Virginia Beach

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Virginia Beach doesn't get enough street cred, often playing second fiddle to its more popular cousins in the nearby Historic Triangle (Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown). But dig deeper with those plastic shovels, and you'll find jewels along this stretch of Atlantic coast. Among them are a 12-ton King Neptune and other stony followers standing watch over the ocean and old-fashioned wooden Boardwalk, while a Venice Beach-esque bike path runs parallel to the action.

As the state's largest city, Virginia Beach is enjoying a mini-renaissance, with new hotels, shopping districts and a "green"-certified convention center. And while that sounds good on paper, the wide swath of beach is still the main draw for families and visitors.

Tip: To avoid backups, take the Birdneck Road exit off Interstate 264 and follow signs for Atlantic Avenue.

HOTELS

Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 5700 Atlantic Ave., 757-428-7025; wyndham.com/hotels/ORFVB. Virginia Beach's newest addition sits on a semiprivate beach and has 25 suites and 242 deluxe rooms with oceanfront balconies. An indoor/outdoor pool, kayak and surfboard rentals, open-air restaurant and free shuttles to the southern section of Virginia Beach sweeten the deal. Parents will dig the Kids Cove Children's Activity Center, with supervised activities and evening outdoor movies for the family. Summer rates: $179-$269. (Discounts available online.)

Beach Spa Bed & Breakfast, 2420 Arctic Ave., 757-422-2621; beachspabnb.com. Escape the high-rise madness and relax on the sweeping porch of this charming beach cottage, a few blocks from the beach. After walking the boards all day, pamper aching muscles with on-site massages and unique bathroom amenities (rainfall and steamer showers). Summer rates: $160-$240.

Boardwalk Resort and Villas, 1601 Atlantic Ave., 800-317-9432; theboardwalkresort.com. You're in the heart of the action here, with luxurious studios and suites overlooking the Boardwalk. All suites have fully stocked kitchens, an extra bathroom and pull-out sofa. Other amenities include an indoor heated pool, fitness center and Rock Fish Bar and Grill restaurant. Summer rates: $199-$315.

DINING

Harpoon Larry's, 24th Street and Pacific Avenue, 757-422-6000; harpoonlarryskillerseafood.com. This restaurant is a jumping beachfront mainstay with traditional seafood platters, an extensive raw bar and house specials like Seafood Savoy (shrimp and scallops over pasta with a Marsala sauce) and beer-battered softshell crabs. Entrees: $5.95-$16.95.

Doc Taylor's, 207 23rd St., 757-425-1960. I'm outing a local favorite here, but Doc's is the place to go for a quirky breakfast/lunch (selections like "Nurse Ratched" and "Heart Attack" dot the menu) and a hearty selection of vegetarian options.

Five 01 City Grill, 501 N. Birdneck Road, 757-425-7195. The Five 01 City Grill has casual decor with a decidedly upscale flair. Choose from fare such as wood-grilled pizzas and eggplant and goat cheese lasagna. The owners have an onsite wine club -- pick up your favorites to go after your meal. Entrees: $8.99-$26.99.

NIGHTLIFE

Croc's 19th Street Bistro, 620 19th St., 757-428-5444; crocsrestaurant.com. Locals rave about the legendary Five Pepper Tuna and Baja fish tacos dishes at Virginia's only certified "green" restaurant. Live music, a phenomenal wine list and specialty nights Thursdays and Fridays heat this venue up after dark.

Abbey Road, 203 22nd St., 757-425-6330; abbeyroadpub.com. This is the closest thing to an English pub this side of the Atlantic. Its impressive selection of more than 100 worldwide brews will quench the most discerning palate. Live music spills out onto the boards, making for a lively oceanfront atmosphere.

Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., 757-385-2787; sandlercenter.org. Sample the cultural nightlife at the new Sandler Center, where past performances have included Smokey Joe's Cafe and the Peking Acrobats, and music from Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett and the Vienna Boys Choir.

FUN

Outdoors
False Cape State Park, 4001 Sandpiper Road, 757-426-7128; dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fal.shtml. Explore six miles of pristine beach often visited by American bald eagles, loggerhead turtles, feral pigs and wild horses. Backing up to the park is the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (4005 Sandpiper Road, 757-721-2412; www.fws.gov/backbay), which boasts fresh water marshes, barrier islands and maritime forests.

