout. Many spot weigh a half pound with Rudee Inlet remaining a best bet for catch-and-release flounder action.
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Tags: amberjack, bigeye tuna, black drum, blue marlin, bluefish, blueline tilefish, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, citations, cobia, croaker, dolphin, free things to do in Virginia Beach, grouper, otters, Sea Bass, Spanish mackerel, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, wahoo, white marlin
Posted in Fishing, History and Museums, Living the Life
Friday, June 17th, 2011 by Teresa Diaz
 Another great Virginia Beach week and we’re full steam ahead into Father’s Day weekend. The weather is awesome and we’ve yet to hit summer (officially, the summer solstice is Tuesday, June 21). There are so many ways to celebrate this weekend, it will be hard to choose just one so rather than trying to decide, why not make it a whole weekend (or if you’re really lucky, a whole week!) of fun for the whole family?
Whether you’re planning a family celebration or giving Dad some free time on his own , here’s a short list of fun things to do in Virginia Beach. Still want more? Our website is chock full of ideas and info – just take a look!
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Posted in Beaches, Culinary / Dining, Fishing, Golf, History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors, With The Kids
Friday, May 20th, 2011 by Katherine Jackson
Got sunscreen? You may need it this weekend according to the weather gurus. Temperature predictions range from the mid to high 80’s so be sure to protect yourself from full sun and stay hydrated as you are out, about and Living the Life in Virginia Beach.
Speaking of being out and about, here’s a great new post from Your Walking Tour Guide Katherine Jackson about one of her favorite routes. There’s a hidden surprise in the post, too; can you find it?
Seals and Other Sights South of Rudee Inlet
 I don’t have a pet right now, but sometimes I feel the need for a soothing encounter with an animal. Luckily, I can easily walk from my house to the harbor seal pool outside of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center and sit for as long as I like (for free), watching several three hundred-pound harbor seals swim around and around, twisting among the rocks, and surfacing from time to time for air. They’re so cute.
Extending south from the Rudee Inlet Bridge and passing the Aquarium, the paved, multi-use path I take is a segment of the South Beach Trail. In addition to visiting with the seals along the way, it’s fun to watch people launch their boats or return from fishing trips at the Owls Creek Boat Rampadjacent to the trail. Sometimes, impressive military vessels are launched there as well. Soon, great clumps of orange daylilies will bloom along this path, and later in the season, crape myrtle trees will flower. 
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Tags: free things to do in Virginia Beach, living the life, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach vacations, Virginia Beach walking trails
Posted in History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Monday, March 28th, 2011 by Tina Fries
 Shipwrecks, disasters, rescues, heroes…even a ghost story? What’s not to like!
Soon after my daughter, Jennifer, and I walked through the doors of the Old Coast Guard Station Museum and Gift Shopat the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, we realized we were visiting a special time and place in Virginia’s history. A time when surfmen, as these brave men were called, patrolled the beaches and stood watch day and night over Virginia’s coast. They were ready to spring to action and battle the sea to save lives should a ship and its crew get into trouble.
On a recent Sunday visit we caught up with volunteer docent, Miss Ann, a wealth of knowledge, already leading a young couple on a tour. She pointed out how communication devices, navigational aids and weather forecasting methods have come a long way since the early days (1874-1915) of the U.S. Life Saving Service, later renamed the U.S. Coast Guard.
Jennifer and I were captivated by the early lifesaving equipment, the surfboat and especially a small scale model demonstrating what was called the Breeches Buoy.
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Tags: fun with the kids, Historic landmarks, maritime history, Old Coast Guard Station, Virginia Beach history
Posted in History and Museums, Living the Life, With The Kids
Friday, March 4th, 2011 by Teresa Diaz
 The sun is peeking out more regularly these days and I saw my first daffodil this week! Spring has sprung in Virginia Beach. If you’ve been to our city during the spring season, you know it’s one of the best times of the year to visit Virginia Beach. The weather is mild and the options are many.
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Tags: Spring in Virginia Beach, Visit Virginia Beach
Posted in Beaches, Fishing, History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report, With The Kids
Friday, January 21st, 2011 by Tina Fries
This week’s Beach Report features Live the Life blogger Tina Fries, and her daughter, Jennifer, as they explore one Virginia Beach’s unique historical treasures, the deWitt Cottage.
deWitt Cottage Offers Something for Everyone
 Whether you’re into birding, duck hunting, wood carving, surfing, Virginia Beach history or you’re just looking for something unique and FREE to do with your family, you really need to visit the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum / deWitt Cottage at Thirteenth Street and Atlantic Avenue at the Oceanfront.
Chances are you’ve seen this cool-looking, green and white house from the Victorian era overlooking the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. How old? The cottage was built in 1895 and was the first cottage at the Oceanfront when it was being developed.
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Tags: Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, DeWitt Cottage, free things to do in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach history, Virginia Beach museums
Posted in History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Monday, October 11th, 2010 by Tina Fries
 “Why did they build lighthouses again, Mom?”
The question came from my 9-year old daughter, Jennifer, as we were heading into the gift shop to purchase tickets to climb the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse on the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story military installation, formerly known as Fort Story. “So that ships could see where the land was so they wouldn’t run into it,” I replied, subscribing to the keep it simple philosophy.
“Oh, right, I knew that,” she said in a mature voice.
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Tags: Cape Henry Lighthouses, Fort Story, fun in Virginia Beach, fun with the kids, historic sites in Virginia Beach, inexpensive things to do in Virginia Beach, New Cape Henry Lighthouse, Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, Virgnia Beach history
Posted in History and Museums, Living the Life, With The Kids
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