Virginia Beach Boardwalk

I am not sure if you read my previous post about Virginia Beach boardwalk but this part of the city is a place you can enjoy all year round. In the summer time it is great to enjoy long walks and to see the lively beach atmosphere.


In the winter time, with the boardwalk quiter than in the summer, it is a great place for going for a daily jog or cycle ride and then into Harpoon Larry's for some seafood.

Top 10 Things to see and Do in Virginia Beach

Before you know it, the spring and summer of 2012 will be upon us and you might well be visiting Virginia Beach just as I will. So what is there really to do and see in Virginia Beach?

My Virginia Beach Top 10

1. The Beach  - the beach itself is free and with its long boardwalk, is a great place to spend a few hours each day.
2. Virginia beach Amphitheatre - great for live music from some of the worlds top bands and stars every summer. 
3. Harpoon Larry's Seafood Bar - My favourite place for eating seafood on the beach front.
4. Lynhaven Mall - A good chance to catch up with some shopping.
5. Warings Gym - Family run gym near the beach thus very friendly place to workout.
6. Virginia Beach Aquarium - Excellent displays and also houses an IMAX theatre.
7. Mount Trashmore - a unique attraction not too far inland from the beach. 
8. USS Wisconsin - Not really in Virginia Beach but being in Norfolk (easy enough drive) and as one of my favourite attractions, I feel obliged to include this attraction.
9. The Military Aviation Museum - perhaps not everyone's idea of a fun few hours, but this attraction is popular with many people, including myself.
10. Ocean Breeze - This waterpark provides the perfect chance to cool down in the heat of the summer in Virginia Beach.

 Interested in other beaches around the world? You might be interested in:

Ibiza beach - Spanish islands.
The South of France and Agde in the Languedoc area.

5 Best Bars in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a town on the east coast of the USA in the state of Virginia. It terms of population it is the largest town in the county. The town has an extensive and luxurious beach which is popular with tourists and locals alike. The beaches here go on for miles and are laced with a number of bars ranging in quality and nature. Here are some of the best:

Hot Tuna Bar and Grill (2817 Shore Drive) - Hot Tuna is the perfect beach side bar. There is a great grill, good drinks and at night time there is a party atmosphere worthy of any holiday resort. Learn more about the Hot Tuna Bar in Virginia Beach, USA.

Abbey Road - This Beatles themed bar has a great selection of live music each night of the week and runs until 2am. There is also a nice menu offering good quality food, especially the seafood. The free on-site parking adds to the convenience of a comfortable evening.

Croc’s - This is a fantastic bar located a few streets inland from the beach. The bar appeals to a large variety of people due to the range of entertainment which takes place here as well as the good quality food. This is a nice retreat from the fun of the beach.

Mahi Mah’s (615 Atlantic Avenue) - This bar has the privilege of being located right on the seafront and, as such, offers the visitor exquisite views. The seafood available on the menu is locally sourced and top class.

Conklin’s Irish Rover - Irish bars are renowned for their friendly and welcoming manner. This institution is no different and is the ideal place to source good European beer.

Flying to Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach itself has no beach, unless you were to try and land a small plane on the beach itself. There are though several options for getting to the area by plane and the best options include:

Norfolk International Airport - This is really the best option and is the airport which in effect can connect you to the rest of the United States and with countries worldwide with connections into Norfolk.

Newport News Airport - Doubling as Williamsburg airport, Newport News airport is very much for small regional airlines and the options are limited. There are many routes though via the likes of Air Tran.

Flights in to New York and connections by Train - is an option. Fly into NYC and get a train from Penn Station down to Virginia. This is a longer option but certainly one which offers the chance to see the countryside on the East coast.

Best Virginia Beach Attractions

Apart from the beach itself, if you are only in the Virginia Beach area for a few days then there are certainly some attractions well worth considering. My favourite of all though is the Aquarium and Marine Center which is easily cycleable from the beach front, a short hop on the bus or a very easy 5 minute drive.

The centre arguably the best of its kind in Virginia and is an excellent also if you have kids in tow. Apart from the aquarium itself, the centre houses an IMAX threatre and an outdoor animals area with birds and reptiles.

For shopping in Virginia Beach Lynnhaven Mall is the place to head to. A typical mal it is true but also the one one in the Virginia Beach area.

More Virginia Beach attractions in the next blog.

Heading to Rome Italy soon? Need Rome accommodation for your trip? I mention this as my friends have just started a new rentals agency. Also worth checking Rome airports if you are heading across to Europe.