Motor World Family Thrill Park, 700 S. Birdneck Road, 757-422-6419; vbmotorworld.com. Park features more than 200 gokarts on 10 racetracks. There's also mini-golf, cars for the younger set, and a Formula One Racer on the Grand Prix Raceway.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark, 849 General Booth Blvd., 757-422-4444; www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com. Enjoy freshwater fun with 13 waterslides. The park includes a children's section with a pirate ship centerpiece.

Also:
Boardwalk
Cape Henry Lighthouse
First Landing State Park
Neptune Festival

Rainy days
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd., 757-425-3474; virginiaaquarium.com. Virginia's largest aquarium is home to animal habitats from the Atlantic Ocean and nearby Chesapeake Bay, with sharks, rays, sea turtles and harbor seals; an IMAX 3D theater; an outdoor aviary stocked with marsh birds from the Virginia shore; and a nature trail that connects two pavilions.

Also:
American Indoor Karting
Virginia Air & Space Center

SHOPPING

First Landing Books & Art, 213 17th St., 757-422-4072. Bookstores at the beach are a given, and this used-book store is a treasure trove of first-edition classics, beloved children's tales and even rare Civil War editions.

Hotline Surfboards, 437 Virginia Beach Blvd., 757-428-6703; hotlinesurfboardz.com. With the abundance of surf shops, this one stands out for its all-kid selection of boards, gear and clothing.

Town Center, Virginia Beach and Independence boulevards, 757-965-5452; towncenterofvirginiabeach.com. This 17-block "main street"-style development features chain restaurants and shops.

Ocean Palm, 1860 Laskin Road, 866-437-7256; oceanpalm.net. This upscale clothing boutique sells Lilly Pulitzer designs, Eliza B sandals, resort handbags and a small selection of menswear.

EVENTS

June
VIVA ELVIS AND LEGENDS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL // The parks at 17th and 24th streets / 800-822-3224. June 19-22. All hail the "King" for this fun tribute to Elvis. Dozens of Elvis artists and national-level bands will perform the King's repertoire. Also, boardwalk parade, trivia game and karaoke contest. Free.

August
VERIZON WIRELESS AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL -- Fifth, 13th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th and 31st Street stages / 410-547-7328 or go to ticketmaster.com. Aug. 29-31. Times vary. Thirty music groups, including nationally renowned artists, perform. All concerts are free, except for those held at the Fifth Street stage. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

ARTS

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

BEACH INFO

Virginia Beach resort area
Located in southern Virginia
Pass required: No.
Pets allowed: 6 p.m.-10 a.m. in residential areas. Not permitted on beach/boardwalk Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Lifeguard hours: 9:30 a.m.-dusk, Memorial Day through Labor Day
Rentals: Bikes, surreys, jet skis, boats, kayaks, cabins and cottages.
Public restrooms: Available at 17th, 24th and 30th streets, and at Croatan Beach.
Showers: Yes.
Concession stands: Yes.
Parking: Lots on Atlantic and Pacific avenues and at Croatan Beach. Garages on 9th and 30th streets (max fee of $7 per day for both lots and garages).
Fishing allowed: Yes.
Camping: Yes.
Worth noting: Virginia Beach offers several vacation packages.

Chesapeake Bay Beach
Located off Shore Drive
Pass required: No.
Pets allowed: 6 p.m.-10 a.m. on public beaches. Pets on a leash permitted in First Landing State Park
Lifeguard hours: No lifeguards on duty.
Rentals: Kayaks, bikes, fishing rods, picnic areas and cabins.
Public restrooms: Available at First Landing State Park.
Showers: Available at First Landing State Park.
Concession stands: Yes.
Parking: Available at First Landing State Park. $3 during the week, $4 on the weekend.
Fishing allowed: Yes.
Camping: Yes.
Worth noting: Cape Henry Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark.

Sandbridge Beach
Located 15 miles south of Virginia Beach resort area
Pass required: No.
Pets allowed: 6 p.m.-10 a.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day
Lifeguard hours: 9:30 a.m.-dusk, mid-May through mid-September.
Rentals: Chairs, umbrellas, body boards, kayaks, surf boards and bikes.
Public restrooms: Available at Little Island Park.
Showers: Yes. Available at Little Island Park.
Concession stands: Yes.
Parking: Lots near Sandbridge Market (max fee of $5 per day) and Little Island Park.
Fishing allowed: Yes.
Camping: Yes.
Worth noting: Surfing is not permitted 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends.

MORE INFORMATION

City of Virginia Beach Web site
Virginia Beach Tourism Web site
Commonwealth of Virginia Web site