TravelGuides

(TGA) - Travel - Apr 13-15/10This area of Virginia includes the metropolitan centers of , , , , , and News.VIRGINIA BEACH, VA &8211; This is the way all oceanfront areas should be developed. The beach is 3 miles long and 200 ft wide; a 6 ft high seawall spans the entire length; on top of the wall is a 20 ft wide sidewalk and an adjoining bike trail with trees and street lights separating them. The hotels, condos, apartments and large rental houses oversee it all. These buildings provide equally spectacular landscaping features sculptured hedges, winding brick walkways and trendy restaurants, lounges, pools and bars. A block away from the seawall, are the streets and touristy businesses, restaurants and water sport rental shops. At the end of every block there are beach access points. They have a park entrance feel &8211; trees, shrubs, flowers planted along wide brick S-shaped sidewalks &8211; very nice! At the end of each one, there are picnic benches, vendor kiosks, restrooms and nautical sculptures. The most prominent one is a huge statue of King Neptune (Greek god of water) who purportedly protects the Oceanfront against flash floods. Another is the Norwegian Lady - a bronze statue - a gift from Moss, Norway and is a memorial to the sinking of the Norwegian ship "Dictator" in 1891.In honor of the large military presence in this area, one access point has several monoliths commemorating all of the aircraft carriers (and other ships) that made Virginia their base. It also explains the history of major military establishments in the area. There are also several statues of in-motion soldiers dressed in battle gear preparing for action. The local newspaper is called the Pilot.We spent a day at the beach, cycled the paths, viewed the sights, watched the people (big rage is renting bikes built for four), freighters coming, navel ships leaving, fighter jets scrambling, helicopters buzzing low and coast guard boats vigorously patrolling the shoreline &8211; guess theres sharks out there. Nostalgic buildings are here too &8211; there&8217;s a pink colored Dairy Queen; a checker board clad Burger King. The following week, Cooter (from the Dukes of Hazard) and his Cooter&8217;s Garage Band are scheduled to host a 3 day classic car show &8211; on the beach. - Virginia Beach Amphitheater &8211; Signs all over the area point to this fabulous facility &8211; what a major disappointment &8211; there is no building; it&8217;s a big hill covered with grass. Everybody grabs a lawn chair and watches......dunno what, there&8217;s no stage, no roof, nothing!