With its beautiful beaches, boardwalk, restaurants, and abundance of activities, Virginia Beach is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the East Coast. Over 20 million visitors flock to Virginia Beach every year to soak up the sun, play in the ocean, and enjoy the vibrant energy of this beachside city.
But is Virginia Beach really all it’s cracked up to be? Is it actually a good place to spend your precious vacation time and money? Let’s weigh the pros and cons to find out if Virginia Beach lives up to the hype.
Pro: Miles of Free Public Beaches
The biggest draw of Virginia Beach is undoubtedly its beaches. The city boasts an impressive 35 miles of public beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, all free and open to visitors. Spend the day sunbathing, building sandcastles, playing volleyball, swimming in the warm waters, or just relaxing to the sound of the waves.
Con: Crowds and Traffic
With great beaches comes lots of people trying to enjoy them. Virginia Beach crowds peak in the summer, when hotels are full and traffic is bumper-to-bumper heading to and from the oceanfront. If you’re looking for solitude, visit in the off-season. If not, brace yourself for busy beaches and packed restaurants during peak times.
Pro: The 3-Mile Boardwalk
Running along the beach is Virginia Beach’s postcard-worthy boardwalk. This popular pedestrian walkway connects the lively resort area for 3 miles, lined with shops, restaurants, amusement park rides, entertainment venues, hotels, and the iconic King Neptune statue. The boardwalk has activities for all ages and is the social heart of the city.
Con: Parking and Transportation Hassles
With enormous crowds flocking to Virginia Beach’s compact oceanside resort area, parking and getting around can get tricky. Beachgoers should prepare for pricey parking rates, limited availability at peak times, and traffic congestion. Consider parking further away and using the city’s shuttle system or walking/biking to avoid headaches.
Pro: Array of Water Sports
In addition to swimming and relaxing on the beach, Virginia Beach offers an abundance of water sports to enjoy. Try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, sailing, jet skiing, and more. Rent equipment or take lessons right on the beach from the many watersport companies located by the boardwalk.
Con: No Waves for Surfing
While Virginia Beach hosts surfing contests and has a surf culture, the waves off its coast are generally small and better suited to longboarding. Serious surfers may be disappointed by the less-than-epic wave action compared to other surf destinations like Hawaii or California.
Pro: Fresh Local Seafood
One of the great perks of a beach vacation is the abundance of fresh local seafood. Virginia Beach’s many oceanfront restaurants serve up delicious coastal cuisine like fish tacos, crab cakes, shrimp scampi, oysters, clam chowder, and more. The region is known for its blue crabs, oysters, striped bass, and other tasty catches from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
Con: High Restaurant Prices
Dining out on the oceanfront often comes with higher price tags. With premium real estate and seasonal crowds to contend with, many Virginia Beach restaurants charge tourist prices. Expect to pay more for food, drinks, and water views compared to inland establishments.
Pro: Whale Watching
Each winter and spring, visitors can spot magnificent humpback and fin whales migrating past Virginia Beach to their northern feeding grounds. Whale watching and dolphin sighting boat tours embark from Rudee Inlet and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area from January through March. See these gentle giants in their natural habitat with your own eyes!
Con: Risk of Hurricanes
Located on the Atlantic Coast, Virginia Beach faces the occasional landfall of tropical storms and hurricanes during the late summer and fall. While direct hits are rare, storms offshore can still cause high winds, rain, flooding, erosion, and dangerous rip currents along the resort city’s beaches. Check weather forecasts and purchase travel insurance if visiting during hurricane season.
The Verdict
Despite a few drawbacks like crowds, parking issues, and inflated prices, Virginia Beach offers visitors a quintessential East Coast beach vacation. With its miles of scenic coastline, the lively boardwalk, abundance of water sports, whale watching, and famous Virginia hospitality, the resort city certainly lives up to its reputation as a prime warm-weather travel destination.
So if you don’t mind the peak-season headaches that come with popularity, Virginia Beach should absolutely be on your list for seaside family fun, romantic escapes, and relaxing getaways. Just do some planning around the busy summer schedule to maximize your enjoyment. Virginia Beach has something for every type of beach lover!
