Archive for the ‘The Beach Report’ Category
Friday, April 20th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
 Did you know you can buy tickets to many local attractions and events without waiting in line? Have you ever thought about how cool it would be to bypass the crowds waiting to get into Busch Gardens and breeze right into the park, headed right toward your favorite ride? It’s not a fantasy! You can actually live out this dream of convenience by making a pit-stop right before you hop on I-264 North. If you’re on Atlantic Ave., just head North on 22nd Street toward the interstate. Just before the interstate begins is a traffic signal; look to the left and you’ll see a single story white building. Hang a left (onto Parks Ave.) and then a quick right and you’ll be in the parking lot (landmark – three flags) of the Virginia Beach Visitors Information Center (locally referred to as the VIC). Whether it’s your first visit to Virginia Beach or you’re a guest who comes to see us every year, a visit to the VIC is well worth it. Not only can you purchase advance sale tickets to a slew of attractions, events and festivals, the VIC staff is super friendly and oh-so knowledgeable. Many of the staff are locals who have lived in Virginia Beach for years, so they’re excellent resources for info on “everything Virginia Beach.” Need pet-friendly lodging? The VIC staff can help. Want to know where our public kayak and canoe launches are? Just ask the folks at the VIC. Interested in finding out about local farms so you can to take a ride out to “the county” for a bit of fresh strawberry picking? Yup, they’ll know at the VIC! The VIC also carries a full inventory of various guides, leaflets, maps, and rack cards highlighting local fun spots as well as regional attractions. Virginia Beach is located within a short drive of many interesting places, making day trips to areas beyond the beach within reach. You can venture out for the day and be back at the Oceanfront before you know it, preparing for a leisurely stay of Living the Beach Life.
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Tags: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, living the life, on the water in Virginia Beach, Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Visitors Information Center
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, April 13th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
Free! Family! Fun! Enjoy all three as the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is transformed into a local version of “Route 66” with cars and trucks from yesterday and today competing for trophies and cash prizes at a unique, one-day event.
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Tags: Cruisin' Virginia Beach Car Show, family fun in Virginia Beach, free events in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach boardwalk
Posted in Events, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, March 30th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
 Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to look into your next Virginia Beach vacation, especially if you are interested in booking a rental property. There are many hotel and motel lodging options in Virginia Beach, and we have some awesome campgrounds too, but you can take your visit to an entirely different level by staying in a fabulous rental. It’s a fantastic way to experience a true beach vacation. Virginia Beach offers everything from quaint cottages for couples and small families to majestic, luxury homes for large groups. Visit our website for some important lodging information and an entire section on rental options but don’t wait too long - rentals go quickly!
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Tags: 8th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, free things to do in Virginia Beach, vacations rentals in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach lodging
Posted in Accommodations, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, March 23rd, 2012 by Katherine Jackson
Springtime on the Boardwalk
Spring is here! The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is alive with activity, and it’s the perfect place for a walk. Earlier this week I saw crews busily painting and hammering, sweeping and landscaping, raising canopies and flags, and readying the Boardwalk for the upcoming season. When visiting a resort just before the high season begins, there’s always a feeling of electricity in the air, a sense of anticipation of what’s to come. Nowhere is this feeling more evident than on a beautiful day on the Boardwalk. Along with people working, I saw locals as well as a few visitors running, biking, rollerblading, flying kites and walking their dogs.
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Tags: Aviation monument, Boardwalk art, King Neptune, Virginia Beach boardwalk
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, March 16th, 2012 by Teresa Diaz
 Spring Break 2012 is in full swing for most higher ed centers and a walk down to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront several times this week proved more visitors are arriving every day. Our fabulous weather has been a strong draw; the outdoor cafes, shops and the boardwalk were busy! And, it looks like we’ll have a bit more “luck of the Irish” this weekend also because the weather is supposed to continue to be great - in perfect time for the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon 2012! The Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo opens in a wee bit(today, Friday, at 1 p.m.) at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The Shamrock Sports and Fitness Expo is one of the largest on the East coast. This two-day event will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with runners, walkers and sports enthusiasts of all types. The vendors at the Expo will offer a wide variety of equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories for the whole family. This Expo has a great reputation for having an extensive selection of merchandise at great prices as well as official Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend gear. The Shamrock Sports and Fitness Expo is FREE and open to everyone.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and good luck to all the Shamrock participants. See you at the finish line!!!
Tags: Shamrock Fitness & Sports Expo, Spring Break 2012, Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
Posted in Events, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, March 9th, 2012 by Sherry Friel
 This week in The Beach Report, Sherry Friel shares her summer sand bucket list. Maybe a few of these are on your “must do” list? Enjoy!!
Summer Sand Bucket List
In the blink of an eye summer will be gone before I’ve had a chance to sample all it has to offer. How can this be when spring hasn’t officially arrived yet? Year after year, I miss important eventsthroughout the warm season and tell myself I’ll get to it next year. And then next year arrives and I tell myself the same thing. But no more! I’ve devised what I’m calling my Summer Sand Bucket List. Each item on the list represents seasonal activities I wanted to do last year, but ended up either visiting too late or not at all.
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Posted in Events, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, February 24th, 2012 by Sherry Friel
Update 2/25 @ 9 a.m.
Always wanted to learn how to attract amazing butterflies to your garden? Catch a free lecture at the AREC tomorrow (Sunday, 2/26) featuring “The Butterfly Lady.”
 It’s the last Friday in February and it’s hovering right about 76 degrees in Virginia Beach! Amazing weather for what is usually considered the dead of winter almost everywhere in the US. It’s perfect timing for a spring-centric read, so sit back and enjoy this post, accompanied by some fabulous photography, courtesy of ShoreLines blogger Sherry Friel.
Off the Beaten Beach Track
 Shhhh! I’m about to share one of my favorite secret photography spots in Virginia Beach, a destination local horticulture and agriculture experts are very familiar with, but is often off the radar of visitors and some long-time city residents. It’s called the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC).
Now, I love all the regional botanical gardens and try to visit them throughout the year to see the very best each season brings, but when I need a “garden fix” in Virginia Beach, I head out to AREC. It’s conveniently located at 1444 Diamond Springs Road and is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk. Look carefully for the sign, as it is easy to drive right past it.
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Tags: great photography spots in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Beach in spring, Virginia Beach Master Gardeners
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors, With The Kids
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