..another weekend in New York City

I have been busy and am just back yet again from New York City. A a weekend getaway after a friend happened decided to get married after meeting a girl on Facebook. That's the 3rd friend who has found a partner on facebook now! New York, Cityt means a great chance to get another taste of New York shopping, cuisine, culture and architecture and planned my weekend accordingly.

I did not have to worry about accommodation since I had already booked a room in the Ameritiana at short notice. However, I spent a lot of time thinking about finding my way around New York since I enjoy getting lost in a different city ableit be it the dafer areas of the city and sticking to Manhatten. I walked as much as possible, sampling the brilliant atmosphere of the city and taking a cab whenever I felt lost.

The uniqueness of New York is that it never sleeps and feeds its people well. My most memorable experiences in New York were those of sampling a hot dog on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum and eating deli sandwiches at the internationally acclaimed Carnegie Deli. I kept my lunches light, but ate a really big dinner at Daniel Boulud’s, which is famous for its roast chicken breast, salad Nicoise and house-made ice-creams.

Most of my weekend was spent shopping, though I picked up only a few items for loved ones back home. I wandered around Madison Ave, admired the trendy boutiques of Soho and checked out Chelsea. I also viewed the art galleries at the Lower East Side. Although I could not experience all of New York, I returned home with sweet memories of this huge city and plenty of photographs as well.

Trips from Virginia: Summertime in NYC

No matter what the season, the Big Apple has something to offer everyone from special events, to great parties and interesting attractions that you can enjoy.

Summer is considered to be one of the best seasons to be in the city and this stands true whether you are there only for a couple of days or even if you live in NYC. There is so much to do around the city that it is impossible to ever get bored in New York during the summer months.

One of the best things to do on a nice summer day in NYC is to pay a visit to Central Park. There are a number of ways to spend the day in this idyllic location and you can enjoy relaxing on the Great Lawn or building up your tan in Sheep’s Meadow, or opt to have a delicious picnic lunch under the shade of the many trees here.

If you would like to indulge in some exercise, you could go for a jog, rent a cycle or a set of rollerblades and have a race with your companions. For a romantic or relaxing afternoon in the park, you could take a boat ride or just lie back on the grass and feed the ducks. Summertime also means that if you are lucky, you will be able to see Shakespeare in the Park.

If you enjoy listening to music, then you will love the summer concerts that take place across the city. Some of the most popular venues for these concerts are Bryant Park, Central Park, Lincoln Center and Prospect Park. The type of concerts featured here range from jazz to opera to hip-hop and classical music. These concerts are well advertised and many of them are free.

Another great way to enjoy a beautiful summer day is to pay a visit to the legendary Coney Island. This is possibly one of the most popular amusement parks in the world after Disney Land. Here, you can take a ride on the world’s oldest wooden roller coaster, the Cyclone and many other rides.

Virginia Beach Boardwalk

I have travelled to over 30 countries and apart from my love of Barcelona, Virginia Beach has what for me is the best Boardwalk I have seen. Being able to walk daily alongside the sea front from 1st Avenue all the way up to 64th Street is a great way to exercise every day.

In the summer time the boardwalk gets pretty lively and for this reason many of us locals actually quite enjoy the winter period when we can jog or walk at a good pace without the crowds. Whatever the time of year though (and I do of course love the summer weather) Virginia Beach boardwalk is an excellent location and one I miss when I am abroad.

What is the best boardwalk you have seen worldwide on your travels?

Top 3 Reasons to visit Virginia Beach in 2010

I am back in England right now for a few months, enjoying the snowy weather, great English beers and roast dinners. In the summer though, back to Virginia Beach for the summer and another good season in the sun.

Below a look at 3 reasons to visit Virginia Beach this summer of 2010.

1. Fresh seafood - If you love seafood then Virginia Beach (and some other Eastern seaboard locations) are excellent for fresh seafood. Some restauarants use frozen seafod but a few of the best restaurants in the city use same day fresh fish.
2. The Beach - It goes without saying that the beach is excellent. More than two miles long and accompanies for a long width by a boardwalk, you can cycle or walk daily alongside the beach.
3. Entertainment - There is a wide range of entertainment throughout the summer time in Virginia Beach, with everything from a seafood festival through to the annual Elvis Festival. More info on Virginia Beach events.

Bicycle Hire on Virginia beach boardwalk

If you are only visiting Virginia Beach for a few days or a week or so, then an excellent way to spend 1 or 2 hours is to hire one of the tandem bikes which are for rent. Every 3 or 4 blocks you will find a bike rental location.


Bike hire locations on Virginia Beach boardwalk can be found at various locations including 24 and half street and 13th and 14th streets.